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Zotero

Zotero is software that helps you create citations and bibliographies. It's free and easy to use.

Caution

Triangular yellow caution symbolCaution: Automatically-generated bibliographies may contain errors. If you use Zotero to generate a bibliography, you should proofread the bibliography before you submit it to your professor.

Creating bibliographies within Zotero

It's easy to create a bibliography from your Zotero library.

Select the references or collections you want to include. (To select multiple items, hold the Control key.) Right-click one of the selected items and choose "Create Bibliography." Then, choose the bibliographic style you want, and select the output format.

Screenshot showing the Create Bibliography menu option

 

Or you can just drag and drop references from Zotero into your document! They'll turn into fully formatted citations. This works with any word processor, including Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Apple Pages. You can choose your style (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.) by going to the Edit menu, clicking "Settings," then clicking "Cite."

Screenshot showing the drag-and-drop method for creating bibliographies

Microsoft Word

Zotero offers word processing plugins for Word and LibreOffice. The plugin adds a Zotero toolbar to your word processor that allows you to add citations to your document while you write. The plugins are automatically installed when you install Zotero.

If you don't see the plugin in your copy of Word, try reinstalling it by going to Zotero Settings --> Cite --> Word Processors. If you still don't see it, or if the buttons aren't working, try these troubleshooting tips.

NOTE: In order to use the Word plugin, you have to have the Zotero app running in the background.

If the the plugin installed properly, you'll see a new tab in Word. Here's what it looks like:

 

Screenshot of the Zotero tab in Word

 

Add Citations:

To add a citation, click the first button ("Add/Edit Citation") on the toolbar. Search for the reference you want to cite and press Enter. Zotero will add the citation at your cursor.

At the end of your paper, click the "Add/Edit Bibliography" button. Your bibliography will appear. After this, if you add any new citations to your paper, Zotero will automatically update your bibliography to include those cited sources.

You can select a citation style with the "Document Preferences" button.

Google Docs

Zotero works with Google Docs! You must have the Zotero Connector installed in Chrome, Firefox or Safari.

Instead of a toolbar with buttons, as in the Word screenshot above, look for the Zotero menu in your Google Docs editor

NOTES:  

  • If you've installed the connector, you'll see the Zotero menu in Google Docs. 
  • You have to grant Zotero permission to view your Google documents.
  • Zotero must be running in the background in order to work properly.