# Citation Generator — MCP tool `findutils:citation_generator`

Generate a reference-list citation in APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago, or Harvard style for a book, website, journal, or article. Returns the citation with *italic* markers, a plain-text version, and an HTML version with <em> tags.

- Category: text
- MCP server: https://mcp.findutils.com/ (Streamable HTTP, no API keys, 120 req/min per IP)
- REST endpoint: POST https://api.findutils.com/api/tools/citation-generator/execute (no API keys, 60 req/min per IP)
- Reference page: https://findutils.com/mcp/citation-generator/
- Same tool on the other surface: https://findutils.com/api/citation-generator/

## Connect

```bash
claude mcp add findutils --transport http https://mcp.findutils.com/
```

Claude Desktop (`claude_desktop_config.json`):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "findutils": {
      "url": "https://mcp.findutils.com/"
    }
  }
}
```

## Call the tool (verified example)

```bash
curl -X POST https://mcp.findutils.com/ \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "id": 1,
    "method": "tools/call",
    "params": {
      "name": "citation_generator",
      "arguments": {
        "style": "apa",
        "source_type": "book",
        "title": "Deep Work",
        "year": "2016",
        "publisher": "Grand Central",
        "authors": [
          {
            "first_name": "Cal",
            "last_name": "Newport"
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  }'
```

## Input schema

| Argument | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `style` | string (apa \| mla \| chicago \| harvard) | yes | Citation style. |
| `source_type` | string (book \| website \| journal \| article) | yes | Kind of source. |
| `title` | string | yes | Title of the work. |
| `authors` | array | no | Authors in order, each { first_name, last_name }. Authors without a last name are ignored. |
| `year` | string | no | Publication year. Default: current year. |
| `publisher` | string | no | Publisher (book). |
| `publisher_location` | string | no | Publisher city (book, Chicago/Harvard). |
| `edition` | string | no | Edition number, e.g. "2nd" (book). |
| `url` | string | no | URL (website, article). |
| `access_date` | string | no | Access date as YYYY-MM-DD (website). Default: today (UTC). |
| `website_name` | string | no | Website or organisation name (website). |
| `journal_name` | string | no | Journal or periodical name (journal, article). |
| `volume` | string | no | Volume (journal). |
| `issue` | string | no | Issue number (journal). |
| `pages` | string | no | Page range, e.g. "12-34". |
| `doi` | string | no | DOI without the https://doi.org/ prefix (journal). |

Example arguments (verified):

```json
{
  "style": "apa",
  "source_type": "book",
  "title": "Deep Work",
  "year": "2016",
  "publisher": "Grand Central",
  "authors": [
    {
      "first_name": "Cal",
      "last_name": "Newport"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Also a REST endpoint

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.findutils.com/api/tools/citation-generator/execute \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "style": "apa",
    "source_type": "book",
    "title": "Deep Work",
    "year": "2016",
    "publisher": "Grand Central",
    "authors": [
      {
        "first_name": "Cal",
        "last_name": "Newport"
      }
    ]
  }'

# Parameter schema
curl https://api.findutils.com/api/tools/citation-generator
```

Full REST reference: https://findutils.com/api/citation-generator/ · OpenAPI 3.1 spec: https://findutils.com/api/openapi.json

---
Full catalog: POST https://mcp.findutils.com/ with method `tools/list` · https://findutils.com/mcp/ · https://findutils.com/llms.txt