AI dictionary for work
Citation
A pointer to evidence — not proof by itself.
What it means
A citation is a reference the AI gives to back up a claim. Useful when it points to a real source you supplied; risky when the model invents a plausible-looking reference that does not exist.
Why it matters at work
A citation is an invitation to verify, not a guarantee. If the AI cites something you did not give it, open the link or the document and confirm it is real and says what the AI claims.
Beginner mistake
Trusting a neatly formatted citation without clicking it. Models can fabricate convincing references to papers and pages that were never written.
Example prompt
For each point, cite the exact section and page of the attached PDF. Do not cite anything that is not in this document.
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Last updated 2026-06-16 · Reviewed for current AI tools