What is the difference between APA and MLA?

APA (American Psychological Association) is used in social sciences and features author-date in-text citations. MLA (Modern Language Association) is used in humanities with author-page in-text citations. Chicago is used in history and business.

How do I cite a website in APA 7th edition?

APA website format: Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Website Name. URL. Example: Smith, J. (2024, March 15). Climate change basics. NASA. https://climate.nasa.gov/...

How do I cite a book in MLA 9th edition?

MLA format is: Author Last, First. Title of Book. Publisher, Year. For example: Smith, John. Learning to Write. Penguin, 2020. In-text you cite (Smith 45). Fill in the book fields and the generator formats both the works-cited entry and the in-text citation.

What is an in-text citation?

It is the brief reference inside your text that points to a full entry in your reference list — for example (Smith, 2020) in APA or (Smith 45) in MLA. It tells the reader which source a quote or idea came from. The tool generates it alongside the full citation.

Do I need a DOI to cite a journal article?

Include the DOI when one is available, especially in APA 7th, where it is formatted as a https://doi.org/ link. If no DOI exists, use the URL of the journal landing page or database. The generator adds the DOI to the entry when you provide it.

Which citation style should I use for my paper?

Follow whatever your instructor or journal requires. As a guide, APA is standard in social sciences, psychology and education; MLA in humanities and literature; Chicago in history and the arts. When in doubt, ask — style choice is set by the assignment, not the writer.

Citation Generator — APA, MLA, Chicago Format

How to use Citation Generator (APA / MLA / Chicago)

The citation generator creates properly formatted references for books, journal articles, websites and newspaper articles in APA 7th, MLA 9th and Chicago citation styles. Fill in the source details, click Generate Citation, and copy the reference list entry and in-text citation ready to paste into your paper.

Select the citation style: APA 7th, MLA 9th or Chicago.
Choose the source type: Book, Journal Article, Website or Newspaper.
Fill in the author, title, year and other fields relevant to your source.
Click Generate Citation and copy the reference list entry or in-text citation.

Your data never leaves your device — 100% private processing.

APA vs MLA vs Chicago — choosing the right style

APA (American Psychological Association) is standard in social sciences, psychology and education. MLA (Modern Language Association) is used in humanities, literature and arts. Chicago style comes in two variants: Notes-Bibliography (humanities) and Author-Date (sciences). Always check your institution's or journal's requirements before submitting.

Citation style quick guide
Style	Used in	In-text format	Date position
APA 7th	Social sciences, psychology	(Author, Year)	After author in reference list
MLA 9th	Humanities, literature	(Author Page)	Near end of reference
Chicago	History, arts, some sciences	Footnote number or (Author Year)	Varies by variant

Common citation mistakes to avoid

The most common citation errors are: missing the access date for websites (required in APA and MLA), incorrect author name order (last name first in reference list, first name first in-text for MLA), omitting the DOI for journal articles when available, and inconsistent punctuation. Always double-check against the official style manual for your required format, particularly for unusual source types like podcasts, social media posts or conference papers.

Worked examples

APA 7th — website

Inputs: APA 7 · website

Result: Author, A. (2025). Title of page. Site Name. https://url

MLA 9th — book

Inputs: MLA 9 · book

Result: Smith, John. Learning to Write. Penguin, 2020.

APA in-text citation

Inputs: APA 7 · in-text

Result: (Smith, 2020)

Glossary

Reference list: The full list of sources cited in a paper, appearing at the end.
In-text citation: A brief parenthetical reference within the text pointing to the reference list.
DOI: Digital Object Identifier — a persistent URL for academic articles.
Bibliography: A list of sources consulted, whether cited in the text or not; broader than a reference list.

Related Education

Word Counter

Count words, characters, sentences, and paragraphs, and estimate reading time. Free, instant, and private — ideal for essays, articles, and posts.

Words to Pages Converter

Convert word count to pages instantly. See how many pages your essay or document will be based on word count, font size, font type, and line spacing.

Test Grade / Percentage Calculator

Calculate your test grade percentage and letter grade instantly. Enter questions right and wrong — or total points — to find your score and GPA impact.

Random Group / Team Generator

Randomly split a list of names into groups or teams. Enter names, choose group size or number of groups — instantly create fair, random team assignments.

Cumulative GPA Calculator

Calculate your cumulative GPA from multiple semesters or courses. Add courses with grades and credit hours to see your overall GPA and what you need to reach

GPA Calculator

Calculate your semester or cumulative GPA from course grades and credit hours. Supports A+ through F grading scale. Free online GPA calculator.

Explore all Education.

Citation Generator (APA / MLA / Chicago)

How to use Citation Generator (APA / MLA / Chicago)

APA vs MLA vs Chicago — choosing the right style

Common citation mistakes to avoid

Worked examples

Glossary

Related reading

Frequently Asked Questions

Why use Citation Generator (APA / MLA / Chicago)?

Common use cases

Get weekly tool tips & updates

Related Education