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Citation & reference generator

Fill in the fields to instantly generate both the reference entry and the in-text citation in APA 7 and MLA 9 format. Handles multiple authors (et al.), alphabetical sorting, and format-preserving (hanging-indent) copy. No sign-up, no ads, one screen.

APA 7 MLA 9 In-text citation + reference Free · No sign-up Updated: Jul 19, 2026

📑 My reference list

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    Generate a citation above and click "Add to list". The list is sorted alphabetically and saved in your browser.

    💡 Formatted copy: "Copy all" copies italics and the hanging indent to your clipboard; pasting into Word or Google Docs keeps the formatting intact.

    📤 Export: ".rtf" opens directly in Word/Google Docs with italics and the hanging indent already applied. ".bib" and ".ris" are for reference managers like Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote.

    ℹ️ Accuracy note: This tool generates citations according to APA 7th edition and MLA 9th edition rules and is for informational purposes only (updated: Jul 19, 2026). You are responsible for the accuracy of the information you enter and its capitalization; also check any special formatting rules required by your institution or instructor.
    Quick answer To create an APA 7 or MLA 9 citation, enter the source's author, year, title, and publication details — the tool instantly generates both the reference-list entry and the in-text citation. For three or more authors, both styles shorten the citation to the first author's name plus "et al."
    ” Citation Generator — ToolPico ↗

    What is a citation generator, and how do you use it?

    The difference between a reference entry and an in-text citation in APA 7 and MLA 9, and the correct formatting rules for each.

    A citation (reference) generator takes a source's details — book, journal article, website, newspaper, video, or thesis — and automatically formats both the reference-list entry and the in-text citation in your chosen style. The two most widely used academic writing styles are APA 7 and MLA 9. This tool produces both, and also applies the "et al." rule for multiple authors, alphabetical sorting, and formatting details like italics and hanging indents for you.

    Reference entry vs. in-text citation

    Quick answer: An in-text citation is the short parenthetical reference inside a sentence (APA: (Smith, 2022), MLA: (Smith 45)). A reference entry is the full citation at the end of the paper (author, year, title, publication details). Every source needs at least one in-text citation and one full reference-list entry. This tool generates both at the same time.

    Step-by-step: how to create a citation

    Quick answer1) Choose the style at the top (APA 7 or MLA 9). 2) Choose the source type. 3) Enter the author(s) as last name and first name; check "Organization/channel" for a corporate author or YouTube channel. 4) Fill in the year, title, and other fields. 5) Copy the citation and reference with "Copy," or click "Add to list" to build your alphabetical reference list.

    Multiple authors and the "et al." rule

    Quick answer"Et al." is Latin for "and others." In APA 7 in-text citations, three or more authors are shortened to the first author's name plus "et al.": (Smith et al., 2022). In the APA reference list, up to 20 authors are listed in full; 21 or more lists the first 19, an ellipsis, then the last author. In MLA, three or more authors use "et al." both in-text and in the reference list. Two authors are joined with "&" in APA and "and" in MLA.

    What if a website has no listed author or date?

    Quick answerIf there is no individual author, the organization that published the content is used instead — check the "Organization/channel" box. If there is no publication date, APA uses (n.d.) ("no date") in place of the year. If the page's content can change over time (e.g. a wiki entry or live statistics), also add an access date; just fill in the "Access date" field in this tool.

    APA 7 or MLA 9? Which field uses which?

    A quick comparison: what each style emphasizes and where it's commonly used.

    APA 7 vs. MLA 9 comparison
    CriterionAPA 7MLA 9
    FocusYear (date)Page
    In-text(Smith, 2022)(Smith 45)
    Common fieldsEducation, social sciences, science, healthLiterature, languages, humanities
    Title capitalizationFirst word onlyAll major words
    3+ authorset al. (in-text)et al.
    Reference list nameReferencesWorks Cited

    Ask your instructor or department style guide which format is required; science and health fields typically prefer APA, while literature and language departments typically prefer MLA.

    Citation templates and examples

    Citable rule sentences: a template and a real example for each source type, in each style. Italicized fields are shown in italics.

    APA 7 reference templates
    TypeTemplate & example
    BookLast, F. (Year). Book title. Publisher.
    Dostoevsky, F. (1866). Crime and Punishment (C. Garnett, Trans.). Penguin Classics.
    Journal articleLast, F. (Year). Article title. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pages. https://doi.org/xxx
    Smith, J. & Brown, M. (2022). Motivation in remote learning. Journal of Education, 47(210), 55-78.
    WebsiteLast, F. (Year, Month Day). Page title. Site Name. URL
    Reed, S. (2024, 12 March). AI and education. Education Blog. https://example.com/ai
    ThesisLast, F. (Year). Thesis title [Master's thesis, University].
    Young, E. (2021). Social media and youth [Master's thesis, State University].
    MLA 9 Works Cited templates
    TypeTemplate & example
    BookLast, First. Book Title. Publisher, Year.
    Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Penguin Classics, 1866.
    Journal articleLast, First. "Article Title." Journal Name, vol. Volume, no. Issue, Year, pp. pages.
    Smith, Jane, and Michael Brown. "Motivation in Remote Learning." Journal of Education, vol. 47, no. 210, 2022, pp. 55-78.
    WebsiteLast, First. "Page Title." Site Name, Day Month Year, URL.
    Reed, Sarah. "AI and Education." Education Blog, 12 March 2024, https://example.com/ai.
    VideoChannel. "Video Title." YouTube, Day Month Year, URL.
    TED-Ed. "How the Brain Learns." YouTube, 10 June 2021, https://youtu.be/xxx.

