Free tool
Citation generator
Eight referencing styles. Fill in what you have and get both the reference-list entry and the in-text citation — the half most generators leave out, and the half students most often get wrong.
Your citation
Harvard (Cite Them Right)
Fill in the fields on the left and your reference appears here, formatted live.
Author and year are the minimum for a usable entry.
Always check the output against your own institution’s guide. “Harvard” in particular is not one style — Cite Them Right, Leeds and AGPS Harvard all differ.
Short answer
How do I write a reference correctly?
Every reference answers four questions in the order your style requires: who wrote it, when it was published, what it is called, and where it can be found. Styles differ in punctuation and element order, not in that underlying logic. The two errors that cost the most marks are references that do not match their in-text citations, and paraphrased ideas with no citation at all.
Step by step
How to write a reference correctly
Choose the style your department sets
Harvard, APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago 17, Vancouver, OSCOLA 4, IEEE and AMA 11 are all supported. Harvard has no single authority, so if your department publishes its own variant, that guide outranks any generator including this one.
Choose the source type
Book, book chapter, journal article, website or report. The required elements differ by type, which is why the form changes rather than asking for everything at once.
Enter the details from the source itself
Take author, year, title and publication details from the work, not from a library database record, which is frequently incomplete. Where an element genuinely does not exist, use the style's substitute — 'n.d.' for no date — rather than leaving a gap.
Take both outputs, not just the reference
Every reference-list entry needs exactly one matching in-text citation, and every in-text citation needs a reference. Mismatches between the two are penalised more often than punctuation slips, so copy both.
Check the punctuation against your own guide
Compare element order, italics and stops against your institution's published guide before you submit. A generator gets you 95% of the way; the last 5% is where variants live.
Worked examples
The same source, in all eight styles
Every entry below was produced by the generator above when this page was built, from one real source per type. Read across a row for a single style; read down a column to see how little the underlying information changes and how much the punctuation does.
How to cite a book in every style
You need: author(s), year of publication, title, edition (if not the first), place of publication, publisher. Full guide to referencing books
| Style | Reference list entry | In-text citation |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard | Bolton, G. (2018) Reflective practice: writing and professional development. 5th edn. London: SAGE Publications. | (Bolton, 2018) |
| APA 7 | Bolton, G. (2018). Reflective practice: writing and professional development (5th ed.). SAGE Publications. | (Bolton, 2018) |
| MLA 9 | Bolton, Gillie. Reflective Practice: Writing and Professional Development. 5th ed., SAGE Publications, 2018. | (Bolton) |
| Chicago 17 | Bolton, Gillie. Reflective Practice: Writing and Professional Development. 5th ed. London: SAGE Publications, 2018. | (Bolton 2018) |
| Vancouver | Bolton G. Reflective practice: writing and professional development. 5th ed. London: SAGE Publications; 2018. | [1] |
| OSCOLA | Gillie Bolton, Reflective Practice: Writing and Professional Development (5th edn, SAGE Publications 2018) | n 1 (footnote) |
| IEEE | G. Bolton, Reflective Practice: Writing and Professional Development, 5th ed. London: SAGE Publications, 2018. | [1] |
| AMA 11 | Bolton G. Reflective practice: writing and professional development. 5th ed. SAGE Publications; 2018. | 1 |
Where students lose marks on books
- Omitting the edition when you used anything other than the first.
- Citing the reprint year rather than the edition year.
- Using the imprint rather than the publisher shown on the title page.
