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MLA Works Cited: Electronic Sources (Web Publications)

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MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (9 th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.

The MLA Handbook highlights principles over prescriptive practices. Essentially, a writer will need to take note of primary elements in every source, such as author, title, etc. and then assort them in a general format. Thus, by using this methodology, a writer will be able to cite any source regardless of whether it’s included in this list.

However, this guide will highlight a few concerns when citing digital sources in MLA style.

Best Practices for Managing Online Sources

Because online information can change or disappear, it is always a good idea to keep personal copies of important electronic information whenever possible. Downloading or even printing key documents ensures you have a stable backup. You can also use the Bookmark function in your web browser in order to build an easy-to-access reference for all of your project's sources (though this will not help you if the information is changed or deleted).

It is also wise to keep a record of when you first consult with each online source. MLA uses the phrase, “Accessed” to denote which date you accessed the web page when available or necessary. It is not required to do so, but it is encouraged (especially when there is no copyright date listed on a website).

Important Note on the Use of URLs in MLA

Include a URL or web address to help readers locate your sources. Because web addresses are not static (i.e., they change often) and because documents sometimes appear in multiple places on the web (e.g., on multiple databases), MLA encourages the use of citing containers such as Youtube, JSTOR, Spotify, or Netflix in order to easily access and verify sources. However, MLA only requires the www. address, so eliminate all https:// when citing URLs.

Many scholarly journal articles found in databases include a DOI (digital object identifier). If a DOI is available, cite the DOI number instead of the URL.

Online newspapers and magazines sometimes include a “permalink,” which is a shortened, stable version of a URL. Look for a “share” or “cite this” button to see if a source includes a permalink. If you can find a permalink, use that instead of a URL.

Abbreviations Commonly Used with Electronic Sources

If page numbers are not available, use par. or pars. to denote paragraph numbers. Use these in place of the p. or pp. abbreviation. Par. would be used for a single paragraph, while pars. would be used for a span of two or more paragraphs.

Basic Style for Citations of Electronic Sources (Including Online Databases)

Here are some common features you should try to find before citing electronic sources in MLA style. Not every web page will provide all of the following information. However, collect as much of the following information as possible:

  • Author and/or editor names (if available); last names first.
  • "Article name in quotation marks."
  • Title of the website, project, or book in italics.
  • Any version numbers available, including editions (ed.), revisions, posting dates, volumes (vol.), or issue numbers (no.).
  • Publisher information, including the publisher name and publishing date.
  • Take note of any page numbers (p. or pp.) or paragraph numbers (par. or pars.).
  • DOI (if available, precede it with "https://doi.org/"), otherwise a URL (without the https://) or permalink.
  • Date you accessed the material (Date Accessed). While not required, saving this information it is highly recommended, especially when dealing with pages that change frequently or do not have a visible copyright date.

Use the following format:

Author. "Title." Title of container (self contained if book) , Other contributors (translators or editors), Version (edition), Number (vol. and/or no.), Publisher, Publication Date, Location (pages, paragraphs and/or URL, DOI or permalink). 2 nd container’s title , Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher, Publication date, Location, Date of Access (if applicable).

Citing an Entire Web Site

When citing an entire website, follow the same format as listed above, but include a compiler name if no single author is available.

Author, or compiler name (if available). Name of Site. Version number (if available), Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available), DOI (preferred), otherwise include a URL or permalink. Date of access (if applicable).

Editor, author, or compiler name (if available). Name of Site . Version number, Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available), URL, DOI or permalink. Date of access (if applicable).

The Purdue OWL Family of Sites . The Writing Lab and OWL at Purdue and Purdue U, 2008, owl.english.purdue.edu/owl. Accessed 23 Apr. 2008.

Felluga, Dino. Guide to Literary and Critical Theory . Purdue U, 28 Nov. 2003, www.cla.purdue.edu/english/theory/. Accessed 10 May 2006.

Course or Department Websites

Give the instructor name. Then list the title of the course (or the school catalog designation for the course) in italics. Give appropriate department and school names as well, following the course title.

Felluga, Dino. Survey of the Literature of England . Purdue U, Aug. 2006, web.ics.purdue.edu/~felluga/241/241/Home.html. Accessed 31 May 2007.

English Department . Purdue U, 20 Apr. 2009, www.cla.purdue.edu/english/. Accessed 31 May 2015.

A Page on a Web Site

For an individual page on a Web site, list the author or alias if known, followed by an indication of the specific page or article being referenced. Usually, the title of the page or article appears in a header at the top of the page. Follow this with the information covered above for entire Web sites. If the publisher is the same as the website name, only list it once.

Lundman, Susan. “How to Make Vegetarian Chili.”  eHow , www.ehow.com/how_10727_make-vegetarian-chili.html. Accessed 6 July 2015.

“ Athlete's Foot - Topic Overview. ”   WebMD , 25 Sept. 2014, www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/athletes-foot-topic-overview.

Citations for e-books closely resemble those for physical books. Simply indicate that the book in question is an e-book by putting the term "e-book" in the "version" slot of the MLA template (i.e., after the author, the title of the source, the title of the container, and the names of any other contributors).

Silva, Paul J.  How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing. E-book, American Psychological Association, 2007.

If the e-book is formatted for a specific reader device or service, you can indicate this by treating this information the same way you would treat a physical book's edition number. Often, this will mean replacing "e-book" with "[App/Service] ed."

Machiavelli, Niccolo.  The Prince , translated by W. K. Marriott, Kindle ed., Library of Alexandria, 2018.

Note:  The MLA considers the term "e-book" to refer to publications formatted specifically for reading with an e-book reader device (e.g., a Kindle) or a corresponding web application. These e-books will not have URLs or DOIs. If you are citing book content from an ordinary webpage with a URL, use the "A Page on a Web Site" format above.

An Image (Including a Painting, Sculpture, or Photograph)

Provide the artist's name, the work of art italicized, the date of creation, the institution and city where the work is housed. Follow this initial entry with the name of the Website in italics, and the date of access.

Goya, Francisco. The Family of Charles IV . 1800. Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid. Museo Nacional del Prado , www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/the-family-of-carlos-iv/f47898fc-aa1c-48f6-a779-71759e417e74. Accessed 22 May 2006.

Klee, Paul. Twittering Machine . 1922. Museum of Modern Art, New York. The Artchive , www.artchive.com/artchive/K/klee/twittering_machine.jpg.html. Accessed May 2006.

If the work cited is available on the web only, then provide the name of the artist, the title of the work, and then follow the citation format for a website. If the work is posted via a username, use that username for the author.

Adams, Clifton R. “People Relax Beside a Swimming Pool at a Country Estate Near Phoenix, Arizona, 1928.” Found, National Geographic Creative, 2 June 2016, natgeofound.tumblr.com/.

