Guide · 7 min · Updated 20/05/2026
How to write content that AI assistants will cite
Citation-ready content has a structural fingerprint. Reproduce the fingerprint and you become the source.
The five-move fingerprint
1) Open with a one-sentence definition. 2) Follow with a stat including source. 3) Keep paragraphs under 80 words. 4) Date and attribute every claim. 5) Close each section with an explicit takeaway.
Common questions
Does AI cite long-form or short-form better?
Both, but the citation always comes from a passage — typically 40–120 words. Long-form content with citable passages wins both ways.