📚 Citation Generator
APA 7th, MLA 9th, and more – 100% client‑side, no tracking, instant formatting
Accurate academic citations
📄 Formatted citation
APA 7thWhy client‑side citation?
No server, no storage, no upload. Perfect for students who need quick, accurate citations without ads or tracking. APA/MLA compliant.
Books, websites, journals
formatted instantly
Citation Generator — Instant APA and MLA citations for any source
Generate perfectly formatted academic citations for books, websites, and journal articles in APA 7th edition and MLA 9th edition — instantly, privately, and completely free.
Correct citations are one of the most important parts of academic writing — and one of the easiest things to get wrong. The Citation Generator takes the details of your source and produces a perfectly formatted reference in your chosen citation style in seconds. Select your source type, fill in the fields, and your citation is ready to copy and paste into your essay, dissertation, or reference list. No account required, no data sent anywhere, works offline.
How to generate a citation
- Select your source type — Choose from book, website or webpage, or journal article. The relevant input fields appear automatically based on your selection.
- Choose your citation style — Select APA 7th edition or MLA 9th edition depending on what your course or institution requires.
- Enter the source details — Fill in the author name, publication year, title, publisher, journal name, volume, issue, page numbers, URL, DOI, or access date — only the fields relevant to your source type are shown.
- Get your formatted citation — Your citation is generated instantly in the output panel as you fill in the details.
- Copy or export — Click the copy button to add the citation to your clipboard, or export it as a .txt file to build up your reference list over time.
Features
APA 7th and MLA 9th edition support
The generator follows the latest official guidelines for both APA and MLA — the two most widely required citation styles in universities and colleges worldwide. Every citation is formatted according to the current edition rules, so you can be confident your references will meet academic submission standards.
Three source types supported
Generate citations for the three most common academic source types — books, websites and webpages, and journal articles. Each source type displays only the relevant input fields, keeping the tool clean and simple to use without overwhelming you with unnecessary options.
Book citations
Enter the author name, publication year, book title, and publisher to generate a complete and correctly formatted book citation in APA or MLA style. The generator applies the correct punctuation, italics placement, and field order for each style automatically.
Website and webpage citations
For online sources, enter the author if available, the publication or update date, the page title, the site name, and the full URL. Add an access date if your style requires it. The generator formats the citation correctly including all required punctuation and URL presentation rules.
Journal article citations
For academic journal articles, enter the author, year, article title, journal name, volume number, issue number, page range, and DOI if available. The generator produces a complete journal citation with all elements in the correct order and format for your chosen style.
Instant real-time formatting
Your citation is formatted in real time as you fill in the fields — no need to click a generate button. See the finished citation appear and update immediately as you type, so you can spot any missing details before you copy.
One-click copy to clipboard
Copy your formatted citation to the clipboard with a single click. Paste it directly into Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Notion, or any online submission portal — no manual reformatting needed.
Export as text file
Download your citation as a plain .txt file. Use this to build up a full reference list over multiple study sessions, or share it with a supervisor or study partner for review.
DOI and URL support
Add a DOI or URL for online and journal sources and the generator will include it in exactly the right position and format required by APA or MLA style guidelines — including the correct prefix, punctuation, and hyperlink formatting rules.
Works offline
The Citation Generator runs entirely in your browser using client-side processing. Once the page has loaded, it works without any internet connection — making it reliable for studying in libraries, on public transport, or in any location with limited connectivity.
100% private
Every detail you enter — author names, titles, publishers, journal names, and URLs — is processed entirely on your device. Nothing is sent to any server, nothing is stored in the cloud, and no account or sign-up is required. Your source information stays completely private at all times.
Supported citation styles
APA 7th edition
The American Psychological Association format is the most widely required citation style in social sciences, psychology, education, nursing, business, and many science disciplines. APA citations lead with the author's last name and initials, followed by the publication year in parentheses, the title in sentence case, and publisher or source details. The Citation Generator applies all APA 7th edition rules automatically — including italics, capitalization, and DOI formatting.
MLA 9th edition
The Modern Language Association format is standard in literature, languages, philosophy, cultural studies, and most humanities disciplines. MLA citations use the author's full name in inverted order, the title in title case with appropriate italics, and publication details arranged in a container structure. The Citation Generator formats every MLA 9th edition element correctly — including punctuation between containers and the Works Cited entry format.
Which citation style should you choose?
- APA 7th edition — Use for social sciences, psychology, education, nursing, business, and science-adjacent subjects. The most widely accepted default style at most universities worldwide.
- MLA 9th edition — Use for literature, languages, philosophy, film studies, cultural studies, and most humanities subjects.
- Not sure? — Check your assignment brief or course handbook. If no style is specified, ask your lecturer. When in doubt, APA is the safest and most widely accepted choice.
Citation Generator vs Citation Formatter — which should you use?
Xcelario offers two citation tools for different needs. The Citation Generator is structured around source types — select book, website, or journal article and fill in the specific fields for that source. It is ideal when you are building citations from scratch and want guidance on exactly what information to include for each source type. The Citation Formatter is faster and more flexible — enter author, title, publisher, and year in any combination and get an instant citation in APA, MLA, or Chicago style. Use the Formatter when your source details are already in hand and you just need the correct formatting applied quickly. Both tools are free, private, and work offline.
Why correct citations matter in academic work
Incorrectly formatted citations are one of the most common causes of lost marks in essays and research papers. Beyond grades, proper citation demonstrates academic integrity, allows readers to locate and verify your sources, and gives appropriate credit to the authors whose work informs your own. Each citation style has precise rules about punctuation, italics, capitalization, field order, and URL formatting — rules that vary between styles and are easy to get wrong when working by hand. The Citation Generator eliminates this risk by applying the correct rules automatically, every time, for every source type.
What can you use it for?
- Essays and coursework — Build your reference list or bibliography quickly and accurately before submission.
- Dissertations and theses — Ensure every source in your reference list is formatted consistently and correctly throughout your document.
- Literature reviews — Generate citations for multiple sources efficiently without switching between style guides.
- Annotated bibliographies — Create correctly formatted citation entries for each source in your annotated bibliography.
- Journal article submissions — Format references to match the specific citation style required by your target journal.
- Blog and academic content writing — Add properly formatted citations to online writing to maintain credibility and academic standards.
Who is this for?
- Students writing essays, reports, and dissertations who need fast, accurate citations without memorizing style rules
- Researchers compiling reference lists and bibliographies for journal submissions and conference papers
- Postgraduate and doctoral students managing large numbers of sources across long-form academic documents
- Bloggers and academic writers who want to cite sources correctly in their published content
- Anyone who needs a quick, private, offline-capable citation tool without signing up for a paid service
Generate your first citation now. Select your source type, choose your style, fill in the details, and have a perfectly formatted academic citation ready to copy in seconds — no signup, no server, no fuss.
Built for students, by learners. Fast, free, and fully private — that is the Academic Tools promise.