How do I cite Microsoft Copilot in MLA?

To cite Microsoft Copilot in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What is the MLA format for Microsoft Copilot citation?

The MLA format for Microsoft Copilot is: “Text of your prompt” prompt. Copilot, Microsoft, Day Month Year, copilot.microsoft.com.

What does the in-text citation look like for Microsoft Copilot in MLA?

In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (“Explain the difference”)

How to Cite Microsoft Copilot in MLA (9th edition)

Learn how to cite Microsoft Copilot chats and AI answers in MLA format (9th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

MLA Works Cited Format

Here is the standard MLA format for citing Microsoft Copilot in your Works Cited page:

“Text of your prompt” prompt. Copilot, Microsoft, Day Month Year, copilot.microsoft.com.

MLA Example for Microsoft Copilot

A complete MLA reference for Microsoft Copilot, written by hand and checked against the official MLA guidance for this source:

“Explain the difference between weather and climate in two sentences” prompt. Copilot, Microsoft, 14 Mar. 2026, copilot.microsoft.com.

Matching in-text citation: (“Explain the difference”)

MLA In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(“Explain the difference”)

Narrative

Copilot’s two-sentence answer to my prompt (“Explain the difference”) is quoted below.

Key MLA Formatting Rules

Begin with the prompt in quotation marks followed by the word prompt; Copilot and Microsoft are never the author.
Put Copilot in the container slot (italicized in a typed paper) and Microsoft as the publisher; add a model name only if Copilot displays one.
Use a stable share link if Copilot provides one; otherwise give the general address copilot.microsoft.com, without https://.
If Copilot points you to an article or website, open it and cite that work directly, because MLA warns that AI tools misreport and invent sources.
Acknowledge Copilot’s help in a note or in your text when it edited or translated your own writing.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your Microsoft Copilot.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the MLA (9th edition) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your Works Cited: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match MLA requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples on this page are written by hand from the style's own published guidance and checked against it, because the general CSL styles do not encode this source's rules. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

Metadata to collect

the company that built the tool (Microsoft)
where you used Copilot (the Copilot app or site, Edge, Word, or another Microsoft 365 app)
the date of the conversation
the exact prompt you typed
the web pages Copilot linked in its answer
a public share link, if your version of Copilot offers one

Common metadata traps

Microsoft Copilot, the chat assistant, is not GitHub Copilot; code suggestions from GitHub Copilot are cited, if at all, as software or disclosed in your methods.
Copilot answers often point to Bing web results, so open each linked page, check it, and cite the page itself for any fact you use.
Copilot inside Word, Outlook, or Edge used to polish your own writing counts as AI built into ordinary software under APA’s Part 2 post: disclose it rather than writing a chat reference.

Editorial sources

MLA Style Center — works cited →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite Microsoft Copilot in MLA?: To cite Microsoft Copilot in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the MLA format for Microsoft Copilot citation?: The MLA format for Microsoft Copilot is: “Text of your prompt” prompt. Copilot, Microsoft, Day Month Year, copilot.microsoft.com.
What does the in-text citation look like for Microsoft Copilot in MLA?: In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (“Explain the difference”)