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How to Cite a YouTube Video in APA

While doing research for a paper, you may find relevant YouTube videos that you want to cite. You may already know how to cite a website in APA , but it can be difficult to know how to cite YouTube in APA style. You may also want to cite quotes within the video, user comments, or entire YouTube accounts.

The guidelines of this page cover APA 7th edition and specifies what you need to know to cite any various YouTube video content in APA style. For similar but different media, like citing a movie in APA or a tv show,  you’ll need to visit another guide.

Guide Overview

Here’s a run-through of everything this page includes:

Step-by-step instructions for a YouTube video citation in APA style

Basic youtube video citation structure.

• Video with creator’s real name and screen mame

Video without uploader’s real name OR video by an organization

Citing a youtube channel, citing a direct quote from a video, citing a comment on a youtube video, citing a ted talk found on youtube, a note on apa 7th edition, citing a youtube video in apa, what you need, troubleshooting.

• List the real last name of the video’s uploader, capitalizing the first letter. Place a comma after the last name and then list the first initial of their first name, followed by a period. If you find their middle initial, list it after the first initial and period, also followed by a period. If the creator’s name is unavailable, skip this step and begin your citation with the next step.
• Next, using brackets, list the screen name of the video’s uploader as it is spelled on the page. Place a period after the closing bracket.
• Then, in parentheses, put the full numerical year followed by a comma, the full written month starting with a capital letter and followed by a comma, and the numerical day that the video was posted. Close the parentheses and follow with a period.
• Put the title of the video in Italics and in sentence case (only capitalizing the first letter and proper nouns). Do not place a period after the title.
• After the title, put the word Video (for the source format), capitalized, in normal font, and in brackets. Place a period after the closing bracket.
• Put the word YouTube (for the website source name) as it is spelled here, followed by a period.
• List the full URL for the web page containing the YouTube video you are citing. Do not follow with a period.

Note that in your citation, you must indent any lines after the first line. APA-style in-text citations for quoting and paraphrasing are the same for YouTube videos.

Video with creator’s real name and screen name

If only the screen name is available, you put the screen name first in the citation and omit the “[Screen name]” part of the citation.

View Screenshot

Now that you know how to cite YouTube in APA style, you may need more specific information on citing channels, quotes, or comments.

Instead of citing one particular YouTube video, you may want to cite an entire YouTube channel. While the format is similar to citing a YouTube video, there are a few key differences you can see in the format guidelines below.

• You will always use “n.d.” for “no date” because YouTube channels are undated.
• If you are instead citing another tab of the account (Videos, Playlists, Channels, Discussion, About), put the correct tab name instead of the word “Home.”
• Use the words “YouTube Channel” instead of the name of any specific videos since you’re citing a whole channel (not just one video).

You may want to include a direct quote from a YouTube video within your paper. While your reference page citation for the quote will be the same as a citation for the whole video, your in-text citation will need a timestamp to help readers easily access the quote ( Publication Manual , p. 274). It is commonly accepted to only include a timestamp for the beginning of the quote, but you may use a timestamp range if you think it would be helpful.

While researching your topic, you may find that you want to include a comment left on a YouTube video. You will need to cite the comment itself rather than the YouTube video. The format for citing a YouTube comment is similar to citing a YouTube video with a few key differences.

TED Talks are often great sources of information, and they can be found on both the TED website and on YouTube. When citing a TED Talk found on YouTube, list TED as the author for the in-text citation and the reference page.

The 7th edition of the APA Manual came out in 2020, replacing the 6th edition that came out in 2009. There are a few changes in the newest manual that apply when you need to cite YouTube video APA style.

Notable 7th edition changes include:

• Omission of “Retrieved from” before URLs
• Addition of the website name
• Uses “Video” instead of “Video file.”
• In-text citation format is the same,

APA 6th Edition Reference Page Format:

Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. [Screen name]. (Year, Month Day). Title of the video [Video file]. Retrieved from URL

APA 7th Edition Reference Page Format:

Uploader Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. [Screen name]. (Year, Month Day). Title of the video [Video]. Name of website. URL

In-text Citation Format (6th AND 7th Edition): 

(Author/Creator Last Name OR Screen name, Year)

To cite YouTube videos in APA style, you will need certain information. If available, find the following to include in your citation:

• Name of the individual(s) or group who uploaded the video. If it’s an individual, use their real name.
• Video uploader’s screen name
• Date attached to the video (including year, month, date)
• Title of the video
• URL of the video’s webpage

If any of the above information is not available on the same page as the YouTube video, you may need to do a little more research to find it. For example, to find the real name of the video’s uploader, you can click on the screen name to view the creator’s account where you might find their real name in the bio.

