7 Best Citation Tools For Students’ Referencing

In the UK, the most common citation or referencing style is Harvard. This method links brief author-date references within the text to a full reference list at the end of the document. For texts with multiple authors, only the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” is cited, keeping in-text citations tidy and focused.

This method is used across industries and academic fields, due to its straightforward format and ease when it comes to understanding and following through. There are a few other referencing styles, such as:

OSCOLA– the Oxford Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities, used in law
Chicago– this is used in humanities in the UK and US
APA– the American Psychological Association, used for psychology and sciences
MLA– the Modern Language Association, used in arts and humanities
ACS– the American Chemical Society, used in chemistry schools and industries

 

How To Use Tech For Citations

 

Many students and professionals have moved away from manually writing out citations, due to the rise of technology creating a solution to eliminate this process. Different platforms, including some favourites such as Grammarly, have found ways to make citing sources a less tedious process by creating citation tools. These 7 are really good, and can support different styles, from Harvard to ACS:

 

1. Scribbr Citation Generator

 

 

Scribbr Citation Generator automatically formats academic citations. Students input details from sources like books or webpages, and the tool generates citations in formats like APA, MLA, Chicago, and Harvard. It also has a Chrome extension to directly site straight from the web.

The tool organises references into lists and folders suitable for different projects, streamlining the process of managing citations. It allows exporting citations directly into Word or LaTeX, aligning them with the formatting of academic papers.

 

2. MyBib

 

 

MyBib is a free tool that creates bibliographies in styles such as APA, MLA, and Chicago. It’s made for ease of use, where students can generate citations by just entering a title or identifier such as a URL or ISBN.

With MyBib, students are able to download their formatted bibliographies directly to Word or Google Docs, which helps in integrating references into their papers efficiently.

 

3. AcademicHelp.net

 

 

AcademicHelp.net has a citation generator that helps create properly formatted bibliographies for essays and research projects. It supports a range of citation styles, suitable for many academic fields.

The platform allows students to adjust citations manually for accuracy, and meets the specific needs of their academic documents. It also has tools to find credible sources, for an improved quality of research.
 

 

4. Grammarly

 

 

 

 

Grammarly checks texts for grammar and spelling errors and makes sure citations are formatted correctly according to standards like APA, MLA, or Chicago. It works across platforms, such as text editors and web browsers.

The tool gives users any improvements for clearer and more readable writing. It also has a plagiarism checker to verify the originality of the text. Grammarly’s detailed feedback helps students refine their writing skills over time.

 

5. Zotero

 

 

 

 

This is a research tool that helps collect, organise, annotate and share info and research. It can detect research content while users browse, with sources like JSTOR, arXiv, or public libraries that can be accessed with a click. Users are able to organise these materials by tagging items or grouping them into collections.

Its good for creating formatted citations and bibliographies directly in text editors or word processors like Word and Google Docs, supporting over 9,000 citation styles.

 

6. Citationsy

 

 

 

 

Citationsy assists students and researchers with quick and easy reference creation for books, websites, and academic papers. Users can enter details manually or paste URLs to generate citations. It supports teamwork by allowing multiple users to manage and organize their research collaboratively.

Citationsy is also available on mobile devices, making it convenient to create references on the move. It supports a vast array of over 10,000 referencing styles and ensures that web pages cited are archived, maintaining access to crucial cited information.

 

7. Scite

 

 

 

 

Scite uses a large database of citation statements, adding a new way in how users interact with scientific literature. It gives users Smart Citations that classify how other research has cited a work, showing support or contrast, so users are able to evaluate the context of these citations.

Scite has an AI-driven chatbot and search engine that assists in navigating research effectively. Users can track how their work is cited, manage collections of articles, and maintain the accuracy of their references.