Step 1: Open your note
- Navigate to the Notes sidebar or your Library
- Click on the note you want to add citations to
- The note opens in the editor
Step 2: Select text for citation
Identify the text that needs supporting evidence:- Click and drag to highlight the statement or claim
- The floating menu appears automatically
- Look for the Cite option in the menu
Anara uses semantic search to find citations, understanding the meaning of your text rather than just matching keywords.
Step 3: Click the Cite button
Once you’ve selected text:- Click Cite in the floating menu
- The citation panel opens on the right
- The panel stays active, allowing you to cite multiple sections
Citation panel features:
- Search tabs: Toggle between Library and Internet sources
- Pin option: Keep the panel open for multiple citations
- Smart search: Automatically searches based on your selected text
Step 4: Search for supporting sources
The citation tool offers two search options:Search your Library
- Searches through all documents in your Anara library
- Finds relevant passages from your imported papers
- Perfect for citing sources you’ve already collected
Search the Internet
- Searches academic databases and web sources
- Finds research papers, books, and credible websites
- Expands your citation options beyond your library
Refining your search:
- The initial search uses your selected text
- Modify the search query for different results
- Use specific keywords or author names
- Filter by publication date or source type
Step 5: Select and insert citations
Review the search results:- Browse results: Each shows title, authors, and relevant excerpt
- Preview sources: Click to see more context
- Select citations: Click the + button to add
- Multiple citations: Add several sources for the same text
What happens when you add a citation:
- In-text citation appears in your chosen style (APA, MLA, etc.)
- Full reference is added to your bibliography
- Citation links to the source for verification
Step 6: Manage citation styles
Customize how citations appear:- Go to Settings → Citation Style
- Choose from supported styles:
- APA (7th edition)
- MLA (9th edition)
- Chicago
- Harvard
- IEEE
- And more…
- Changes apply to all new citations
Advanced citation features
Pinned citation panel
When working on research-heavy documents:- Click the pin icon in the citation panel
- The panel stays open as you move through your document
- Select different text sections and add citations quickly
- Unpin when finished
Semantic citation matching
Anara’s AI understands context:- Finds sources that support your argument
- Identifies related research from different fields
- Suggests citations you might have missed
- Validates claims against academic literature
Batch citations
For literature reviews or research papers:- Pin the citation panel
- Work through your document systematically
- Add citations to each claim or statement
- Build a comprehensive bibliography as you go
Tips for effective citations
Writing practices
- Cite as you write: Don’t wait until the end
- Over-cite initially: You can always remove excess
- Paraphrase properly: Avoid over-relying on quotes
- Check relevance: Ensure citations truly support your point
Search strategies
- Use multiple terms: Try different phrasings
- Check both sources: Library and Internet
- Verify credibility: Especially for web sources
- Update searches: New research publishes constantly
Organization tips
- Group similar citations: For stronger arguments
- Note contradictions: When sources disagree
- Track primary sources: Not just reviews
- Save search queries: For future reference
Export with citations
When your document is complete, you can share it or export it:- Click Export in the editor
- Choose your format:
- Word (.docx) - Preserves citations and formatting
- PDF - For final submission
- Markdown - For technical documents
- Citations export correctly in your chosen style
Common use cases
Research papers
- Support every major claim
- Build comprehensive literature reviews
- Maintain academic standards
Essay writing
- Back up arguments with evidence
- Show breadth of reading
- Demonstrate critical thinking
Note consolidation
- Connect ideas across sources
- Create synthesis documents
- Build knowledge networks
Next steps
Master citations by exploring:- Using agents to find sources
- Organizing research for easy citation
- Importing documents to expand your citation library