If any of the information is not available, even after doing additional research, simply leave it out of the citation, but include the rest of the information following the order of the basic format below.

Who is the author?

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association  (2020, p. 344) clarifies that the uploader of the video is used as the “author” of the video, even if they are not the creator of it.

Further information on citing in APA can be found in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association in Section 10.12.

Solution #1: How to cite a video when the uploader’s real name cannot be found

When you want to cite a video from YouTube, Vimeo, or any other video-hosting sites, but cannot find the uploader’s real name, use their username in place of their actual name in your APA works-cited citation.

If using a username in place of a typical name, keep the same format and case of the username as it is discovered online, and omit the bracketed “username” part of your APA citation in your bibliography.

Use the username in place of the author’s name for your in-text citation.

Example in-text citation:

(videogamedunkey, 2021)

Example reference:

videogamedunkey. (2021, September 21). Originality in video games [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOQzTtsr3AQ

American Psychological Association (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10/1037/0000165-000

Published July 21, 2014. Updated April 16, 2020.

Written and edited by Michele Kirschenbaum and Elise Barbeau.  Michele Kirschenbaum is a school library media specialist and the in-house librarian at EasyBib.com. Elise Barbeau is the Citation Specialist at Chegg. She has worked in digital marketing, libraries, and publishing.

APA Formatting Guide

APA Formatting

• Annotated Bibliography
• Block Quotes
• et al Usage
• In-text Citations
• Multiple Authors
• Paraphrasing
• Page Numbers
• Parenthetical Citations
• Reference Page
• Sample Paper
• APA 7 Updates
• View APA Guide

Citation Examples

• Book Chapter
• Journal Article
• Magazine Article
• Newspaper Article
• Website (no author)
• View all APA Examples

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To cite a YouTube video, you need to have the name of the uploader or the screen name, the full date the video was uploaded, the title of the video, and the URL (uniform resource locator). If any of these details are not available, you can skip it and add only the available information. The templates for in-text citations and reference list entries of a YouTube video along with examples are given below.

In-text citation templates and examples:

Video uploader’s name or Screen name (publication year)

Seburn (2020)

Parenthetical:

(Video uploader’s name or Screen name, publication year)

(Seburn, 2020)

Note that month and day are not mentioned in in-text citations.

Reference list entry template and example:

Video uploader’s Surname F. M. [Screen name]. (Publication Year, Month Day). Video title  [Video]. YouTube. URL

Seburn, C. [Smart Screen]. (2020, May 20). Welcome to the smart student! (Introductory video)  [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/wz9kb_cQ57Y

If you want to include the screen name, include it in square brackets after the uploader’s name. Set the title of the video in italics and sentence case. The word “Video” follows the title in square brackets. Use the word “YouTube” before the URL.

To cite a movie in APA style , it is important that you know basic information such as the name of the director, the date, the title of the movie, and the name of the production company.

In-text citation template and example:

Director Surname (Year)

Coppola (1972)

(Director Surname, Year)

(Coppola, 1972)

Director’s Surname, F. M. (Director). (Year). Title of the movie [Film]. Production Company.

Coppola, F. F. (Director). (1972). The godfather [Film]. Alfran Productions.

To cite a TV series in APA style, it is important that you know basic information such as the name of the executive producer, the date, the title of the TV series, and the name of the production company.

Executive Producer Surname(s) (Year/s)

Crane and Kauffman (1994–2004)

(Executive Producer Surnames, Year/s)

(Crane & Kauffman, 1994–2004)

Executive Producer’s Surname, F. M. (Executive Producers). (Year). Title of the TV show [TV series]. Production Company.

Crane, D., & Kauffman, M. (Executive Producers). (1994–2004). Friends [TV series]. Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions.

Streaming video

To cite a streaming video in APA style, it is important that you know basic information such as the name of the person or group who uploaded the video (or their username), the year, month, and day the video was uploaded, the title of the video, the streaming service, and the URL.

