Citation Generator
APA 7, MLA 9, and Chicago 18 Notes and Bibliography citations for websites, books, and journal articles — built instantly in your browser, never uploaded.
APA 7 vs MLA 9 vs Chicago 18 at a glance
| Rule | APA 7 | MLA 9 | Chicago 18 N&B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author names | All inverted, initials only: Smith, J., & Doe, J. | First author inverted, rest natural: Smith, Jane, and John Doe | First author inverted, rest natural: Smith, Jane, and John Doe |
| "Et al." in the reference entry | Names up to 20 authors (21+ → first 19, …, final author) | 3+ authors → first author + et al. | Up to 6 authors; 7+ → first 3 + et al. |
| Article / page title | Sentence case, no quotes | Title case, in quotes | Title case, in quotes |
| Journal / website name | Italicized | Italicized | Italicized |
| Date position | Right after authors: (2023). | Near the end, before pages | Late — journal year in parentheses before pages |
| Volume & issue | 14(2) | vol. 14, no. 2 | 14, no. 2 |
| In-text citation | (Smith & Doe, 2023) | (Smith and Doe 121) | Numbered footnote or endnote |
The same journal article in all three styles
| APA 7 | Smith, J., & Doe, J. (2023). Sleep and memory consolidation in college students. Journal of Applied Cognition, 14(2), 113-128. |
| MLA 9 | Smith, Jane, and John Doe. "Sleep and Memory Consolidation in College Students." Journal of Applied Cognition, vol. 14, no. 2, 2023, pp. 113-128. |
| Chicago 18 N&B | Smith, Jane, and John Doe. "Sleep and Memory Consolidation in College Students." Journal of Applied Cognition 14, no. 2 (2023): 113-128. |
An illustrative (fictional) two-author journal article — note how the same facts move and change case between styles. The generator above applies these same rules to your sources.
How to use this tool
- Pick your citation style (APA 7, MLA 9, or Chicago 18 Notes and Bibliography) and source type.
- 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 uses initials and sentence case; MLA 9 inverts the first author and uses 'et al.' for three or more authors; Chicago 18 Notes and Bibliography lists up to six authors and, for seven or more, lists the first three followed by 'et al.' The generator creates bibliography entries, not Chicago author-date references.
The output follows APA 7, MLA 9, and The Chicago Manual of Style 18th edition. Missing dates render as APA's 'n.d.' Book citations no longer ask for a city of publication. Always compare the result with your instructor's or publisher's requirements, especially for unusual source types.
Sources & references
- APA Style — reference examples (APA 7)
- MLA Style Center — works cited quick guide
- The Chicago Manual of Style 18 — Notes and Bibliography examples
Content last reviewed: August 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is a works cited generator the same as a citation generator?
Usually. 'Works Cited' is MLA's name for the list at the end of a paper; APA calls it References, and Chicago commonly calls it a Bibliography. This generator formats entries for all three lists—choose the style your instructor or publisher requires.
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 Chen'. APA inverts every name, MLA uses the first author plus 'et al.' for three or more, and Chicago 18 lists up to six authors or the first three plus 'et al.' for seven or more.
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.