How you can Cite ChatGPT in APA, MLA, and Chicago Types
As AI instruments change into extra widespread, so do expectations round transparency. If you happen to’ve used ChatGPT to assist together with your writing, it’s possible you’ll have to cite it, particularly in educational or skilled work. So how do you cite ChatGPT the appropriate manner?
This information walks you thru how and when to reveal AI use and supplies step-by-step directions, examples, and quotation turbines for APA, MLA, and Chicago types.
Desk of contents
When do you have to cite ChatGPT?
Fast reference desk for citing ChatGPT
How you can cite ChatGPT in APA model
How you can cite ChatGPT in MLA model
How you can cite ChatGPT in Chicago model
How you can disclose AI use in your writing
Grammarly’s options for authentic, genuine content material
When do you have to cite ChatGPT?
Totally different audiences could have completely different expectations in terms of citing AI instruments like ChatGPT. Tutorial establishments and academics, as an illustration, could require quotation or disclosure—even for small contributions, whereas internet buyers could not care when product descriptions are AI-generated.
Whether or not or not you need to cite ChatGPT depends upon the way you used it and the expectations of your viewers. If ChatGPT contributed to your work in a significant manner, similar to producing particular textual content or shaping your concepts, citing reveals transparency.
If you happen to used ChatGPT to brainstorm, define, or proofread your work, citing will not be crucial as a result of it didn’t affect the substance of your concepts or generate textual content.
If you happen to write in an instructional or skilled setting, examine together with your group for steerage on when and use and disclose AI. When unsure, it’s greatest to err on the aspect of transparency and disclose how AI assisted your work.
Fast reference desk for citing ChatGPT
Earlier than diving into detailed examples for every quotation model, right here’s a side-by-side comparability of cite ChatGPT in APA, MLA, and Chicago types:
| Fashion | Quotation Format | Instance |
| APA | OpenAI. (12 months). ChatGPT (Mar 27 model) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/ | OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (Mar 27 model) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/ |
| MLA | OpenAI. ChatGPT, Mar 27 model, OpenAI, 2025, https://chat.openai.com/. | OpenAI. ChatGPT, Mar 27 model, OpenAI, 2025, https://chat.openai.com/. |
| Chicago | OpenAI. ChatGPT. Giant language mannequin. Mar 27, 2025. https://chat.openai.com/. | OpenAI. ChatGPT. Giant language mannequin. Mar 27, 2025. https://chat.openai.com/. |
Right here’s a tip: If you happen to’re citing a selected dialog, embody the immediate or a short description within the textual content and deal with it like a private communication (APA) or add it in prose (MLA/Chicago), because it’s not retrievable by others.
How you can cite ChatGPT in APA model
APA treats AI-generated content material, like ChatGPT, as if it’s a private communication, just like a personal e-mail or interview. This model requires an in-text quotation however not a reference listing entry. Right here’s format it:
APA in-text quotation
APA recommends citing ChatGPT as a private communication when referring to outputs that aren’t publicly accessible.
Instance:
(OpenAI, private communication, March 15, 2024)
APA reference entry
Since private communications will not be recoverable by others, APA does not require a reference listing entry.
Nonetheless, in case your establishment or writer prefers a full quotation, right here’s a advised format:
Steered full quotation:
OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (March 15 model) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/
Suggestions for citing ChatGPT in APA model:
- Use an outline in sq. brackets (e.g., [Large language model]) to make clear the kind of supply—APA recommends this for nonstandard codecs like software program, datasets, or AI instruments.
- Deal with outputs as private communication in the event that they’re not retrievable by others (like a personal chat).
- No reference listing entry is required for private communication, however examine your teacher’s or writer’s coverage—they could favor a full quotation anyway.
- Contemplate including the transcript as an appendix and referring to it in-text if the dialog performed a serious position in your work.
- Use Grammarly’s APA quotation generator to hurry up the method.
How you can cite ChatGPT in MLA model
MLA views AI instruments like ChatGPT as containers, just like web sites or apps. Cite OpenAI because the creator, and embody the immediate or a short description of the interplay. Let’s take a look at the format.
MLA in-text quotation
Put OpenAI in parentheses to quote it as an creator.
Instance:
(OpenAI)
If you happen to’re referencing a selected interplay, you possibly can embody the immediate in your prose and observe it with the quotation.
Instance in prose:
When prompted to “Summarize Plato’s Allegory of the Cave,” ChatGPT described it as a metaphor for ignorance and enlightenment (OpenAI).
Alternatively, you possibly can briefly describe the interplay:
Based on a response generated by ChatGPT about digital privateness, private knowledge has change into “a type of forex within the on-line economic system” (OpenAI).
MLA works cited entry
MLA suggests together with your immediate in your quotation entry to make clear what was generated.
Instance:
OpenAI. ChatGPT, 15 Mar. 2024, https://chat.openai.com. Immediate: “Clarify how photosynthesis works.”
It additionally recommends mentioning the immediate in your prose, similar to within the instance beneath:
When prompted with “Summarize the theme of The Nice Gatsby,”
ChatGPT responded that the novel explores “the phantasm of the American Dream and the vacancy behind materials success” (OpenAI).
Suggestions for citing ChatGPT in MLA model:
- Embrace the immediate if it formed the AI’s response—both within the prose or on the finish of the Works Cited entry.
- Italicize the title (ChatGPT) and listing OpenAI because the writer, similar to you’d with a web site or app.
- Use a transparent date to indicate once you accessed the device, since responses could change over time.
- Use Grammarly’s MLA quotation generator to immediately create a quotation.
How you can cite ChatGPT in Chicago model
Chicago supplies choices for citing AI in both Notes and Bibliography or Creator-Date format, relying in your self-discipline, and treats ChatGPT as software program or on-line content material. The model recommends together with a date and URL.