How to cite a journal article in every style
You need: author(s), year, article title, journal name, volume, issue, page range, doi. Full guide to referencing journal articles
| Style | Reference list entry | In-text citation |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard | Thomas, L. and Hill, M. (2024) 'Belonging and continuation among first-generation undergraduates', Studies in Higher Education, 49(3), pp. 412-428. doi: 10.1080/03075079.2024.2298471. | (Thomas and Hill, 2024) |
| APA 7 | Thomas, L. & Hill, M. (2024). Belonging and continuation among first-generation undergraduates. Studies in Higher Education, 49(3), 412-428. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2024.2298471 | (Thomas & Hill, 2024) |
| MLA 9 | Thomas, Liz, and Michael Hill. "Belonging and Continuation Among First-Generation Undergraduates." Studies in Higher Education, vol. 49, no. 3, 2024, pp. 412-428. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2024.2298471. | (Thomas 412) |
| Chicago 17 | Thomas, Liz, and Michael Hill. "Belonging and Continuation Among First-Generation Undergraduates." Studies in Higher Education 49, no. 3 (2024): 412-428. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2024.2298471. | (Thomas 2024, 412) |
| Vancouver | Thomas L, Hill M. Belonging and continuation among first-generation undergraduates. Studies in Higher Education. 2024;49(3):412-428. doi:10.1080/03075079.2024.2298471 | [1] |
| OSCOLA | Liz Thomas and Michael Hill, 'Belonging and Continuation Among First-Generation Undergraduates' (2024) 49 Studies in Higher Education 412-428 | n 1 (footnote) |
| IEEE | L. Thomas and M. Hill, "Belonging and continuation among first-generation undergraduates," Studies in Higher Education, vol. 49, no. 3, pp. 412-428, 2024, doi: 10.1080/03075079.2024.2298471. | [1] |
| AMA 11 | Thomas L, Hill M. Belonging and continuation among first-generation undergraduates. Studies in Higher Education. 2024;49(3):412-428. doi:10.1080/03075079.2024.2298471 | 1 |
Where students lose marks on journal articles
- Leaving out the DOI when the article has one — most styles now require it.
- Citing the database (JSTOR, ProQuest) instead of the journal.
- Confusing volume with issue, which changes the citation entirely.
How to cite a web page in every style
You need: author or organisation, year, page title, site name, url, date accessed. Full guide to referencing web pages
| Style | Reference list entry | In-text citation |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard | Agency, Q. A. (2025) Academic integrity charter for uk higher education. Available at: https://www.qaa.ac.uk/academic-integrity (Accessed: 14 August 2026). | (Agency, 2025) |
| APA 7 | Agency, Q. A. (2025). Academic integrity charter for uk higher education. QAA. https://www.qaa.ac.uk/academic-integrity | (Agency, 2025) |
| MLA 9 | Agency, Quality Assurance. "Academic Integrity Charter for Uk Higher Education." QAA, 2025, https://www.qaa.ac.uk/academic-integrity. Accessed 14 August 2026. | (Agency) |
| Chicago 17 | Agency, Quality Assurance. "Academic Integrity Charter for Uk Higher Education." QAA. 2025. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://www.qaa.ac.uk/academic-integrity. | (Agency 2025) |
| Vancouver | Agency QA. Academic integrity charter for uk higher education [Internet]. QAA; 2025 [cited 14 August 2026]. Available from: https://www.qaa.ac.uk/academic-integrity | [1] |
| OSCOLA | Quality Assurance Agency, 'Academic Integrity Charter for Uk Higher Education' (QAA, 2025) <https://www.qaa.ac.uk/academic-integrity> accessed 14 August 2026 | n 1 (footnote) |
| IEEE | Q. A. Agency, "Academic integrity charter for uk higher education," QAA, 2025. Accessed: August 14, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.qaa.ac.uk/academic-integrity | [1] |
| AMA 11 | Agency QA. Academic integrity charter for uk higher education. QAA. Published 2025. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://www.qaa.ac.uk/academic-integrity | 1 |
Where students lose marks on web pages
- Concluding there is no date without checking the page source or copyright line.
- Using the site name as the author when a named author is present.
- Omitting the access date in styles that require it, such as Harvard and MLA.
