There are numerous tools available to aid with creating citations. Many are freely available on the web and are handy for formatting a specific item. Check out our links under the tab for Other Citation Tools.

However, if you plan to do in-depth research and collect many citations, it is recommended that you use a more robust program such as the ones described below.

The University Libraries supports these software programs used for citation management:

Each has features which make them unique. However, all of them help you collect and organize bibliographic citations for journal articles, books, websites, and other types of research material. Each also has a tool for aiding in embedding citations and creating reference lists in your word processing document as you write.

How To Decide
We know it is difficult to know which of these products to use. We offer training on each of the products to help you learn more about them. Check for classes on our calendar of upcoming open sessions. 

But you may also want to check with your colleagues and/or faculty in your department to see if there is a preference for one product over the other. We also have a wonderful comparison tool here:  Comparison Chart

When you use other authors' ideas and words in your own writing, it is important to credit them - even if you do not quote their words exactly as written.

Citing your sources allows your reader to identify the works you have consulted and to understand the breadth and scope of your research. Footnotes, endnotes, and lists of work consulted provide substantiation for your own findings and ideas.

Practicing "cite as you write" and keeping track of ideas and quotations that you use in your own writing helps you to avoid plagiarism or charges of research misconduct.