Video uploader’s surname or username (Year)

Stanford (2010)

(Video uploader’s surname or username, Year)

(Stanford, 2010)

Video uploader’s Surname F. M. [Username]. (Publication Year, Month Day). Video title . [Video]. YouTube. URL

Stanford. [Smart Screen]. (2010, March 29). Introduction to human behavioral biology . [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNnIGh9g6fA

If you want to include the username with the uploader’s full name, include it in square brackets after the uploader’s name. Set the title of the video in italics and sentence case. The word “[Video]” follows the title. Use the streaming service’s title, “YouTube,” before the URL.

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It is possible to cite an entire YouTube channel. The general format is below. To cite a YouTube video see the FAQ:  How do I cite a YouTube video in APA style?

Citation Example

General format.

YouTube username. (date). Title [YouTube Channel]. YouTube. Retrieved date, from URL

For Example

shapirolibrary. (n.d.). Home [YouTube Channel]. YouTube. Retrieved January 14, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/user/shapirolibrary/

Corresponding In-Text Citation

shapirolibrary (n.d.)

(shapirolibrary, n.d.)

More information

• APA guide  (Shapiro Library)
• APA Blog  (APA)

Further Help

This information is intended to be a guideline, not expert advice. Please be sure to speak to your professor about the appropriate way to cite sources in your class assignments and projects.

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To access Academic Support, visit your Brightspace course and select “Tutoring and Mentoring” from the Academic Support pulldown menu.

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American Psychological Association. (2020).  Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7 th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

Content authored by: GS

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How to Cite a YouTube Video

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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 Style – With Examples

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On This Page:

To cite a YouTube video using the APA Referencing Style, you will need to find the person or organization that uploaded it, the channel name, date of upload, video title, website name (in this case, YouTube), and, lastly, the video link.

See below for our step-by-step guide using a real-life example.

Where To Find Citation Information 

Firstly when writing your citation, you need to know where to find all the information needed. 

You only need to look at three locations: 

• For the video and YouTube channel name, look directly under the video
• For the upload date, look in the description bar of the video
• For the video link, look in the URL bar above the video

Step-by-step Guide

We will now guide you step-by-step on how to cite a YouTube video In APA style.

Let us assume that you would like to cite this video:

As mentioned, you will need the following information in this order:

• Channel name 
• Date of upload
• Title of the video (italicized)
• The word “Video” in brackets
• Name of the site (in these cases, that would be “YouTube”)

Putting it all together in a formula, the structure of your reference should look like this:

Channel Name. (Year, Month (spelled out), Day (using numbers) of upload). Title of video [Video]. Title of website. Video URL

Taking our example, the finished reference would then be:

American Psychological Association. (2022, March 16th). Why psychopathy is more common than you think, with Abigail Marsh, PhD [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCgGfMZ3_t0

How To Write In-Text Citations

We will now look at how to write in-text citations for YouTube videos. 

Similarly to how you would write an in-text citation for a research article or book chapter, you simply take the “author” name (in our case, this would be the “Channel name”), followed by a comma and the year of upload.

The formula structure looks like this:

Parenthetical citations: (Channel name, Year of upload) 

Narrative citations: Channel name (Year of upload)

Based on our example, the in-text citation would then be:

Parenthetical citations: (American Psychological Association, 2022) 

Narrative citations: American Psychological Association (2022)

What is important to remember is that for in-text citations in APA style, only the publication year is required, and we omit any other date information, such as day and month.

How To Include A Video Reference To The Reference Page

The last factor to consider when referencing a YouTube video is how to structure it in your “Reference Page.” 

You will be happy to learn that your reference’s source format (e.g., article, video, blog post, etc.) has no effect on your reference page, and you can simply follow the same general APA rules set out.

Those would be:

• Adding your references in alphabetical order by the author’s last name (in our case, channel name) 
• Ensuring that your list and references are double spaced
• Ensuring that every reference begins on a new line
• Adding a hanging indent for every new reference

How To Cite A YouTube Channel 

Let us assume that instead of an individual video, you would like to reference an entire YouTube Channel. Using our example, this is how you would cite the “American Psychological Association” channel.

The formula structure should look like this:

Channel Name. (n.d.). Home [YouTube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved Month Date, Year, from URL of YouTube Channel

*n.d stands for no date.

** “Home” stands for the YouTube Home tab, where most channels are found by default. To cite other tabs, such as ” “Playlists,” follow the same formula structure and simply replace the tab placement with your chosen one. Kindly note that this is also italicized. 