How to cite a book chapter in every style
You need: chapter author(s), year, chapter title, book editor(s), book title, page range, publisher. Full guide to referencing book chapters
| Style | Reference list entry | In-text citation |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard | Moon, J. (2013) 'Reflection in higher education learning', in Handbook of Reflective Practice. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 45-62. | (Moon, 2013) |
| APA 7 | Moon, J. (2013). Reflection in higher education learning. In Handbook of Reflective Practice (2nd ed.) (pp. 45-62). Routledge. | (Moon, 2013) |
| MLA 9 | Moon, Jennifer. "Reflection in Higher Education Learning." Handbook of Reflective Practice, Routledge, 2013, pp. 45-62. | (Moon 45) |
| Chicago 17 | Moon, Jennifer. "Reflection in Higher Education Learning." In Handbook of Reflective Practice, 45-62. Abingdon: Routledge, 2013. | (Moon 2013, 45) |
| Vancouver | Moon J. Reflection in higher education learning. 2nd ed. Abingdon: Routledge; 2013. p. 45-62. | [1] |
| OSCOLA | Jennifer Moon, 'Reflection in Higher Education Learning' in Handbook of Reflective Practice (Routledge 2013) | n 1 (footnote) |
| IEEE | J. Moon, Reflection in Higher Education Learning, 2nd ed. Abingdon: Routledge, 2013. | [1] |
| AMA 11 | Moon J. Reflection in higher education learning. 2nd ed. Routledge; 2013. | 1 |
Where students lose marks on book chapters
- Citing the book's editor as the chapter's author.
- Omitting the chapter page range, which most styles require.
- Treating an edited collection as a single-author book.
How to cite a report in every style
You need: issuing organisation, year, report title, report number (if any), publisher, url. Full guide to referencing reports
| Style | Reference list entry | In-text citation |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard | Students, O. F. (2025) Student outcomes and teaching excellence. Office for Students. | (Students, 2025) |
| APA 7 | Students, O. F. (2025). Student outcomes and teaching excellence. Office for Students. https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/ | (Students, 2025) |
| MLA 9 | Students, Office for. Student Outcomes and Teaching Excellence. Office for Students, 2025. | (Students) |
| Chicago 17 | Students, Office for. Student Outcomes and Teaching Excellence. Office for Students, 2025. | (Students 2025) |
| Vancouver | Students OF. Student outcomes and teaching excellence. Office for Students; 2025. | [1] |
| OSCOLA | Office for Students, Student Outcomes and Teaching Excellence (Office for Students 2025) | n 1 (footnote) |
| IEEE | O. F. Students, Student Outcomes and Teaching Excellence, Office for Students, 2025. | [1] |
| AMA 11 | Students OF. Student outcomes and teaching excellence. Office for Students; 2025. | 1 |
Where students lose marks on reports
- Leaving the report number out when the organisation assigns one.
- Citing a press release about a report rather than the report itself.
- Using a personal author when the organisation is the corporate author.
Frequently asked questions
Which Harvard referencing style should I use?
There is no single Harvard style. Cite Them Right Harvard is the most common in the UK, but Leeds Harvard, Coventry Harvard and AGPS Harvard in Australia all differ in punctuation and element order. Always follow the guide your own institution publishes — our generator produces Cite Them Right by default.
What is the difference between a reference and an in-text citation?
The in-text citation is the short marker in your sentence — (Smith, 2024) or a superscript number. The reference is the full entry in your list at the end. Every in-text citation must have exactly one matching reference, and every reference must be cited at least once in the text. Mismatches between the two are one of the most commonly penalised technical errors.
How do I cite a source with no author?
Move the title into the author position and keep everything else in the same order. For organisational sources, the organisation is the author — 'World Health Organization (2024)'. Do not use 'Anonymous' unless the source is genuinely credited that way.
How do I cite a source with no date?
Use 'n.d.' in APA and Harvard, or 'no date' in Cite Them Right. For web pages, check the page source or the site's copyright line before concluding there is no date — a missing date usually means it was not looked for.
Do I need a DOI?
Include one whenever the source has one. APA 7 and Harvard both require the DOI in preference to a URL, formatted as a full link — https://doi.org/10.xxxx — because DOIs remain stable when URLs break.