An Article in a Web Magazine

Provide the author name, article name in quotation marks, title of the web magazine in italics, publisher name, publication date, URL, and the date of access.

Bernstein, Mark. “ 10 Tips on Writing the Living Web. ”   A List Apart: For People Who Make Websites , 16 Aug. 2002, alistapart.com/article/writeliving. Accessed 4 May 2009.

An Article in an Online Scholarly Journal

For all online scholarly journals, provide the author(s) name(s), the name of the article in quotation marks, the title of the publication in italics, all volume and issue numbers, and the year of publication. Include a DOI if available, otherwise provide a URL or permalink to help readers locate the source.

Article in an Online-only Scholarly Journal

MLA requires a page range for articles that appear in Scholarly Journals. If the journal you are citing appears exclusively in an online format (i.e. there is no corresponding print publication) that does not make use of page numbers, indicate the URL or other location information.

Dolby, Nadine. “Research in Youth Culture and Policy: Current Conditions and Future Directions.” Social Work and Society: The International Online-Only Journal, vol. 6, no. 2, 2008, www.socwork.net/sws/article/view/60/362. Accessed 20 May 2009.

Article in an Online Scholarly Journal That Also Appears in Print

Cite articles in online scholarly journals that also appear in print as you would a scholarly journal in print, including the page range of the article . Provide the URL and the date of access.

Wheelis, Mark. “ Investigating Disease Outbreaks Under a Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. ”   Emerging Infectious Diseases , vol. 6, no. 6, 2000, pp. 595-600, wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/6/6/00-0607_article. Accessed 8 Feb. 2009.

An Article from an Online Database (or Other Electronic Subscription Service)

Cite online databases (e.g. LexisNexis, ProQuest, JSTOR, ScienceDirect) and other subscription services as containers. Thus, provide the title of the database italicized before the DOI or URL. If a DOI is not provided, use the URL instead. Provide the date of access if you wish.

Alonso, Alvaro, and Julio A. Camargo. “ Toxicity of Nitrite to Three Species of Freshwater Invertebrates. ”   Environmental Toxicology, vol. 21, no. 1, 3 Feb. 2006, pp. 90-94. Wiley Online Library , https://doi.org/10.1002/tox.20155. Accessed 26 May 2009.

Langhamer, Claire. “Love and Courtship in Mid-Twentieth-Century England.” Historical Journal, vol. 50, no. 1, 2007, pp. 173-96. ProQuest , https://doi.org/10.1017/S0018246X06005966. Accessed 27 May 2009.

E-mail (including E-mail Interviews)

Give the author of the message, followed by the subject line in quotation marks. State to whom the message was sent with the phrase, “Received by” and the recipient’s name. Include the date the message was sent. Use standard capitalization.

Kunka, Andrew. “ Re: Modernist Literature. ”  Received by John Watts, 15 Nov. 2000.

Neyhart, David. “ Re: Online Tutoring. ” Received by Joe Barbato, 1 Dec. 2016.

A Listserv, Discussion Group, or Blog Posting

Cite web postings as you would a standard web entry. Provide the author of the work, the title of the posting in quotation marks, the web site name in italics, the publisher, and the posting date. Follow with the date of access. Include screen names as author names when author name is not known. If both names are known, place the author’s name in brackets.

Author or compiler name (if available). “Posting Title.” Name of Site , Version number (if available), Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), URL. Date of access.

Salmar1515 [Sal Hernandez]. “Re: Best Strategy: Fenced Pastures vs. Max Number of Rooms?” BoardGameGeek , 29 Sept. 2008, boardgamegeek.com/thread/343929/best-strategy-fenced-pastures-vs-max-number-rooms. Accessed 5 Apr. 2009.

Begin with the user's Twitter handle in place of the author’s name. Next, place the tweet in its entirety in quotations, inserting a period after the tweet within the quotations. Include the date and time of posting, using the reader's time zone; separate the date and time with a comma and end with a period. Include the date accessed if you deem necessary.

@tombrokaw. “ SC demonstrated why all the debates are the engines of this campaign. ”   Twitter, 22 Jan. 2012, 3:06 a.m., twitter.com/tombrokaw/status/160996868971704320.

@PurdueWLab. “ Spring break is around the corner, and all our locations will be open next week. ”   Twitter , 5 Mar. 2012, 12:58 p.m., twitter.com/PurdueWLab/status/176728308736737282.

A YouTube Video

Video and audio sources need to be documented using the same basic guidelines for citing print sources in MLA style. Include as much descriptive information as necessary to help readers understand the type and nature of the source you are citing. If the author’s name is the same as the uploader, only cite the author once. If the author is different from the uploader, cite the author’s name before the title.

McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.” YouTube , uploaded by Big Think, 3 July 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdzy9bWW3E.

“8 Hot Dog Gadgets put to the Test.” YouTube, uploaded by Crazy Russian Hacker, 6 June 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBlpjSEtELs.

A Comment on a Website or Article

List the username as the author. Use the phrase, Comment on, before the title. Use quotation marks around the article title. Name the publisher, date, time (listed on near the comment), and the URL.

Not Omniscient Enough. Comment on “ Flight Attendant Tells Passenger to ‘Shut Up’ After Argument Over Pasta. ”  ABC News, 9 Jun 2016, 4:00 p.m., abcnews.go.com/US/flight-attendant-tells-passenger-shut-argument-pasta/story?id=39704050.

Home / Guides / Citation Guides / MLA Format / MLA YouTube Citations

How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA

Citing a youtube video.

According the official MLA Style website , you start the citation off with the title of the video in quotation marks. The name of the website, YouTube , comes next, followed by the name of the YouTube channel, also called the video uploader. Finally, include the date the video was uploaded and the URL of the video at the end of the citation.

View Screenshot | Cite your source

How to cite a YouTube video in MLA

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To cite a YouTube video in MLA style, you need to have basic information including the title of the video, publication date, uploader’s name, and URL. The templates for in-text citations and a works-cited-list entry of a YouTube video and some examples are given below:

In-text citation template and example:

For citations in prose, use the title of the video. Use title case and enclose the video title in double quotation marks.

In parenthetical citations, always use only the shortened title. If the title is already short, especially if it forms a rhetorical unit (e.g., “Is Nothing Sacred?”), you can use the full video title in the parenthetical citation. Enclose the title in double quotation marks.

When creating in-text citations for time-based media, such as a video, cite the relevant total time or a particular time span if it displays. For instance, the range of hours, minutes, and seconds you plan to reference. For example: (00:02:15-00:02:35).

Citation in prose:

First mention: “Time Is But a Stubborn Illusion” …. (00:04:23)

Parenthetical:

….(“Time” 00:04:23).