Based on our example, the reference would be:

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Home [YouTube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved November 15, 2022 from https://www.youtube.com/@TheAPAVideo

Similarly, the in-text citation would be:

Parenthetical citations: (American Psychological Association, n.d.)

Narrative citations: American Psychological Association (n.d.)

* To find more citation information regarding the APA style, you can navigate to the official APA website: https://apastyle.apa.org/

Frequently asked questions

Should videos be used as references.

In academic writing, it is recommended that primary sources such as peer-reviewed papers, books, and book chapters should make up the majority of your references. This is to ensure the information you have included has been written and reviewed by field experts. 

However, that being said, you can certainly cite secondary sources such as videos, online articles, and documentaries if they help provide important context and information to the point you are trying to make. Simply try to ensure that these are kept to a minimum where possible.

What types of videos are relevant to reference? 

When referencing a video, it is important to ensure its relevance to demonstrate that you have critically considered and carefully selected your sources. 

Videos that fall into this category can include but are not limited to: documentaries, biographies, docu-series, videos from channels of official bodies, e.g., the APA channel, video essays, critical perspectives, etc. Carefully consider the source’s credibility and how the video’s points assist your writing’s narrative or argumentation.

How is a direct quote from a video referenced?

If you would like to reference a direct quote from a video, then simply follow our YouTube video citation formula with the addition of a timestamp of when the quote begins next to the date.

Kindly note that time stamps are only needed for your in-text citations. You can omit them from the reference placed in your reference list.

Using our example, the in-text citation would look like this:

Parenthetical citations: (American Psychological Association, 2022, 2:44)

Narrative citations: American Psychological Association (2022, 2:44)

If you would like to cite multiple quotes from the same video, you can include timestamp ranges in your in-text citation separated by an en dash (-) . 

For example:

Parenthetical citations: (American Psychological Association, 2022, 2:44:3:16-17:45:19:00)

Narrative citations: American Psychological Association (2022, 2:44:3:16-17:45:19:00)

What Is APA Format?

The American Psychological Association (APA) formatting is a writing and referencing style dating back to 1929.

Developed by psychologists and other scholars, they set to standardize scientific writing by establishing a set of guidelines to be unanimously used across the discipline.

Thus, the APA style was born and has been adopted ever since by many fields, such as the behavioral and social sciences (Almeida, 2012).

This formatting style promotes concise, consistent, and persuasive writing. Special emphasis is given to the author’s ethical compliance and a reduction of prejudiced and biased descriptive language.

Frequent revisions are conducted to update the style, with the most current one (accessed when this article was published) being the 7th edition (American Psychological Association, 2020). Hence, the guidance provided in this article is based on the 7th edition APA manual.

Almeida, P. (2012, July 10). THE ORIGINS OF APA STYLE (AND WHY THERE ARE SO MANY RULES). Journal of European Psychology Students. https://blog.efpsa.org/2012/07/10/the-origins-of-apa-style-and-why-there-are-so-many-rules/

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

• Reference List

How to Cite YouTube Videos in APA

Hannah berry (ph.d.).

• Published on 12/15/2023
• Updated on 01/13/2024

This article navigates the intricacies of citing YouTube videos, presenting examples and step by step instructions for referencing both individual videos and entire channels in the APA format .

• YouTube Video Citation: Include uploader’s real name and channel, clarify content creation, italicize video title, and note upload date and URL.
• Citing Entire Channels: For complete channels, use uploader details, n.d. for creation date, specify the channel tab, and include [YouTube channel] in square brackets.
• Retrieval Date Inclusion: Add a retrieval date for entire channels to account for potential content changes over time.

Generate free citations using our APA citation tool for APA books , APA webpage citations , and APA journal references . Use the MLA citation generator to create accurate citations for MLA books , MLA webpage citations , and cite MLA journals . Simplify the citation process with our comprehensive tools for APA, MLA format and Harvard styles .

HOW TO CITE YOUTUBE VIDEO

When citing YouTube videos, accuracy is paramount. Include the uploader’s account as the author, specifying both the real name and channel name if different, along with the upload date, italicized video title , and the video’s URL.

Here is a more detailed explanation of each component of the citation:

• Contributor: The individual(s) who uploaded the video is considered the author. If the uploader has a known real name, include both the real name and the channel name in square brackets.
• Publication Date: Specify the date the video was uploaded in the format (Year, Month Day).
• Title of Video: Italicize the title of the video, capitalizing the first letter of the first  word and any subtitles (for videos only).
• Description: Include [Video] in square brackets after the title.
• Source: Indicate YouTube after the source description.
• URL: Provide the URL of the video.

