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APA Citation Generator: Formats Up to 7th Edition (2026)

Choose a source and a style, then get a formatted reference in seconds.

1. Choose your source type

2. Select citation style

APA version

3. Create citation

Or

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    Cite manually

    Contributors

    Add the people or organizations responsible for the source.

    CHOOSE THE RIGHT EDITION

    One APA citation maker.
    Three editions to choose from.

    APA style uses an author–date system and a reference list, but details can differ by edition. Select the version required by your instructor, journal, or institution.

    THE CURRENT EDITION07

    APA 7th Edition

    Use APA 7 for most current student papers and research work when the assignment or publisher requests the seventh edition.

    View APA 7 settings
    PREVIOUS EDITION06

    APA 6th Edition

    Choose APA 6 when you need to match older course instructions, archived documents, or a publication that specifies this edition.

    View APA 6 settings
    LEGACY FORMAT05

    APA 5th Edition

    Use APA 5 for legacy assignments or records that explicitly require fifth-edition formatting rather than a newer style.

    View APA 5 settings

    Not sure which version to use? Follow your assignment instructions first. If no edition is specified, ask your instructor before formatting the full paper.

    SEE THE FORMAT

    APA citation examples

    APA references vary by source type. These illustrative examples show common patterns; replace the sample details with verified information from the work you actually used.

    Quick tip
    Use the correct source type in the tool so the generated reference includes the fields relevant to that source.

    01 BOOK

    Smith, J. A. (2023). Research and academic writing. Green Press.

    Author · year · italicized book title · publisher

    02 JOURNAL ARTICLE

    Smith, J. A., & Lee, R. (2023). Learning in digital classrooms. Journal of Education, 12(2), 20–30. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/example

    Article title in sentence case; journal title and volume italicized

    03 IN-TEXT CITATION

    Parenthetical(Smith, 2023)

    NarrativeSmith (2023)

    Direct quotation(Smith, 2023, p. 18)

    BEFORE YOU COPY

    A better APA reference starts with accurate source details.

    An APA reference generator can save formatting time, but it cannot verify every missing or incorrect detail for you. Use this short checklist before adding a citation to your paper.

    01

    Verify the author

    Check names and author order. If an organization wrote the work, make sure it is identified as the author when appropriate.

    02

    Confirm the date and title

    Compare publication dates, titles, subtitles, and capitalization with the original source record.

    03

    Check DOI and URL

    Use a DOI when available and confirm that links point to the source you cited.

    04

    Match in-text citations

    Make sure every source cited in your writing appears in the reference list and each reference-list entry is cited in the text when required.

    Remember the reference-list basics. APA papers commonly use double spacing and a hanging indent for reference entries. Follow the specific paper-formatting instructions for your required edition.

    GOOD TO KNOW

    APA citation generator FAQs

    Quick answers about creating APA references, choosing an edition, and checking your citations.

    Back to the APA citation maker
    What does an APA citation generator do?

    An APA citation generator formats source information into a reference-list entry and may also provide narrative and parenthetical in-text citations. Review the result against the original source before using it.

    Can I create APA 7, APA 6, and APA 5 citations?

    Yes. Select the APA edition required for your work in the citation style controls. APA 7 is the current edition, while APA 6 and APA 5 are available for assignments or records that specifically require older formats.

    Can I use this APA reference generator for websites?

    Yes. Choose Website as the source type or enter the details manually. Check the author or organization, date, page title, website name when required, and the URL.

    What is the difference between an in-text citation and a reference?

    An in-text citation briefly identifies a source within your writing, usually with the author and year. The reference-list entry provides fuller publication details so readers can locate the source.

    Should I check a citation made by an APA citation maker?

    Yes. Automated source data may be incomplete or mismatched. Verify the author, date, title, publication details, DOI, and URL against the original source and your required APA edition.

    YOUR WORK, CLEARLY CITED

    Format the reference.
    Check the facts.

    Use CitationGo to prepare an APA citation, then make the final check with your source and assignment guidelines.

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