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ABNT, APA & MLA Citation Generator

Create accurate citations and reference lists for books, websites, and journal articles in ABNT (NBR 6023), APA 7th, or MLA 9th style. Alphabetize entries and export in plain text.

Tool statusRuns in your browser
Preview
prontouso://writing/citation-generator
BookLIVE

What's the source?

The fields below change depending on the type you pick.

SOURCE DATA
Author(s)ADD AS MANY AS YOU NEED
ABNT: ABNT: interface versioned against NBR 6023:2025. Double-check the formatted reference against the current standard before treating it as final.
FILL IN THE REQUIRED FIELDS

Live reference

See the formatted result before you save it.

ABNT NBR 6023:2025
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCEINCOMPLETE
ABNT NBR 6023:2025 · BOOK
[TÍTULO]. [Local]: [Editora], [Ano].
AUTOMATIC ORDER IN THE BIBLIOGRAPHY
What's missing?0/3 REQUIRED
TitleMISSING
YearMISSING
PublisherMISSING
This tool's outputSEPARATE CONCEPTS
ACTIVEBibliographic reference

The complete entry for the reference list or Works Cited.

NOT GENERATED HEREIn-text citation

Author-date, page numbers, and direct quotes deserve their own flow.

Your bibliography

Switching the style reformats the whole collection.

Your bibliography is empty. Fill in the form above and add your first source.
0 references

How it works

  1. Enter your input

    Fill in the values, paste your text, or upload the file this tool works with.

  2. See results instantly

    Most tools update live as you type; a few use a single button. Either way, the result appears right on this page.

  3. Use your results

    Copy, download, or share what the tool produces — you're always in control of the output.

Privacy and processing — Runs locally in your browser. This tool does not upload your input.

What is ABNT, APA & MLA Citation Generator?

The citation generator formats academic sources into standard ABNT NBR 6023, APA 7th, and MLA 9th styles for books, websites, and journal articles, allowing you to organize and export complete bibliographies.

UNDERSTAND THE TOOL

How to Format Citations and Bibliographies in ABNT, APA, and MLA

Learn how to format accurate bibliographic references for books, websites, and journal articles according to ABNT NBR 6023, APA 7th edition, and MLA 9th edition standards, with rules for authorship, typography, and alphabetical sorting.

Required fields by source type

Each source category requires specific metadata to ensure full traceability and academic integrity:

  • Books: require author(s), book title, edition (if 2nd or later), place of publication (city), publisher, and publication year.
  • Websites and web pages: require author or publishing organization, article/page title, website name, complete URL, and date of access.
  • Journal articles: require author(s), article title, journal name, volume, issue/number, page range, publication year, and DOI (Digital Object Identifier) when available.

Typographic differences: ABNT, APA, and MLA

Each style uses distinct visual conventions, capitalization, and punctuation for containers and core elements:

  • ABNT (NBR 6023): bolds standalone book or journal titles. Authors' surnames are capitalized in full (ALL CAPS). Websites include 'Disponível em:' and 'Acesso em:'.
  • APA (7th edition): italicizes book titles, report titles, and journal names. First names are reduced to initials and an ampersand (&) precedes the final author. DOIs are formatted as standard web URLs (https://doi.org/...).
  • MLA (9th edition): encloses article and web page titles in quotation marks, while container titles (books, journals, websites) appear in italics. Access dates use standardized English abbreviations (e.g., 12 Apr. 2025).

Authorship rules and et al. usage

The treatment of multiple authors follows strict guidelines across each standard:

  • ABNT: lists up to 3 authors separated by semicolons. When a work has 4 or more authors, only the first author is listed followed by 'et al.' (e.g., SILVA, João et al.).
  • APA: lists authors using surname and initials, connecting names with commas and an ampersand before the final author (e.g., Silva, J., & Smith, M.).
  • MLA: inverts only the first author's name (Surname, First) and keeps subsequent authors in regular order. For 3 or more authors, it uses 'et al.' after the first author (e.g., Smith, John, et al.).

Alphabetical sorting and export options

The tool automatically maintains your bibliography in strict alphabetical order using the first author's surname or the source title when no personal author is listed. You can switch between ABNT, APA, and MLA at any time without re-entering data, copy single citations or the entire bibliography to your clipboard, and download a ready-to-use TXT file.

Two-author journal article across styles

Compare how the exact same source data is rendered in each of the three formats:

ABNT: SMITH, J.; DOE, A. Machine learning in scientific discovery. Journal of Data Science, v. 14, n. 3, p. 112-128, 2024. APA: Smith, J., & Doe, A. (2024). Machine learning in scientific discovery. Journal of Data Science, 14(3), 112-128. https://doi.org/10.1234/jds.2024.112 MLA: Smith, J., and A. Doe. "Machine learning in scientific discovery." Journal of Data Science, vol. 14, no. 3, 2024, pp. 112-128.

Client-side processing and local privacy

All citations and bibliography lists are formatted entirely within your browser's local memory. No source data, titles, or authors are sent to any external server.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the generator format sources with multiple authors?

The generator follows each style guide strictly: ABNT lists up to 3 authors before using 'et al.'; APA lists authors with surnames, initials, and an ampersand; and MLA applies 'et al.' when a work has 3 or more authors while inverting only the first author's name.

Why does ABNT use bold while APA and MLA use italics for titles?

The Brazilian national standard ABNT NBR 6023 specifies bold as the primary typographic highlight for standalone works, whereas international APA and MLA standards mandate italics for container and book titles.

How do I cite a webpage without a named author?

When no author is provided for a website, ABNT and APA promote the organization or site name to the author position, whereas MLA opens directly with the webpage title in quotation marks, preserving accurate alphabetical sorting.

Does the tool automatically alphabetize the bibliography?

Yes. Whenever a new reference is added or the citation style is changed, the reference list is instantly sorted alphabetically by the first author's surname or the leading title.

Can I switch between ABNT, APA, and MLA without retyping?

Yes. The generator preserves the raw fields in browser memory. Selecting a different citation style instantly reformats your entire bibliography list into the selected style.

Are optional fields like DOI, issue, and edition required?

No. Only essential fields (such as author, title, year, publisher, or URL) are required to generate a reference. Optional fields are omitted cleanly when left blank without breaking standard punctuation.

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