Citing Your Sources: Citation Tools

The Williams Honor System requires you to properly acknowledge sources you have used in course assignments. This guide provides basic information on how to cite sources and examples for formatting citations in common citation styles.

Why Use a Citation Tool?

A citation manager stores all your citations in a searchable database so that you can:

  • Keep your research organized.
  • Format your footnotes or endnotes automatically in the style of your choice (APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.).
  • Format your bibliography automatically.
  • Insert references into a Word document with a click.
  • Create and format an annotated bibliography.

A Note about Citation Tools 

It is your responsibility to know what elements and punctuation are required for your citation style and determine whether the citation tool has generated the citation correctly.

Library-Supported Citation Tools

The libraries support EndNote and Zotero. This table can help compare different tools.

 

EndNote desktop

EndNote Online

Zotero
Type of Program

A software program that you need to download on your computer or use in the computer labs.

A web-based application accessible on any computer, anywhere. A very pared-down version of the desktop version.

A software program with a web-based application accessible on any computer, anywhere.
How to Get It

Williams has a license to this software for students, faculty, and staff available through OIT's software download page.

Download and use Endnote 21 for free!

Anyone can create an account and use Endnote Basic online for free.

Endnote Web is a slightly fancier online version only available if you have downloaded Endnote 21. You can sync between free and subscription accounts.

 Open source. Anyone can download the program and use it for free.
Getting Started

Using EndNote Handout (Williams-specific)
How To Use EndNote 21 in 7 Minutes (Mac OS) (YouTube)
How To Use EndNote 21 in 7 Minutes (PC) (YouTube)

Using EndNote Basic/Online (YouTube playlist)

Endnote Online Essentials (video)

 Getting Started with Zotero (quick start guide)
Functionality Advanced functionality appropriate for sustained research projects such as theses. Can share references and PDFs with up to 100 collaborators.

Basic functionality. Can share references but not PDFs.

Sharing not yet available in Endnote Web.

 Advanced functionality appropriate for sustained research projects such as theses. Can create group libraries to share references and PDFs with collaborators.
Word Processor Integration

Cite While You Write plug-in is added to Word when you download EndNote. It appears as a tab on your toolbar.

Endnote 21 has a google add-on that allows you to cite while you write in google docs.Download the add-on and follow these instructions.

Don't have Word? Download it through OIT. 

Need to download the Cite While You Write plug-in on the computer you are using. Appears as a tab or toolbar in Word.

Cite While You Write in Google Docs is only available while using Endnote Web.

 Automatically integrates with Word and Google Docs accounts. Appears in the toolbars.
Changing Your Mind Can export references in a variety of formats to be imported into other citation management tools. Can export references in a variety of formats to be imported into other citation management tools. Can export references in a variety of formats to be imported into other citation management tools.