Scribbr ChatGPT Citation

What is Scribbr ChatGPT Citation?

Scribbr’s guidelines on citing ChatGPT make a key point: ChatGPT is not a reliable source for factual academic writing. Because it is built on patterns in language rather than verified facts, it often falls short when evaluated with the CRAAP test (currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, purpose). It is generally not appropriate to cite ChatGPT for factual information.

However, if you are writing about AI language models themselves, ChatGPT can serve as a primary source. For other academic topics, it is not a suitable citation. Also important: ChatGPT is not designed to generate citations accurately, so do not rely on it for that. Use a dedicated tool like the Scribbr Citation Generator instead.

Who created Scribbr ChatGPT Citation?

The guide was written by Jack Caulfield, a writer for Scribbr. It covers the evolving rules around using and citing ChatGPT in academic work — a complicated area, since universities and style guides are still determining how to handle AI tools. Because ChatGPT is a relatively new AI language model, questions about its credibility and proper citation remain under active discussion.

Who is Scribbr ChatGPT Citation for?

The guide is useful for anyone involved in academic or research-based writing:

• Academic researchers navigating how to cite AI tools
• Students citing correctly in assignments
• Teachers guiding students on proper AI usage and citation
• Editors maintaining academic integrity in reviewed work
• Content creators incorporating AI-generated text
• Librarians advising patrons on new citation challenges
• Journalists reporting accurately on AI

How to cite ChatGPT by style guide

MLA style:

• Create a Works Cited entry when quoting or paraphrasing ChatGPT.
• Start with the exact prompt in quotation marks, then add “ChatGPT,” the date of the specific version you accessed, “OpenAI,” the date you received the response, and the general URL for the tool.
• For in-text citations, use a shortened version of the Works Cited title.

APA style:

• List OpenAI as the author and “ChatGPT” as the title in your reference list.
• Include the version date, a content description in square brackets (e.g., “[Large language model]”), and the URL.
• Cite in-text as “OpenAI” plus the year.

Chicago style:

• Treat ChatGPT as a personal communication in a footnote.
• If the prompt is part of your text, mention “Text generated by ChatGPT,” the date you prompted it, “OpenAI,” and the URL.
• For later references, “ChatGPT” alone is usually sufficient.

Additional points

• ChatGPT is not a reliable source for factual information, so avoid citing it as one.
• If you use ChatGPT for assignments — for inspiration, feedback, or writing advice — acknowledge how you used it.
• Always check your institution’s specific citation guidelines, as practices vary.
• ChatGPT can help with ideas, but it is not designed to create citations; use a dedicated citation generator for that.