Citation Formatter: format references in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, IEEE, and Vancouver

Build a reference field by field or paste CSL-JSON, then generate a full reference and in-text citation with our formatting engine. Seven major styles, live preview, copy and download. Everything runs in your browser: your reference data never leaves your device.

Citation style APA 7
The style is applied using official CSL style rules.
Reference details
Use "Last, First" or "First Last". Separate multiple authors with a new line or a semicolon.
Ready. Choose a style and add your reference.
Private by design. Your reference data is processed only in this browser. The tool fetches static formatting files, but it never sends your reference text anywhere.

How to use the Citation Formatter

  1. 1
    Choose a citation style Select APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago author-date, Harvard, IEEE, Vancouver, or AMA from the style chips.
  2. 2
    Add your reference details Fill in the author, year, title, and source fields. For multiple references, switch to the CSL-JSON tab and paste structured data.
  3. 3
    Format the citation Press Format citation. The tool builds the full reference and the in-text citation locally in your browser.
  4. 4
    Copy or download the result Use the copy buttons for individual blocks, or copy all and download the formatted output as a .txt file.

Special features

7 official citation styles APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago author-date, Harvard Cite Them Right, IEEE, Vancouver, and AMA, applied through official style rules.
Accurate formatting engine The same CSL processing standard used by major reference managers. Formatting is not a template approximation; it applies the official style rules.
Live preview After the first format, the output updates as you edit fields, so you can compare styles and fix details without extra clicks.
CSL-JSON input Paste a single CSL-JSON object or an array of up to 50 items to format a full bibliography and a combined citation cluster.
100% private No upload, no account, no analytics, no cookies, no localStorage. Your reference data stays in the browser from start to finish.
Safe rendering All citation output is sanitized with a strict allowlist before it reaches the page. User text is never inserted as raw HTML.

Frequently asked questions

Is this citation formatter free?

Yes. The BlowFix Citation Formatter is completely free, with no account, no signup, and no usage limit. You can format as many references as you need.

Which citation styles are supported?

The tool supports APA 7th edition, MLA 9th edition, Chicago author-date, Harvard Cite Them Right, IEEE, Vancouver, and AMA. All styles are applied using official style rules.

Does the citation formatter work offline?

After the page and the formatting engine have loaded once, formatting runs locally in your browser. The first format needs a connection to download the formatting engine and the selected style file. No reference data is sent during that download.

Is my reference data safe?

Yes. Your reference data is processed only in your browser and is never uploaded. The tool does not use cookies, analytics, localStorage, or a database. It only fetches static formatting files and never sends your reference text anywhere.

Can I format multiple references at once?

Yes. Switch to the CSL-JSON tab and paste a JSON array of up to 50 items. The tool formats a full bibliography and a combined in-text citation cluster in the selected style.

What is CSL-JSON?

CSL-JSON is the standard JSON format used by reference managers such as Zotero. Each item has an id, a type, and fields such as author, title, issued, and container-title. It is the most reliable way to format many references consistently.

Why does my formatted citation look different from my style guide?

Citation styles have many editions and local variations. This tool uses the official style files for the selected edition. If your institution requires a local variant, check its exact rules or choose the closest official style. Also check that the item type and fields match your source, because a book chapter formatted as a journal article will not produce the expected output.