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Citation Studio

Build reference lists in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, IEEE, Vancouver, AMA, Turabian, OSCOLA, MHRA, Nature, Science and more (18 styles). Paste a DOI, ISBN or link, search by title, or import from Zotero, Mendeley or EndNote.

DOI, ISBN, arXiv or PubMed ID, a link, or a title. DOIs and titles are looked up in CrossRef, ISBNs in Open Library, and links are read by Cromagnon's server. Or fill in the form.

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0 in My bibliography · 0 in your library · APA 7th Saved in this browser · look-ups go to CrossRef, doi.org, Open Library or Google Books; links, arXiv and PubMed are read by Cromagnon's server; PDFs stay on your device

✅ Free · 🔒 Private · 🚫 No sign-up

Citation Studio: the complete guide

Cromagnon Citation Studio is a free citation generator and reference manager. Paste a DOI, ISBN or web address, or search by title, and the citation fills itself in. Build a reference list in APA 7, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, IEEE, Vancouver and 12 more styles, switch styles instantly, and copy it with italics or export it to Word, RTF, BibTeX, RIS or CSL-JSON.

Your library is saved in your browser, organised into projects, with no account needed. There are no ads, no paywalls on styles and no limit on references.

This guide explains every tool, how to cite common sources step by step, tips that save marks on assignments, and answers to common referencing questions.

  • 100% free
  • 18 citation styles
  • DOI, ISBN and link lookup
  • In-text citations and footnotes
  • Export to Word and BibTeX
  • No account needed

Features

Everything you can do in Citation Studio

Find and fill in sources

DOI, ISBN and link lookup

Paste a DOI, ISBN or URL and the author, title, year, publisher and more are filled in for you.

Search by title

Type a title and pick the right source from the results.

Scan a book barcode

Point your camera at a book's ISBN barcode, or choose a photo of it.

Cite from PDF

Open a PDF and the studio finds its DOI or details to cite it.

Cite this page

Use the bookmarklet or browser extension to cite the web page you are reading.

Better web citations

Known news sites, government bodies and international organisations get their correct names as authors and publishers.

Every source type

Journal articles, books, chapters, web pages, reports, theses (PhD, MPhil), videos and more, with organisation authors.

Styles and citations

18 styles

APA 7 and APA 6, MLA, Chicago (author-date and notes), Turabian, Harvard, IEEE, Vancouver, AMA, OSCOLA, ASA, ACS, CSE, Oxford, MHRA, Nature and Science.

Switch styles instantly

Change the style and the whole list updates.

In-text citations and footnotes

Copy the in-text citation or footnote for any source, with page numbers.

Annotated bibliography

Add an annotation (a summary or evaluation) under each reference.

Double spacing and ordering

Order by author, year, type or date added, with double spacing for assignments.

Organise

Projects

A separate reference list for each essay, thesis chapter or course.

Library

Every source you have saved, across all projects, with search.

Quotes

Save quotes with their page numbers under each source, and copy a quote with its citation.

Import references

Bring in references from Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote or PubMed (RIS, BibTeX and more).

Check a reference list

Paste an existing list: each entry is looked up and you see what yours is missing.

Undo

Removed something by mistake? Undo it.

Export and share

Copy with italics

Paste into Word or Google Docs with the formatting kept.

Word and RTF

Download a formatted reference list document.

BibTeX, RIS and CSL-JSON

For LaTeX, EndNote, Mendeley and Zotero.

Flashcards

Turn your quotes and sources into flashcards in Study Studio.

Tutorials

Step-by-step how-to guides

How to cite a journal article in APA 7

  1. Choose APA 7 as the style.
  2. Paste the article's DOI (for example 10.1037/…).
  3. Check the filled-in details and add the source.
  4. Copy the reference and the in-text citation, such as (Nakamura, 2024).

How to cite a website in MLA

  1. Choose MLA.
  2. Paste the page's address.
  3. Check the author, title and date; add the date you accessed it.
  4. Copy the citation.

💡 Tip: If a page has no author, the organisation or site becomes the author. Citation Studio knows the right names for many news and government sites.

How to cite a book with its ISBN

  1. Type or paste the ISBN, or scan the barcode with your camera.
  2. Pick the edition if more than one appears.
  3. Add it and copy the reference.

