How to Use Paper Citation
Generate accurate academic citations in seconds with our simple guide.
Quick Start
Choose Your Citation Style
Select from APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago, or Harvard format before entering your source.
Enter Your Source
Paste a URL, DOI, ISBN, or search for a book or article title.
• https://example.com/article
• 10.1234/example.doi
• 978-0-123456-78-9
• The Great Gatsby
Generate & Copy
Click "Cite" to generate your citation, then copy it to your clipboard with one click.
Supported Input Types
Website URLs
Paste any website URL to automatically extract metadata including title, author, and publication date.
DOI (Digital Object Identifier)
Enter a DOI to fetch accurate academic article information from CrossRef.
doi.org/10.1234/example
ISBN (Books)
Enter an ISBN to retrieve book information from Google Books and OpenLibrary.
0123456789
Text Search
Search for books and articles by title, author, or keywords. Select from the results.
quantum physics theory
YouTube Videos
Paste a YouTube URL to cite video content with author and title information.
youtu.be/...
Wikipedia Articles
Cite Wikipedia encyclopedia entries with proper formatting for academic use.
Tips & Best Practices
Always verify citations: While we fetch metadata automatically, it's good practice to review and verify the citation details match your source.
Use the Edit feature: Click "Edit" to manually adjust any citation details like author names, dates, or titles if needed.
Quick Date Edit: Use the date fields below the citation to quickly update publication dates without opening the full editor.
View all formats: Click "Show all formats" to see your citation in APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard simultaneously.
Keyboard shortcuts: Press Enter to generate a citation, use arrow keys to navigate search results, and Escape to close dropdowns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Paper Citation free to use?
Yes! Paper Citation is 100% free with no account required. No ads, no hidden fees, just instant citations.
Are the citations accurate?
We fetch metadata from authoritative sources like CrossRef, Google Books, and OpenLibrary. However, always review citations for accuracy as automated systems may occasionally miss nuances.
Can I edit the generated citations?
Absolutely! Click the "Edit" button to modify any field including authors, title, date, publisher, and more. Changes update all citation formats instantly.
What citation styles do you support?
We support APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, Chicago, and Harvard citation styles.
Do you store my citations or search history?
No. All citations are generated in real-time and nothing is stored. Your privacy is important to us.