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Reference Formatter & Citation Generator

Build a clean reference list without guessing where the commas go. Choose a source type and style, check the preview, then add each entry to a bibliography you can export.

Runs in your browserUpdated November 9, 2026APA, MLA, Harvard and Chicago · Saved locally

The short answer

A reference formatter turns author, year, title and publication details into a citation in APA, MLA, Harvard or Chicago style. This browser tool supports books, journal articles and websites, shows the matching in-text citation, stores the bibliography locally and exports it as Markdown.

Source typeCitation style

Author(s)Use “Smith, John; Doe, Jane” or “John Smith, Jane Doe”.

YearTitle

Publisher

Reference preview

Smith, J., & Doe, J. (2023). Academic writing: a practical guide. Oxford University Press.

In-text: (Smith & Doe, 2023)

Bibliography (0)

No entries yet. Format a source on the left and add it to build a bibliography.

The bibliography is saved only in this browser. Always check your institution's style guide for the exact edition and punctuation it expects.

How to use it

1Choose the source type and citation style.
2Enter the author, year and title, then fill in the fields for the source type.
3Check the reference preview and the matching in-text citation.
4Add each source to the bibliography, then copy or download the finished list.

Questions about the reference formatter

Does the formatter upload my sources?

No. The citation is generated in your browser. The bibliography is saved in local storage on your device, not in an account or on our server.

Which citation styles are supported?

APA 7th, MLA 9th, Harvard and Chicago author–date. The tool covers books, journal articles and websites. Always check your institution's style guide for the exact edition and punctuation.

Can I format multiple authors?

Yes. Separate authors with semicolons or “and”. The tool builds the author string for each style, including et al. rules for MLA and the ampersand conventions used by APA and Harvard.

Why does the reference look slightly different from my style guide?

Citation styles have many edge cases: editions, translators, DOIs, access dates and corporate authors. This tool handles the common book, journal and website cases. Check the final bibliography against your course guide before submission.

Can I export the bibliography?

Yes. Copy individual references or the whole list, or download a Markdown file with numbered entries. The list persists only in the browser where you created it.

Need it done for you?

References formatted but the spreadsheet still needs work?

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