How to Cite ChatGPT in APA, MLA, and Chicago Styles

As AI tools become more common, so do expectations around transparency. If you’ve used ChatGPT to help with your writing, you may need to cite it, especially in academic or professional work. So how do you cite ChatGPT the right way?

This guide walks you through how and when to disclose AI use and provides step-by-step instructions, examples, and citation generators for APA, MLA, and Chicago styles.

Table of contents

When should you cite ChatGPT?

Quick reference table for citing ChatGPT

How to cite ChatGPT in APA style

How to cite ChatGPT in MLA style

How to cite ChatGPT in Chicago style

How to disclose AI use in your writing

Grammarly’s features for original, authentic content

Final thoughts

How to cite ChatGPT FAQs

When should you cite ChatGPT?

Different audiences may have different expectations when it comes to citing AI tools like ChatGPT. Academic institutions and teachers, for instance, may require citation or disclosure—even for small contributions, while online shoppers may not care when product descriptions are AI-generated.

Whether or not you should cite ChatGPT depends on how you used it and the expectations of your audience. If ChatGPT contributed to your work in a meaningful way, such as generating specific text or shaping your ideas, citing shows transparency.

If you used ChatGPT to brainstorm, outline, or proofread your work, citing may not be necessary because it didn’t impact the substance of your ideas or generate text.

If you write in an academic or professional setting, check with your organization for guidance on when and how to use and disclose AI. When in doubt, it’s best to err on the side of transparency and disclose how AI assisted your work.

Quick reference table for citing ChatGPT

Before diving into detailed examples for each citation style, here’s a side-by-side comparison of how to cite ChatGPT in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles:

How to cite ChatGPT in APA style

APA treats AI-generated content, like ChatGPT, as if it’s a personal communication, similar to a private email or interview. This style requires an in-text citation but not a reference list entry. Here’s how to format it:

APA in-text citation

APA recommends citing ChatGPT as a personal communication when referring to outputs that are not publicly accessible.

Example:

(OpenAI, personal communication, March 15, 2024)

APA reference entry

Since personal communications are not recoverable by others, APA does not require a reference list entry.

However, if your institution or publisher prefers a full citation, here’s a suggested format:

Suggested full citation:

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (March 15 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/

Tips for citing ChatGPT in APA style:

• Use a description in square brackets (e.g., [Large language model]) to clarify the type of source—APA recommends this for nonstandard formats like software, datasets, or AI tools.
• Treat outputs as personal communication if they’re not retrievable by others (like a private chat).
• No reference list entry is needed for personal communication, but check your instructor’s or publisher’s policy—they may prefer a full citation anyway.
• Consider adding the transcript as an appendix and referring to it in-text if the conversation played a major role in your work.
• Use Grammarly’s APA citation generator to speed up the process.

How to cite ChatGPT in MLA style

MLA views AI tools like ChatGPT as containers, similar to websites or apps. Cite OpenAI as the author, and include the prompt or a brief description of the interaction. Let’s look at the format.

MLA in-text citation

Put OpenAI in parentheses to cite it as an author.

Example:

(OpenAI)

If you’re referencing a specific interaction, you can include the prompt in your prose and follow it with the citation.

Example 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 can briefly describe the interaction:

According to a response generated by ChatGPT about digital privacy, personal data has become “a form of currency in the online economy” (OpenAI).

MLA works cited entry

MLA suggests including your prompt in your citation entry to clarify what was generated.

Example:

OpenAI. ChatGPT, 15 Mar. 2024, https://chat.openai.com. Prompt: “Explain how photosynthesis works.”

It also recommends mentioning the prompt in your prose, such as in the example below:

When prompted with “Summarize the theme of The Great Gatsby,” ChatGPT responded that the novel explores “the illusion of the American Dream and the emptiness behind material success” (OpenAI).

Tips for citing ChatGPT in MLA style:

• Include the prompt if it shaped the AI’s response—either in the prose or at the end of the Works Cited entry.
• Italicize the title (ChatGPT) and list OpenAI as the publisher, just like you would with a website or app.
• Use a clear date to show when you accessed the tool, since responses may change over time.
• Use Grammarly’s MLA citation generator to instantly create a citation.

How to cite ChatGPT in Chicago style

Chicago provides options for citing AI in either Notes and Bibliography or Author-Date format, depending on your discipline, and treats ChatGPT as software or online content. The style recommends including a date and URL.

Chicago style offers two documentation systems: Notes and Bibliography (NB) and Author-Date. Below are examples for both.

Chicago notes and bibliography

Footnote example:

OpenAI, ChatGPT, March 15, 2024, https://chat.openai.com/.

Bibliography example:

OpenAI. ChatGPT. March 15, 2024. https://chat.openai.com/.

