What is Cite3Words?
Cite3Words is a system that assigns a unique three-word code to each academic source, making it easier to search, share, and reference academic materials.
How do I find a paper using Cite3Words?
Simply enter the code (e.g. light.wave.study) into the search bar. It will take you directly to the assigned citation and reference details.
Can I search by author, year, or book title instead?
Yes — the search function supports partial or full input of author names, publication years, and paper/book titles. Cite3Words makes discovery faster across all methods.
Are the codes randomly generated?
No — each three-word code is deliberately assigned to be memorable and unique, linked directly to one specific academic source.
Do I have to pay to use Cite3Words?
No, Cite3Words is free to all students.
Can I add my own paper or code?
Not yet. Cite3Words currently operates as a controlled index. In future updates, authors or institutions will be able to submit references for review and inclusion.
Are my searches or data stored?
We do not track personal data or store individual search histories. All use is anonymous unless explicitly provided (e.g. via contact form).
What formats does it support?
Cite3Words is format-agnostic — the code can be used in APA, MLA, Chicago, and other referencing styles. Just append the code to the citation.
Why use Cite3Words?
Our code is short and memorable, no more copying long citation strings, which can be error-prone and time consuming. Instead you will just need to write the author(s), year, and pre-assigned three-word code, for example: Kuhn, T.S. (1962) kuhn.structure.paradigm