Works-cited-list entry template and example:

The video title is set in title case and inside quotation marks. This is followed by the container title for the website “ YouTube ” where the video appears. The website title is in italics. Then the uploader’s name is given followed by the uploaded date. Finally, the URL is given.

“Title of the Video.” YouTube , uploaded by Uploader’s Name, Day Month Year, URL.

“Time Is But a Stubborn Illusion.” YouTube , uploaded by National Geographic, 24 Mar. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyYqyYAKGC0 .

To cite a movie in MLA style, it is important that you know some basic information such as the director’s name, year, movie title, and production company. The templates and examples for an in-text citation and works cited list entry for a movie are provided below:

Movie Title

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

( Shortened Movie Title )

( The Prime )

For the parenthetical citation, the title should be shortened to the shortest noun phrase.

Reference list entry template and example:

Title of the Movie . Directed by Director First Name Surname, Production Company, Release year.

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie . Directed by Ronald Neamie, 20th Century Fox, 1969.

Use “Directed by” before the director’s name and write the movie title in italics and title case.

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Cite a video posted online (on YouTube, Vimeo, etc.). Use other forms to cite films , TV show episodes , video podcast episodes , and recorded speeches/lectures .

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How to cite a YouTube video in MLA

MLA YouTube video citation

To cite a YouTube video in a reference entry in MLA style 9th edition include the following elements:

  • Author(s) or screen name: Give the last name and name as presented in the source (e. g. Watson, John). For two authors, reverse only the first name, followed by ‘and’ and the second name in normal order (e. g. Watson, John, and John Watson). For three or more authors, list the first name followed by et al. (e. g. Watson, John, et al.)
  • Video title: Titles are italicized when independent. If part of a larger source add quotation marks and do not italize.
  • Date of publication: Give the day, month and year of publication. All months, excluding June and July, are abbreviated as three letters (e.g. 9 Aug. 2019.)
  • URL: Copy URL in full from your browser, include http:// or https:// and do not list URLs created by shortening services.

Here is the basic format for a reference list entry of a YouTube video in MLA style 9th edition:

Author(s) or screen name . " Video title ." YouTube, Date of publication , URL .

Take a look at our works cited examples that demonstrate the MLA style guidelines in action:

A YouTube video where the creator's real name is not provided

AsapSCIENCE . " How to learn faster ." YouTube , 28 Sep. 2017 , youtube.com/watch?v=B9SptdjpJBQ .

Note: The creator's real name is not available, the user name is used instead.

A YouTube video where the creator's real name is available

Bialik, Mayim . " The Life Changing Magic of Detective Pikachu ." YouTube , 13 June 2019 , youtube.com/watch?v=97KJhK-9yvc .

A YouTube video uploaded by a user

" Modern Family Funny Moments ." YouTube , uploaded by MIke Arasa , 26 Jan. 2019 , youtube.com/watch?v=b9LsHST4E78 .

Note: Video uploaded by a user, not by the creator of the video.

MLA in-text citation of a YouToube video

Audio-visual material uses the specific time of the audio/video for in-text citations.

(Last name time) or (Short form of title time) .

The following scene exemplifies the performers intellectual abilities (Bialik 00:15:43-00:20:07) .

A YouTube video without an author

The video clip found on YouTube seems to be one of the most popular throughout the internet (Modern 00:03:40) .

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This citation style guide is based on the MLA Handbook (9 th edition).

More useful guides

  • MLA 8 Citation Guide: Youtube video
  • MLA Works Cited: Electronic Sources
  • How do I cite a Youtube video in MLA format 8th edition?

More great BibGuru guides

  • MLA: how to cite a government website
  • APA: how to cite a newspaper article
  • AMA: how to cite a book chapter

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The MLA Handbook does not specify how to cite a YouTube or Vimeo video explicitly, and you will see some discrepancies online-- even among reputable citation sites. The MLA Style Center recommends starting with the title of the video since it is often hard to tell if the user who uploaded the video was responsible for its creation.

Sometimes, you may be able to find out who created the video, and in that case, you would list that person as the author.

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MLA 9th Edition Citation Guide YouTube Videos

Works Cited Page Format:

Last name, First name of the creator (use screenname if no name listed). “Title of the video or audio.”  Title of the Website,  role of contributors and their First name Last name, Version, Numbers, Publisher, Publication date, URL.

Works Cited Page Example:

Crazy Russian Hacker. "5 Kitchen Gadgets Put to the Test."  YouTube , 22, Jan. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkvpXzw8QgI. 

In-text Citation Format:

Use the first item in your Works Cited entry, whether it is the creator's real name or screen name.

...(Creator last name or screen name). 
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MLA Format: Citing a YouTube Video (Example)

Last Updated: January 21, 2024

This article was co-authored by Cara Barker, MA . Cara Barker is an Assistant Professor and Research and Instruction Librarian at Hunter Library at Western Carolina University. She received her Masters in Library and Information Sciences from the University of Washington in 2014. She has over 16 years of experience working with libraries across the United States. This article has been viewed 302,878 times.

As more information is introduced via the Web, students and instructors must come to expect an increase in the number of online citations included in research papers. YouTube videos are among the content one should learn to handle. Continue reading for specific instructions and examples concerning how to cite a YouTube video in MLA format.

Things You Should Know

  • You can use a shortened version of the video's title in your in-text citations.
  • If you know the real name of the creator, use it on your Works Cited page.
  • You'll need to specify the username of the person who uploaded the video on your Works Cited page.

In-Text Citation

Step 1 Type a portion of the title in parentheses.

  • Maru is a famous cat known for a variety of antics (“Maru Greatest Hits”).

Step 2 Introduce the title in the sentence.

  • As seen in “Maru Greatest Hits,” Maru is a famous cat known for a variety of antics.

Step 3 Include the creator's name when applicable.

  • The man responsible for holding the three Cleveland women captive has been arrested along with two other suspects (Associated Press, "3 Women").
  • As stated in "3 Women," the man responsible for holding the three Cleveland women captive has been arrested along with two other suspects (Associated Press).
  • According to the Associated Press, the man responsible for holding the three Cleveland women captive has been arrested along with two other suspects ("3 Women").
  • In "3 Women," the Associated Press explains that the man responsible for holding the three Cleveland women captive has been arrested along with two other suspects.

Works Cited Page

Step 1 Mention the name or username of the creator.

  • McGonigal, Jane.

Step 2 State the full title of the video.

  • McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.”
  • “8 Hot Dog Gadgets put to the Test.”

Step 3 Name the website.

  • McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.” YouTube ,
  • “8 Hot Dog Gadgets put to the Test.” YouTube ,

Step 4 Indicate who uploaded the video.

  • McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.” YouTube , uploaded by Big Think,
  • “8 Hot Dog Gadgets put to the Test.” YouTube , uploaded by Crazy Russian Hacker,

Step 5 State when the video was created.

  • McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.” YouTube , uploaded by Big Think, 3 July 2012,
  • “8 Hot Dog Gadgets put to the Test.” YouTube , uploaded by Crazy Russian Hacker, 6 June 2016,

Step 6 Finish with the URL.

  • McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.” YouTube , uploaded by Big Think, 3 July 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkdzy9bWW3E.
  • “8 Hot Dog Gadgets put to the Test.” YouTube , uploaded by Crazy Russian Hacker, 6 June 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBlpjSEtELs.

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  • Ask your instructor if they have a preference regarding the way that YouTube videos are cited. Some instructors prefer students to include the URL of online sources, while others do not. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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About This Article

Cara Barker, MA

To cite a YouTube video in an in-text citation, put the title or a shortened version of it in parentheses after the relevant information, like ("Maru's Greatest Hits"). If you know the name of the video's creator, such as Associated Press, cite it in the parentheses prior to the title. When you move on to your Works Cited page, start with the name of the person responsible for the video or their YouTube username, and include the full title in quotation marks. Finally, include the website and sponsor, which in this case are both YouTube, the video's creation date, the publishing medium, "Web," and the date you accessed the video. For tips on how to cite a YouTube video when you don't know the creator's name, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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MLA Citation Style 7th Edition: D. YouTube Video

  • Quotes & Paraphrasing
  • Works Cited Guidelines
  • A. One Author
  • B. Two or Three Authors
  • C. More than Three Authors
  • D. Anthology or Compilation
  • E. Work in an Anthology
  • F. Corporate Author
  • G. No Author
  • I. Article in a Reference Book
  • J. Edition other than the First
  • K. Introduction, Foreword, Preface, or Afterword
  • L. Translation
  • M. Government Publication
  • A. Basic Journal Article
  • B. Journal Article from an Online Periodical
  • C. Journal Article from Database
  • D. Magazine Article
  • E. Magazine Article from Database
  • F. Newspaper Article
  • A. Basic Web Page
  • B. Document from a Web site
  • C. No Author
  • A. Video or DVD
  • B. Sound Recording
  • C. Musical Composition
  • D. YouTube Video
  • A. Work of Art
  • B. Online Image
  • C. Indirect Sources
  • D. Scripture
  • MLA 8th edition This link opens in a new window

YouTube Video (189-190)

mla bibliography youtube video

Printable MLA Handouts

  • MLA Guidelines General guidelines for using the MLA style.
  • MLA Sample Paper Click here to view a sample paper and reference list in MLA style.
  • MLA Electronic Resources Tips for creating a reference list in MLA style from electronic resources.
  • MLA In-Text Citation Tips for creating in-text citations in MLA style.
  • MLA Print Resources Tips for citing print resources in MLA style.
  • MLA Frequently Asked Questions A few FAQs on MLA style.
  • << Previous: C. Musical Composition
  • Next: Images & Art >>
  • Last Updated: Nov 17, 2023 10:39 AM
  • URL: https://libguides.msubillings.edu/mla

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How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA and APA

Soon you'll be doing it in your sleep

Author avatar

The first rule of fight club academic writing is to cite your sources. (Honestly, we wish it were more common in other kinds of writing , too.) Two common styles for academic writing are the MLA and APA.

Both offer guidance on how to clearly document and format references to other works like books, articles, and websites. Moreover, both have clearly defined rules for how to cite YouTube videos in particular.

The MLA Handbook is published by the Modern Language Association of America (MLA) and is most commonly used for academic writing in the humanities. The current version of the handbook is the eighth edition which was issued back in 2016. Style manual aficionados can rejoice, though, because the ninth edition is due out in April 2021! 

How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA and APA image 1

Instead of following MLA rules, academic writers in the social and behavioral science fields more commonly use the APA style from the American Psychological Association (APA).

The APA’s current style manual is The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition . Just like the MLA, the APA has rules about how to cite YouTube videos in a scholarly article. We’ll cover both styles below.

How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA

The MLA provides a template of the core elements found in citations. Most sources have common attributes, like an author, a title, and a date of publication. The MLA template of core elements lists those elements in a certain order, and that’s how you determine which elements to list in a citation and in what order.

How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA and APA image 2

Step-by-Step Instructions for Citing a YouTube Video in MLA

An MLA citation of a YouTube video will include the following information in this order: 

  • The video’s creator in the format LastName, FirstName (omit this if it’s the same as the uploader in step 4), followed by a period.
  • “The title of the video.” (Note the quotes and period.)
  • The platform—in this case, YouTube, (be sure to use italics and follow it with a comma).
  • The YouTube channel or user who uploaded the video followed by a comma.
  • The upload date in the format DD Mo. YYYY , followed by a comma.
  • The URL (do not include the http://), ending with a period.

How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA and APA image 3

For YouTube videos that were uploaded by the creator, a citation could look like this:

“Garlic Noodles | Kenji’s Cooking Show.” YouTube , uploaded by J. Kenji López-Alt, 13 Sep 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK9OHVxB_Z8 .

Here’s another example:

“Mars rover begins search for alien life on Red Planet – BBC News.” YouTube , uploaded by BBC News, 18 Feb 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=E00731OeWCA .

How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA and APA image 4

What if the video was uploaded by someone different than the video’s creator? Here’s an example of a citation where the uploader and creator are not the same.

Kuwahata, Ru and Porter, Max. “Negative Space | Oscar Nominated Stop-Motion Animation | Short of the Week.” YouTube , uploaded by Short of the Week, 16 Jul 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI2lsdXJQ40.

How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA and APA image 5

Conveniently, the MLA provides an interactive practice template to help you get your citations right. While they say the template “is not a citation generator,” it should be good enough to help you to create a citation which you can then double-check against the MLA Handbook .

How to Cite a YouTube Video in APA

The APA follows slightly different formatting for citing YouTube videos, and depending on the video you want to cite, you might have to do a little extra research.

How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA and APA image 6

Step-by-Step Instructions for Citing a YouTube Video in APA

An APA citation of a YouTube video will include the following information in this order: 

  • The uploader/creator’s real name, last name first, followed by a period, e.g., “ López-Alt, Kenji. ” You may have to visit the creator’s profile page to determine their real name. If you cannot find their real name, skip to step 2. If the uploader is not the creator, then do some research and try to find the same video uploaded by the creator somewhere else, like on the creator’s YouTube channel, and cite that video instead.

How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA and APA image 7

  • The uploader’s screen name in brackets, followed by a period, e.g., “ [Kenji López-Alt]. ”
  • The date the video was posted in parentheses, followed by a period, e.g., “ (yyyy, Month dd). ”
  • The title of the video in italics. Only capitalize the first word and any proper nouns, and do not put a period after the title.
  • The type of file in brackets, followed by a period, e.g., “ [Video]. ”
  • The website name, followed by a period, e.g., “YouTube.”
  • The URL, e.g., “ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK9OHVxB_Z8 ”

Note: APA style requires that you indent all lines after the first line in your citation.

