There are two primary ways to create a bibliography with Zotero:
1) You can quickly create a bibliography based on a single item in your library, or based on a Zotero collection. You'll be given the option to choose the bibliographic style that you want, choose "Copy to Clipboard" and paste anywhere you like. See the video and screenshots at right.
2) You also have the option to download and use one of Zotero's plugins to add citations to a document while you are writing. Zotero offers plugins for Microsoft Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs.
Zotero comes with the most common bibliographic styles, but many more are available to download.
To install a new style:
It's easy to create a bibliography from your Zotero library.
Select the references or collections you want to include. Hold the control key and click to select multiple items. Right-click one of the selected items and choose Create Bibliography. Choose the bibliographic style you want, select Copy to Clipboard, click OK and paste into your word processor.
Zotero offers word processing plugins for Microsoft Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs. These plugins add a Zotero toolbar that allows you to add citations to your document while you write.
The MS Word plugin will be automatically installed when you download and install the Zotero 5.0 app (you will need to restart Word if you had it open while you were downloading). Note that the add-in may look different or be in a different menu depending on which version of MS Word you are running and whether you are on a Mac or PC. Poke around if you can't find it! Look under 'tools' or for Mac users, check the little 'scroll' icon. See below for a screenshot of what it might look like in MS Word.
To add a citation, click the first button ("Insert 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 third button ("Insert Bibliography"). Your bibliography will appear, and new citations will be added automatically. Change bibliographic styles with the last button on the toolbar ("Set Doc Prefs").