Citation Guides
Authoritative guides covering every supported style — written and reviewed by the MLA Generator Editorial Team against the current editions of their respective style manuals. Or jump straight to the citation generator.
Style guides
Complete reference for each major citation style.
- AMA Citation Guide: AMA Manual of Style 11th Edition AMA 11 citation guide with numeric in-text citations, numbered reference lists, journal abbreviations, and worked examples for common academic sources.
- APA Citation Guide: APA 7th Edition Format Made Clear Complete APA 7 guide to in-text citations, reference lists, source examples, and the rule changes students need when moving from APA 6.
- Chicago Citation Guide: 18th Edition Rules Complete Chicago 18 guide to author-date citations, notes-bibliography basics, reference lists, source examples, and 18th edition changes.
- Harvard Citation Guide: Cite Them Right 12th Edition (Author-Date) Complete Harvard referencing guide for Cite Them Right 12, with in-text citations, reference-list rules, source examples, and APA/MLA differences.
- IEEE Citation Guide for Engineering and Computer Science Complete IEEE citation guide for bracketed in-text numbers, ordered references, technical source examples, and engineering paper formatting.
- MLA Citation Guide: MLA 9th Edition Format Made Clear Complete MLA 9 guide to in-text citations, Works Cited pages, core elements, container rules, and worked examples for common source types.
- Vancouver Citation Guide: NLM Numeric Style Complete Vancouver guide to NLM numeric citations, numbered reference lists, journal abbreviations, DOI formatting, and common biomedical sources.
How to cite
Format common source types across every style.
- APA Format Example: Sample Paper, Title Page & References A complete APA 7 format example with title page, headings, in-text citations, and a sample references list with worked entries.
- APA Title Page: Student & Professional Format (7th ed.) How to build an APA title page in APA 7 student or professional format: every required element, exact spacing, the running head, and a worked layout for each.
- How to Cite a Blog Post in MLA & APA: Formats + Examples (2026) Cite a blog post in MLA 9 and APA 7 with copy-ready templates, real examples, in-text citations, and fixes for no-author posts and comments. Free generator.
- How to Cite a Book in MLA, APA, Chicago, and Four More Styles How to cite books in MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, Vancouver, IEEE, and AMA, with examples for editions, chapters, e-books, translations, and no author.
- How to Cite a Dictionary or Encyclopedia in MLA & APA (Examples) Cite a dictionary or encyclopedia entry in MLA 9 and APA 7 with copy-ready Merriam-Webster and Britannica examples, plus correct in-text citations.
- How to Cite a Government Website or Report: MLA & APA Examples Cite government websites, agency reports, and congressional documents in MLA 9 and APA 7: templates for agency authors, no-date pages, and hearings.
- How to Cite a Journal Article in 7 Styles How to cite journal articles in MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, Vancouver, IEEE, and AMA, including DOIs, preprints, retractions, and online-only articles.
- How to Cite a Lecture or PowerPoint in MLA, APA & 5 More Styles Cite a lecture, PowerPoint slides, or class notes in MLA 9 and APA 7: official templates, Canvas/Zoom examples, in-text citations, and a free generator.
- How to Cite a Movie or Film in MLA, APA & Chicago How to cite a movie in MLA, APA, and Chicago — director, studio, and year, with streaming-vs-physical rules and one correct worked example per style.
- How to Cite a Newspaper Article in MLA and APA (Online & Print) Cite a newspaper article in MLA 9 and APA 7 with official templates and examples for print, online, no-author, and database articles, plus in-text forms.
- How to Cite a Painting in MLA & APA: Museum vs. Online (Examples) Cite a painting or artwork in MLA 9 and APA 7: copy-ready templates for museum and online viewing, untitled and undated works, and in-text citations.
- How to Cite a PDF in MLA, APA, Chicago & 4 More Styles How to cite PDFs in MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, Vancouver, IEEE, and AMA, with examples for reports, white papers, scans, and login-only files.
- How to Cite a Podcast in MLA, APA & Chicago How to cite podcast episodes in MLA, APA, and Chicago, including host roles, episode titles, show names, dates, URLs, and worked examples.
- How to Cite a Poem in MLA & APA: Line Numbers, Quotes & Examples Cite a poem in MLA and APA: works cited and reference examples, in-text citations with line numbers, block quotes, anthologies, and poems found online.
- How to Cite a Quote in MLA, APA & Chicago How to cite a quote in MLA, APA, and Chicago: short quotes vs. block quotes, the length thresholds for each style, and where the page number and punctuation go.
- How to Cite a Song or Album in MLA & APA | Spotify, CD & Vinyl Cite a song or album in MLA 9 and APA 7: Spotify and streaming, CD, and vinyl. Copy-ready templates, real examples, in-text citations, and lyrics rules.
- How to Cite a TED Talk in MLA & APA: Formats, Speeches & Examples Cite a TED Talk or speech in MLA 9 and APA 7: works-cited and reference templates, examples, in-text citations with timestamps, plus TEDx and YouTube tips.
- How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in MLA & APA (With Examples) Cite a thesis or dissertation in MLA 9 and APA 7 — published (ProQuest) or unpublished — with copy-ready templates, official examples, and in-text citations.
- How to Cite a TikTok Video in MLA, APA, and Five More Styles Cite a TikTok video in MLA 9 and APA 7 with official templates, real examples, and in-text citations, plus fixes for missing dates, captions, and handles.
- How to Cite a TV Show or Netflix Episode in MLA & APA (Examples) Cite a TV show or Netflix episode in MLA 9 and APA 7: copy-ready templates, real examples, in-text citations, and streaming edge cases. Free generator.
