Citation generator: APA, MLA and Harvard
Create references for websites, journal articles and books in APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition or Harvard (Cite Them Right). Paste a DOI or ISBN to fill in the details automatically, then build a reference list you can switch between styles and copy straight into your essay with the italics kept.
Your reference
Add at least a title and the reference appears here as you type.
DOI details come from Crossref and book details from Open Library, both free public catalogues. Your reference list is saved in this browser only. Need help with an essay? Two free classes with a tutor.
Getting references right
A reference has to let a reader find the exact source you used. For a web page that means the author or organisation, the date it was published, the title, the site and the address; for a journal article, the volume, issue, pages and DOI.
Copy references straight from the generator rather than retyping them: the italics and punctuation are part of the style, and markers notice when they slip.
- ✓ Use the organisation as the author when a page has no named author (for example the World Health Organization)
- ✓ Use the date the page was published or last updated, not the date you read it; the access date goes at the end
- ✓ Never cite Wikipedia as a source; use the references at the bottom of its articles instead
FAQs
Which referencing style should I use?＋
Use the one your school, university or teacher asks for. APA is common in psychology, education and the sciences; MLA in English and the humanities, especially in the US; Harvard in most UK universities and many international schools.
How do I find a DOI?＋
Most journal articles show it near the title or in the citation details, starting with 10. (for example 10.1038/nature14539). Paste it in and the details fill in automatically. Books use the ISBN on the back cover or copyright page.
Why does APA change my title to lower case?＋
APA 7 puts article, book and web page titles in sentence case: only the first word, the first word after a colon and proper nouns have capitals. Check names and places keep their capitals, or untick the option.
What is an in-text citation?＋
The short reference in your writing that points to the full entry in your reference list, such as (Smith, 2020) in APA and Harvard or (Smith) in MLA. Add a page number when you quote.
Does Harvard use et al.?＋
In Cite Them Right Harvard, sources with four or more authors are cited as the first author plus et al. in the text, and all authors are listed in the reference. Some universities use et al. in the reference too, so check your guide.
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