Help me cite the sources below in [CITATION STYLE AND EDITION] for a [ASSIGNMENT OR PUBLICATION TYPE]. I will provide the source details and links where available: [SOURCE DETAILS]. My instructor, journal, or organization requires these local rules: [LOCAL REQUIREMENTS]. For each source, first identify its source type: book, chapter, journal article, webpage, report, dataset, legal material, media item, or other. Then produce the in-text citation form and a reference-list entry in the requested style. Preserve author order, capitalization, dates, page ranges, DOI, URL, edition, publisher, and access date only when the style requires them. If a required field is missing, write “[missing: field]” in its place and give me a short question or a practical way to locate it. Do not invent authors, publication dates, page numbers, DOIs, issue numbers, titles, publishers, or URLs. If the citation style has a genuine ambiguity, name the rule you are applying rather than pretending certainty.
Output a table with Source label, Source type, In-text citation, Reference entry, and Missing or uncertain details. Then add a concise “Why this format” note for each source that explains the two most consequential formatting decisions. Before answering, check that every reference entry has a matching in-text form and that every factual bibliographic detail appears in my supplied material. Ask up to three clarifying questions only if a required input is missing.
Fill in
| Placeholder | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| [CITATION STYLE AND EDITION] | State the required citation style and edition, such as APA 7 or MLA 9. | APA 7th edition. |
| [ASSIGNMENT OR PUBLICATION TYPE] | State what you are writing and any context that affects the citation format. | Undergraduate psychology literature review with a reference list and parenthetical citations. |
| [SOURCE DETAILS] | Paste one labeled set of bibliographic details for each source, including links or identifiers when available. | Source A: Nguyen, T., and Mora, L.; 2024; “Sleep regularity and perceived stress”; Journal of Applied Wellbeing Research, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 44–58; https://doi.org/10.1234/jawr.2024.18.2.44. Source B: CDC webpage titled “About Sleep and Your Health,” updated May 15, 2025, https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about/index.html. |
| [LOCAL REQUIREMENTS] | Paste instructions from your instructor, editor, journal, or organization that override the default style. | Alphabetize the reference list; include DOI as a URL; do not cite lecture slides. |
How to use
- Paste the prompt with the exact style edition, then label each source separately.
- Include the title page or database record details when possible; a search-result snippet is rarely enough.
- Compare author order, date, title, and identifier against the original source before submitting.
- Follow up with: “Show me which fields I should verify in the journal PDF for Source A, without changing the citation yet.”
Variations
Reference audit
Use this to check a bibliography you already drafted.
Audit this [STYLE AND EDITION] reference list against the source records I provide. Draft references: [REFERENCE LIST]. Source records: [SOURCE DETAILS]. Return a three-column table: original entry, issue found, corrected entry. Check author order, dates, title casing, container information, page ranges, DOI or URL treatment, punctuation, and alphabetization. Do not silently supply missing bibliographic facts; mark them as missing and say where I should verify them. Then list any references that lack a matching source record.
Quote citation
Use this when you need to cite a direct quotation correctly.
Help me integrate and cite this direct quotation in [STYLE AND EDITION]. My sentence context is [DRAFT PARAGRAPH]. The exact quote and source details are [QUOTE AND SOURCE]. Produce two versions: one with a signal phrase and one with a parenthetical citation. Preserve the quoted wording exactly and show where page, paragraph, timestamp, or section locator belongs. Do not invent a locator. Explain whether the quote needs a block format under this style and flag any wording that misrepresents the source.
Source evaluation
Use this before deciding whether to cite a source.
Evaluate whether this source is appropriate to cite for my claim: [CLAIM]. Source information and excerpt: [SOURCE DETAILS]. Assignment requirements: [REQUIREMENTS]. Give a short assessment of authority, date, evidence type, relevance, and possible bias or limitations. Distinguish what the excerpt supports from what it does not support. Do not call a source peer reviewed, primary, or authoritative without evidence. End with a properly formatted [STYLE] draft citation using only supplied fields.
Tips
- Choose the citation style edition before formatting; APA 6 and APA 7, for example, handle some URLs and author lists differently.
- Keep the database landing page or DOI alongside each source while writing, because it is the fastest way to resolve missing issue and pagination details.
- A citation proves where information came from, not that the source supports your interpretation; compare your sentence to the cited passage.
- For direct quotes, record the page, paragraph, timestamp, or section while you still have the source open.
FAQ
Can AI find missing citation details for me?
It may suggest where to look, but you should verify the original source or a reliable catalog record. Do not submit guessed bibliographic details.
Can I cite an AI response?
Follow your institution or publisher’s rules. Many require disclosure or prohibit it as a scholarly source, so ask your instructor when the policy is unclear.