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Getting Started

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aicoder2009 edited this page Jan 29, 2026 · 1 revision

Getting Started

Get up and running with OpenCitation in minutes.

Quick Start (No Account)

You can use OpenCitation immediately without creating an account:

1. Quick Add (Recommended)

  1. Go to opencitation.vercel.app
  2. Paste a URL, DOI, or ISBN into the input field
  3. Click Generate
  4. Select your citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard)
  5. Copy your formatted citation!

Examples:

  • URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/15/technology/ai-research.html
  • DOI: 10.1038/nature12373
  • ISBN: 978-0-14-028329-7

2. Manual Entry

  1. Click Cite in the navigation
  2. Select the Manual tab
  3. Choose your source type (Book, Journal, Website, etc.)
  4. Fill in the required fields
  5. Generate and copy your citation

With an Account (Save & Organize)

Create a free account to save and organize your citations:

Sign Up

  1. Click Create Account in the header
  2. Sign up with email or Google/GitHub
  3. You're ready to start saving!

Create a List

Lists are like playlists for your citations:

  1. Generate a citation
  2. Click Add to List
  3. Create a new list or add to an existing one
  4. Access your lists from the Lists page

Create a Project

Projects help organize multiple lists (e.g., by semester):

  1. Go to Projects
  2. Click New Project
  3. Name your project
  4. Add lists to your project

Share Your Work

  1. Open a List or Project
  2. Click Share
  3. Copy the public link
  4. Anyone with the link can view (but not edit)

Tips

  • Keyboard shortcut: Press Enter after pasting a URL/DOI/ISBN to quickly generate
  • Check your citation: Always verify against official style guides before submission
  • Source types matter: Choose the correct source type for accurate formatting
  • Access types: For database articles, select "Database" as the access type

Next Steps

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