How to Select a Good Citation Generator?
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By PAGE Editor
Have you ever got confused about whether to put the comma after the name of the author or before, while adding a citation to your study? Worry not, because you are not alone. There are hundreds of researchers out there who have always missed the right format to insert the citation of the book quoted in the literature review.
Who wants to remember different citation formats to add varying references in the literature review writing of the study? When you can get each reference generated from the citation tool available across the internet.
The only problem is that selecting from several APA citation generators or other tools is quite a difficult task. That’s why we have formulated some guiding factors for you below.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Citation Generator
You can select a reliable and instant results-generating citation generator by looking for the following elements in each selected platform to make the final decision.
Multiple Citation Styles
Every academic journal or even university has different citation style requirements for accepting a research paper. To meet the varying demands of every platform, the only solution is to opt for a tool that can offer MLA, APA, Chicago, Harvard, etc, styles on the go in one place.
So that you can keep working on your research study without juggling between citation generators.
User-Friendly Interface
Researchers are usually short on deadlines, and they have no time to play the guessing game to identify buttons like citation style or edition chooser. That’s why you should always pick a tool that has an easy-to-navigate interface to meet your different requirements, like downloading citations generated in PDF, Word file, etc, within seconds.
Accuracy in Results
There are a bunch of citation generators available out there, but not all of them are 100% accurate. You can’t afford to compromise on the style consistency of your research paper or dissertation because it is going to be associated with your name. That’s why you should always test tools to ensure accuracy before finalising any tool.
Third-Party Integration
The more convenient a platform is, the more productive your workflow will be. The same is the case with citation generators because if you need to jump out of the document repeatedly to add every in-text or full citation, then it's not a good idea because you may lose the connection between your ideas or thought process.
Tools that come with browser extensions or third-party application integration capabilities would be a game-changer for you. Because they can make you add citations on the go without leaving the manuscript page.
Customisation Features
Sometimes you need to delete, add, or even replace some references organised in the tool you are using. A platform that allows you to do manual edits and customisation of references according to your preferences can be life-saving for you when making last-minute changes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Generating Citations
Whether you are managing references for your PhD thesis writing or a term paper writing, don't ever rely completely on citation generators because one unaddressed mistake can land you in hot water.
Overreliance on Tools
Always double-check the list of references to spot any duplication or omission of in-text citation references. Because while working, there are chances that you may add the same details twice, and the machine can process it as it is, without indicating to you about duplication.
That’s why you should not always rely completely on the tools, because machines may not alert you about human errors.
Following Outdated Guidelines
Imagine you are working with a citation generator that is following the outdated guidelines and generating results according to the previous format of referencing. Felt bad? That’s why you should always ensure the platform you are selecting is up to date with the manuals of MLA, APA, or other styles to avoid such issues.
Top 3 Citation Tools
We have shortlisted the top 3 citation tools for you to pick any of them and start adding citations to your study without worrying about the results' accuracy or updated formatting.
Scribbr: A multi-platform supporting citation tool with various style options.
EasyBib: User-friendly citation generator with extensive features.
ResearchProspect: An automatic citation generator with writing assistance features.
Conclusion
Make your research writing process easy by relying on a perfect citation generator to save your time and spend that time on researching and crafting perfect sentences. The best hack to pick a citation generator is to identify its accuracy level, multi-style support features, and third-party applications integration to enjoy a wholesome citation experience.
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