- How to Cite a Tweet (X Post) in MLA, APA, and 5 More Styles Cite a tweet or X post in MLA 9 and APA 7 with official templates, examples, and in-text citations, plus deleted posts, threads, hashtags, and the X rename.
- How to Cite a Website in MLA, APA, Chicago, and Four More Styles How to cite websites in MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, Vancouver, IEEE, and AMA, including no author, no date, social posts, and archived pages.
- How to Cite a Wikipedia Article in MLA, APA, and 5 More Styles Cite a Wikipedia article in MLA 9 and APA 7: official templates, permanent links, in-text citations, no-author rules, and one article in all seven styles.
- How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA, APA, Chicago & 4 More Styles How to cite YouTube videos in MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, Vancouver, IEEE, and AMA, with examples for timestamps, channels, removed videos, and dates.
- How to Cite an Image in MLA, APA & Chicago How to cite images in MLA, APA, and Chicago, including museum works, online photos, book figures, captions, and worked source-list entries.
- How to Cite an Instagram Post or Reel in MLA & APA | Examples See exactly how to cite an Instagram post, Reel, Story, or profile in MLA 9 and APA 7 — official templates, real examples, and in-text citations.
- How to Cite an Interview in MLA, APA, Chicago & 4 More Styles How to cite interviews in MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, Vancouver, IEEE, and AMA, including personal, podcast, broadcast, email, and published interviews.
- How to Cite ChatGPT and AI in MLA, APA, and Five More Styles Cite ChatGPT and generative AI in MLA 9 and APA 7 with the official 2025 templates: prompt-as-title Works Cited entries, in-text citations, and examples.
- How to Cite the Bible in MLA & APA: Version, Chapter & Verse Rules Cite the Bible in MLA 9 and APA 7: works cited and reference examples, in-text chapter and verse rules (MLA periods vs APA colons), plus Quran and Torah tips.
- How to Make a Works Cited Page (MLA): Format & Examples Build an MLA Works Cited page with alphabetical order, half-inch hanging indents, double spacing, headings, and a worked example list.
- MLA Format Example: Sample Paper, Heading & Works Cited A complete MLA format example: the first-page heading, running header, margins and font specs, in-text citations, and a sample MLA 9 Works Cited page.
- MLA Heading, Header & Title Page: First-Page Format Format an MLA heading, running header, title, first page, and optional title page with clear student-paper examples.
Concepts
Core citation concepts and how they apply.
- Annotated Bibliography: Format, Examples, and How to Write One Learn what an annotated bibliography is, how annotation types differ, and how to format one in APA, MLA, and Chicago with worked examples.
- Avoiding Plagiarism: Rules, Gray Areas, Prevention Habits Avoid plagiarism with clear rules for quoting, paraphrasing, AI assistance, self-plagiarism, secondary sources, and building a research trail.
- Hanging Indents: Examples for Word, Google Docs, Pages, LaTeX Hanging indent examples for Word, Google Docs, Pages, LaTeX, and CSS, with the half-inch reference-list format used across major citation styles.
- How to Cite a Website with No Date in MLA (+ Access Dates) MLA has no n.d.: omit the missing date and add an access date like "Accessed 4 July 2026." after the URL. Works-cited and in-text examples, plus APA contrast.
- How to Cite Multiple Authors in MLA: Two, Three or More (Et Al.) MLA rules for multiple authors: name both for two, use et al. for three or more — in-text and Works Cited — with MLA 9 examples and an APA contrast.
- How to Cite Multiple Works by the Same Author in MLA (9th Edition) MLA rules for two or more works by one author: the three hyphens (---) rule in the works cited list, shortened titles in-text, and official MLA 9 examples.
- In-Text Citations: Format, Rules, and How They Differ Across Styles How in-text citations work across author-date, author-page, and numeric styles, with page-number rules, et al. thresholds, and no-author examples.
- MLA Citation with No Author: In-Text & Works Cited Examples No author in MLA? Start with the title — never "Anonymous." In-text and Works Cited examples for websites, articles, and organizations as authors.
- Qtd. in MLA: How to Cite a Source Quoted in Another Source How to use "qtd. in" for MLA indirect sources: in-text citation examples, which source goes in the Works Cited, and official MLA Handbook 9 rules.
- Works Cited vs Bibliography vs References Learn when to use Works Cited, References, or Bibliography, what belongs in each list, and which heading APA, MLA, Chicago, and other styles require.
Comparisons
Choosing the right style for your work.
- Chicago Notes-Bibliography vs Author-Date Compare Chicago notes-bibliography and author-date systems, including in-text format, footnotes, bibliography headings, and when each one is used.
- MLA vs APA: Differences in Format, Citations, and When to Use Each Compare MLA 9 and APA 7 side by side: in-text citations, reference lists, capitalization, source titles, and when each style is assigned.
- When to Use APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, IEEE, AMA, or Vancouver Choose the right citation style for your field, with defaults for APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, Vancouver, IEEE, AMA, and interdisciplinary work.
Reference & FAQ
Tool documentation and frequently asked questions.
- Citation Generator FAQ: Accuracy, Sources, and Saved References Answers to how MLA Generator finds source data, formats citations, supports styles, handles mistakes, and saves references for later editing.
- Research and Works Cited: A Complete Guide to Sourcing Academic Papers Find reliable sources, evaluate evidence, integrate quotes and paraphrases, choose the right citation style, and build a polished works cited page.
- What's New in APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago 18, and More Track the latest APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, Vancouver, IEEE, and AMA edition changes, with the rules that matter when updating older papers.