Citation Generator
Correctly formatted APA 7, MLA 9, and Chicago citations for websites, books, and journal articles — built instantly in your browser, never uploaded.
How to use this tool
- Pick your citation style (APA 7, MLA 9, or Chicago) and source type (website, book, or journal article).
- Fill in the fields — authors as "First Last", separated by semicolons for multiple authors.
- Copy the finished citation. Italicized elements are shown; re-apply italics after pasting if your editor strips formatting.
How it works
Each style has precise rules the tool implements directly: APA 7 inverts all author names to initials and joins the last two with an ampersand, uses sentence case for article and page titles, and formats journal references as Volume(Issue), pages with a DOI link. MLA 9 spells out the first author inverted and subsequent authors in natural order (three or more become 'et al.'), keeps titles in the case you enter, and quotes article titles while italicizing containers. Chicago's bibliography form inverts only the first author and places the year late in the reference.
The output follows the current editions — APA Publication Manual 7th edition (2020), MLA Handbook 9th edition (2021), and The Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition — and was checked against the style guides' published examples. Edge cases like missing dates render as APA's 'n.d.'; always give the result a final read against your instructor's or publisher's requirements.
Sources & references
- APA Style — reference examples (APA 7)
- MLA Style Center — works cited quick guide
- The Chicago Manual of Style — citation quick guide
Content last reviewed: July 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which citation style should I use?
Whichever your instructor or publisher requires. As defaults: APA dominates psychology, education, and sciences; MLA rules the humanities and literature; Chicago is common in history and publishing. When in doubt, ask — style choice is the assigner's call, not the writer's.
How do I enter multiple authors?
Separate them with semicolons: 'Jane Smith; John Doe; Mary Lee'. The tool applies each style's rules automatically — APA inverts every name, MLA inverts only the first, and both switch to 'et al.' at the threshold their current editions specify.
Does it handle in-text citations too?
This tool builds reference-list entries (the bibliography). In-text forms are short derivations: APA is (Smith, 2020), MLA is (Smith 411), Chicago notes style uses numbered footnotes. The reference entry is the part with formatting rules worth automating.
Why did the italics disappear when I pasted?
The Copy button provides plain text for maximum compatibility, so italics must be re-applied in your document to the book title, journal name, or website name. The preview above shows exactly which part should be italic.