How to cite youtube videos in text

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).” YouTube, 24 Apr. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXXQLa-5n5w.

The title of the video is copied exactly as it appears on YouTube. The container is YouTube, followed by the date listed below the video and the Location element (the URL of the video).

If it’s not clear who the primary creator or author of a video is, you could omit the Author element and begin the citation with the title of the video:

“Capybara Eat Huge Pumpkin.” YouTube, uploaded by Alex Smith, 12 Jan. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YNwxZnABzA.

In this example, the video’s creator is not specified. The name of the account that uploaded the video is provided in the Contributor element, after the title of the container, YouTube. Even if it’s clear who the author or creator of a video is, you might opt to include the name of the account that uploaded the video in the Contributor element if it provides helpful information.

If you are citing an entire work uploaded to YouTube, such as a film, use what you see on YouTube to cite the work in MLA style. Here is an example citation for a film:

Moby Dick. Directed by John Huston, MGM, 1956. YouTube, 8 Jan. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1Yc8KPH-X0.

Details about the film’s original publication are found in the YouTube description below the video and so are provided in the citation. Here Moby Dick is a self-contained work, and so its title is listed as the first container. It is followed by the Contributor, Publisher, and Date elements. YouTube is the title of the second container, followed by the Date and Location elements.

For more on how to cite YouTube videos in MLA style, see our posts on citing TV episodes on YouTube and interviews on YouTube, as well as our related posts on citing online videos and formatting titles of uploaded videos,

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

Example

In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):

(Norton, 2006)

In-Text Citation (Quotation):

(Norton, 2006)

References:

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

With the advent of YouTube, Vimeo, and other great video sites, you can find short videos and how-to-videos online from a wide range of experts. This means you might need to know how to cite a video or YouTube as part of your essay. 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

 

How to cite youtube videos in text

Citing a Video in MLA and APA

When it comes to citing a video in MLA or APA, style matters. This is professional writing, after all. However, basically, each style is looking to answer the same questions.

  • Who uploaded it?
  • Where can you find it?
  • When did you access it?
  • What is it?

If you can answer these basic questions, then you’re well on your way to beautiful, professional reference MLA and APA video citations. Now, all you need is formatting.

How to Cite a Video in MLA

Since MLA is one of the most common styles used in both high schools and colleges, you often use it to cite videos. Why? Because MLA is a style that makes humanities articles easy to cite. And there are a lot of videos. This is why MLA also breaks down how to cite a video file in the works cited list.  First, the components:

  • Author, producer, director, etc.
  • Title of the video in italics or quotation marks (This will depend on if the video is considered a film or an episode per MLA style sheet.)
  • Where you found it in italics (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, etc.)
  • Who uploaded it
  • Day, month, year it was uploaded
  • URL

Since MLA can get a bit tricky, check out a couple of different examples.

Format for Citing a Video in MLA

Author. “Title of Video.” Publisher, uploaded by website, date, URL.

 

How to cite youtube videos in text

MLA Video Example With Author:

Aaron, Aaron, director. “Annotation a Short Film.” Vimeo, uploaded by bibliographymaster, 1 Dec. 2018, www.vimeo.com/channels.

Example MLA without Author:

“Annotation a Short Film.” Vimeo, uploaded by bibliographymaster, 1 Dec. 2018, www.vimeo.com/channels.

How to Cite a Video In-Text MLA

Now to look at in-text citations for videos in MLA. You never just cite your sources in the works cited! You have to give credit where credit is due in your article, too. If not, your teacher can consider it plagiarism, and no one wants that. To create an in-text citation in MLA, use the author and timestamp.

In-Text Citation MLA Video Example – Author

(Aaron)

(Aaron 01:15 – 02:00)

In-Text Citation MLA Video Example – Without Author

(“Annotation a Short Film”)

(“Annotation a Short Film” 01:32 – 02:00)

Note: Use the title for videos with no author. Only use the timestamp when making a direct quote.

 

Citing Videos in MLA for Streaming Services

Knowing how to cite a physical DVD or BluRay is important, but a lot of videos are now offered through streaming platforms, such as Netflix and Hulu. When it comes to a streaming service, your citation looks like:

Format for Citing a Video in MLA From Streaming Services

Last Name, First Name, role. Title of Video, role by Other Contributors, Date, URL.