    Citation terms glossary

    Key terms used in academic reference writing.

    In-text citationA short parenthetical reference inside a sentence. APA: (Last name, year). MLA: (Last name page).
    Reference entryThe full citation at the end of the paper: author, year, title, and publication details.
    Et al.Latin for "and others"; used after the first author's name for sources with three or more authors.
    DOIDigital Object Identifier — a permanent address given to journal articles. Written as https://doi.org/ in the reference list.
    Hanging indentThe first line of a reference starts at the margin; following lines are indented. Applied in Word using the "Hanging" indent option.
    Access dateThe date an online source was viewed; noted for content that may change over time.
    n.d. (no date)Used in place of the year in APA when a source has no identifiable publication date.
    Works CitedMLA's term for the alphabetical reference list at the end of a paper (APA calls it "References").

    Add this generator to your site (embed code)

    Embed the citation generator on your own website for free. Copy the code below into your HTML — the tool runs in a simplified view and links back to this page as its source.

    The embedded tool has a fixed layout; you can adjust the height value to fit your site. No ads or personal data, runs entirely client-side.

    Frequently asked questions

    How do you write a book reference in APA 7?
    Order: Last, F. (Year). Book title (edition). Publisher. The book title is italicized, and only the first word (and proper nouns) is capitalized. For a translated book, the translator follows the title in parentheses: Crime and Punishment (C. Garnett, Trans.). Just select the "Book" type above and fill in the fields.
    How do you write an in-text citation?
    APA: (Last name, year); for a direct quote, (Last name, year, p. 12). One author (Smith, 2022). Two authors (Smith & Brown, 2022). Three or more (Smith et al., 2022). MLA: (Last name page) — no comma: (Smith 45). Two authors (Smith and Brown 45). Three or more (Smith et al. 45).
    What is the difference between APA and MLA?
    APA is year-focused and commonly used in education, the social sciences, science, and health; only the first word of a title is capitalized. MLA is page-focused and commonly used in literature and the humanities; all major words in a title are capitalized. In-text, APA gives the year and MLA gives the page.
    When do you use "et al."?
    "Et al." means "and others." In APA 7 in-text citations, it's used after the first author's name when there are three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2022). In the APA reference list, up to 20 authors are listed in full. In MLA, "et al." is used for three or more authors both in-text and in the Works Cited list. The tool applies this rule automatically.
    How do you cite a website with no listed author or date?
    If there's no individual author, the organization name takes its place — check the "Organization/channel" box in the author row and enter the organization's name. If there's no date, APA uses (n.d.). If the content updates over time, fill in the "Access date" field.
    How do you cite ChatGPT or another AI tool?
    In APA 7, AI chat tools are treated like software: Company. (Year). Model name (version) [Large language model]. URL. Example: OpenAI. (2026). ChatGPT (GPT-4 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com. In-text, cite it as (OpenAI, 2026). You can also generate this using the "Website" type with the organization box checked.
    How do I copy my reference list into Word without breaking the formatting?
    The "Copy all" button in the "My reference list" section copies to your clipboard while preserving italics and the hanging indent. Pasting directly into Word or Google Docs keeps journal and book titles italicized and lines properly indented — no manual formatting needed.
    How are references sorted alphabetically?
    References are sorted alphabetically by the first author's last name. The "My reference list" section does this automatically as you add citations — for example listing "Brown" before "Smith" — and lets you copy the whole list with a single click.
    Can I auto-fill a citation from a DOI or ISBN?
    Yes. Choose the Journal article type and paste a DOI into the auto-fill box, or choose Book and paste an ISBN-10/13, then click "Auto-fill." The tool looks up the title, author(s), and publication details from CrossRef (DOI) or Open Library (ISBN) and fills in the fields — you can still edit anything afterward.
    Does this tool support Chicago and Harvard style?
    Yes. Alongside APA 7 and MLA 9, this generator also produces Chicago (notes-bibliography, 17th edition, author-date in-text) and Harvard style reference entries and in-text citations from the same fields — just switch the tab at the top of the tool.

    Methodology & sources

    ToolPico's Citation Generator is a free, independent, sign-up-free citation tool. The formatting engine applies APA 7th edition (American Psychological Association) and MLA 9th edition (Modern Language Association) rules directly: author ordering and the "et al." rule, title italicization, volume/issue/page punctuation, and alphabetical sorting are all handled automatically. Everything runs in your browser; the information you enter is never sent to a server, and your list is stored only on your own device.

    Sources: APA Publication Manual (7th edition) · MLA Handbook (9th edition). Last updated: July 19, 2026. Output is for informational purposes only; your institution's style guide is the authoritative source.

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