SINGLE AUTHOR  

Group or organization , how to cite youtube channel.

When citing an entire YouTube channel, include the uploader’s account as the author, specifying both the real name and channel name if different, use no date (n.d.) for the creation date. It’s important to note the title element uses the Home tab by default. If your citation content is found in another tab, such as Travel Vids or Music, it is advisable to use the name of that specific tab. Include [YouTube channel] in square brackets after the italicized channel title, and provide a retrieval date.

• Publication Date: Use no date (n.d.) for the creation date.
• Title of Channel Tab: Uses Home tab by default or another tab title in italics.
• Description: Include [YouTube channel] in square brackets after the title.
• Source: Indicate YouTube after the channel description.
• Retrieval Date: The date the channel was accessed, as channel content may change over time.
• URL: Provide the from URL of the channel.

SINGLE AUTHOR 

In-text citation for youtube video.

In addition to crafting accurate references for YouTube videos and channels, APA in-text citations are crucial for seamlessly integrating sourced information. 

Here are examples for parenthetical and narrative in-text citations when citing YouTube videos.

PARENTHETICAL IN-TEXT CITATION

In-text citation for a video by the uploader Tailor, R .Y.: 

In-text citation for a channel by the Explorer Group:

NARRATIVE IN-TEXT CITATION

In-text citation for a video by the uploader Nature World: 

In-text citation for a channel by the Baker, L.:

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Hannah Berry has lectured at several colleges and teaches at the WEA. Besides publishing extensively, she has taught citation skills and written multiple style guides.

Learn how to cite in APA

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APA (7th ed.) referencing guide (Online): YouTube/online videos

• Paraphrasing
• Direct quotes
• Secondary Referencing
• More than one work cited
• Author with two or more works cited in the same year
• Personal Communication
• In-text citations
• Reference list
• Referencing Tools
• Books with one author
• Books with two authors
• Books with three or more authors
• Edited book
• Chapter in an edited book
• Anthologies and Collected Works
• Critical Editions
• Multivolume work
• Religious and classical Works
• Thesis / Dissertation
• Translation
• Work within an Anthology
• Conference Paper
• Journal article with one author
• Journal article with two authors
• Journal articles with three or more authors
• Journal article with no identified author/anonymous author
• Newspaper articles
• Magazine articles
• Book review in a journal or newspaper
• Act of Parliament
• Law report (case law)
• Business Reports
• Statistics & Datasets
• Government reports
• YouTube/online videos
• Episode of a TV Show
• Radio Broadcast

Below you will find guidance and examples of how to set out a reference to a YouTube video or channel in the body of your work and in the reference list at the end.

In text citations: YouTube video

Fogarty (2020) and Harvard University (2019) state that... OR ...(Fogarty, 2020; Harvard University, 2019).

In text citations: YouTube channel

APA Publishing Training (n.d.) and Walker (n.d.) claim that... OR ...(APA Publishing Training, n.d.; Walker, n.d.).

Reference list: YouTube video

Name of Account. [Screen name]. (Year, Month Day).  Title  [Video]. YouTube. URL 

Fogarty, M. [Grammar Girl]. (2020, March 10).  ‘Pandemic’ vs. ‘epidemic’—What's the difference?  [Video]. YouTube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsbgF3OhlJw 

Harvard University. (2019, August 28).  Soft robotic gripper for jellyfish  [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guRoWTYfxMs 

Use the name of the account that uploaded the video as the author. 

If both an author’s username and real name are known, such as for some individual and group social media authors, provide the real name of the individual or group, followed by the username in square brackets. 

Reference list: YouTube channel

Person or Group who uploaded video. (n.d.).  Title.  [YouTube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL 

APA Publishing Training. (n.d.).  Home  [YouTube channel]. Retrieved February 20, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/user/PsycINFO/ 

Walker, A. (n.d.).  Playlists  [YouTube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved October 8, 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/user/DjWalkzz/playlists 

YouTube channel pages begin on the “Home” tab by default. If you want to cite one of the other tabs (e.g., “Videos,” “Playlists”), use the name of that tab rather than “Home” in the title element of the reference (as in the Walker example). 

Provide a retrieval date because the content is designed to change over time and is not archived. 

