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Citation Generator (APA & MLA)

A citation generator creates correctly formatted references in APA or MLA style for sources like books, websites and journal articles. Enter the author, title, date and publication details, and it assembles a citation you can copy straight into your bibliography.

How to Use the Citation Generator (APA & MLA)

  1. Choose the citation style (APA or MLA) and source type.
  2. Enter the author, title, year and other details.
  3. The formatted citation is generated instantly.
  4. Copy it into your references list.

Why citations matter

Citations give credit to the sources you used, let readers find and verify them, and protect you from accusations of plagiarism. In academic and professional writing they are not optional; they are part of doing the work honestly.

Good referencing also strengthens your own argument by showing it rests on credible sources.

Getting the style right

Different fields use different styles, APA, MLA and Chicago being the most common, and each formats authors, dates and titles in its own way. Use the style your instructor or publication requires, and apply it consistently throughout.

A generator handles the fiddly formatting, but always check the details, spelling of names, capitalisation and page numbers, against the original source, since a citation is only useful if it is accurate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which styles are supported?

APA (7th edition style) and MLA (9th edition style), the two most common formats for academic writing.

Which source types can I cite?

Books, websites and journal articles, with the fields relevant to each type.

Will the formatting be exactly right?

The tool follows standard APA and MLA patterns and handles common cases well. Always double-check against your institution's specific guidelines for unusual sources.

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