How to make a Harvard reference list

  1. Create a project for your assignment.
  2. Add every source by DOI, ISBN, link or title.
  3. Choose Harvard, order by author, and turn on double spacing if needed.
  4. Copy the list into your document or download Word.

How to add page numbers to an in-text citation

  1. Find the source in your list.
  2. Type the page number.
  3. Copy the in-text citation, for example (Okafor, 2023, p. 14).

How to export references to BibTeX for LaTeX

  1. Open your project.
  2. Choose BibTeX.
  3. Download the .bib file and add it to your LaTeX project.

How to import references from Zotero or EndNote

  1. Export your library from Zotero, Mendeley or EndNote as RIS or BibTeX.
  2. Press Import and choose the file.
  3. Check the fields, then add the references to a project.

How to check a reference list you already have

  1. Open Check a reference list.
  2. Paste your list.
  3. Read the notes on what each entry is missing, and fix them.

Tips and tricks

Get more out of Citation Studio

DOIs beat links

For journal articles, the DOI gives the most complete details. Find it on the article's first page or website.

Always check the details

Lookups are fast but not perfect. Check names, capitalisation and years before you submit.

One project per assignment

Projects keep each reference list clean; sources stay in the library for reuse.

Save quotes as you read

Saving a quote with its page number now saves you searching for it the night before the deadline.

Ask which style

Use exactly the style (and edition) your course asks for: APA 7 and APA 6 differ, for example.

Paste with formatting

Use Copy, not select-and-copy, so italics come with the reference into Word or Google Docs.

Privacy

Private by design: your files stay on your device

Your library and projects are saved in your own browser, with no account. Cromagnon doesn't see what you are researching.

To fill in a citation, the DOI, ISBN, link or title you enter is looked up in public catalogues. Nothing else from your library is sent.

Clear your library any time from your browser.

Comparison

Citation Studio compared with typical online tools

Cromagnon Citation StudioTypical citation generators
Price✅ FreeFree with ads, some styles or features paid
Ads✅ NoneCommon
Account✅ Not neededOften needed to save lists
Styles✅ 18, all freeVaries
Export to Word, BibTeX, RIS, CSL-JSON✅ YesOften paid
Projects, quotes, annotated bibliography✅ YesSometimes

Made for everyone

Who uses Citation Studio?

Students

Correct reference lists for essays and assignments in the style your course asks for.

Researchers

Projects, quotes and BibTeX for papers and theses.

Law students

OSCOLA citations and footnotes.

Medical and science writers

Vancouver, AMA, ACS, CSE, Nature and Science styles.

Teachers

Model reference lists and checking students' lists.

Writers and journalists

Quick, tidy citations for articles and reports.

Troubleshooting

Common problems and how to fix them

The DOI or ISBN isn't found

Check it for typos, or search by title. You can always fill in the form by hand.

The author is wrong for a web page

Edit the source. Many pages show a site or organisation, not a person, as the author.

Italics disappear when I paste

Use the Copy button rather than selecting the text; it copies with formatting.

My list is gone

References are saved in the browser where you made them. Using another browser or clearing site data starts empty; export important lists to RIS or BibTeX as a backup.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Citation Studio free?

Yes. All 18 styles and every export are free, with no ads and no account.

Which citation styles are included?

APA 7, APA 6, MLA, Chicago (both systems), Turabian, Harvard, IEEE, Vancouver, AMA, OSCOLA, ASA, ACS, CSE, Oxford, MHRA, Nature and Science.

Can I cite from a DOI or ISBN?

Yes. Paste a DOI, ISBN or link and the citation fills itself in, or search by title.

Does it make in-text citations?

Yes, plus footnotes for note styles, with page numbers.

Can I export to Word?

Yes. Copy with italics or download Word or RTF.

Does it support BibTeX and Zotero?

Yes. Export BibTeX, RIS and CSL-JSON, and import from Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote and PubMed.

Where are my references saved?

In your browser, organised into projects. No account is needed.

Can I make an annotated bibliography?

Yes. Add an annotation under each reference.

Can it check my existing reference list?

Yes. Paste the list and see what each entry is missing.

Can I cite a book by scanning it?

Yes. Scan the ISBN barcode with your camera, where your browser supports it, or choose a photo.

Ready to try Citation Studio?

It's free, private and needs no sign-up.

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