Just need a few citations in APA, MLA, Chicago, or other commons formats? Try these great free tools!
Essay Do's and Don'ts
MLA Handbook (9th Ed.)
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
Student's Guide to Writing College Papers
The Wadsworth Guide to Research
🎥 Watch this short video before you begin!
Properly documenting research sources is important because it ensures that:
Credit for information originally provided elsewhere is given
Others can find the same information again
Plagiarism does not take place
The PC Student Handbook defines plagiarism as:
The use of paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment.
Before citing AI-generated content, such as ChatGPT, check with your instructor if this is permitted in their class.
WARNING: ChatGPT has significant limitations when it comes to citing real sources.
When ChatGPT is asked for sources without being given specific citation information, it will create plausible-looking citations for sources that don't exist. ChatGPT is so good at recognizing language patterns that it can make up sources that sound scholarly and legitimate but are fabricated. Some folks refer to this as a "hallucination."
Never assume that ChatGPT sources are real. You can try tracking down the original source, but after a while, you'll quickly realize it isn't worth the effort because the sources are FAKE! Use PC Library's resources, such as One Search or Databases by Subject, for real research sources.
Whether you're getting started or polishing a final draft, we’re here to help. Stop by the Writing Center, submit your work for feedback, or explore our writing support tools.
