Free Citation Generator
Instantly create perfect bibliography citations in APA, MLA, or Chicago format for websites, books, and journals for free.
Format Bibliography Citation
Enter your source metadata and titles on the left to instantly generate standard APA, MLA, or Chicago citations.
From the Conch team
Citation errors are the most avoidable grade deductions in academic writing
APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, and Chicago 17th edition are three entirely different systems with different rules for capitalisation, author formatting, date placement, and URL requirements. APA puts the date right after the author name. MLA puts it at the end. Chicago has two systems within itself — Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date — and mixing them up is a common error even among graduate students. Citation errors cost marks not because professors are pedantic, but because citations are how academic arguments are traced back to their sources. A wrong date or a missing DOI breaks that chain. This tool formats your citations using the exact current edition rules for all three styles, handling the most common edge cases — no author, multiple authors, DOIs vs. URLs, journal volume/issue notation — so you do not have to memorise 60 pages of style guide.
Conch Tip: Always check the 'Access Date' field for website citations in APA and MLA. Both styles require this because websites can change or be removed — the access date tells a reader when the content you cited actually existed at that URL.
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How to use this citation generator
- 1
Select citation style
Choose the target citation style (APA, MLA, or Chicago) from the top bar.
- 2
Select source type
Pick the format of the source (Website, Book, or Journal) to load the appropriate input fields.
- 3
Fill in source metadata
Enter the author name, publication date, title, publisher, and URL details.
- 4
Copy formatted reference
Click 'Copy' to copy the formatted bibliographic citation to your clipboard and paste it directly into your references list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What style guides are supported by the Citation Generator?
The tool generates bibliographic citations in APA (7th edition), MLA (9th edition), and Chicago (17th edition notes/bibliography style) formats.
What kinds of sources can I cite?
You can cite Websites, Books, and Academic Journals, with the input form dynamically adjusting to display relevant fields for each source type.
How does the engine format the citation?
It executes strict formatting rules: ordering authors by 'Last, First', handling title capitalization, adding appropriate italicization (titles of books/journals), and inserting publisher, page, and URL details.
Do I need to sign up to copy my citations?
No. The tool is 100% free with no registration or signup walls. You can copy citations directly to your clipboard to paste them into your bibliography.
Why does the URL field matter?
Modern style guides (especially APA 7th and MLA 9th) require active URLs or DOIs for digital sources so readers can easily locate your research.
Is this citation maker client-side?
Yes. All formatting and text calculations run locally in your browser. None of your source details are ever stored on a server, guaranteeing complete privacy.
How do I cite a source with no author?
If a source has no author, you can leave the Author First/Last fields blank. The generator will automatically lead the citation with the Title instead, which is the standard rule for APA, MLA, and Chicago.
Can I use this for university and college assignments?
Absolutely. The citations generated adhere to official style guidelines and are suitable for college essays, high school assignments, and academic research papers.
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