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Zotero - old version: Creating
Bibliographies

Creating Your References & Bibliography While You Write

​Zotero offers word processing plugins for Word and OpenOffice. The plugin adds a Zotero toolbar to your word processor that allows you to add citations to your document while you write.

To add a citation, click the first button ("Add/Edit Citation") on the toolbar. Search for the reference you want to cite and press Enter. Zotero will add the citation at your cursor.

At the end of your paper, click the "Insert Bibliography" button. Your bibliography will appear, and new citations will be added automatically. Change bibliographic styles with the "Document Preferences" button.

The toolbar looks different on different operating systems and versions of Word. Mousing over the toolbar will pop up each button's function if they're not clearly labeled.

Creating ONLY a bibliography

These instructions are for when you're only trying to create a bilbiography (not writing a paper where you're including references throughout and then creating a bibliography). The video below shows two different options for doing so - one if all of your citations are mixed in with other ones, and one if you use folders in Zotero and have all the necessary citations in one folder. 

You can either watch the 2-minute video below, or read the instructions below that - they cover the same material. 

Instructions if you have all your citations mixed together in your Zotero Library: 

  1. In your Zotero library, search for a citation you want to include, and then right-click on it. 
  2. From the pop-up menu that appears, choose "Create Bibliography from Item." 
  3. Select the citation format you're using Make sure that Output Mode is set to "Bibliography" and that Output Method is set to "Copy to Clipboard." Go to your document for your bibliography and paste the item in.
  4. You will need to manually alphabetize the list.
  5. PRO TIP: You can also do this step by selecting multiple citations at the same time, then right-click and choose Create Bibliography from Collection. The items will already be alphabetized then.

Instructions if you have all your the citations you need in one Zotero folder: 

  1. In your Zotero library, click on the folder holding all your citations, and then right-click on it. 
  2. From the pop-up menu that appears, choose "Create Bibliography from Collection" 
  3. Select the citation format you're using Make sure that Output Mode is set to "Bibliography" and that Output Method is set to "Copy to Clipboard." Go to your document for your bibliography and paste the item in.