How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA and APA image 8

So, here’s what the citation could look like in APA style with the author’s real name and screen name:

López-Alt, Kenji. [Kenji López-Alt.] 2020, September 13. Garlic noodles | Kenji’s Cooking Show [Video]. YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK9OHVxB_Z8 .

A YouTube citation where the uploader/creator is an organization might look like this:

BBC News. 2021, February 18. Mars rover begins search for alien life on Red Planet – BBC News [Video]. YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=E00731OeWCA .

How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA and APA image 9

If you want to cite an entire YouTube channel in APA style, follow this example:

López-Alt, K. (n.d.). Home [YouTube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved February 20, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/user/kenjialt  
López-Alt, K. (n.d.). Playlists [YouTube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved February 20, 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/c/JKenjiLopezAlt/playlists  

The “n.d.” in the examples above stands for “no date,“ since YouTube channels don’t have a specific date attached to them and the content of the channel will likely change as time goes by.

Argh, It’s Too Confusing!

Properly recording and formatting citations can be a beast of a job, and sometimes the proper format isn’t obvious for the source you want to cite. 

How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA and APA image 10

Luckily, there are reference management tools to help you, and almost all modern word processors have built-in functionality to automatically format bibliographies. Once you get a few citations under your belt, your confidence will increase, and you’ll be citing YouTube sources in your sleep!

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Citing a YouTube Video

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With smartphones and lightning fast Wi-Fi now part of everyday life, it is difficult to remember a time when online resources were not available to researchers and students. How did we ever find information quickly?

Some of the most popular and talked about types of online media are videos, like the kinds that millions of people view every day on sites like YouTube and Vimeo. While these sources are great ways to learn about a new topic in a fast and easy way, it can be tempting to neglect citing them properly in your paper.

Need to cite an online video that you’ve used for a research paper? You’ve come to the right place. Read on for guidelines on how to cite this type of source in MLA style, APA style, Harvard, and Chicago style. Also for consideration, Cite This For Me has a handy form for citing an online image or video.

Not sure which citation style you should be using? Check with your professor and ask which style they prefer before you start writing your paper and references.

What Information Do I Need?

The most efficient way to make citations for your paper is to develop them as you’re writing, instead of waiting until the end to start adding them. By completing them as you need them within your paper, you will be less likely to forget to include an important source that you used, and therefore be less likely to be accused of plagiarism.

The types of information you include in your online video citation can vary based on the particular source you are referencing and your citation style. Here is a list of the most frequently needed data points. We’ll be using the video example linked here below and throughout this guide:

Author/contributor names (this could also be an organization or a username in some cases): Brad Traversy Video title: CSS Crash Course For Absolute Beginners Website where you viewed the video: YouTube Date the video was published: July 19th 2017 Video publisher: Traversy Media Date you viewed the video: July 25th 2018 Video running time: 1:25:10 URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfoY53QXEnI<

In-Text Citations

After you reference an online video in your paper, you should include an in-text citation that signals to the reader where you got your information from. These types of citations can be added into the sentences of your project and can look parenthetical (like this), or be footnotes that match up with a similarly numbered citation in a bibliography. All of this depends on which citation style you’re using.

Let’s take a look at some examples of how to cite an online video in MLA, APA, Chicago style format, and Harvard styles.

How to Cite an Online Video in APA Style

APA parenthetical citation: (Traversy, 2017)

APA parenthetical citation after quotation: (Traversy, 2017, 0:10)

Full citation:

Traversy, B. (2017, July 19). CSS crash course for absolute beginners [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfoY53QXEnI

How to Cite an Online Video in MLA Style

MLA parent hetical citation: (“CSS Crash Course”)

“CSS Crash Course for Absolute Beginners.” YouTube , uploaded by Traversy Media, 19 Jul. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfoY53QXEnI.

Note that MLA includes account name that uploaded the video in the “other contributors” slot since there is often no way to verify whether the account that uploaded the video and the author of the video are the same entity.

How to Cite an Online Video in Chicago Style Format (footnote/bibliography style)

Brad Traversy, “CSS Crash Course for Absolute Beginners,” YouTube Video, 1:25:10, July 19, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfoY53QXEnI.

Bibliography:

Traversy, Brad. “CSS Crash Course for Absolute Beginners.” YouTube Video, 1:25:10. July 19, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfoY53QXEnI.

How to Cite an Online Video in Harvard Style*

*This is according to Harvard Cite Them Right Style 10th edition.

Harvard referencing parenthetical citation: (Traversy, 2017)

Traversy (2017) CSS crash course for absolute beginners. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfoY53QXEnI (Accessed: 25 July 2018).

Making citations for online videos is easier than ever with Cite This For Me!

The in-text citation in APA style, in general, includes only the names of the contributors (or authors) and the publication year. The author of an audiovisual work depends on the type of media. YouTube is an audiovisual work for which the uploader’s name should be used in the author’s place. Therefore, to cite YouTube in the text, you need to include the name of the uploader of the YouTube video (though the uploader is not the original creator of the work) and the publication year.

Below you will find an example of how to format an in-text citation for YouTube in APA style:

Narrative: Uploader’s Surname (Year)

Parenthetical: (Uploader’s Surname, Year)

Narrative: Tucker (2017)

Parenthetical: (Tucker, 2017)

To provide an in-text citation for a YouTube video in MLA style, a shortened form of the video title is used.

Format for the In-text Citation for a YouTube Video

Prose: “Shortened Title of the Video”

Parenthetical: (“Shortened Title of the Video”)

Prose: The documentary “Dark Clouds” . . .

Parenthetical: (“Dark Clouds”)

If a specific portion of the video is the focus, a time stamp is used displaying the relevant hours, minutes, and seconds.

Format for the In-text Citation for a YouTube Video of a Television Show with a Time Stamp

Prose: “ Title ” (Time stamp)

Parenthetical: (“ Title ” Time stamp)

Prose: In the opening scene from an episode of “ Friends ” (00:00:02-00:03:10) . . .

Parenthetical: (“ Friends ” 00:00:02-00:03:10)

Per Chapter 10 of the APA Publication Manual , a reference list entry for a YouTube video should include the name of the channel and/or name of the person who uploaded the video, the date the video was published, title of the video, and URL.

The templates and examples below show how to create a reference list entry for a YouTube video in APA style.

Uploader’s Last Name, First Initial. [Channel Name]. (Year, Month Date video was published). Name of the video [Video]. YouTube. URL

Fogarty, M. [Grammar Girl]. (2021, May 28). Noah Webster’s influence on American English [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqszseM7xlM

If the name of the uploader is unknown, or if the video was posted by an institution/organization, use the institution’s name instead of the individual contributor’s name at the beginning of your citation.

