In-text citations
ACS uses either superscript numbers¹ or italic numbers in parentheses (1), numbered by first appearance.
Updated 2026
Free ACS Citation Generator with Source Checks
Use this free ACS citation generator to create chemistry references with real metadata lookup, journal abbreviation support, and field warnings.
- Free to useNo account required
- Editable fieldsFix missing metadata before copying
- Source labelsSee where citation data came from
Citation style
Try real examples
How this ACS citation generator works
Start with the source detail you have, then use this ACS citation generator to check the result before copying.
- PasteUse a DOI, ISBN, URL, source title, or manual entry.
- CheckReview source labels, missing field warnings, and citation style output.
- EditUpdate fields when public metadata is incomplete.
- CopyUse the full citation, in-text citation, or add it to your library.
Reference list format
Journal names appear as abbreviated titles with periods. Author names are listed surname first with semicolons between entries.
ACS review sheet
ACS checks for chemistry sources
ACS references are sensitive to author punctuation, abbreviated journal titles, DOI presence, and page ranges.
Before you copy
Use semicolons between authors where the style requires them.
Prefer NLM journal abbreviations, then apply ACS punctuation carefully.
Keep DOI values for journal articles when CrossRef provides them.
Source examples to review
Match the source type, then check the fields that usually cause mistakes.
Chemistry article
Cite a DOI from a journal
- Check
- Abbreviated journal title, year, volume, pages, DOI
Lab manual
Enter source details manually
- Check
- Institution, title, version, year
Book
Look up an ISBN
- Check
- Authors, title, publisher, edition, year
Quick ACS rules
- ACS reference lists are numbered and ordered by first appearance.
- Journal names usually appear as abbreviated titles with periods.
- DOI values are important for chemistry articles and should be kept when available.
- Article titles, journal title, year, volume, and pages are the core fields to verify.
Common ACS mistakes
- Missing journal abbreviations with periods
- Wrong author separator (use semicolons, not commas)
- Not including DOI for journal articles
ACS citation generator questions
Does this ACS generator use real article data?
Yes. DOI and title searches use CrossRef. The page labels the data source under the result.
How are ACS journal abbreviations handled?
The tool checks NLM journal data and applies ACS punctuation rules when a short title is available.
Can I cite a book in ACS style?
Yes. ISBN and book title searches use Google Books when available, and you can edit the fields.
Will the tool invent missing citation data?
No. Missing fields are shown as warnings so you can confirm or add them manually.