EssayClerkCitation generator
Create a reference list and in-text citation examples in APA, MLA, Chicago author-date, Harvard, IEEE or Vancouver. Manual formatting runs in your browser.
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Your source details
Import BibTeX or RIS
Books, journal articles, and webpages. Maximum 200,000 characters. URLs and DOI strings alone are not imports.
Find a source by DOI or ISBN
When you choose Look up source, only this identifier is sent to EssayClerk and Crossref (DOI) or Open Library (ISBN). Your source form and bibliography stay in this browser. Entering a URL elsewhere does not fetch it.
Crossref does not cover every DOI registry. If no match is found or lookup is unavailable, use the manual form below.
Your sources (0/100)
Add a source to start your bibliography.
References
Add or import sources to create your bibliography.
Keep a copy on this device
Optional. One saved citation project per browser and site address. Save replaces the previous copy; edits are never saved automatically. Restore is always your choice.
Includes added sources, style, and lookup provenance. Unadded forms, pasted imports, and citation locators are not saved.
Anyone using this browser profile can access the saved copy. Browser data may be cleared or unavailable. Device saving is not a backup or cloud sync; download your work separately.
Add sources and save or clear source-form edits before saving a project snapshot. Pasted import previews are not included.
Build references from details you know
Enter books, journal articles, or webpages manually, or preview supported BibTeX/RIS records before adding them. APA, MLA, Chicago author-date and Harvard sort references using the style. IEEE and Vancouver number references in source-list order; use Move up/down to arrange the order of first citation. Unknown author/date fields stay unknown. Formatting is not a check that a source exists or that all metadata is correct.
Imports preserve parsed CSL metadata, including additional roles such as editors; the form edits the common fields shown. Unsupported source types and incomplete imports are rejected without adding partial records. Possible duplicates require an explicit keep-separate decision; automatic merging and arbitrary prose repair are not implemented.
Keep your sources
The citation generator and bibliography formatter share this browser session’s sources when navigating between them. Refreshing or closing clears the current project. A device copy is saved and restored only through the controls above; later edits need another save. Export BibTeX/RIS to keep source records; a plain-text bibliography is formatted output rather than an editable source project.
Open the bibliography formatter
Check this citation project for missing details, identifiers, dates, and possible duplicates.
Formatting uses Citation.js and citeproc-js. citeproc-js © 2009–2019 Frank Bennett. Licenses and covered source. Styles/locales from Citation Style Language are licensed CC BY-SA 3.0; author notices are retained. Review APA guidance or MLA guidance for your source.
Generate citations and a reference list in six styles
Cite the work you actually consulted. A journal article accessed online is still an article, rather than automatically becoming a webpage. Choose the appropriate supported source type so article and journal titles, volume, issue and page range reach the right fields.
A DOI or ISBN lookup can reduce typing, but review its result against the publication. Check author order, title, date and edition before adding the source. A matching identifier does not establish that every returned field is complete or correct.
Keep two tasks separate: build the full reference entry and place the appropriate citation in your essay. The citation example refers to the selected source and any locator you enter; it does not scan your essay or insert citations. Before submission, compare every cited source with the reference list and apply the layout required by your course.
Common questions
Can I cite a website, book or journal article?
Yes. Choose the supported source type and enter the details you can verify. Website URLs are stored as reference details, not fetched automatically. A DOI or ISBN can be looked up only when you explicitly request it and review the result.
Can I make in-text citations and a bibliography together?
The workspace formats the complete reference list and shows an in-text example for a selected source. Enter the real page or other locator when needed. It does not scan your essay, insert citations into a document or verify that every cited work appears there.
Which citation style should I choose?
Use the style and edition named in your assignment. The tool supports six specific styles, including Chicago author-date and Cite Them Right Harvard. A different institutional or journal variant can require different output.
Can I generate a citation from any website URL?
Arbitrary URL lookup is not supported. Enter webpage details manually; automatic metadata lookup here accepts DOI or ISBN identifiers only.
Are IEEE and Vancouver references alphabetical?
In this workspace their numbers follow source-list order. Arrange sources in the order you first cite them using Move up or Move down, and review the citation numbers after changes.