Key takeaways:
- Cite ChatGPT only when its text appears in your work; disclose when it only assisted.
- APA, MLA, and Chicago all format ChatGPT differently. Pay attention on in-text and Bibliography citations.
- Use a citation generator and plagiarism checker to ensure your work stays accurate and academically safe.
AI tools like ChatGPT have become part of everyday academic life. Students use them to brainstorm research questions, summarize readings, explain theories, and clarify complex topics. That means one important skill is now essential: knowing how to cite ChatGPT correctly and ethically.
Each style guide (APA, MLA, Chicago) treats ChatGPT differently, and universities continue updating their AI-use policies. So students often feel unsure:
- Do I need to cite ChatGPT for this?
- How do I cite a tool that doesn't have a page number or author?
- What’s the difference between citing and disclosing AI help?
This guide walks you through exactly when and how to cite ChatGPT using the latest 2025 standards and clear examples you can copy.
To make the process easier, I’ll show how citation generators can help. While for most citation machines, ChatGPT is still not authorized as a resource to cite, JustDone's tool can support your citations in APA, MLA, Chicago, and more. You just need to know some rules to cite AI properly.
Why Citing ChatGPT Matters
Universities are updating AI policies quickly. Some require full citations; others accept short disclosures. Most agree on two principles:
- Be transparent about how AI contributed to your work.
- Do not present AI-generated text as your own original writing.
If you quote or paraphrase ChatGPT as a source itself, it must be cited. If ChatGPT shaped your ideas or provided text that appears in your assignment, you must disclose that use somewhere in your paper.
To make citations easier, JustDone’s Citation Generator supports APA, MLA, and Chicago formats. It is especially useful when guidelines change.
When You Should Cite ChatGPT
There is one simple principle I recommend to follow – cite ChatGPT when it appears as part of your content. So, you must cite ChatGPT if you:
- Quote its answer directly
- Paraphrase its explanation
- Use its wording in your assignment
- Treat its response as evidence or a “source”
- Analyze ChatGPT responses in a research project
Example that MUST be cited:
ChatGPT explained that confirmation bias “shapes the way individuals interpret evidence” (OpenAI).
When You Should Disclose (Not Cite) ChatGPT
Disclosure is enough in the following situations when using ChatGPT:
- Helped brainstorm ideas
- Helped outline your project
- Rephrased or simplified your wording
- Checked grammar or fixed clarity
- Translated parts of your text
- Helped you understand a concept but didn’t contribute text
For example, you need disclosure, not citation, if you used ChatGPT to outline a paper on climate ethics but wrote all sections yourself.
When You Should NOT Cite ChatGPT
You should not cite ChatGPT as a factual or scholarly source. Why? ChatGPT is not peer-reviewed. It may generate incorrect information. ChatGPT cannot trace its sources. Sometimes, it invents citations that do not exist.
So, if ChatGPT helped you locate articles, cite the real articles, not ChatGPT.
Quick Reference Table: How to Cite ChatGPT (APA vs MLA vs Chicago)
Style | In-Text Example | Reference / Works Cited Example |
| APA | (OpenAI, personal communication, Mar 15, 2025) | Not required, but optional: OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (Mar 15 version) [LLM]. https://chat.openai.com/ |
| MLA | (OpenAI) | OpenAI. ChatGPT, 15 Mar. 2025, https://chat.openai.com/. Prompt: “Explain photosynthesis.” |
| Chicago NB | Footnote: 1. OpenAI, ChatGPT, Mar 15, 2025. | OpenAI. ChatGPT. Mar 15, 2025. https://chat.openai.com/ |
| Chicago Author-Date | (OpenAI 2025) | OpenAI. 2025. ChatGPT. Mar 15. https://chat.openai.com/ |
How to Cite ChatGPT in APA Style (2025 Update)
APA treats ChatGPT as personal communication because responses are not publicly retrievable.
APA In-Text Citation
Use this when quoting or paraphrasing ChatGPT:
(OpenAI, personal communication, March 15, 2025)
APA states that personal communications are NOT included in the reference list.