Chicago model gives two documentation methods: Notes and Bibliography (NB) and Creator-Date. Under are examples for each.
Chicago notes and bibliography
Footnote instance:
OpenAI, ChatGPT, March 15, 2024, https://chat.openai.com/.
Bibliography instance:
OpenAI. ChatGPT. March 15, 2024. https://chat.openai.com/.
Chicago Creator-Date
In-text quotation instance:
(OpenAI 2024)
Reference listing entry:
OpenAI. 2024. ChatGPT. March 15. https://chat.openai.com/.
Suggestions for citing ChatGPT in Chicago model:
- Select the system (Notes and Bibliography or Creator-Date) primarily based in your self-discipline: The humanities usually use NB; the sciences use Creator-Date.
- Deal with ChatGPT like software program or on-line content material with a date and URL. Add an outline (e.g., Giant language mannequin) if useful for readability.
- Add the immediate to the textual content (not the footnote or bibliography) if it provides essential context to what was generated.
- Embrace the complete transcript in an appendix and reference it in your quotation for closely used conversations.
- Use Grammarly’s Chicago quotation generator to shortly cite your use of AI.
How you can disclose AI use in your writing
Along with (or as an alternative of) formal quotation, some establishments could ask you to reveal your use of AI instruments like ChatGPT in a press release or footnote. That is particularly widespread in educational or analysis settings. At all times examine your teacher’s or writer’s coverage.
Instance disclosure:
Parts of this paper have been generated with the assistance of ChatGPT, a big language mannequin developed by OpenAI, to help with outlining and phrasing.
Grammarly lets you immediately cite and disclose your AI use from wherever you’re writing. Merely click on the Grammarly button within the decrease proper nook of your doc or textual content field to generate citations or disclosures.

Grammarly’s options for authentic, genuine content material
Citing and disclosing ChatGPT use is only one a part of utilizing AI responsibly. Creating authentic, genuine content material additionally means ensuring your work displays your voice and that you simply’re giving credit score the place it’s due, whether or not you’re referencing an AI device or a human supply.
Grammarly is designed to assist with each. Its suite of options makes it straightforward to remain clear and aligned with educational or office requirements:
- AI detection offers you a intestine examine on how your writing could also be perceived and helps you establish the place to personalize.
- Plagiarism detection compares your work towards on-line sources and highlights textual content which will must be rephrased or attributed.
- Citations provide help to simply and clearly acknowledge your sources—whether or not you’re referencing AI instruments, web sites, or different supplies—making it simpler to take care of transparency and meet educational or skilled requirements.
- Grammarly Authorship tracks how your doc was created, providing you with a transparent report of whether or not it was typed, pasted, or generated by AI. This detailed report may be helpful for proving originality and navigating questions on how your writing was developed. That is significantly useful for college kids or professionals working below AI use insurance policies that require transparency and proof of authorship.
By combining these instruments, you possibly can guarantee transparency, correct attribution, and originality in your work, even in case you use an AI device like Grammarly or ChatGPT in your course of.
Closing ideas
As AI turns into an everyday a part of the writing course of, accountable use consists of understanding when and acknowledge its help. Grammarly takes the guesswork out of correct attribution. With options that provide help to disclose AI use clearly and generate absolutely formatted citations to your sources, you possibly can really feel assured that your work meets the expectations of your teacher, writer, or office, it doesn’t matter what model information you’re following.
How you can cite ChatGPT FAQs
Do I’ve to quote ChatGPT if I solely used it to brainstorm?
Not often. If you happen to used ChatGPT for normal help like brainstorming, paraphrasing, or grammar options, you seemingly don’t want a proper quotation. Nonetheless, if the device influenced your core concepts or construction, it’s a good suggestion to acknowledge that.
It’s at all times a good suggestion to examine the insurance policies of your professor, establishment, or firm in case you’re uncertain. When steerage isn’t clear, it’s greatest to be proactive. Embrace a brief be aware or disclosure about your use of AI, and ask for clarification if wanted. Being clear reveals integrity and helps keep away from confusion later.
How do you cite AI in APA 7?
In APA 7, you cite AI sources as you’d an algorithm’s output, with each parenthetical citations within the textual content and full citations within the reference listing. Use the corporate that constructed the AI because the creator and the identify of the AI because the title, in addition to the 12 months you accessed the AI chat. For instance, an in-text quotation for ChatGPT would seem as “(OpenAI, 2023).”
What’s the proper approach to cite ChatGPT in APA, MLA, or Chicago?
Quotation types differ. APA treats ChatGPT output as a private communication, MLA treats it as a container, and Chicago gives codecs for each Notes and Bibliography and Creator-Date types. We break each down with examples above.
How do you cite ChatGPT as a reference?
To quote ChatGPT as a reference, you’ll have to observe the format beneficial by your model information. APA treats ChatGPT as a private communication (and not using a reference listing entry), whereas MLA and Chicago supply codecs for citing on-line instruments with dates and URLs. Examples for every are included on this article.
How do you reference ChatGPT Harvard model?
Harvard referencing usually consists of the creator (OpenAI), 12 months, title (ChatGPT), date accessed, and the URL.
Instance: OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT. Accessed 15 Mar. 2024. https://chat.openai.com/.
Can I embody a disclosure as an alternative of a quotation?
Sure. In some instances—particularly in educational settings—a short disclosure of AI use is appropriate and even most well-liked. Verify together with your teacher, writer, or group to verify what’s required.
How can Grammarly assist me cite ChatGPT accurately?
Grammarly can generate citations in APA, MLA, or Chicago model and provide help to embody disclosures when AI instruments are used. It additionally supplies options to make sure your writing is authentic and aligned with educational or skilled requirements.

