A citation format guide helps you correctly attribute sources in academic writing. APA, MLA, Chicago, and IEEE each have distinct rules for punctuation, author order, and date placement. Getting citations right protects you from plagiarism and shows academic integrity.
Author-Date format. Used in social sciences, psychology, education.
Source Details
Generated Citation
Quick Differences: APA vs MLA vs Chicago vs IEEE
| Aspect | APA 7 | MLA 9 | Chicago 17 | IEEE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disciplines | Social sciences, psych, edu | Humanities, literature | History, arts, humanities | Engineering, CS, tech |
| In-text style | (Author, Year) | (Author Page) | Footnotes/endnotes | [1], [2], [3] |
| Article title | Sentence case, no quotes | Title Case, in quotes | Title Case, in quotes | Sentence case, in quotes |
| Journal name | Title Case, italic | Italicized | Italicized | Abbreviated, italic |
| Date position | After author | End of citation | Near end | Near end |
| Reference list name | References | Works Cited | Bibliography | References |
How to Use the Citation Format Guide
Different academic fields use different citation styles, and mixing them up can cost you points. This citation format guide generates correctly formatted citations for APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, Chicago 17th edition, and IEEE — the four most common academic citation styles.
Step 1: Choose Your Format
Select the citation format your course or publication requires. If you're unsure, check your syllabus or assignment instructions. Social sciences courses usually use APA, English and humanities use MLA, history often uses Chicago, and engineering or CS uses IEEE.
Step 2: Select Source Type
Choose the type of source you are citing: book, journal article, website, newspaper, video, podcast, social media post, or government report. The fields update automatically to show only what each format requires for that source type — no more guessing which fields to include.
Step 3: Fill in the Fields
Enter the source details. For authors, use the "Last, First" format for the first author (e.g., "Smith, John"). For DOIs, include the full URL form: "https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx". For URLs, include the full address starting with "https://". For access dates (required for websites in some formats), use the date you viewed the page.
Step 4: Copy the Citation
Click Copy Citation to copy the formatted citation to your clipboard, then paste it directly into your bibliography, works cited page, or reference list. The citation uses proper italics notation (shown in the display) — check that your word processor preserves formatting when you paste.
FAQ
Is this citation formatter free?
Yes, completely free with no ads or signup. All citations are generated locally in your browser. Nothing is sent to any server.
Is my citation data private?
Yes. All data is processed in your browser only. No source information is stored or transmitted anywhere.
What is the difference between APA and MLA?
APA (American Psychological Association) is used mainly in social sciences, psychology, and education. It emphasizes the year of publication early in the citation. MLA (Modern Language Association) is used in humanities and literature and emphasizes the author. APA uses 'Title Case' for journal names but sentence case for article titles; MLA capitalizes most title words.
When should I use Chicago style?
Chicago style is standard in history, fine arts, and many humanities disciplines. It has two systems: Notes-Bibliography (footnotes/endnotes plus a bibliography, common in history and arts) and Author-Date (similar to APA, used in natural and social sciences). This tool generates the Notes-Bibliography format.
When is IEEE citation required?
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) format is standard in engineering, computer science, and technology fields. It uses numbered references in square brackets [1] in the text body and a numbered reference list at the end of the paper.
What is DOI and do I need it?
A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a unique alphanumeric string assigned to academic articles and papers. Including a DOI makes it easy for readers to find the exact source online. In APA 7, include the DOI as a hyperlink when available. In MLA 9, include it in angle brackets. For websites and books, a URL or ISBN is used instead.
How do I handle multiple authors in each format?
APA: List up to 20 authors (Last, F. M.); for 21+, use an ellipsis before the last author. MLA: List the first author inverted (Last, First), then list subsequent authors in normal order, separated by commas and 'and' before the last. Chicago: List all authors in full for books; for articles with 4+ authors, use 'First Author et al.' IEEE: Use first initial and last name for all authors.