APA Reference List Entry (only if required by your instructor)
Some instructors prefer a full citation even though APA doesn’t require it.
OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (March 15 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/
APA Example in your text:
According to ChatGPT, the allegory represents a transition “from illusion toward understanding” (OpenAI, personal communication, March 15, 2025).
How to Cite ChatGPT in MLA Style (2025 Update)
MLA treats ChatGPT as a container (like a website or app). You can also include the prompt for clarity.
MLA Works Cited Entry
OpenAI. ChatGPT, 15 Mar. 2025, https://chat.openai.com/. Prompt: “Explain how photosynthesis works.”
MLA In-Text Citation
(OpenAI)
MLA example in your text:
When asked to “summarize Plato’s Allegory of the Cave,” ChatGPT described it as a shift “from shadows to clarity” (OpenAI).
How to Cite ChatGPT in Chicago Style
Chicago offers two standard systems: footnotes and bibliography. It looks like in the following examples.
Chicago Notes & Bibliography — Footnote
1. OpenAI, ChatGPT, March 15, 2025, https://chat.openai.com/.
Bibliography Entry
OpenAI. ChatGPT. March 15, 2025. https://chat.openai.com/.
In-text citation in Chicago in Author-Date format
(OpenAI 2025)
Reference List Entry
OpenAI. 2025. ChatGPT. March 15. https://chat.openai.com/.
Example in your text:
In a generated explanation about digital privacy, ChatGPT highlighted that data functions as “a form of currency in the modern online economy” (OpenAI 2025).
How to Write an AI-Use Disclosure: Templates for Students
Many universities prefer a disclosure rather than a citation when AI supports, but does not generate your work. Here’s how disclosure should look like depending on the type of your assignment.
Short Disclosure for Essays
“I used ChatGPT (OpenAI) to help outline the structure of this essay. All ideas and writing are my own.”Methodology Disclosure for Research Papers
“AI assistance from ChatGPT (OpenAI) was used to refine the phrasing of survey questions. No AI-generated content appears in the analysis or results.”Footnote Disclosure
AI assistance from ChatGPT was used for wording revisions. The final text is my own.Why You Should Check Your Citations for Plagiarism
AI sometimes rephrases text too closely to its training data. This can lead to:
- accidental plagiarism
- copied sentences
- misattributed ideas
- incorrectly formatted references
Before submitting your assignment, it’s smart to run your text through a plagiarism checker. For instance, you can use JustDone’s Plagiarism Checker that helps you:
- verify that citations are original
- check bibliographies for overlap
- ensure paraphrased sections aren’t too close to a source
- avoid accidental plagiarism caused by AI rewrites
It’s especially useful when ChatGPT helps summarize academic articles.
AI Citation Rules for Students
Citing ChatGPT is becoming as normal as citing books or articles. The key is to stay transparent, follow your institution’s policy, and use AI responsibly. Whether you’re writing an essay, lab report, or research project:
- Use JustDone’s Citation Generator to format your ChatGPT citations instantly
- Use JustDone’s Plagiarism Checker to ensure proper attribution
- Always check your university’s rules before submitting
By combining clear citation practices with smart AI use, you can keep your work original, credible, and academically sound.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to cite ChatGPT if it only helped me brainstorm?
Usually, no; brainstorming and outlining don’t count as content contributions. But some professors still require disclosure, so check your policy.
Is ChatGPT a reliable source to quote?
No. ChatGPT is not a fact-checked, peer-reviewed source. Only cite it when analyzing the AI tool itself.
Can I cite ChatGPT as an author?
No. ChatGPT cannot be listed as an author under APA, MLA, Chicago, or Harvard guidelines.
Use OpenAI as the author.
What if ChatGPT helped rewrite my sentences?
If the meaning changed or large sections were reworded, disclose the assistance. If it only corrected grammar, disclosure may not be required.
Does citing ChatGPT reduce plagiarism risk?
Citing or disclosing AI use helps avoid academic dishonesty. But always verify the originality of your writing using a plagiarism checker.
