Citation Formatters

Database-embedded citation formatters  |  Free Web-based citation formatters  |  Premium citation formatters - see EndNote & RefWorks — Personal Bibliographic Management (PBM) tools

Citation formatters are programs that create citations formatted in a specific style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). Some of them are embedded into databases, others require that you export or enter bibliographic information.

Warning: Please use the citation formatters with caution. Be sure to check the resultsfor formatting, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and the required elements for the citation style you are using.

Consult the appropriate official style manual for the definitive answer to your citation questions. You can link to citations examples in various styles and selected style manuals from the UC Libraries Citation & Style Guides page. For additional assistance, please contact the library reference desk in person, by e-mail or chat.

Database-embedded citation formatters

Academic Search Complete (and other databases in the EBSCOhost suite)

Display a citation. Click the "Cite this article" icon above the citation.

This brings up the Citation Format screen.

Alternatively you can click the "Print", "E-mail" or "Save as file " icon and select the format from the "Citation format" drop-down menu.

CQ Researcher

Display a report. Click "Cite Now!" and select the desired format.

Expanded Academic ASAP

Display a citation. Click the "Citation Tools" icon.

Select the desired format and click "Save."

Click "Open" to display the formatted citation on a new screen.

Issues and Controversies on Facts.com

Scroll down the article to see the citation in ALA and MLA formats.

OhioLINK OLinks formatter (in EJC and other OhioLINK databases)

In the OhioLINK Electronic Journal Center (EJC) display a citation, click the drop-down menu under "Format/export as," select the desired style, and click "Go."

In many OhioLINK databases on the results list and citation screens you will see this icon:  . Click it to display the OLinks screen, click the drop-down menu under "Format citation as," select the desired style, and click "Go."

The nice thing about the OLinks formatter screen is that below the citation it has a form, which allows you to add any missing information. The screen also has links to style manuals and tips for citing electronic sources:

Research Library and other ProQuest databases

Display a citation and click the "Cite this" icon.

Select the desired citation format from the drop-down menu.

Free Web-based citation formatters 

These simple tools tend to work best for basic citations of common materials, such as books. If you want to cite something more unusual, such as an interview, class lecture or video, they may not work as well.

Easy Bib
Formats in APA and MLA styles.

RapidCite
Formats in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles/

Son of Citation Machine - Landmark Project
Formats in APA, MLA, Turabian, and Chicago styles.

Zotero - Center for History and New Media, George Mason University - A Firefox extension.
Formats in APA, MLA and Chicago styles.

Based on the "Citation Formatters" page at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater http://library.uww.edu/guides/citations.html