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How to cite a YouTube video in APA

To cite a YouTube video, channel, or comment according to the APA 7th Edition citation style guide , you need the following information:

• Name, username, or account that posted the content
• Title of the video
• URL of the video
• Length or duration of the video
• Title of the website (YouTube)
• Date the video was posted

Where to find citation information for a YouTube video

The information you need for your in-text citation and bibliography is easy to locate on YouTube, as shown in the image below.

Once you have this information, you also need to think about what you want to reference. Are you trying to cite a YouTube Channel, a YouTube Comment, or a YouTube video? Follow our guide for each of the different scenarios:

How to Cite a YouTube Video in APA

To cite a YouTube video in APA Style, you must add the following in order:

• The Name of the person or the account that uploaded it (only if the name of the author is not available)
• The date on which the video was uploaded
• The title of the video (italicized)
• “[Video]” in square brackets
• The name of the website (YouTube)
• Finally, the URL of the video

For example, if you want to cite the following YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DlrqeWrczs

The reference would look like this:

The in-text citation would look like this: (Standford Graduate School of Business, 2014)

How to Cite a YouTube Channel in APA

To cite a YouTube channel in APA Style, you must add the following in order:

• The name of the YouTube channel
• To cite a specific tab (e.g., “Videos,” “Playlists”, “Community”, “Store”), use the name of that tab otherwise use “Home” (italicized)
• “[YouTube Channel]” in square brackets
• The date of retrieval
• Finally, the URL of the channel

For example, if you want to cite the following YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/mit/playlists

The in-text citation would look like this: (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, n.d.)

How to Cite a YouTube Comment in APA

To cite a YouTube comment in APA Style, you must add the following in order:

• The name of the commentator (Last name, First initial) or his/her username
• The date on which the comment was made
• The title of the comment or the first 20 words (italicized)
• “[Comment on the video “Title of the video]” in square brackets

For example, if you want to cite a comment on the following YouTube video: https://youtu.be/eLelgy5zRv4

The in-text citation would look like this: (Sharma, 2021)

Citing a YouTube Video

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• Select style:
• Archive material
• Chapter of an edited book
• Conference proceedings
• Dictionary entry
• Dissertation
• DVD, video, or film
• E-book or PDF
• Edited book
• Encyclopedia article
• Government publication
• Music or recording
• Online image or video
• Presentation
• Press release
• Religious text

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.

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Reference List: Audiovisual Media

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Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Note:  This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. There is no equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style (i.e., this page was written from scratch), but the old resource for electronic sources, which covers similar ground,  can be found here .

The term "audiovisual media" refers to media that contain both audio components, visual components, or a combination of both. In general, the citation style for audiovisual media varies depending on whether the piece stands alone or is part of a larger work. The following examples provide sample references for some of the most common audiovisual sources. Please note: the following contains a list of the most commonly cited audiovisual sources. For a complete list of how to cite audiovisual sources, please refer to the 7 th edition of the APA Publication Manual.

Film or Video

Director, D. D. (Director). (Date of publication).  Title of motion picture  [Film]. Production company.

Loyd, P. (Director). (2008). Mamma mia! [Film]. Universal Pictures. 

Film or Video in Another Language 

Director, D. D. (Director). (Date of publication).  Title of motion picture in original language [Translated title]   [Film]. Production company.

Del Toro, G. (Director). (2006). El laberinto del fauno [Pan’s labyrinth] [Film]. Warner Bros. Pictures.

Executive Producer, P. P. (Executive Producer). (Date range of release). Title of series [TV series]. Production company(s).

Sherman-Palladino, A., Palladino, D. (Executive Producers). (2017-present). The marvelous Mrs. Maisel  [TV series] . Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions; Picrow, Amazon Studios.

TV Series Episode

Writer, W. W. (Writer), & Director, D. D. (Director). (Original air date). Title of episode (Season number, Episode number) [Tv series episode]. In P. Executive Producer (Executive Producer),  Series title . Production company(s). 

Korsh, A. (Writer & Director). (2019, September 25). One last con (Season 9, Episode 10) [TV series episode]. In D. Liman & D. Bartis (Executive Producers), Suits . Untitled Korsh Company; Universal Content Productions; Open 4 Business Productions. 

YouTube Video

Person or group who uploaded video. (Date of publication). Title of video [Video]. Website host. URL 

Tasty. (2018, March 7). 7 recipes you can make in 5 minutes [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_5wHw6l11o

Music Album

Recording artist. (Year of release). Title of album [Album]. Record label.

