{"id":14270,"date":"2025-12-30T19:30:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T18:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/?p=14270"},"modified":"2026-09-13T11:11:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T09:11:12","slug":"citing-correctly-with-zotero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/en\/wissen\/richtig-zitieren-mit-zotero\/","title":{"rendered":"Citing correctly with Zotero"},"content":{"rendered":"

Step-by-step guide to correctly creating citations and bibliographies with Zotero<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Are you writing an academic paper and want to cite correctly\u2014whether using in-text short citations, numerical references, or traditional footnotes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zotero helps you manage your sources neatly and automatically create citations and bibliographies according to the guidelines of your university, institute or journal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have been working on the CSL citation style project for over ten years; it forms the foundation for the more than 10,000 citation styles in Zotero. In this article, I will show you, step-by-step,<\/strong>how to set up Zotero and use it correctly in the writing process \u2013 from importing your sources to the final bibliography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Zotero?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Zotero is a free open source software that is specially designed for researchers<\/strong> and students<\/strong> alike. Not only does it enable you to organise<\/strong> \u00a0to sources<\/strong>, but also enable you to cite correctly<\/strong> and create<\/strong> at ease. Completely automatic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step-by-step instructions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Installing Zotero<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To use Zotero, you must first download<\/strong> and install<\/strong>Zotero. Visit the official Zotero<\/strong><\/a>website, download the application and install it on your computer. Zotero is available for Windows, Mac and Linux alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Zotero<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Setting up your account<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After the installation register for<\/strong> a Zotero<\/strong>– account<\/strong> . This allows you to share your literature data between your different devices like with a tablet or mobile\u00a0<\/strong>but also safely store your library<\/strong>. Please do not skip this step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: The Zotero browser extension<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Zotero offers a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox and Safari. Download this extension to import your sources directly<\/strong> \u00a0to your library<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zotero automatically recognises the metadata<\/strong>while 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply open the following page and download the Zotero Connector for your browser:
https:\/\/www.zotero.org\/download\/connectors<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(It may well be that the connector is not visible at first. In this case, it is advisable to pin it to the bar.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Installing<\/figure>\n\n\n\n


<\/a>
Step 4: Adding sources<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong>– library<\/strong>. See in the below picture in the top right corner how Zotero automatically detects the item type<\/strong> and you can even choose the library where the entry should be saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Importing<\/figure>\n\n\n\n


