How to cite Claude
Need to cite a conversation with Claude (Anthropic)? Choose your style, add the date and (optionally) your prompt, and copy a correctly formatted citation — free, no sign-up.
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How do you cite an AI chatbot?
Because an AI chatbot's output isn't publicly retrievable, most style guides treat it like software or an algorithm. The core pieces are the company that made it (Anthropic), the tool and version (Claude), the date you used it, and the URL. In APA you list Anthropic as the author; in MLA you start with your prompt; Chicago usually puts the whole thing in a note.
One rule holds across every style: describe how you used it in your text or methods, and keep your own record of the prompt and reply, because Claude conversations can't be retrieved by your reader.
Claude citation examples by style
APA 7th edition
Anthropic. (2026). Claude (Claude Opus 4.8) [Large language model]. https://claude.ai
In-text: (Anthropic, 2026)
MLA 9th edition
“Summarise the key themes of Hamlet” prompt. Claude, Claude Opus 4.8, Anthropic, 12 March 2026, https://claude.ai.
In-text: (“Summarise the key themes…”)
Chicago (notes–bibliography)
Anthropic, Claude, Claude Opus 4.8, 12 March 2026, https://claude.ai.
In-text: (Anthropic, 2026)
Examples use a sample date (12 March 2026) and prompt; the generator above uses your own details.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to cite Claude at all?
Yes — if you quote, paraphrase, or build on Claude's output, cite it, and check your instructor's policy on AI use. Passing AI text off as your own is plagiarism.
Who is the author — me or Anthropic?
In APA and Chicago, the author is Anthropic (the company that made Claude). MLA starts the entry with the prompt you used instead.
What if I don't know the version?
Leave it blank — it's optional. If you can find it (often shown in the app), adding the version makes your citation more precise.