Frequently asked questions

Yes — citation generators are fine to use and can save you time. But treat the citation they create as a draft and always check it before submitting your work.

What are citation generators?

Citation generators are tools that use information about a source to create a citation in a style such as APA, MLA, or Chicago.

Where you might see them:

• Library databases such as EBSCO, ProQuest, and JSTOR — look for a Cite button or quotation mark icon.
• Google Scholar — select the quotation mark icon under a search result.
• LibrarySearch — many records include a built-in Citation or Cite option.
• Citation websites such as Scribbr, EasyBib, or Citation Machine — these usually ask you to enter a title, DOI, ISBN, or URL.

These tools can be useful, but they can make mistakes or work from incomplete information.

Why do I need to check the citation?

A citation generator may:

• use incorrect or incomplete information about the source;
• identify the wrong type of source;
• use the wrong citation style or an outdated version of a style;
• make errors in capitalization, punctuation, italics, author names, dates, or page numbers.

Important: Check both the information in the citation and the formatting.

Quick check before you submit:

• Right style? Does it match the style and edition your instructor asked for?
• Right source? Is it correctly identified as an article, book, chapter, website, report, etc.?
• Right information? Check the author, title, date, journal or publisher information, volume, issue, pages, DOI, or URL against the original source.
• Right formatting? Check capitalization, italics, punctuation, and author order against an example in the MRU citation guide.

What about AI?

Be especially careful about asking a generative AI tool to create or complete citations. AI tools can produce citation details that look convincing but are incomplete, incorrect, or fabricated. Whenever possible, start with the original source, LibrarySearch, a library database, or a citation tool — and verify the result.

Need help?

• Use the MRU citation guides to compare your citation with an example.
• Ask for help at the Library Service Desk or through the Library's online help services.
• Student Learning Services can also help with citation and academic writing.
• Your instructor's requirements take priority if they differ from a general citation guide.