The National. (2019). I am easy to find [Album]. 4AD.

Note: if you are referencing a re-recorded version of a classical work, list that album title in brackets following the name of the album.

Single Song or Track

Recording artist. (Year of release). Title of song [Song]. On Title of album [Album]. Record label. 

Dacus, L. (2018). Night shift [Song]. On Historian [Album]. Matador Records.

Note: if the song is a piece of classical music, you can list the composer instead of the recording artist.

Note: if the song does not have an associated album, simply omit the section with the album.

Executive Producer, E. P. (Executive Producer). (Range of publication). Title of podcast [Audio podcast]. Production company. URL

Bae, P. (Executive Producer). (2017-present). The big loop [Audio podcast]. QRX. https://www.thebiglooppodcast.com/

Note: in place of the executive producer, you can also list the host of the podcast.

Note: if you did not access the podcast via an online source (e.g., if, you used a podcast app), omit the URL.

Single Podcast Episode

Executive Producer, E. P. (Executive Producer). (Date of publication). Title of podcast episode (Episode number) [Audio podcast episode]. In Title of podcast . Production company. URL

Koenig, S. (Host). (2014, October 3). The alibi (No. 1) [Audio podcast episode]. In Serial . WBEZ Chicago. https://serialpodcast.org/

Note: if you did not access the podcast via an online source (e.g., if you used a podcast app), omit the URL.

Artwork in a Museum or on a Museum Website

Artist, A. (Year of release). Title of artwork [medium]. Name of museum, City, State, Country. URL of museum

Hopper, E. (1942). Nighthawks [Painting]. Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States. https://www.artic.edu/artworks/111628/nighthawks

Note: if the artwork is available via a museum website, cite that website at the end of the citation. If there is no associated website, simply omit the URL.

Note: if the artwork does not have a title, briefly describe the work and put that description in square brackets.

Photograph (not associated with a museum)

Photographer, P. (Year of publication). Title of photograph [Photograph]. Source. URL

Ryan, S. (2019). Sea smoke on Lake Michigan [Photograph]. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/world/year-in-pictures.html

Note: if the photograph does not have a title, describe the photograph and put that description in square brackets.

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How to cite a YouTube video in APA – Methods & Examples

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In the digital age, sources of information have expanded beyond traditional books and journals to encompass a wider range of mediums, including online platforms like YouTube. In academic writing , you can use videos on YouTube for research and reference. Whenever you use such videos as sources, you will have to cite them appropriately. This guide will cover the APA YouTube video citation format in detail, including APA examples to help you understand how to apply this citation style effectively.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 How to cite a YouTube video in APA – In a nutshell
• 2 Definition: How to cite a YouTube video in APA
• 3 APA YouTube Video Citation information
• 4 APA YouTube Video Citation: Authors and channel names
• 5 APA YouTube video In-text Citations
• 6 APA YouTube video Citation: A whole Channel

How to cite a YouTube video in APA – In a nutshell

• You can use videos as references in academic papers, and you will have to use the APA YouTube video citation format for these references.
• All the citation information needed will be indicated at the bottom of the video.
• It is also possible to use the APA YouTube video citation format to make a reference to an entire YouTube channel.

Definition: How to cite a YouTube video in APA

In an APA YouTube video citation, you have to include the name of the institution that uploaded the video, the name of the channel, the date when the video was uploaded, the title of the video in italics , the word ‘Video’, the name of the video hosting website, and a link to the video.

APA YouTube Video Citation information

All the information for an APA YouTube video citation will be located at the bottom of the video.

APA YouTube Video Citation: Authors and channel names

The author of the video is simply the uploader and not the person who created the video. If the uploader’s name is known and is different from the channel name, you will have to include both names in the citation. In this case, the uploader’s name will be written in the standard format, while the channel name will appear exactly as it is on YouTube. You also have to use square brackets for the channel name.

If the name of the author isn’t known, the APA YouTube video citation should only include the channel name, and you will not need to use brackets.

If the author uses their real name as the channel name, you will only need to write this name once.

CrashCourse. (2015, July 9). Intro to Economics: Crash Course Econ #1 [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/3ez10ADR_gM

Mike, L. (2019, May 5). Ten Principles of Economics [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/3ez10ADR_gM

APA YouTube video In-text Citations

If the uploader’s name and channel name are different, you will have to include the name that appears first in the full citation. Here are two examples to illustrate this form of APA YouTube video citation:

• (CrashCourse, 2015)
• (Mike, 2019)

You may also want to make a reference to a specific section of the video. In this case, you will have to include a timestamp in the video citation.

