Free citation generator to save time
Create accurate citations in APA, MLA, Chicago, and more with this advanced citation generator.
Save time and avoid formatting mistakes on all your assignments.
How the citation generator works
01
Select your citation style
Before getting started, choose the citation format that matches your assignment or institution’s guidelines. From APA to MLA to Chicago and more, the tool offers a wide range of styles commonly used in academic and professional writing.
02
Provide source information
03
Create your formatted citation
Citation generator styles explained
APA
APA is widely used in social sciences, education, and engineering. It features in-text citations in parentheses and a detailed “References” page to clearly link every source you’ve used.
MLA
MLA is common in humanities like literature, philosophy, and the arts. It uses parenthetical in-text citations and a “Works Cited” page that lists every source referenced in your paper.
AMA
Popular in medicine and health sciences, AMA uses superscript numbers in the text. These match a numbered reference list, keeping your sources organized in the order they’re cited.
ASA
ASA is a go-to format in sociology. It requires italicizing journal names and applying specific formatting rules for both in-text citations and reference lists based on author and year.
APSA
Used in political science, APSA follows an author-date system. Whether citing a book or online source, the focus stays on clear, consistent references that support your arguments with credibility.
Chicago
Chicago style is popular in history and humanities. It relies on footnotes or endnotes for citations, allowing detailed source info without crowding the main body of your writing.
Turabian
Turabian, a student-friendly version of Chicago style, is ideal for history, literature, and arts. It uses numbered footnotes or endnotes to cite sources and includes a full bibliography.
IEEE
IEEE is used in engineering and technical fields. It numbers sources with square brackets [1], [2], etc., making it easier to manage complex references in research-heavy writing.
Harvard
Harvard style, known for its flexibility, uses the author-date format. It’s common in social sciences and varies slightly between universities, especially in how punctuation and layout are handled.
CSE
CSE is common in biology and medical writing. It supports two formats — citation-sequence and name-year, and often places reference numbers right after facts, helping match data with sources smoothly.
Why our tool is a smarter way to do citations
01
Cite any source
Easily create citations for books, websites, journals, and more. Our citation generator supports nearly any source type you’re working with.
02
Quick source lookup
Search by title, link, DOI, or keywords. Find the exact source you need and generate a citation in seconds.
03
Support all major styles
Create citations in the most popular citation formats, and many others, saving time and letting you focus on your actual writing.
04
Up to date
We do our best to keep the generator up to date to help you stay in line with current citation style rules.
05
Custom formatting options
Choose the font size and style that match your paper, so everything looks consistent and professional with no extra effort.
06
Completely free
Use our citation maker as often as you like. It’s free, unlimited, and doesn’t ask for an account or email.
More than citations: Everything you need for smarter writing
Essay rewriter
Quickly rewrite essays into fresh, polished content without losing the original meaning or key points.
Plagiarism checker
Scan your text to spot duplicate content and ensure originality. Great for catching unintentional overlap before you submit.
Create accurate citations instantly
Create accurate citations instantly
Build citations for any source in seconds. Our citation generator supports all major styles and saves you time on formatting.
FAQ
Why do we use citations in writing?
A citation is a way to give credit to the original source of information you’ve used in your writing. Whether you’re quoting directly, summarizing, or paraphrasing someone else’s work, proper citations help your readers understand where your information came from. This includes both a full reference at the end of your paper and in-text citations, which appear within the body of your writing to point to specific sources.
In-text citations are a key part of most citation styles like APA, MLA, or Chicago. They typically include the author’s name, publication year, or page number, depending on the style used. Learning how to use in-text citations correctly is essential for avoiding plagiarism and building strong, credible academic work.
Does WriteMyEssay offer services beyond AI-powered tools?
Yes, in addition to AI tools, WriteMyEssay also offers support from real academic writers. Whether you need help with formatting, rewriting, or full writing from scratch, our team is here to help. You’ll get reliable service with quality you can count on.
Do I need to cite a source if I’m only paraphrasing it?
Yes, you should still cite the source even when you paraphrase. Paraphrasing means putting someone else’s ideas into your own words, but the original thought still belongs to the author. Whether you quote directly or rephrase, proper citation is an essential part of academic integrity.
What’s wrong with using fake references?
Fake references might seem like a shortcut, but they only hurt your work in the end. If someone checks your sources and finds they don’t exist, it can damage your credibility or even lead to academic penalties. Even if you're short on time, it's always better to use real sources, even just a few, than to risk getting caught with fake ones.
Is the citation generator free to use?
Yes, this citation generator is completely free. You don’t need to create an account or pay to access any features.
Can I use the citations generated here directly in my submission?
We do our best to keep the citation generator updated with the latest formatting rules, but occasional errors or style changes may slip through. While our citation generator is designed to be accurate and reliable, manually reviewing your citations ensures everything matches your assignment requirements. A quick check can save you from small formatting mistakes.