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aicoder2009 edited this page Jan 29, 2026 · 1 revision

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about OpenCitation.

General

Is OpenCitation really free?

Yes, completely free. No premium tiers, no paywalls, no "upgrade to unlock features." Every feature is available to everyone. We're open source and always will be.

Do I need an account?

No. You can generate citations immediately without signing up. An account is only needed if you want to:

  • Save citations to lists
  • Organize lists into projects
  • Share citations with others

Is my data private?

Yes. We don't track your citations, sell your data, or show ads. If you create an account, your citations are stored securely and only accessible to you (unless you share them).

Can I use OpenCitation offline?

Currently, you need an internet connection. The Chrome extension (coming soon) will support offline manual entry.

Citations

Why doesn't my citation look right?

Common reasons:

  1. Wrong source type - Make sure you selected the correct source type (book vs. ebook, website vs. blog)
  2. Missing fields - Some fields affect formatting; try filling in more information
  3. Access type - For database articles, select "Database" as the access type
  4. Style differences - Citation styles have subtle differences; verify against official guides

Which citation style should I use?

Check your assignment guidelines or ask your professor. General recommendations:

  • APA - Psychology, Education, Sciences
  • MLA - Literature, Humanities, Languages
  • Chicago - History, Arts, Publishing
  • Harvard - General academic (UK/Australia)

Can I edit a citation after generating it?

Currently, you need to regenerate with updated information. Edit functionality is planned for a future update.

How accurate are the citations?

OpenCitation follows official style guide rules, but:

  • Always verify against your institution's requirements
  • Style guides have exceptions and edge cases
  • Some professors have specific preferences

We recommend treating generated citations as a starting point and double-checking important submissions.

Why can't OpenCitation find my source?

For URLs:

  • The website may block automated access
  • The page may not have proper metadata
  • Try the manual entry option instead

For DOIs:

  • Ensure the DOI is correct (format: 10.xxxx/xxxxx)
  • Very recent articles may not be indexed yet
  • Try searching on CrossRef.org to verify

For ISBNs:

  • Ensure the ISBN is correct (10 or 13 digits)
  • Very old or rare books may not be in databases
  • Try the manual entry option

Lists & Projects

What's the difference between Lists and Projects?

  • Lists are collections of citations (like playlists)
  • Projects are collections of lists (like folders)

Example: A "Fall 2024" project might contain lists for "English Essay," "History Paper," and "Biology Report."

Can others edit my shared lists?

No. Shared links are view-only. Recipients can view and copy citations but cannot modify your lists.

How do I delete a list or project?

  1. Go to Lists or Projects
  2. Click on the item you want to delete
  3. Click the delete button (trash icon)
  4. Confirm deletion

Warning: Deleting a list removes all citations in it. This cannot be undone.

Technical

What browsers are supported?

OpenCitation works on all modern browsers:

  • Chrome (recommended)
  • Firefox
  • Safari
  • Edge

Internet Explorer is not supported.

Why is the site slow?

Possible reasons:

  • Your internet connection
  • High traffic on external APIs (CrossRef, Open Library)
  • Large lists loading

Try refreshing the page or using manual entry if lookup is slow.

Does OpenCitation use AI?

Currently, no. Citations are generated using rule-based formatters, not AI. This ensures consistent, predictable results. AI-assisted metadata extraction is planned for future updates as a fallback when web scraping fails.

Is there a mobile app?

Not currently. The website is mobile-responsive and works well on phones and tablets. A dedicated app may be developed in the future based on demand.

Troubleshooting

I can't sign in

  • Check your email/password
  • Try "Forgot Password" if needed
  • Clear browser cookies and try again
  • Try a different browser

My citation disappeared

  • Check that you're signed into the correct account
  • Look in all your lists
  • It may have been in a list that was deleted

The page won't load

  • Refresh the page
  • Check your internet connection
  • Clear browser cache
  • Try a different browser

I found a bug!

Please report it! Use the Report Issue button on the website or open an issue on GitHub.

Feature Requests

Can you add [citation style]?

Possibly! The most requested styles will be prioritized. Open a feature request with:

  • The style name and edition
  • What field/discipline uses it
  • Link to official style guide if possible

Can you add [feature]?

We welcome suggestions! Check existing issues first, then open a new feature request on GitHub.

Will there be a premium version?

No. OpenCitation will always be free. If you want to support the project, consider:

  • Starring the repo on GitHub
  • Contributing code or documentation
  • Spreading the word to classmates

Still have questions?

  • Check the other wiki pages
  • Open a GitHub Discussion
  • Use the Report Issue feature on the website

Home | Getting Started | Features | Citation Styles

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