To disclose AI use in an assignment, add a short, specific statement that names the tool, says what you used it for, and explains what you did with its output. Put it where your instructor asks, or at the end of the work if no location is given. Your instructor's and institution's policy always decides what is allowed and what must be disclosed, so read it first and treat the examples below as templates to adapt, not rules.
A good disclosure is boring in the best way. It is plain, specific, and complete enough that a reader understands your process without having to ask.
Why disclosure matters
Most course AI policies now fall somewhere between "no AI at all" and "AI is fine if you tell me how you used it." Disclosure is how you show you stayed inside the line.
It does three useful things:
- It keeps the grade honest. Your instructor is assessing your thinking. Telling them which parts a tool touched lets them grade the right thing.
- It protects you. If a detector or a reader later questions your work, a disclosure written at the time of submission shows you were open from the start. Undisclosed help, even permitted help, looks worse when it surfaces later.
- It builds a good habit. Many workplaces and journals expect people to say when AI shaped a document. Learning to write a clear disclosure now carries over.
Disclosure is not a loophole. If your course bans AI for an assignment, a disclosure doesn't make banned use acceptable. It only works for use the policy allows.
When you need to disclose
Start with the policy. Look in your syllabus, the assignment brief, your learning platform, and your school's academic integrity page. Policies differ by institution, by course, and sometimes by assignment within the same course.
As a general guide, disclose when an AI tool:
- generated ideas, outlines, or research directions you used,
- wrote or rewrote any sentences that ended up in your work,
- translated text you submitted,
- summarized sources you relied on,
- gave feedback that changed your structure or argument,
- produced code, data, images, or calculations you included.
Basic spell check usually doesn't need a statement. The gray zone is grammar tools with rewriting features, which we cover in does Grammarly count as AI. When you're unsure, disclose. A one-line note costs nothing; an omission can cost a lot.
Tip
What to include in an AI disclosure
A complete statement answers five questions:
- Which tool? Name it, and the version or model if you know it.
- When? The date or date range you used it.
- What for? Brainstorming, outlining, grammar feedback, translation, research help, drafting.
- What did you do with the output? Did you accept it, rewrite it, check it, or reject most of it?
- What is entirely yours? The argument, analysis, data, and final wording, if that's true.
Some instructors also want your prompts. Even if they don't, keep a copy. A short appendix with the prompts you used is easy to add if someone asks.
Where to put it
Use whatever location your instructor specifies. If there's no instruction:
- Essays and reports: a short paragraph headed "AI use statement" at the end, before the references.
- Online submissions: the comment box on the submission page, plus the same text at the end of the file.
- Presentations: the final slide or the speaker notes.
- Code: a comment at the top of the file or a note in the README.
- Group work: one shared statement that says which member used which tool for what.
Sample AI disclosure statements
Each example below covers a common situation. Replace the bracketed parts with your own details and delete anything that doesn't apply. Accuracy matters more than polish: describe what you actually did.
1. Brainstorming only
AI use statement: I used [tool name] on [date] to brainstorm possible topics for this essay. I asked it for a list of debates related to [course theme]. I chose my topic myself after reviewing those ideas against the course readings. The research, argument, structure, and all of the writing in this essay are my own. No AI-generated text appears in the submission.
2. Grammar and clarity feedback
AI use statement: After finishing my draft, I used [tool name] to check grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and to flag sentences that were hard to follow. I reviewed each suggestion and accepted only corrections that kept my meaning. I did not use it to generate new content or to rewrite whole paragraphs. The ideas, structure, and wording are my own.
3. Help with part of a draft
AI use statement: With permission under the course AI policy, I used [tool name] on [date] to suggest an outline and a first version of the methods paragraph in section 2. I rewrote that paragraph substantially, checked every claim against [source], and changed the structure to fit my own analysis. All other sections were written by me without AI. My prompts and the original AI output are available on request.
4. Translation
AI use statement: I wrote my first draft in [language] and used [tool name] to translate it into English. I then revised the English version myself, corrected terms that were translated inaccurately, and adjusted the wording so it reflects my meaning. The ideas and analysis are mine. I am happy to share the original-language draft.
5. Research assistance
AI use statement: I used [tool name] to suggest search terms and to summarize the main arguments of two articles before I read them in full. I located, read, and cited every source myself, and I verified all facts against the original publications. No references in this paper came from AI output without being checked. The analysis and conclusions are my own.
6. Short note when the policy asks for a checklist
AI tools used: [tool name]
Purpose: grammar feedback and suggestions for clearer topic sentences
Dates: [date range]
Output used: accepted some grammar corrections; rewrote suggested sentences in my own words
Not used for: research, argument, analysis, or drafting full paragraphs
Disclosure vs. citation
These two things often get mixed up.
A citation credits a specific piece of content you quote or paraphrase. If you quote AI output in your paper, for example when you're analyzing what a chatbot said, the major style guides have published formats for citing it. Our guides on how to cite ChatGPT and how to cite Claude, Gemini and Copilot show the patterns.
A disclosure describes how AI shaped your process, even when none of its words appear in the final text. Brainstorming, feedback, and translation usually call for disclosure rather than citation.
Some work needs both. If you quote a chatbot in section 3 and also used it for grammar feedback, cite the quote where it appears and mention the feedback in your statement.
Mistakes to avoid
- Being vague. "I used AI a bit" tells your instructor nothing. Name the tool and the task.
- Understating. If the tool drafted a paragraph you lightly edited, don't call it "grammar help." Inaccurate disclosure is often treated more seriously than the use itself.
- Citing AI for facts. Chatbots can state wrong information confidently and invent references. Find a reliable source and cite that.
- Disclosing banned use instead of avoiding it. Disclosure works for permitted use. It doesn't turn a prohibited shortcut into an allowed one.
- Throwing away your record. Save prompts, outputs, and drafts until grades are final.
If you're questioned anyway
Sometimes a disclosed, permitted use still prompts questions, for example when a detector flags part of your work. Stay calm and show your process: your statement, your saved prompts, your drafts, and your version history. Offer to talk through how you built the argument. Our guide on using AI without violating academic integrity covers the habits that make these conversations easy.
Key takeaways
- Read your course and institution policy before using AI; it decides what's allowed and what to disclose.
- A good disclosure names the tool, the date, the task, what you did with the output, and what is yours.
- Put it where your instructor asks, or at the end of the work, and keep it specific.
- Citation credits quoted AI content; disclosure describes AI's role in your process. Some work needs both.
- Keep your prompts, outputs, and drafts until grades are final.
