Author order is not alphabetical
Retain the author sequence printed on the article. That order can communicate contribution and should not be rearranged by surname.
Journal reference workbench
ACS Journal Article Citation Generator
Find a paper by DOI or title, or enter its metadata manually. Review the authors, journal, year, volume, issue, pages, and DOI as your ACS reference updates.
Free to useNo sign-upLive ACS preview
Start generatingJournal article tool
Generate an ACS journal citation
Search Crossref by DOI or article title, choose the correct match, and review every imported field—or enter the publication details manually.
Source type Required fields
Smart lookup
Find an article, then cite it
Paste a DOI or search by article title. We will retrieve the publication details for you to review.
or enter and edit the article details manually
Journal article references
What belongs in an ACS journal article citation?
An ACS journal article reference identifies a specific research paper, not just the journal that published it. A complete entry normally brings together the authors, the full article title, the journal title, publication year, volume, issue when applicable, page range or article number, and a DOI when one is available. Each element helps a reader distinguish the paper from other work by the same authors or in the same volume.
The order and punctuation matter, but the metadata matters more. A perfectly punctuated reference with the wrong author order or an incomplete article number still points readers to the wrong record. Copy the details from the article landing page, PDF, or a trusted scholarly database, and keep the authors in the order used by the publication. The generator converts personal names to surname-and-initial form and normalizes DOI URLs into a compact DOI label.
ACS journals and instructors can apply local variations. Some request a standard journal abbreviation, while current ACS examples and individual journal instructions should be treated as the final authority. Smart Lookup can save typing, but every imported field remains visible and editable so you can compare the match with the primary source before using it.
Reference anatomy
ACS journal article format, field by field
Use the pattern as a reading guide, then verify each value against the original publication. Optional fields should be omitted cleanly rather than guessed.
ACS / PATTERN
Author 1; Author 2. Article title. Journal Title Year, Volume (Issue), pages or article number. DOI: identifier
- 01
Authors
Tan, G. Y.; Das, M.Keep the published author order. ACS references generally show the family name followed by initials and separate multiple authors with semicolons.
- 02
Article title
Photochemical single-step synthesis...Enter the full title, including a subtitle when present. The generator adds terminal punctuation without duplicating a question mark or period.
- 03
Journal
Nat. Chem.Use the journal title or the standard abbreviation required by your journal, instructor, or department. Do not invent an abbreviation.
- 04
Publication details
2022, 14 (10), 1174−1184Supply the year, volume, issue when available, and either the inclusive pages or the article number. The tool accepts both page ranges and article numbers.
- 05
DOI
10.1038/s41557-022-01008-wPaste a bare DOI, a DOI label, or a doi.org URL. The generator removes the wrapper and displays one normalized DOI identifier.
Completed example
Example ACS citation for a journal article
Tan, G. Y.; Das, M.; Keum, H.; Bellotti, P.; Daniliuc, C.; Glorius, F. Photochemical single-step synthesis of β-amino acid derivatives from alkenes and (hetero)arenes. Nat. Chem. 2022, 14 (10), 1174−1184. DOI: 10.1038/s41557-022-01008-w
Four checks
How to cite a journal article in ACS style
- 01
Open the primary record
Use the publisher page or article PDF so you can confirm the exact author order, title, journal, and publication details.
- 02
Search or enter the metadata
Paste a DOI for an exact lookup, search by title, or fill the fields manually. Never guess missing values just to make the reference look complete.
- 03
Read the live preview
Check initials, title punctuation, journal spelling, year, volume, page range or article number, and the normalized DOI.
- 04
Copy and verify
Copy the reference or add it to your bibliography, then compare the result with the instructions for your course or target journal.
Accuracy notes
Details worth checking before you submit
A citation generator formats the values it receives; it cannot confirm that the source itself supplied correct or complete metadata. These checks catch the most common journal-reference errors.
Review the current ACS Style Quick GuidePages and article numbers are alternatives
Traditional articles use an inclusive page range. Many online journals use one article number instead; enter the identifier exactly as published.
Issue requirements can vary
The issue helps identify an article and is shown in current examples when supplied. Follow the policy of the journal, instructor, or style sheet you are writing for.
Use the article DOI, not the journal URL
A DOI should resolve to the specific article. Avoid copying a search URL, session URL, or the journal home page as a substitute.
Journal article FAQ
Common ACS journal citation questions
01How do I cite a journal article in ACS style?
List the authors in publication order, the article title, journal title, year, volume, issue when applicable, pages or article number, and DOI when available. Use the generator above to arrange and punctuate those fields, then check the requirements for your journal or course.
02Is the issue number required in an ACS journal citation?
Issue treatment can depend on the publication and the instructions you are following. The generator treats the issue as optional, but includes it in parentheses when you supply one.
03What if the article has a number instead of page numbers?
Enter the article number in the “Pages / article number” field. The generator places it in the same publication-details position without trying to convert it into a page range.
04Should I paste the full DOI URL?
You may paste a bare DOI, “DOI:” label, or a https://doi.org/ URL. The tool normalizes those forms and produces one compact DOI label in the reference.
05Does this tool find article metadata automatically?
Yes. Smart Lookup searches Crossref by DOI or article title and fills the editable journal form when you choose a match. Crossref records can still be incomplete or use a full journal name instead of the abbreviation you need, so compare every imported field with the publisher page or article PDF.
06Can I build a numbered ACS bibliography?
Yes. Generate each article, choose “Add to bibliography,” and then copy or download the numbered list. Arrange entries in the order they first appear in your writing unless your instructions say otherwise.