MLA Guide: Citing AI-Generated Content
Answer
📘 MLA Guide: Citing AI‑Generated Content
How to cite AI tools like ChatGPT and DALL‑E using MLA Style
📌 1. When to Cite
Cite any time you paraphrase, quote, or use ideas or images generated by a generative AI tool. Also disclose if you used the tool functionally (e.g. editing, translating) even if not quoting directly. Source
📝 2. AI Use Disclosure (Recommended)
You may add a sentence like this in your paper or as a footnote:
I used ChatGPT to help refine the tone of my prose or brainstorm ideas; all AI-generated content was reviewed and verified by me.
✏️ 3. In-Text Citation Format
Use the first few words of your prompt or description in parentheses. No author name or date is required.
| Prompt Starts With | In-Text Citation |
|---|---|
| "Describe the symbolism of the green light…” | (“Describe the symbolism”) |
| "Watercolor painting of a sheep…” | (“Watercolor painting”) |
📚 4. Works Cited Entry Format
Template:
Description of work generated. AI tool name, Version (if known), Company/Developer, Date generated (day Mon. year), URL.
Examples:
- Text generation:
"Describe the symbolism of the green light in The Great Gatsby" prompt. ChatGPT, 13 Feb. 2023 version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat. - AI image:
"Pointillist painting of a sheep in a sunny field of blue flowers" prompt. DALL‑E, version 2, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, labs.openai.com.
📋 5. Summary Table
| Element | Example |
|---|---|
| Description/Prompt | Write a 200-word summary of solar system planets |
| Tool Name | ChatGPT |
| Version | GPT-4 |
| Developer | OpenAI |
| Date Generated | 15 Jul. 2025 |
| URL | chat.openai.com/chat |
⚠️ 6. Best Practices
- Verify all AI output. Don't cite fabricated information. Seek primary sources when possible.
- Truncate prompts. Use a short, descriptive version in the citation.
- Multiple prompts? Combine or cite individually as needed.
- Alphabetize in Works Cited using the first word of the prompt description.