(CrashCourse, 2015, 2.20)

If the person who uploaded the video is different from the quoted individual, you should mention this fact in a statement.

Economist Richard Coffin explains the different causes of economic recessions (TED, 2019, 4.39).

APA YouTube video Citation: A whole Channel

If you are discussing the general contents of a website, you may need to cite an entire YouTube channel. With this form of APA YouTube video citation, you will have to replace the year with “n.d.” You also have to type “YouTube Channel” instead of “Video” . The retrieval date must also be included.

In these examples, we have been citing the homepage of the YouTube channel. If you want to cite the videos or playlist tabs, you can change the word ‘Home’ to match the tab you are interested in.

Mike, L [CrashCourse]. (n.d.). Playlist [YouTube channel]. YouTube. Retrieved October 29, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/c/crashcourse

How to shorten the URL of a YouTube video?

You can shorten the URL of a YouTube video by clicking the share button below the video. The website will then display a shortened YouTube URL of the video.

What should I do if the author’s name is spelled incorrectly?

APA YouTube video citation rules state that students should type the author’s name exactly as it appears on the video, even if it is misspelled.

Can I use videos as references in academic papers?

Yes, you can use videos as references, but it is necessary to check the guidelines offered by your instructor.

Can you cite video podcasts in APA format?

Yes, you can use the APA YouTube video citation format to make references to podcasts. You just need to replace the word ‘Video’ with ‘Podcast’.

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APA Format & Citation Style, 7th edition

Youtube video.

• General Style Guidelines
• One Author or Editor
• Two Authors or Editors
• Three or More Authors or Editors
• Article or Chapter in an Edited Book
• Article in a Reference Book
• Edition other than the First
• Translation
• Government Publication
• Journal Article with One Author
• Journal Article with 2 Authors
• Journal Article with 3 or More Authors
• Magazine Article
• Newspaper Article
• Basic Web Page
• Web page from a University site
• Web Page with No Author
• Entry in a Reference Work
• Government Document
• Film and Television
• Audio Podcast
• Electronic Image
• Lecture/PPT
• Conferences
• Secondary Sources
• Formatting Your Paper
• APA Handouts & Guides This link opens in a new window

General Format

In-Text Citation (Paraphrase): 

(Author Surname OR Screen name, Year)

In-Text Citation (Quotation):

References:

Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. OR Author screen name. (Year, Month Day {of video post}). Title of video [Video]. Title of website. URL of specific video

In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):

(Norton, 2006)

Norton, R. (2006, November 4). How to train a cat to operate a light switch [Video file]. YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vja83KLQXZs

• << Previous: Film and Television
• Next: Audio Podcast >>
• Last Updated: May 10, 2024 3:48 PM
• URL: https://libguides.uwf.edu/apa7

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

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.

APA Citation Style, 7th edition: Youtube Video

• General Style Guidelines
• One Author or Editor
• Two Authors or Editors
• Three to Five Authors or Editors
• Article or Chapter in an Edited Book
• Article in a Reference Book
• Edition other than the First
• Translation
• Government Publication
• Journal Article with 1 Author
• Journal Article with 2 Authors
• Journal Article with 3–20 Authors
• Journal Article 21 or more Authors
• Magazine Article
• Newspaper Article
• Basic Web Page
• Web page from a University site
• Web Page with No Author
• Entry in a Reference Work
• Government Document
• Film and Television

Youtube Video

• Audio Podcast
• Electronic Image
• Twitter/Instagram
• Lecture/PPT
• Conferences
• Secondary Sources
• Citation Support
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Formatting Your Paper

General Format

In-Text Citation (Paraphrase): 

(Author Surname OR Screen name, Year)

In-Text Citation (Quotation):

References:

Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. OR Author screen name. (Year, Month Day {of video post}). Title of video [Video]. Title of website. URL of specific video

In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):

(Norton, 2006)

Norton, R. (2006, November 4). How to train a cat to operate a light switch [Video file]. YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vja83KLQXZs

Subject Guide

• << Previous: Film and Television
• Next: Audio Podcast >>

• Last Updated: Feb 6, 2024 11:45 AM
• URL: https://guides.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/APA

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