 

Streaming Video Example MLA – Works Cited

Van Dormael, Jaco, director. Mr. Nobody, produced by Phillippe Godeau, 2009, www.netflix.com/title/70117580.

Streaming Video Example MLA – In-Text Citation

(Van Dormael)

(Van Dormael 01:11:16)

How to Cite a Video in APA

Like MLA, you might need to cite a video in APA style. However, APA is used for social science papers and gives them a nice flow, tone, and, most of all, uniformity. To create citations for your APA Reference page for online videos, you need:

  • Author name, director, screen name, etc.
  • Year, month, and day it was uploaded
  • Title of the video in italics
  • Medium in brackets [Video]
  • URL or DOI

Make APA video citations a breeze by following the basic format for a  video source APA citation:

Format for Citing a Video in APA

Author, director, username. (Year). Title of video: Subtitle [Video]. Website or Publisher. URL

 

How to cite youtube videos in text

Example Citation for Video

Movies English & Arabic. (2019). The upside [Video]. Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/T04PnAOuEWs

How to Cite a Video In-Text in APA

In addition to citing the APA video on your reference list, include a citation in the text to show your audience where the information came from.

APA Format – In-Text Quotation for Video

(Screen name, year, time of quoted material within the video)

 

Example – APA In-Text Quotation for Video

(Movies English & Arabic, 2019, 12:01)

APA Format – In-Text Paraphrase

(Screen name, year)

 

Example APA – In-Text Paraphrase

(Movies English & Arabic, 2019)

Note: For streaming videos in APA, you follow the format for citing a movie.

 

How to Cite a Youtube Video

Since YouTube is the most common video website out there, you’ll find that you might end up citing this nine times out of ten. So, it makes sense to look at specific YouTube examples in each different style. Remember, in APA style, you do not put a period after the URL, but you do include one in MLA.

Citing a Youtube Video in MLA Examples

When creating your MLA paper, you might find yourself needing to cite some Youtube videos. These come up enough that the MLA style guide gives specific examples. Check out these Youtube examples in MLA format.

How to cite youtube videos in text

Citing a Youtube Video MLA With Author

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

Citing a Youtube Video MLA Example Without Author

“Slip Slip Knit (SSK).”YouTube, uploaded by TheKnitWitch, 14 Feb. 2007, www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGwcYW3GG3M.

How to Cite a Youtube Video APA Example

MLA isn’t the only style to discuss how to cite a Youtube video. APA breaks down the format for citing a YouTube video in their APA 7 format.

How to cite youtube videos in text

APA YouTube Example Author – Reference 

Apsolon, M. (2011, September 9). The haunting tape 14 (ghost caught on video) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nyGCbxD848

APA YouTube Example Screenname – Reference 

TheKnitWitch. (2007, February 14). Slip slip knit [Video]. YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGwcYW3GG3M

The Art of  Citing a Video

Videos can be a fun way to spice up your paper. Whether you are using a video from YouTube, Vimeo, or any other website, make sure to get your citation and formatting right the first time. And if your teacher calls for a different format, be sure to follow that. 

Related Articles:

MLA Works Cited Films, Movies, and TV Shows

APA vs MLA Citation Page

FAQ How to Cite YouTube and Other Videos in MLA and APA

Can you cite a YouTube video?

Yes, you can cite a YouTube video in APA and MLA format. To cite a video in MLA or APA, you need to include the author, date, title of the video, where you found the video, and URL. The order that you include this information in varies based on the style you use.

How do you in

To cite a YouTube video in APA Style, you include the person or organization that uploaded it, their channel name (if different from their real name), the upload date, the video title (italicized), “Video” in square brackets, the name of the site, and a link to the video.

Can you cite a YouTube video in an essay?

Yes, you can cite a YouTube video in APA and MLA format. To cite a video in MLA or APA, you need to include the author, date, title of the video, where you found the video, and URL.

How do you in

The general format for citing online videos in MLA style is as follows: "Title of video." YouTube, uploaded by Screen Name, day month year, www.youtube.com/xxxxx. If the author of the video is not the same as the person who uploaded the video, your citation would be formatted as follows: Author last name, First Name.

How do you cite a YouTube video example?

Citing a YouTube Video “Title of Video.” YouTube, uploaded by Name of YouTube Account, Day Month Year, URL.