7 APA Citation Tools for Tracking Your References

Knowing how to use APA citations is important when you are writing psychology papers. APA format is the official publication style of the American Psychological Association (APA). You'll need to know how to correctly format your citations when writing both student and professional psychology papers.

If you need a little extra help with your APA citations, you can use an APA citation tool. You might see them referred to as an APA citation machine or citation generator.

At a Glance

Keep track of all of your references and making sure each one is properly cited isn't always easy. One way to make it easier is to use an APA citation tool or generator. These handy resources can save your citations and convert them into proper APA format. Even if you are using one of these tools, you should always check each citation for accuracy before including it in your paper.

What Is an APA Citation Tool?

These tools offer a quick, automated way to prepare your references in APA format. However, it is still essential to have a solid understanding of how to cite sources in APA style. You'll still need to check each reference carefully to ensure accuracy.

Please note that some of these APA citation tools may still be in the process of updating to the latest guidelines found in the seventh edition of the APA publication manual. This is another reason why it'scrucial to check any citation generated by a tool to be sure it's right for your paper.

1

KnightCite

APA citation tools
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KnightCite is an APA citation maker from the Hekman Library at Calvin University. You can use it to create a basic citation for a book in APA format. It can be a helpful resource for creating APA citations for psychology papers.

Before you begin, be sure to select APA from the "Citation Styles" menu on the left. Then complete the required fields and hit submit to receive your APA citation.

When using an APA citation tool, it is always a good idea to double-check the formatting of the finished citation using the official APA publication manual.

2

Zotero

Zotero is a useful open source web browser add-on that can be used for a variety of research purposes, including creating APA-style citations.

Zotero is very helpful for helping keep track of your research and sources. You can use it to organize your references, cite your sources, and share what you have found.

In one review of several APA citation machines and generators, researchers found that Zotero's browser add-on was the most accurate and easy to use.

When writing a psychology paper, citing all of your sources is essential. If you mention any research in your paper, the source of that information should be included on your reference page.

However, do not include sources on your reference page that are not cited within the body of your paper.

3

APA Citation Wizards

APA Citation Wizards is a handy tool that offers a quick and easy way to create references for web pages, online books, and online journal articles. Make sure to double-check that the current edition of the publication manual is being used for all citation types.

The most recent version is the seventh edition of the "Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association," which was published in 2019. However, some colleges and universities may still use the sixth edition of the manual.

Check with your instructor for specific guidance on which version you should be using for your psychology papers.

4

Citation Machine

The Citation Machine is a tool that allows students to create references in a variety of formats, including APA. Start by selecting the type of source you want to cite. You can fill in the information manually, or you can search for the source by name or URL.

If the tool finds the source, it can gather all of the relevant information automatically. You can then select APA 7 from the menu for citation styles.

5

Cite This!

CiteThis! is a Firefox add-on that can create citations for online sources in APA, MLA and AMA formats. Always check your finished reference to ensure it is in correct APA 7 format.

According to the developer, after installing the extension, you should open the citation window by going to "View," then to "Sidebar," and then selecting "CiteThis!". If you are using Windows, you may need to press the ALT key to access the View menu.

6

Bibme Citation Creator

Bibme is another citation tool that automatically generates and auto-fills citations for your works cited pages.

Bibme website also offers some useful advice on why it is so important to accurately cite other sources. Establishing your sources will strengthen your paper.

The site allows you to either search for sources or add them on their own. You can also save your bibliography and add to it as you do more research. You can then easily download your references in APA format, or save them in MLA, Chicago, or Turabian formats instead.

7

Mick Schroeder's Citation Generator

Mick Schroeder's Citation Generator offers a free, open-source tool that automatically suggests citations for a variety of publication formats, including APA style. When using the tool, be sure to first select "American Psychological Association 7th edition" from the drop-down menu. 

This tool is helpful because you can generate citations by entering a URL, PubMed ID, DOI number, ISBN number, or article title.

In some instances, you may need to change article titles to title case. In APA format, the words in an article title should be capitalized in the same way that you would capitalize the words in a book title.

Why APA Citation Generators Can Help

When writing psychology papers, it is important to cite all of your sources accurately. This allows others who read your paper to understand where your information comes from and helps other researchers learn more about the topic you are discussing.

Using a citation maker can be very helpful as you prepare your APA format sources, but they are no substitute for a solid understanding of the basics of APA style. These tools are often best used as a quick way to create references that you can then double-check before you complete your assignment. 

All APA citation tools and generators have their own strengths and weaknesses. The one that is right for you may depend on how you are using it, your research needs, your familiarity with the product, and the type of support they offer.

4 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. American Psychological Association. About APA Style.

  2. Ivey C, Crum J. Choosing the right citation management tool: Endnote, Mendeley, Refworks, or ZoteroJ Med Libr Assoc. 2018;106(3):399-403. doi:10.5195/jmla.2018.468

  3. American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).

  4. Masic I. The importance of proper citation of references in biomedical articlesActa Inform Med. 2013;21(3):148-55. doi:10.5455/aim.2013.21.148-155

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd
Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."