Institution/Organization Name. (Year, Month Date video was published). Name of the video [Video]. YouTube. URL

TED. (2012, October 1). Your body language may shape who you are | Amy Cuddy [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-_Mh1QhMc

While the MLA handbook does not provide specific guidelines for citing a comment in the comments section for a YouTube video, it does provide guidelines and an example on how to provide references for comments generally. Most importantly, your citation should help the reader to easily locate the source (in this case, the comment made).

Commenter’s Name. Comment on “Video Name.” Website , uploaded by Uploader Name, Date, URL.

Bunh The Chau. Comment on “Chegg Writing: Grammar & Plagiarism.” YouTube , uploaded by Chegg, 12 Nov. 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPFg5KI_6ZI.

The in-text citation formats are provided below. The first time a resource is mentioned, a citation in prose format should be used. Thereafter, either format can be used.

Citation in Prose: Name

Bunh The Chau

Parenthetical Citation: (Name)

(Bunh The Chau)

To format a footnote to a YouTube video in Chicago style, include the speaker(s) in the video (if known), the title of the video, the uploader of the video, the date posted, an indication of the source type (e.g., “YouTube video”), the length of the video, and the URL. The idiosyncratic capitalization (“YouTube”) must be preserved.

  • Peter Thomson et al., “The Sustainable Development Goal 4, Education – Press Conference (28 June 2017),” United Nations, streamed on June 28, 2017, YouTube video, 31:28, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8Wt3K1DgDw&list=PLwoDFQJEq_0buo7GDyAEJ9QNbhUuRnIQY.

To format a bibliography entry for a YouTube video in Chicago style, include the speaker’s name(s) in the author element (if known) in inverse order (e.g., Biden, Joe.), the title of the video, the uploader’s name, the streaming date, an indication of the source type (e.g., “YouTube video”), the length of the video, and the URL. The idiosyncratic capitalization (“YouTube”) should be preserved.

“40 Dangerous Animals Caught Being Friendly.” Come Along. Streamed on December 8, 2021. YouTube video, 18:38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qf1iPGd_Sk.

To cite a comment on a YouTube video in a footnote, include the commenter name, the date of comment (if available), the phrase “comment on,” followed by the video’s citation information, including the video’s title, the uploader, the streaming date, the video format (YouTube video), the video length, and the URL.

  • Raja Izhar, comment on “The Sustainable Development Goal 4, Education – Press Conference (28 June 2017),” United Nations, streamed on June 28, 2017, YouTube video, 31:28, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8Wt3K1DgDw&list=PLwoDFQJEq_0buo7GDyAEJ9QNbhUuRnIQY.

As per MLA style, the account name of the uploader is included in the “other contributors” section. More often than not, videos are uploaded by a person who is not the creator. Further, there is no way with the information provided that a user can verify if the video’s creator and uploader are the same person. Hence, the account name is included in the “other contributors” section.

How to Cite a YouTube Video

Create citations for free.

Website Book Journal Video

While you might first think of books, newspapers, and journal articles as go-to sources for academic assignments, YouTube provides a wealth of informative, easily accessible videos. Yes, there is questionable content, but the site is also filled with educational channels, snippets from evening news programs, and even full-length documentaries on a range of interesting and scholarly subjects.

Since YouTube has a ton of information, citing a video retrieved from YouTube might seem more difficult than citing a book. But the process is fairly simple—and we’ve put together this helpful guide on how to cite a YouTube video using MLA format , APA format, and Chicago style.

If you’ve previously cited a video from another website, you’re in luck: The process for citing a video from YouTube is basically the same. To provide an example, we’ve cited a video from the CrashCourse YouTube channel—run by “Fault in Our Stars” author John Green—that offers educational videos on a slew of topics, including history, chemistry, and psychology. This particular video is about the US Constitution, the Articles, and Federalism. We’ve laid out how to cite the video in MLA format, APA format, and Chicago style.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO7FQsCcbD8

To properly cite a video from YouTube, you must consider the following pieces of information:

  • Full name, username, or name of the company that posted the content
  • Title of the video
  • Title of the website (YouTube)
  • Publisher of the video
  • Date the video was posted
  • Length or duration of the video
  • URL or of the video

Use the following structure to cite a YouTube video in MLA 9:

Last name, First name (of the individual who posted the content) OR the name of the company OR the username. “Title of the Video.” Title of the Website , Name of the Publisher that uploaded the video (only include if it differs from the author or title), Date it was uploaded, URL.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in MLA 9 :

CrashCourse. “The Constitution, the Articles, and Federalism: Crash Course US History #8.” YouTube , 21 Mar. 2013, youtu.be/bO7FQsCcbD8.

If you need help with in-text and parenthetical citations, CitationMachine.net can help. Our MLA citation generator is simple and easy to use!

Use the following structure to create an APA citation for a YouTube video :

Name of the Account OR Last Name, First initial of uploader [YouTube Account Name]. (Year, Month Day it was posted). Title of the video [Video]. YouTube. URL

Here’s how the above example would be cited in APA:

CrashCourse. (2013, March 21). The Constitution, the Articles, and Federalism: Crash course in US History #8 [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/bO7FQsCcbD8

Use the following structure to cite a YouTube video in Chicago :

Last name, First name of the individual or the company who posted the content. “Title of Video.” YouTube video, length. Date published. URL.

Here’s how the above example would be cited in Chicago :

CrashCourse. “The Constitution, the Articles, and Federalism: Crash Course in US History #8.” YouTube video, 13:03. March 21, 2013. https://youtu.be/bO7FQsCcbD8

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Including the name(s) of the video poster is discussed in reference examples 88 and 90 of the APA Publication Manual , 7 th edition. If the video is posted on the organization’s official website, then the speaker or presenter’s name would be listed in the author field. However, if the video is posted on YouTube or any other video sharing site, the name of the account that uploaded the video is listed as the author instead, to aid retrieval.

APA reference list template and examples:

Presenter’s Last Name, F. M. or Uploader’s Last Name, F. M. [Username*]. (Date posted). Title of the video [Video]. Publisher. URL

Cutts, S. (2016, October 18). Are you lost in the world like me? [Video]. Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/209248444

Fogarty, M. [Grammar Girl]. (2016, September 30). How to diagram a sentence (absolute basics) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zznr-e6A4mQ

Iimjobs. (2020, March 2). Chegg – Life at Chegg | Showcase | iimjobs.com [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44Nb3Ebtj9M

*Note: The username should be included if the account holder’s name and account name are both known and if including the username will help in retrieval.

