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How & When to Cite ChatGPT in Academic Work: Home

How to Cite ChatGPT (Collapsible Version)

📚 How & When to Cite ChatGPT in Academic Work

(APA • MLA • Chicago + AI Use Statement)

✅ When to Cite ChatGPT

  • You quote its exact words.
  • You paraphrase or summarize its output.
  • You rely on unique ideas or interpretations from ChatGPT.

You don’t need to cite if: You only used it for brainstorming and rewrote everything in your own words, or you verified info and cited the original sources instead.

📚 Citation Formats

📘 APA 7th Edition ▶

Reference list:
OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (July 2025 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/

In-text: (OpenAI, 2025)

📌 Quick Summary

  • In-text citation: (OpenAI, 2023)
  • Reference list entry: Software-style citation.
  • Personal conversations: In-text only, not in references.
📗 MLA 9th Edition ▶

Works Cited:
“Response to ‘Explain quantum computing in simple terms.’” ChatGPT, 24 July 2025, chat.openai.com.

In-text: (“Response to ‘Explain quantum computing…’”)

📕 Chicago Style ▶

Notes and Bibliography:
ChatGPT. Response to “Explain photosynthesis.” OpenAI. July 24, 2025. https://chat.openai.com/.

Author-Date:
ChatGPT. 2025. Response to “Explain photosynthesis.” July 24. OpenAI. https://chat.openai.com/.

🖊 AI Use Statement (Recommended)

“Portions of this paper were generated using ChatGPT (OpenAI, July 2025 version) to help explain and summarize concepts related to [topic]. The author reviewed, verified, and edited the content for accuracy and originality.”

✅ Key Tips

  • Always verify facts from ChatGPT.
  • Follow your instructor’s or publisher’s policy on AI use.
  • Consider attaching your prompt and ChatGPT response in an appendix.
💡 Tip: Always check your instructor or publisher’s policies before citing AI.
Entry authored by ChatGPT · OpenAI (2025). Prompt: "How does the APA style manual, 7th ed., treat citing AIs such as ChatGPT, Copilot, etc."

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