ACS & IEEE Citation Generator

What Is ACS Citation Format?

ACS citation format is the reference style developed by the American Chemical Society. It is used across chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science — any paper submitted to an ACS journal or to most university chemistry departments will require it.

The defining characteristics of ACS citation format are:

• —Numbered references listed in the order they first appear in the text, cited inline with superscript numbers.
• —Italicized, abbreviated journal names — for example, J. Am. Chem. Soc. rather than the full title.
• —Last name first, then initials for authors: Smith, J. A.; Jones, B. C.

A properly formatted ACS journal article citation looks like this:

What Is IEEE Citation Format?

IEEE citation format is the reference style published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. It is the standard for electrical engineering, computer science, electronics, and telecommunications research, and is required by most IEEE journals and conferences.

Key characteristics of IEEE citation format include:

• —Square bracket in-text references — e.g., [1], [2] — placed inline within the sentence or at the end of the clause.
• —Initials before the last name for authors: J. A. Smith rather than Smith, J. A.
• —Article titles in quotation marks, with journal and conference names in italics.

A correctly formatted IEEE journal article citation looks like this:

ACS vs. IEEE: Which Should You Use?

The right choice depends on your field and where you are publishing. Here is a quick comparison:

As a rule of thumb: use ACS citation format for chemistry, biochemistry, and life sciences; use IEEE citation format for engineering, computing, and electronics. When in doubt, always check the submission guidelines for the specific journal or institution — they will specify the exact required style.

How to Use This Citation Generator

Generating a properly formatted citation takes about 30 seconds:

1. 1.Choose a citation style — Select ACS or IEEE using the toggle at the top of the tool.
2. 2.Select your source type — Choose from journal article, conference paper, book, book chapter, or website.
3. 3.Fill in the fields — Enter authors one per line in Last, First Middle format — for example, Smith, John A. Include a DOI for journal articles whenever available, as it provides a permanent link and improves citation accuracy.
4. 4.Copy your citation — Click the Copy to clipboard button and paste it directly into your reference list or paper.

The generator handles author formatting, punctuation, and journal name styling automatically. No account or login required.