Citation Generator
Create properly formatted citations for books, journal articles, and websites in four major citation styles: APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, Chicago 17th edition, and Harvard. Fill in the source details — author(s), title, year, and type-specific fields like publisher, journal name, volume, or URL — and the citation updates in real time.
The tool handles author name formatting (last name first, initials, et al. rules), italicization of titles and journal names, and the punctuation conventions that differ between styles. Multiple authors can be entered separated by semicolons.
Everything runs in your browser — no API calls, no data collection. Copy the formatted citation to your clipboard with one click.
By The Paper Room Editorial Team — Utility Tools
Frequently asked questions
Which citation styles are supported?▼
APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition (notes-bibliography style), and Harvard referencing. These cover the vast majority of academic and professional citation requirements.
How do I enter multiple authors?▼
Separate authors with semicolons. Each author can be entered as 'Last, First' or 'First Last' — the tool reformats names according to the selected style's conventions. For example: 'Smith, John; Doe, Jane; Williams, Robert'.
Does it handle DOIs and URLs?▼
Yes. For journal articles, you can enter a DOI which is formatted according to each style's requirements. For website sources, enter the full URL and access date. The tool formats these elements with the correct prefix and punctuation for each style.
Is the formatting guaranteed to be correct?▼
The tool follows the official rules for each style, but citation styles have edge cases and exceptions for unusual source types. For high-stakes academic work, always verify the output against your institution's style guide or a comprehensive reference like the Purdue OWL.
Is my data sent anywhere?▼
No. All formatting is done with pure string manipulation in your browser. Nothing you type is transmitted to any server.