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APA 7th Referencing

Instructions and links for Referencing support

General advice on using generative AI

  • In each unit you are taking, read the assessment instructions/guidelines to understand what artificial intelligence (AI) tools you can and cannot use. Check with your lecturer or tutor if you are not sure.
  • Generative AI tools may have drawbacks (such as providing inaccurate information, bias, use of your personal data). Investigate each tool you plan to use to understand potential risks and fact-check responses carefully. Suggestions for evaluating AI tools.
  • Check regularly for updates and advice from Macquarie University on using generative AI tools for your studies.

Last updated 31 July 2025

  • AI models sometimes produce incorrect, biased or outdated information. Verify (fact check) the accuracy of AI-generated content using reliable sources (such as textbooks, peer-reviewed articles and reference works) before including it in your work.
  • Additionally, there may be legal or ethical issues to consider when using AI. Works created by non-humans are not eligible for copyright protection under Australian law. If you intend to publish work incorporating AI-generated content, check the publisher guidelines about what is allowed.
  • When using AI models, be careful about supplying sensitive information, including personal, confidential or proprietary information or data.
  • Find out more about generative artificial intelligence tools (GAITs) here:

Last updated 31 July 2025

How to acknowledge and reference use of generative AI in your work

If you have used an AI to tool to generate an output which you use directly in your assignment - e.g. text that you paraphrase or quote, or an image that you include - you should cite and reference this output.

If you have used an AI tool in any other way for your assessment - e.g. for brainstorming, editing, generating examples - you may need to create an acknowledgement and add this at the end of your assessment. This decision tree will help you decide which approach to take.

acknowledging and referncing AI - flowchart

If you have used an AI tool for brainstorming, editing, generating examples - you may need to create an acknowledgement and add this at the end of your assessment. 

Check with your lecturer for any acknowledgement requirements. There may be a template for you to use.

If acknowledgement is required but there is no template, here is what your acknowledgement should include:

  • Which AI tools were used
  • The prompts you used
  • An explanation of how you used the output in your assessment

Example Acknowledgement:

I, [name], acknowledge the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in this assessment. For this work:

  • I accessed [AI tool name and version] and entered the prompt [prompt wording here]. I used the output for [purpose].

  • I accessed [AI tool name and version] and entered the prompt [prompt wording here]. I used the output for [purpose].

I am aware of the limitations of AI tools. All AI-generated output was critically reviewed. I am responsible for the final content, assertions and conclusions in this document.

Signature:

Date:

 

Example Wording for Tool Use:

  • I accessed ChatGPT 4.0 and entered the prompt " Provide a list of technologies that could be used to improve ocean health". I used the output for planning my assignment and searching for relevant sources.

  • I accessed Grammarly and entered the prompt "Suggest ways to improve clarity and concision. Provide general advice with examples. Do not re-write any of my writing." I used the output to revise my writing using my own words.

  • I accessed GoodAI and entered the prompt "Rewrite this paragraph so that the tone is appropriate for a university assignment". I used the output to make changes to my introduction.

  • I accessed Scite and Elicit with the prompt [...] . I used the output to find research articles.

If you have used an AI to tool to generate text that you paraphrase or quote directly in your assignment, you should cite and reference this output.

To cite/reference text generated by AI such as ChatGPT follow the APA guidelines for citing software.

Example

Prompt and response using ChatGPT 
In-text citation

(Author of AI model, Year of version used)

(OpenAl, 2023)

Social media has become an essential and powerful tool for marketing, allowing companies to “establish a more personalized connection” with a target audience (OpenAI, 2023; see Appendix A for the full transcript). 
Reference list

Author of AI model used. (Year of AI model used). Name of AI model used (Version of AI model used) [Description of AI model used]. Web address of AI model used

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (November 22 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/
Appendix The full transcript of a response can be included in an appendix or other supplementary materials, so readers have access to the exact text that was generated.

Last updated 25 Jul 2025

If you create an image with generative AI for use in an assessment, you will need to include an in-text caption for the source (i.e. source details included in a note underneath a figure or image).

Follow the APA 7th guidelines below for captioning and referencing figures:

Example

Prompt and response using Copilot

Create an image of a greyhound wearing an Argyle sweater and glasses, sitting in an armchair, and reading a book
In-text caption

You need to include:

  • Figure number in bold
  • Brief Title above the image in italics
  • Caption in a Note area below the image - this needs to include the word Note in italics and the prompt you used to create the image

 

Figure 1

A greyhound reading a good book

Note. Image generated using Copilot. The image was generated in response to this prompt: Create an image of a greyhound wearing an Argyle sweater and glasses, sitting in an armchair, and reading a book
Reference list

You do not provide a reference for the image at the end of your work. 

If you include an AI generated image from a published source in your work, you will need to include an in-text citation and a reference for the source at the end.

Follow the APA 7th guidelines below for citing and referencing figures:

In-text citation                   

You need to include:

  • Figure number in bold
  • Brief Title above the image in italics
  • Attribution in a Note area below the image - this needs to include the word Note in italics, a more detailed caption, and the source details of the image

 

Figure 1

Sisters hugging an octopus

Note. Swedish photographer Annika Nordenskiöld's winning image "Twin Sisters in Love." From "See the Bizarre Image That Just Won An Inaugural AI-Art Award." by L. Katz, 2023, Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/lesliekatz/2023/10/08/see-the-surreal-image-that-just-won-an-ai-art-contest/
Reference list

Provide a reference for the published source at the end of your work. Use the relevant APA guidelines, e.g. book, journal article, newspaper article, etc.

 

Katz, L. (2023). See the bizarre image that just won an inaugural AI-art award. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/lesliekatz/2023/10/08/see-the-surreal-image-that-just-won-an-ai-art-contest/