How to Cite ChatGPT in MLA Format
How to Cite ChatGPT in MLA Format
MLA treats ChatGPT output as a source you generated, not an author you quote. The 9th edition format puts your prompt in the title slot, "ChatGPT" as the source, OpenAI as the publisher, the version, the date, and the URL.
The Works Cited Entry
Here's the template MLA's official style center recommends:
"Prompt text" prompt. ChatGPT, version, OpenAI, date, chat.openai.com/chat.
Real example:
"Explain the difference between mitosis and meiosis in two paragraphs" prompt. ChatGPT, 4 Aug. version, OpenAI, 12 Mar. 2026, chat.openai.com/chat.
Note the slug-style details. Your prompt sits in quotes followed by the word "prompt" (no italics on the prompt itself). ChatGPT gets italicized as the container. The version is whatever the model card shows when you used it (GPT-4, GPT-4o, GPT-5, etc.). The date is the day you ran the query, not the day you wrote the paper.
What if there's no shareable URL?
If your chat has a share link, use it. If not, the generic chat.openai.com/chat works. Some professors want you to attach the full transcript as an appendix. Check the syllabus first.
In-Text Citations
MLA in-text citations use the first element of the works cited entry. Since your entry starts with the prompt, your parenthetical uses a shortened version of the prompt.
Example sentence:
The model described meiosis as a two-stage reduction division that produces four haploid cells ("Explain the difference").
You can also fold the citation into the narrative:
When prompted to explain the difference between mitosis and meiosis, ChatGPT described meiosis as a two-stage reduction division.
No page numbers exist for AI output. Don't fake one.
What Counts as a Quote vs. a Paraphrase
Direct quoting AI text works the same as quoting any source. Put it in quotation marks and cite. Paraphrasing still needs a citation because the ideas came from the model.
Where it gets tricky: AI output isn't stable. Two students can ask the same prompt and get different answers. MLA's guidance treats each session as unique, which is why your prompt and date matter more than they would for a book.
Common Mistakes Professors Flag
A few patterns that get marked down:
- Listing "OpenAI" as the author. OpenAI is the publisher. The prompt goes in the author slot because you generated the output.
- Missing the version. "ChatGPT" alone isn't enough. GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and GPT-4o produce different text. Say which one.
- Wrong date. Use the date you ran the prompt, not today's date or the model's release date.
- Quoting without the prompt. Your reader needs to know what you asked. The prompt is the title of the work.
When Your Professor Has Their Own Rules
Some instructors ban AI sources entirely. Others want a methodology note in addition to the citation. A few use older MLA examples that put "OpenAI" as the author. Follow the rubric you were given. MLA guidance changed in 2023 and again in 2024, so an older handout might not match the current style center.
If you're unsure, ask before submitting. Showing your prompt and the date you ran it is the baseline most graders accept.
Citing Other AI Tools
The same pattern works for Claude, Gemini, Copilot, and similar tools. Swap the container name and publisher:
"Summarize the causes of the French Revolution" prompt. Claude, Sonnet 4.5 version, Anthropic, 8 Apr. 2026, claude.ai.
"Draft a thesis statement about urban food deserts" prompt. Gemini, 2.5 Pro version, Google, 19 Jan. 2026, gemini.google.com.
Image generators follow the same shape. Put the prompt you typed in quotes, name the tool, name the company, list the version and date.
A Quick Worked Example
You used GPT-4o on March 12, 2026 to draft a paragraph about ocean acidification. You ended up paraphrasing one sentence in your essay.
Works cited:
"Write a 100 word paragraph explaining ocean acidification for a high school audience" prompt. ChatGPT, GPT-4o version, OpenAI, 12 Mar. 2026, chat.openai.com/chat.
In-text:
Rising CO2 levels lower seawater pH, which weakens shell-forming organisms ("Write a 100 word paragraph").
That's it. Prompt, container, version, publisher, date, URL. Same five pieces every time.