Per the MLA Handbook , 9 th ed., the performer or creator is omitted if they are not mentioned in the source. Instead, the name of the uploader is included in the contributor field.

MLA works cited list template and example:

“Video Name.” Name of the Website , uploaded by Account Name, date video was posted, URL.

“Top 10 Unforgettable Buffy The Vampire Slayer Moments.” YouTube , uploaded by MsMojo, 1 Oct. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKq4SjCPzII.

As per the APA Publication Manual , 7 th edition, the in-text citation for a direct quote from a YouTube video should include the last name of the person who uploaded the video, the year the video was published, and a timestamp of the quote you are citing.

APA in-text citation template and example:

(Uploader Surname, year, HH:MM:SS)

(Cutts, 2016, 1:12:37)

How to Cite a YouTube Video in APA and MLA Style

Using a YouTube video in your research paper? Here's how to properly cite it using MLA and APA.

With more and more information being provided on platforms like YouTube, citing sources for your research projects can be tricky. Whether you're using MLA or APA, the entire format can change if the uploader is different from the author, or if you are citing an interview on Youtube versus a regular video.

Here's how to cite a YouTube video in APA and MLA formats, so you never have to worry about improper bibliographies again.

MLA and APA Citation Basics

Before we get started, it's important to understand the contents of MLA and APA citations for online videos. Fortunately, these types of MLA and APA citations both largely contain the same information.

Here's a breakdown of the information included in both MLA and APA citations for YouTube videos:

  • Name:  The full name refers to the actual person who uploaded the video—this is not necessarily the same as the person who is depicted in the video. If you were watching a Lady Gaga video, but it was uploaded by GagaFanatic20, you would want to use the screen name for GagaFanatic20, or their real name (if available).
  • Date: The year, month, and day the video was published. Keep in mind that this is not the date you found the video or the date you are writing your article.
  • Title :  Use the title of the video.
  • URL : The site where you found the video—YouTube, in this case—and the URL of the video. Don't include any tracking parameters in your URL if you found it through another site, like Facebook.

How to Cite a YouTube Video in APA

Citing a YouTube video isn't much different than citing other sources like PowerPoint presentations . You need to include as much information as possible, so the reader can find the video at a later time.

Your citation will include the full name and/or channel name of the uploader, the publication date, the title of the video, the hosting website (YouTube in this case), and the URL for the video.

Follow the format below for APA citations:

If you're quoting or referring to a specific part of a video, you will need to include a timestamp in your in-text citation, pointing to the exact moment of the video you are referencing. For example, "(GagaFanatic20, 2016)" or "(GagaFanatic, 2016, 0:45)"

Citing a YouTube Channel in APA

If you want to cite a YouTube channel instead of an individual video, you will follow a slightly different format:

As you can see, you don't need to include the date that the channel was actually published. Instead, you'll just write n.d. (no date).

"Home" refers to the channel's homepage. And instead of including "video" to let people know about the media type, just write "YouTube channel" in its place. You'll also want to add the date that you found the channel, followed by the URL of the channel's homepage.

How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA

Even though MLA citations will follow a slightly different format, the information will mostly remain the same. In your citation, include the title of the video, the website you found the video on, the screen name of the uploader, the publish date, and URL:

You'll also follow this format if the uploader was the same person as the author of the video. If the person who authored the video is not the same as the person who uploaded it, you will need to put their full name before the title of the video, as shown below:

Unlike APA style, which requires you to italicize the name of the video, you will have to italicize "YouTube" in MLA format. The date still refers to the publish date and not the date you wrote the article or found the video.

When writing your in-text citations, write the author's last name followed by the timestamp of the video. If the author is the same as the uploader, or if you don't have the author's last name, just use the title of the video:

  • (Last name, 00:01:15 - 00:02:00)
  • ("Title of video," 00:01:15 - 00:02:00)

Citing a YouTube Interview in MLA

If you are citing an interview on YouTube, use the interviewee's name as the author, while also including the YouTube channel's name.

If you're citing a whole movie or TV show that was uploaded to YouTube, use the MLA movie citation format instead. If you're still a little confused, Google Docs has add-ons that make your citations and bibliographies easier to write.

Where You Can Find YouTube Citation Information

Lady Gaga on Youtube citation information

All the information that you need for your YouTube citations can be found directly below the video you are citing.

The title, publish date, and author name will be on the left side, directly under the video. Write the name of the channel exactly as it appears on screen, but make sure the YouTube title follows APA and MLA capitalization rules.

To find the URL, click on the Share  button under the video on the right side. Click on the Copy button to copy the URL directly to your clipboard. Then, paste the URL directly into the citation. This will keep you from copying improper URLs that contain extra tracking parameters.

Easily Write YouTube Citations in MLA and APA Format

YouTube citations need to include relevant information to help your readers find the video you referenced. Citations can be a lot of work, and if you're tired of doing everything by hand, just use an automatic citation app instead.

How do I cite one person’s testimony in a congressional hearing?

Your source for congressional testimony may be a transcript, audio recording, or video recording of all or part of a hearing. Style each source using the MLA format template . Note that, depending on your source, the person whose testimony you are citing may or may not be listed in the Author element of your entry.

Hearing Transcript Miriam Nisbet, director of the Office of Government Information Services, testified to a “strong interest in updating regulations” to use “plainer” language (United States, Senate 11). Work Cited United States, Senate, Committee on the Judiciary. We the People: Fulfilling the Promise of Open Government Five Years after the Open Government Act . U.S. Government Printing Office, 2013, www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/CHRG-113shrg90863.pdf. 113th Congress, 1st session, 90-863 PDF.
Transcript of One Person’s Testimony The general counsel for the Associated Press testified in favor of the proposed portal for FOIA requests (Kaiser 7).  Work Cited Kaiser, Karen. Testimony of Karen Kaiser, General Counsel, the Associated Press, on behalf of the Sunshine in Government Initiative before the Committee on the Judiciary United States Senate on “Ensuring an Informed Citizenry: Examining the Administration’s Efforts to Improve Open Government.” 6 May 2015, www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/05-06-15%20Kaiser%20Testimony.pdf.
Video Excerpt Jeanne H. Schmedlen’s testimony about federal partnerships with state humanities councils highlighted the activities of Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Speakers Bureau (“NEA Hearing” 02:30–03:45). Work Cited “NEA Hearing: Jeanne H. Schmedlen.” YouTube , uploaded by Committee on Education and the Workforce Democrats, 9 May 2008, www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBV_NuQMfgM.

For further guidance on citing government sources, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .

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  3. MLA Works Cited Lesson

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COMMENTS

  1. How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA

    The MLA Works Cited entry for an online video contains the video's creator, the title, the website or platform in italics (e.g. YouTube ), the channel or user that uploaded the video, the upload date, and the URL.