<\/a>Step 5: Install Word Processor Integration<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zotero creates citations<\/strong> in your 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<\/strong> called Zotero<\/strong> in the menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Zotero<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sollte diese Leiste nicht auftauchen, kann die Erweiterung nochmals installiert werden. Hierzu einfach in Zotero in den Einstellungen unter „Zitieren\/Cite“ runterscrollen und unter „Textverarbeitungsprogramme“ kannst du auf „Microsoft Word Add-on nochmals installieren“ klicken. Siehe hierzu auch die Zotero Anleitung „Installing the Zotero Word Processor Plugins“<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Step 6: Installing the right citation style<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The CSL citation style project<\/a> now offers over 10,000 citation styles. This allows you to format your work to suit almost any style guide or journal. You can find and install them directly within Zotero under Settings > Cite, or install them via your browser: https:\/\/www.zotero.org\/styles<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zotero's public styles cover most journals and style guides. However, department-specific guidelines from German universities are rarely included, as they are only documented internally \u2013 for example, as a PDF guide from the department. For these cases, I offer customized CSL styles in my shop. Before purchasing, please check the examples shown to ensure the style meets your requirements. If the right one isn't available, you can request a Your Custom Citation Style<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ein h\u00e4ufiger Sonderfall ist die sogenannte \u201eDeutsche Zitierweise“: Dahinter steckt kein einheitlich definierter Stil, sondern ein Sammelbegriff f\u00fcr Fu\u00dfnotenzitierweisen. Wie du damit umgehst, erkl\u00e4re ich ausf\u00fchrlich unter German Citation Style: Citing Correctly with Zotero<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 7: Create citations<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can then start working on your document right away!
\"korrekt
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Einfach auf „Add\/edit Citation“ klicken und du wirst gefragt, welchen Stil du ausw\u00e4hlen willst. Danach w\u00e4hlst du deine Quelle aus und Zotero erzeugt das Zitat automatisch in der Form, die der ausgew\u00e4hlte Zitierstil vorgibt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Die Bibliographie kannst du dann zum Schluss einf\u00fcgen. Hierzu einfach den Cursor positionieren und auf den „Add\/Edit Bibliography“ Knopf klicken. So einfach ist das. Zotero h\u00e4lt sie automatisch konsistent mit deinen Zitaten. Und willst du noch insert additional sources<\/a> see the linked guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summary<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Zotero handles the formatting of citations and bibliographies entirely for you\u2014provided the citation style accurately reflects your institute's requirements. If that is the case, there is no need for manual adjustments, allowing you to focus on the content of your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are unsure about decorating or choosing the right style, just write to me<\/a>I also offer Zotero training sessions for groups and academic chairs, ranging from short introductory courses to complex workflows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good luck with your work.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Literature research and citation according to German citation style done right, thanks to Zotero and CSL citation template. Here I show you how to do it.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14337,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"brizy-blank-template.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14270","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-zotero"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"brizy_media":[{"id":1247,"url":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Deutsche-Zitierweise-Scribbr.png","name":"Deutsche-Zitierweise-Scribbr.png","meta":{"brizy_attachment_uid":"wp-225f10c8cf5dc5c261ed898d2222dffa.png","brizy_post_uid":["163a8b09433e927ea702e11670aa1add"]}},{"id":1782,"url":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/deutsche-zitierweise2.png","name":"deutsche-zitierweise2.png","meta":{"brizy_attachment_uid":"wp-53058ef8aa481037f55ae4759cea1364.png","brizy_post_uid":["163a8b09433e927ea702e11670aa1add"]}},{"id":2299,"url":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Quelle-aus-dem-Browser-importieren.png","name":"Quelle-aus-dem-Browser-importieren.png","meta":{"brizy_attachment_uid":"wp-1b5baaaa65d5aab501e7064a8ede7ad4.png","brizy_post_uid":["c7ee931cda30c20f26974613f293cdc8","163a8b09433e927ea702e11670aa1add"]}},{"id":2693,"url":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/zotero.org-download.png","name":"zotero.org-download.png","meta":{"brizy_attachment_uid":"wp-2bc692e00b10cbce94d8d8e483c44ad2.png","brizy_post_uid":["163a8b09433e927ea702e11670aa1add"]}},{"id":2970,"url":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/zotero-Browser-connector-installieren.png","name":"zotero-Browser-connector-installieren.png","meta":{"brizy_attachment_uid":"wp-9d5155a94a15a35d8044ec5c01fa1fa7.png","brizy_post_uid":["163a8b09433e927ea702e11670aa1add"]}},{"id":2971,"url":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/zotero-plugin-in-word.png","name":"zotero-plugin-in-word.png","meta":{"brizy_attachment_uid":"wp-afcd5f107d97686cc24c5fe252303b93.png","brizy_post_uid":["163a8b09433e927ea702e11670aa1add"]}},{"id":2972,"url":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/zitieren-mit-word-FOM.png","name":"zitieren-mit-word-FOM.png","meta":{"brizy_attachment_uid":"wp-1f443173e3b2b1233ff545419112a293.png","brizy_post_uid":["163a8b09433e927ea702e11670aa1add"]}},{"id":2998,"url":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/deutsche-zitierweise-zotero-word.png","name":"deutsche-zitierweise-zotero-word.png","meta":{"brizy_attachment_uid":"wp-9c2c977a88ca78025aca6027b62f3a40.png","brizy_post_uid":["163a8b09433e927ea702e11670aa1add"]}},{"id":3048,"url":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/CSL-Style-Editor-in-Zotero.png","name":"CSL-Style-Editor-in-Zotero.png","meta":{"brizy_attachment_uid":"wp-d6f9ccaa0d447464e49a0adc2debcfd1.png","brizy_post_uid":["163a8b09433e927ea702e11670aa1add"]}},{"id":3049,"url":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/VisualEditor-fuer-CSL-Zitierstile.png","name":"VisualEditor-fuer-CSL-Zitierstile.png","meta":{"brizy_attachment_uid":"wp-8ce3fb2dbe3856fbf7252729880704a5.png","brizy_post_uid":["163a8b09433e927ea702e11670aa1add"]}},{"id":3050,"url":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/CSL-Specifications-Webseite.png","name":"CSL-Specifications-Webseite.png","meta":{"brizy_attachment_uid":"wp-ffd88e16337ce58c35df761f5c4e96cc.png","brizy_post_uid":["163a8b09433e927ea702e11670aa1add"]}},{"id":3190,"url":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Zotero-und-CSL-an-der-FOM.png","name":"Zotero-und-CSL-an-der-FOM.png","meta":{"brizy_attachment_uid":"wp-3880177c15328021c9c06207a3b63bad.png","brizy_post_uid":["163a8b09433e927ea702e11670aa1add"]}},{"id":4180,"url":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Zotero-und-CSL-an-der-DHBW.png","name":"Zotero-und-CSL-an-der-DHBW.png","meta":{"brizy_attachment_uid":"wp-f3770dd34f9be15f7070ccf765811c54.png","brizy_post_uid":["163a8b09433e927ea702e11670aa1add"]}},{"id":6386,"url":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/FOM-zitieren.png","name":"FOM-zitieren.png","meta":{"brizy_attachment_uid":"wp-5d827845babc7f6873446a86721e7285.png","brizy_post_uid":["163a8b09433e927ea702e11670aa1add"]}},{"id":9549,"url":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Zoter-Run-JavaScript-Code.png","name":"Zoter-Run-JavaScript-Code.png","meta":{"brizy_attachment_uid":"wp-7349cc6609a9022ced557f445d8d994e.png","brizy_post_uid":["163a8b09433e927ea702e11670aa1add"]}},{"id":9563,"url":"https:\/\/citationstyler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Zotere-Search-and-Replace-Script-runterladen.png","name":"Zotere-Search-and-Replace-Script-runterladen.png","meta":{"brizy_attachment_uid":"wp-8060be01fd16fe4986657c60417d5f20.png","brizy_post_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