In-text Citation Generator

Build an in-text citation in APA, MLA, Chicago or Harvard from the author, year and page. You get both the parenthetical form and the narrative form, ready to drop into a sentence. A free in-text citation generator that runs in your browser, with no sign-up.

  • Free, every tool
  • No sign-up, no app
  • Private in your browser
  • Instant results
  • Works offline after first load
Source details
Author(s)

MLA in-text citations use the page number and no year. APA, Harvard and Chicago use the author and year.

APA 7

Add an author to see the APA 7 in-text citation.

MLA 9

Add an author to see the MLA 9 in-text citation.

Chicago

Add an author to see the Chicago in-text citation.

Harvard

Add an author to see the Harvard in-text citation.

How to use it

  1. 1

    Pick a style

    Choose APA, MLA, Chicago or Harvard so the citation matches the rest of your paper.

  2. 2

    Enter author, year and page

    Add the author name, the year where the style uses one, and a page number for a direct quote.

  3. 3

    Copy the form you need

    Take the parenthetical citation for the end of a sentence, or the narrative form when the author is part of your text.

When it comes in handy

Quoting a source

Add the page-level citation a direct quote needs, formatted for your chosen style.

Paraphrasing

Credit an idea you put in your own words with the right author and year in place.

Mixed sources

Keep citations consistent across a paper that pulls from several authors and works.

Instant, exact & 100% in your browser

The conversion runs right here in your browser using exact, standard factors. Nothing you type is sent to a server, there is no sign-up and no limit, and once the page has loaded it keeps working even with no connection.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a parenthetical and a narrative citation?
A parenthetical citation puts the source detail in brackets at the end, such as (Smith, 2020, p. 14). A narrative citation works the author into the sentence, such as Smith (2020) argued. Both point to the same reference; you pick whichever reads better.
Do I need a page number?
You need a page number for a direct quote in every style, and APA recommends one for a paraphrase too where it helps the reader find the passage. For a general paraphrase, MLA and Harvard often use just the author and year. The generator includes the page when you provide one.
How does an in-text citation link to the reference list?
The author and year in the in-text citation match the start of the full entry in your reference list, so a reader can find the complete source there. Use the citation generator for the matching full reference.
Is anything I type sent to a server?
No. Everything runs inside your browser, so the work you do here stays on your own device and nothing is uploaded. There is no sign-up and no limit on how many times you use it, and once the page has loaded it keeps working with no connection.

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