How to Cite an Essay (Written by AI + Human)

Modern students have access to the Internet, can use Google, and also use AI tools that are very good at assisting with writing. But on the other hand, they often face issues with deadlines, have to work with a lot of information, do vast research, and sometimes need to multitask. Hence, students often feel overwhelmed, especially when they have AI tools and must be aware of properly citing an AI+Human paper.

Our guide will help you understand how to cite an essay that’s written partially by you and partially with the help of AI tools. We will explain the algorithm clearly so you can easily fit into academic requirements and get a complete understanding of the process.

Why is citing an essay important?

Before we start, we need to clarify one thing. Citing is not something unnecessary or just an annoying routine for students. It’s more about showing your resources openly, being transparent about the tools you used, and following academic integrity. Citing is the same as giving credit where it’s needed. If you need a quick reminder on citing an essay, this short Reach University guide can help.

For example:

• If you use ideas from a book, you have to cite it.
• If you use information from a certain website, you also need to cite it.
• If you use AI for some tasks – for example, editing or rewriting – you need to mention it as well.

Being honest in the modern academic world is crucial. Many universities nowadays can detect whether students use AI and most educational organizations simply want students to acknowledge where human effort is assisted by the machine.

What does an essay written by AI and human together mean?

It’s critical to understand what level of AI involvement in the writing process is acceptable, and in what cases the use of AI must be acknowledged by students.

For example, a student writes an essay by themselves, but AI helps with grammar, clarity, structuring, editing, or polishing the text. In this case, the student must stay creative and be transparent about particular tasks delegated to an AI.

Another example is when AI helps to expand the sections students drafted, rewrites parts in a more convenient and updated way, helps with research, and so on. In this case, students also must acknowledge the use of AI for these certain tasks.

Another case is when AI writes most of the essay and students only edit the final text, making it sound more like them. Of course, in this situation, the use of AI must be acknowledged. Moreover, not all educational organizations will allow it.

Here are several checkboxes for students to understand when an essay is considered written by “AI + human”:

• If AI influences the final text, you must acknowledge it.
• If AI generated ideas but students didn’t include its text, you need to acknowledge and cite it.
• If AI was used only for editing and grammar correction, you usually don’t have to acknowledge it, but need to check your teacher’s requirements to reassure.
• If AI wrote full paragraphs, you definitely need to acknowledge it.

How to cite AI tools in different styles

Depending on a specific style you’re assigned to arrange citations of AI tools differently. If you want to avoid mistakes and verify your sources correctly, check our full AI citation guide:

APA style

APA is one of the most AI-friendly formats to date. For in-text citations, you can simply write the name of the tool. For example, ChatGPT, and add only the year of the version you used.

You can also create a full References list at the end of the essay and mention AI tools the same way you mention software. For example:

“OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (version number), Large language model, link to software”

APA style also allows you to add a note with the prompt you used, if you want to clarify it. This part is optional unless your teacher requires it.

MLA style

MLA is a style that sounds more human. For in-text citations, you can simply write: “ChatGPT response” without mentioning dates.

If you create the Works Cited list, you can add AI as a source without an author. You can write the same “ChatGPT response” caption and mention ChatGPT, OpenAI, the version number used, and the date of generation.

Chicago style

Chicago is a flexible style that simply requires you to mention information about the AI tool in a straightforward way. For example:

“OpenAI, ChatGPT, the version you used, and the date and year you accessed the resource.”

If you add this to the bibliography, you also need to write the same information there. Chicago keeps the format simple: name of the tool, publisher, version, and access date.

How to cite your own essay 

If you created a paper by yourself and used AI only for editing you can cite it like any other work: “Your name, title of your essay, unpublished manuscript, year.”

If you wrote an essay with the help of the machine and want to cite it in another paper, you mention yourself and point out that the cited work was created with the help of AI.

For in-text citations, you can write a sentence like:

“According to an explanation generated with the assistance of ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025), I came up with the following conclusion…”

Such an approach shows transparency, acknowledges the tool, and keeps you stuck to academic integrity.

Common mistakes when citing a paper written by AI + human

There are a few things students should avoid, because these mistakes are extremely common.

1. Pretending you didn’t use AI at all

Teachers can usually tell when a text contains AI-generated fragments. Pure AI writing has a very recognizable rhythm and structure. If you try to hide it, it often looks even more suspicious. Most professors also can see the absence of critical thinking and original ideas.

2. Citing AI as if it were a human author

AI isn’t a person, not a book, and not a magazine article. You can’t reference it like a traditional source. It doesn’t “create” ideas but generates text based on existing data so you must cite it as a tool, not as an author.

3. Forgetting to add the date and the version

AI models update all the time, so you must include the specific version and the date you accessed the tool. Without this, your citation might be outdated.

4. Mixing AI text with your own without editing

A raw AI output sounds generic. Your own voice appears only after polishing, rewriting, and reorganizing the ideas. Editing is always a must.

5. Using AI-generated citations

AI sometimes invents books, authors, or articles that don’t exist. Always double-check every source, link, and reference. Your bibliography must be 100% real.

Safe ways to use AI in your academic workflow

AI can support your writing process, the key word is support, not replace. Useful tasks include:

• brainstorming ideas
• summarizing theories or long texts
• rewriting or simplifying complex paragraphs
• improving clarity, grammar, or structure
• outlining the essay
• asking for explanations of unfamiliar concepts.

Always remember: if AI generated or helped you write any part of the content, you must acknowledge it.

How to make an essay sound like you

Even if you use a smart AI tool for essay writing like ours, your paper should still feel like your own writing. Professors know their students’ tone, logic, and typical mistakes. They can literally “hear” your personality through your academic work. 

Here are some tips to follow to make a paper sound like you:

1. Add your real-life examples. If you don’t want your text to sound generic, you need to include your own context and the results of your brainstorming.
2. Rewrite AI outputs in your style. Your writing has a unique, natural rhythm, so make sure the sentences sound like you. 
3. Do the analytical part by yourself. AI can help summarize information, but you need to interpret everything in your own style and carry out the analysis independently. 

Conclusion

AI is a tool and you remain the author. Using AI in 2025 is acceptable and isn’t considered cheating, as long as you cite and acknowledge every part created with the help of the machine. AI is becoming the new normal, and the value of an author lies in understanding the material syncretically and generating original ideas.

Remember that AI can assist you with writing, but the meaning of the text remains the student’s responsibility. Proper citations, honesty, and adherence to academic integrity will help you create work that truly stands out. Good luck!