  2. MLA Works Cited: Electronic Sources (Web Publications)

    A YouTube Video. Video and audio sources need to be documented using the same basic guidelines for citing print sources in MLA style. Include as much descriptive information as necessary to help readers understand the type and nature of the source you are citing. If the author's name is the same as the uploader, only cite the author once.

  3. How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA

    Citing a YouTube Video According the official MLA Style website, you start the citation off with the title of the video in quotation marks. The name of the website, YouTube, comes next, followed by the name of the YouTube channel, also called the video uploader.

  4. How do I cite YouTube videos?

    MLA style gives authors several ways to cite YouTube videos. If you are citing a video in which the primary creator or author is clear, you can list that creator in the Author element. The following provides an example of a citation for the music video of Beyoncé's song "Pretty Hurts": Beyoncé. "Beyoncé - Pretty Hurts (Video)."

  5. How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA Format

    Here's an example of how to cite a YouTube video in MLA format: JFK Library. "Everybody Behaves Badly: The True Story Behind Ernest Hemingway's Masterpiece The Sun Also Rises." YouTube, 20 Oct. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBPPAbn2d34. MLA parenthetical and in-text citations for YouTube videos

  6. How to Cite a YouTube Video

    To cite a video from YouTube or another video sharing site, you need an in-text citation with a corresponding reference listing the uploader, the publication date, the video title, and the URL. The format varies depending on the citation style you use. The most common styles are APA, MLA, and Chicago style.

  7. Cite a Video

    Plagiarism Checker Citation Tools Knowledge Base Your references will expire in 30 days. Save your work by creating a free account. Online video Video Cite a video posted online (on YouTube, Vimeo, etc.). Use other forms to cite films, TV show episodes, video podcast episodes, and recorded speeches/lectures.

  8. How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA

    A YouTube video in MLA has a simple citation format for in-text citations. The following information appears in parentheses after the text that cites the source, in what is known as a parenthetical citation: Another form of in-text citation is the narrative citation, which incorporates the author's name into the sentence.

  9. How to Cite YouTube and Other Videos in MLA and APA

    Make your video citations "fabulous" by following a few simple tricks for citing a YouTube video in MLA or APA. Table of Contents How to Cite a Video in MLA Citing a Video in APA How to Cite a Youtube Video in MLA & APA Citing a Video in MLA and APA When it comes to citing a video in MLA or APA, style matters.

  10. How to cite a YouTube video in MLA

    Here is the basic format for a reference list entry of a YouTube video in MLA style 9th edition: Author (s) or screen name. " Video title ." YouTube, Date of publication, URL. Take a look at our works cited examples that demonstrate the MLA style guidelines in action: Examples A YouTube video where the creator's real name is not provided

  11. LibGuides: MLA Citation Style, 9th Edition: YouTube Video

    The MLA Handbook does not specify how to cite a YouTube or Vimeo video explicitly, and you will see some discrepancies online-- even among reputable citation sites. The MLA Style Center recommends starting with the title of the video since it is often hard to tell if the user who uploaded the video was responsible for its creation. Example:

  12. LibGuides: MLA 9th Edition Citation Guide: YouTube Videos

    In-text Citation Format: Use the first item in your Works Cited entry, whether it is the creator's real name or screen name. ... (Creator last name or screen name). Last Updated: Jan 26, 2024 4:00 PM. URL: https://library.csp.edu/mla.

  13. How do I cite an online video?

    For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook. Begin the entry as you would any other: consult the MLA format template. List the title of the video in the "Title of source" slot and the title of the website where you watched the video in the "Title of container" slot. Rubier, Jeremy, director.

  14. How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA: Quick Guide and Examples

    1. Mention the name or username of the creator. Use the real name of the director, editor, or compiler when available. Write it out in "LastName, FirstName" format. End with a period. If the video was uploaded by the official YouTube channel, put "YouTube" as the creator. [1] McGonigal, Jane. YouTube.

  15. LibGuides: MLA Citation Style 7th Edition: D. YouTube Video

    LibGuides MLA Citation Style 7th Edition D. YouTube Video MLA Citation Style 7th Edition: D. YouTube Video This guide will help you cite sources in MLA Citation Style 7th Edition Home Articles Websites Audiovisual Media Images & Art Other... Ask Us! MLA 8th edition YouTube Video (189-190) General Format Parenthetical Citation:

  16. How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA and APA

    An MLA citation of a YouTube video will include the following information in this order: The video's creator in the format LastName, FirstName (omit this if it's the same as the uploader in step 4), followed by a period. "The title of the video." (Note the quotes and period.) The platform—in this case, YouTube, (be sure to use italics ...

  17. How to Cite a YouTube Video

    To format a bibliography entry for a YouTube video in Chicago style, include the speaker's name(s) in the author element (if known) in inverse order (e.g., Biden, Joe.), the title of the video, the uploader's name, the streaming date, an indication of the source type (e.g., "YouTube video"), the length of the video, and the URL.

  18. MLA Works Cited: References and Formatting

    YouTube 0:00 / 5:25 The MLA works cited page appears at the end of your paper and gives full details of every source that you cited in the text. In this video, you will learn ab...

  19. MLA YouTube video citation generator & examples

    To cite YouTube in MLA, you need to know the video's creator, the title, the channel or user that uploaded the video, the upload date, and the URL. The templates and examples below are based on the MLA Handbook, 9th edition. On this page, you can learn how to cite the following: Basic YouTube videos YouTube channels Video comments

  20. How to Cite a YouTube Video

    Our MLA citation generator is simple and easy to use! Use the following structure to create an APA citation for a YouTube video: Name of the Account OR Last Name, First initial of uploader [YouTube Account Name]. (Year, Month Day it was posted). Title of the video [Video]. YouTube. URL

  21. How to Cite a YouTube Video in APA and MLA Style

    How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA . Even though MLA citations will follow a slightly different format, the information will mostly remain the same. In your citation, include the title of the video, the website you found the video on, the screen name of the uploader, the publish date, and URL: "Title of video."

  22. The Basics of MLA In-text Citations

    0:00 / 4:14 Intro The Basics of MLA In-text Citations | Scribbr 🎓 Scribbr 316K subscribers Subscribe Subscribed 819K views 3 years ago In-text citations are often included if you're writing an...

  23. How to Create an Annotated Bibliography (MLA)

    0:00 / 3:04 How to Create an Annotated Bibliography (MLA) JamesTheDLC 482 subscribers Subscribe Subscribed 188K views 4 years ago A brief explainer video going over how to create an...

  24. How do I cite one person's testimony in a congressional hearing?

    Your source for congressional testimony may be a transcript, audio recording, or video recording of all or part of a hearing. Style each source using the MLA format template.Note that, depending on your source, the person whose testimony you are citing may or may not be listed in the Author element of your entry.