Artificial Intelligence (AI)

2) Follow the references cited to see if the Google LLM collected and presented the content correctly.  

3) Evaluate sources referenced.

• Recognition: Have you ever heard of them?
• Presentation: Is website professional looking and part of a legitimate website?
• Content: Does their advice make sense? 
• Accurate: Does advice match the current style manuals?

For content that does not have a handy content standard for comparison, research reputation:

• Reputation: Do lateral research (what do other website say about them) to evaluate the sources.

4) Then ask the exact same question again, and see how the answer is the same/different.  
My experience is that the summaries are similar, but sometimes new references are used.

5) Ask the AI "why do the answers differ or have different references?" It explains its use of Google ranking...

6) Do a search with Google AI Overview turned off.  
6a) It should disappear if you put -ai in the search terms.  

6b) If an overview or summary is still showing up, then go to the [More] link and pull down menu to select "Web".  

7) Compare results list to References cited by Google Overview

AI Overview generated by Google:

MLA

• Mandatory, but with exceptions: The MLA Handbook now strongly recommends including a URL to help readers find the source.
• Omit prefix: Do not include "http://" or "https://" in the URL.
• Prefer DOIs/permalinks: Use a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or a permalink if one is available, as they are more stable than URLs.
• Optional access date: The date the source was accessed is now optional.
• Clarity: MLA prioritizes clarity and findability, and URLs are crucial for that, especially since URLs can change or become obsolete. 

APA

• Required: The APA Style Manual generally requires a URL for online sources, as it helps readers find the source.
• No "Retrieved from": Do not use the phrase "Retrieved from" before the URL.
• Include DOI: If a DOI is available, include it. The recommended format is https://doi.org/xxxxx.
• Access date: Access dates are optional in APA for most sources. 

>References Cited:
(I copy paste into Word for each paperclip button, then delete the duplicates.) 

MLA Works Cited: Electronic Sources (Web Publications) Jul 5, 2025 — It is also wise to keep a record of when you first consult with each online source. - Purdue OWL   https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html#:
~:text=It%20is%20also%20wise%20to,Commonly%20Used%20with%20Electronic%20Sources

Citation Guide : MLA - LibGuides at Priddy Library Jul 25, 2024 — No More URLs! While website entries will still include authors, article names, and website names, when available, MLA ...University of Maryland https://libguides.shadygrove.umd.edu/c.php?g=481212&p=3289762#:~:text=No%20More%20URLs!,to%20easily%20find%20the%20source.

Changes from MLA 7 to MLA 8th and 9th edition - Library Sep 17, 2025 — Changes to MLA 9. In previous editions, students and researchers creating an MLA website citation were not required to...Virginia Peninsula Community College https://guides.vpcc.edu/MLA/chages#:~:text=Email-,Changes%20to%20MLA%209,date%20the%20website%20was%20accessed.

Should I include a URL in my APA citation? If so, what URL? - FAQs  May 11, 2023 — In the case of an online resource that has no DOI, you may need to include a URL. If the source is from a non-database...Ithaca College  https://libanswers.ithaca.edu/faq/236321

MLA Works Cited: Electronic Sources (Web Publications) Jul 5, 2025 — It is also wise to keep a record of when you first consult with each online source. MLA uses the phrase, “Accessed” to ...Virginia Peninsula Community College https://guides.vpcc.edu/MLA/chages

Why aren't URLs accepted as sources in MLA format? - Quora Dec 9, 2020 — Todd Allen. Using the internet since before the World Wide Web. Author has 11.8K answers and 29.6M answer views. · 4y. ...Quora  https://www.quora.com/Why-aren-t-URLs-accepted-as-sources-in-MLA-format#:~:text=Todd%20Allen,URL%20itself%20no%20longer%20works.

What is a DOI? | APA, MLA, Chicago Formats Nov 13, 2022 — DOI example in APA Style The recommended format for DOIs in reference lists is https://doi.org/xxxxx, with the “xxxxx”...Wordvice https://blog.wordvice.com/what-is-a-doi-apa-mla-chicago-format/#:~:text=DOI%20example%20in%20APA%20Style,line%20with%20the%20current%20standards.

Citing Sources: Major Changes to the New MLA Sep 28, 2025 — The URL (without http:// or https://) is now normally given for a Web source. Angle brackets are not used around it (4...Dickinson College  https://libguides.dickinson.edu/citing/mla8changes#:~:text=The%20URL%20(without%20http://,Otherwise%2C%20they%20are%20simply%20omitted.

Do I need to include the URL in an APA legal reference? APA style doesn't require you to include a URL in your legal source references. However, it can be useful to include a URL to help...Scribbr https://www.scribbr.com/frequently-asked-questions/url-apa-legal/