How to Cite Sources Using AI
Using AI for citation help without falling into hallucinated sources — verify, format, and never trust without checking.
What you'll learn
- Why AI hallucinates citations
- Using AI for formatting, not source generation
- Verification workflow
- Style-specific tools
The mistake most students make
Asking ChatGPT for 'sources on X' produces hallucinated citations that look real. Half don't exist; the other half cite wrong page numbers or authors.
How Fennie helps
Fennie formats citations from sources you provide — it doesn't invent sources. Always verify the underlying source exists.
Step by step
- 01Find sources yourself (library databases, Google Scholar)
- 02Use AI to format citations from real bibliographic data
- 03Always verify: does the source exist? Are the page numbers right?
- 04Use Zotero or Mendeley for source management
- 05Never paste AI-generated citations directly without checking
FAQ
Can AI find good sources?
AI can suggest search terms and identify foundational works. It cannot reliably produce citations that exist.
What's the safest workflow?
Find via library/Scholar → manage in Zotero → format with AI if needed → verify formatting.
Does Fennie format citations?
Yes — Fennie formats real citations you provide into APA, MLA, Chicago, and other styles.
Apply this with Fennie
Fennie generates Daily Plans that build these habits automatically — start free.
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