Chicago Author-Date

In-text citation example:

(OpenAI 2024)

Reference list entry:

OpenAI. 2024. ChatGPT. March 15. https://chat.openai.com/.

Tips for citing ChatGPT in Chicago style:

• Choose the system (Notes and Bibliography or Author-Date) based on your discipline: The humanities often use NB; the sciences use Author-Date.
• Treat ChatGPT like software or online content with a date and URL. Add a description (e.g., Large language model) if helpful for clarity.
• Add the prompt to the text (not the footnote or bibliography) if it adds important context to what was generated.
• Include the full transcript in an appendix and reference it in your citation for heavily used conversations.
• Use Grammarly’s Chicago citation generator to quickly cite your use of AI.

How to disclose AI use in your writing

In addition to (or instead of) formal citation, some institutions may ask you to disclose your use of AI tools like ChatGPT in a statement or footnote. This is especially common in academic or research settings. Always check your instructor’s or publisher’s policy.

Example disclosure:

Portions of this paper were generated with the help of ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI, to assist with outlining and phrasing.

Grammarly allows you to instantly cite and disclose your AI use from wherever you’re writing. Simply click the Grammarly button in the lower right corner of your document or text box to generate citations or disclosures.

Grammarly’s features for original, authentic content

Citing and disclosing ChatGPT use is just one part of using AI responsibly. Creating original, authentic content also means making sure your work reflects your voice and that you’re giving credit where it’s due, whether you’re referencing an AI tool or a human source.

Grammarly is designed to help with both. Its suite of features makes it easy to stay transparent and aligned with academic or workplace standards:

• AI detection gives you a gut check on how your writing may be perceived and helps you identify where to personalize.
• Plagiarism detection compares your work against online sources and highlights text that may need to be rephrased or attributed.
• Citations help you easily and clearly acknowledge your sources—whether you’re referencing AI tools, websites, or other materials—making it easier to maintain transparency and meet academic or professional standards.
• Grammarly Authorship tracks how your document was created, giving you a clear record of whether it was typed, pasted, or generated by AI. This detailed report can be useful for proving originality and navigating questions about how your writing was developed. This is particularly helpful for students or professionals working under AI use policies that require transparency and proof of authorship.

By combining these tools, you can ensure transparency, proper attribution, and originality in your work, even if you use an AI tool like Grammarly or ChatGPT in your process.

Final thoughts

As AI becomes a regular part of the writing process, responsible use includes knowing when and how to acknowledge its assistance. Grammarly takes the guesswork out of proper attribution. With features that help you disclose AI use clearly and generate fully formatted citations for your sources, you can feel confident that your work meets the expectations of your instructor, publisher, or workplace, no matter what style guide you’re following.

How to cite ChatGPT FAQs

Do I have to cite ChatGPT if I only used it to brainstorm?

Not usually. If you used ChatGPT for general support like brainstorming, paraphrasing, or grammar suggestions, you likely don’t need a formal citation. However, if the tool influenced your core ideas or structure, it’s a good idea to acknowledge that.

It’s always a good idea to check the policies of your professor, institution, or company if you’re unsure. When guidance isn’t clear, it’s best to be proactive. Include a short note or disclosure about your use of AI, and ask for clarification if needed. Being transparent shows integrity and helps avoid confusion later.

How do you cite AI in APA 7?

In APA 7, you cite AI sources as you would an algorithm’s output, with both parenthetical citations in the text and full citations in the reference list. Use the company that built the AI as the author and the name of the AI as the title, as well as the year you accessed the AI chat. For example, an in-text citation for ChatGPT would appear as “(OpenAI, 2023).”

What’s the correct way to cite ChatGPT in APA, MLA, or Chicago?

Citation styles vary. APA treats ChatGPT output as a personal communication, MLA treats it as a container, and Chicago offers formats for both Notes and Bibliography and Author-Date styles. We break each one down with examples above.

How do you cite ChatGPT as a reference?

To cite ChatGPT as a reference, you’ll need to follow the format recommended by your style guide. APA treats ChatGPT as a personal communication (without a reference list entry), while MLA and Chicago offer formats for citing online tools with dates and URLs. Examples for each are included in this article.

How do you reference ChatGPT Harvard style?

Harvard referencing generally includes the author (OpenAI), year, title (ChatGPT), date accessed, and the URL.

Example: OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT. Accessed 15 Mar. 2024. https://chat.openai.com/.

Can I include a disclosure instead of a citation?

Yes. In some cases—especially in academic settings—a brief disclosure of AI use is acceptable or even preferred. Check with your instructor, publisher, or organization to confirm what’s required.

How can Grammarly help me cite ChatGPT correctly?

Grammarly can generate citations in APA, MLA, or Chicago style and help you include disclosures when AI tools are used. It also provides suggestions to ensure your writing is original and aligned with academic or professional standards.