Step-by-step guide to correctly creating citations and bibliographies with Zotero
Are you a student and want to cite your sources correctly in your next academic paper – whether using short Author-Date citations in the text, numerical references or traditional footnotes?
Zotero helps you manage your sources neatly and automatically create citations and bibliographies according to the guidelines of your university, institute or journal.
In this article, I will show you step-by-stephow to set up Zotero and use it correctly in the writing process – from importing your sources to the final bibliography.
Why Zotero?
Zotero is a free open source software that is specially designed for researchers and students alike. Not only does it enable you to organise to sources, but also enable you to cite correctly and create bibliographies at ease. Completely automatic.
You insert your sources into Zotero (on your computer, tablet or mobile phone) and cite them as you write. At the end you add a bibliography, with one click, and you are ready for submission.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Installing Zotero
To use Zotero, you must first download and installZotero. Visit the official Zoterowebsite, download the application and install it on your computer. Zotero is available for Windows, Mac and Linux alike.
Step 2: Set up your account
After the installation register for a Zotero- account . This allows you to share your literature data between your different devices like with a tablet or mobile but also safely store your library. Please do not skip this step.
Step 3: The Zotero browser extension
Zotero offers a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox and Safari. Download this extension to import your sources directly to your library.
Zotero automatically recognises the metadatawhile you surf the internet. Do you need an article from JSTOR or a preprint from arXiv.org? An article from the New York Times or a book from the National Library? Zotero is your companion, wherever you go.
Simply open the following page and download the Zotero Connector for your browser:
https://www.zotero.org/download/connectors
(It may well be that the connector is not visible at first. In this case, it is advisable to pin it to the bar.)
Step 4: Adding sources
Once you have installed the extension, you can easily import literature sources from websites, online libraries and catalogues. Your sources are automatically organised in your Zotero- library. See in the below picture in the top right corner how Zotero automatically detects the item type and you can even choose the library where the entry should be saved.
Step 5: Install Word Processor Integration
Zotero creates citations in the text or footnotes and bibliographies for any text editor, directly in Word, LibreOffice or Google Docs. This integration is automatically installed for you when you install Zotero, regardless of whether you use Word or another supported programme. You will find a new tab called Zotero in the menu.
If this bar does not appear, the extension can be reinstalled. To do this, simply scroll down to ‘Cite’ in the Zotero settings and click on ‘Reinstall Microsoft Word Add-on’ under ‘Word Processors’. See also the Zotero instructions "Installing the Zotero Word Processor Plugins".
Step 6: Installing the right citation style
The CSL Citation Style Project, which I have been working on for more than 10 years, now offers over 10,000 citation styles. This allows you to format your work to match almost any style guide or journal. You can find and install these directly in Zotero under Settings > Cite. Or you can install them in your browser: https://www.zotero.org/styles
However, some universities and institutes have very specific requirements for which there is no public standard style. In such cases, individually adapted citation styles are used. You can find these in my shop (Please check carefully using the examples shown BEFORE PURCHASING to ensure that this is the style you require). And if you cannot find what you are looking for, you are also welcome to
request a bespoke citation style.
Step 7: Create citations
You can then start working on your document right away!
Simply click on ‘Add/edit Citation’ and you will be asked which style you want to select. Then select your source and Zotero will automatically generate the citation in the format specified by the selected citation style.
You can then insert the bibliography at the end. To do this, simply position the cursor and click on the ‘Add/Edit Bibliography’ button. It's that simple. Zotero automatically keeps it consistent with your citations. And if you want to insert additional sources see the linked guide.
Summary
The combination of Zotero and specially tailored citation styles will significantly improve your academic life. Literature research and citing will become a stress free process, so you can concentrate on what matters most – your research and your thesis.
Use these resources wisely and let Zotero and citation styles help you.
Good luck with your studies and research! I also offer tailor-made training, from short beginner trainings to complex workflows. And of course you can always contact me.
