Published January 28, 2021. Updated August 15, 2021.

To create a PDF reference or citation, you will need to know the name of the author or organization, title, publisher, place of publication, and publication year.

The templates and examples below will show you how to cite a PDF in MLA, APA, Chicago style, and Harvard referencing.

Easily cite a PDF in the style of your choice using the Chegg Writing citation generator.

Help protect your paper against accidental plagiarism with the Chegg Writing plagiarism checker and citation generator.

Citing a PDF in MLA style

The title of the PDF should be in title case and italicized.

In-text citation template and example:

(Organization Name/Author Last Name)

(European Union)

Works cited entry template and example:

For more examples and information, view our citing a pdf in MLA guide.

Citing a PDF in APA style

The title of the PDF is set in sentence case and italicized. Use “Retrieved from” before the URL. Do not use period after the URL.

In-text citation template and example:

(Organization Name/Author Surname, Publication Year)

(European Union, 2016)

Reference list entry template and example:

For more examples and information, view our citing a pdf in APA guide.

Citing a PDF in Chicago style, notes-bibliography

The title of the pdf is set in title case and italicized. Include accessed date before the URL.

Footnotes template and example:

Note

1. 1. Organization Name/Author’s Full Name, Title of the PDF in Title Case (Publisher, Year Published), accessed date, URL.

   2. European Union, European Union Global Strategy (EU Publications Office, 2016), accessed January 1, 2021, https://eeas.europa.eu/archives/docs/top_stories/pdf/eugs_review_web.pdf.

Shortened note

1. 1. Organization Name/Author Surname, Book Title.

   2. European Union, European Union Global Strategy.

Bibliography entry template and example:

For more examples and information, view our citing a pdf in Chicago Style guide.

Citing a PDF in Chicago style, author-date

The book title should be in title case and italicized.

In-text citation template and example:

(Author Surname Publication Year)

(European Union 2016)

Reference list entry template and example:

For more examples and information, view our citing a pdf in Chicago Style guide.

How to cite a PDF in Harvard referencing style

The title of the PDF is set in sentence case and italicized. Use “Available at:” before the URL. Include the accessed date inside parentheses at the end of the citation.

In-text citation template and example:

(Organization Name/Author Surname, Publication Year)

(European Union, 2016)

Reference list entry template and example:

For more examples and information, view our citing a pdf in Harvard Referencing Style guide.

Writing a paper? Don’t forget to include a bibliography.