Turn any claim into a citation-ready footnote

Paste a statistic, quote, or URL. Get a properly formatted footnote and a credibility checklist so you can verify, share, or challenge it with confidence.

Start Building How It Works

Build Your Footnote

Paste the exact claim, statistic, or quote.

Your Footnote

Fill in the fields on the left and your formatted footnote will appear here.

How It Works

Paste your claim

Copy the statistic, quote, or claim you want to verify. It can come from an article, a social media post, a report, or even something someone said in a meeting.

Fill in what you know

Select the source type and add the author, title, date, and URL. The more you fill in, the better your footnote looks. Blank fields are simply left out.

Copy and verify

Grab your formatted footnote in APA, MLA, or plain text. Run through the credibility checklist to spot red flags before you share or cite it.

Source Credibility Guide

Not every source deserves the same weight. Here are the red flags and green flags to look for before you cite something.

Red Flags

  • No author listed. If you cannot find who wrote it, treat it with caution.
  • Sponsored content. The source may be paid to promote a viewpoint.
  • Single study. One study is a starting point, not proof. Look for replication.
  • Correlation vs. causation. Just because two things happen together does not mean one caused the other.
  • Outdated data. A study from 2008 may not reflect current reality.
  • No original source. A blog citing a study is not the same as the study itself.

Green Flags

  • Named author with credentials. Look for expertise in the relevant field.
  • Published by a known institution. Universities, government agencies, and established newsrooms have editorial standards.
  • Peer-reviewed. Other experts checked the work before publication.
  • Transparent methodology. The source explains how the data was collected.
  • Multiple sources agree. When several independent sources report the same finding, it carries more weight.

Format Comparison

Here is the same source formatted three ways so you can see the differences.

Format Example Best for
APA 7th Smith, J. (2025, March 15). State of online misinformation 2025. Pew Research Center. https://example.com Social sciences, reports, presentations
MLA 9th Smith, Jane. "State of Online Misinformation 2025." Pew Research Center, 15 Mar. 2025, https://example.com. Humanities, essays, school papers
Plain text Jane Smith, "State of Online Misinformation 2025," Pew Research Center, March 15, 2025. https://example.com Emails, social media replies, quick notes

Common Mistakes

Citing the blog, not the study

If a blog post summarizes a study, your footnote should point to the actual study. The blog is a secondary source. It is fine to mention both, but do not present the blog as the original research.

Using a headline as evidence

Headlines are written to grab attention. They often oversimplify or sensationalize. Always read the full article before citing a claim from the headline.

Forgetting the access date

Web pages change. Including the date you accessed a source helps others find the version you saw, especially for pages that get updated frequently.

Mixing up formats

Do not combine APA and MLA rules in the same document. Pick one format and use it consistently throughout your work.

Edge Cases

Social media posts

Include the handle, platform, full text (or a truncated version), date, and URL. Remember that social media posts are primary sources. They have no editorial review, so the credibility checklist will flag this.

Podcasts

Cite the episode title, show name, host, episode number if available, date, and URL. If you are referencing a specific moment, include a timestamp in your notes.

Paywalled articles

Format the citation normally. Add a note like "Paywalled" in your personal notes section. If you accessed it through a library, you can mention that too.

Someone told you in person

For conversations, interviews, or meetings, include the person's name, the type of communication (personal interview, phone call, etc.), and the date. These are valid sources in many contexts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I only have a URL?
Paste the URL and select the source type. The builder formats what you have and flags missing fields in the credibility checklist. You can fill in more details later.
Can I cite a tweet or social media post?
Yes. Select "Social Media Post" as the source type. The builder formats it with the handle, platform, date, and URL. The checklist will remind you that these posts lack editorial review.
What is the difference between APA and MLA?
APA is common in social sciences and puts the date early in the citation. MLA is common in humanities and leads with the author and title. Both include URLs and access dates for online sources.
Does this tool check if a source is fake?
No. It helps you format a citation and spot common red flags. You still need to read the source and use your own judgment.
Can I save my work?
Your inputs are saved in your browser as you type. You can also copy a share link that encodes your current inputs in the URL so you can return to them later.