How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA

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.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

In-Text Citation

  1. Image titled Cite a YouTube Video in MLA Step 1
    1
    Type a portion of the title in parentheses. Follow quoted, paraphrased, or summarized information included in the text with the video's full title or a shortened version of the title. Enclose the title in parentheses, and place any punctuation marks on the outside of the parentheses.
    • Maru is a famous cat known for a variety of antics (“Maru Greatest Hits”).
  2. Image titled Cite a YouTube Video in MLA Step 2
    2
    Introduce the title in the sentence. Instead of including the title inside parentheses, you can also introduce the video's full title or a shortened form directly in the sentence when you write out the borrowed information. Surround the title in quotation marks.
    • As seen in “Maru Greatest Hits,” Maru is a famous cat known for a variety of antics.
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  3. Image titled Cite a YouTube Video in MLA Step 3
    3
    Include the creator's name when applicable. If you know the name of the director or the person otherwise responsible for creating the content of the video, state the last name of that individual. A YouTube username can be used if no real name is provided. The name can either be included in the parentheses or introduced directly within the sentence containing the cited information.
    • 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.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Works Cited Page

  1. Image titled Cite a YouTube Video in MLA Step 4
    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.
  2. Image titled Cite a YouTube Video in MLA Step 5
    2
    State the full title of the video. Write the title exactly as it is typed online. Never abbreviate it; write the full title out since multiple videos may be abbreviated in similar ways. Type a period after the final word and enclose it all in double quotation marks. If the name or username of the creator is not available, simply begin your citation with the title.[2]
    • McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.”
    • “8 Hot Dog Gadgets put to the Test.”
  3. Image titled Cite a YouTube Video in MLA Step 6
    3
    Name the website. In this case, the name of the website is simply “YouTube.” Italicize the website name and follow it with a comma.[3]
    • McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.” YouTube,
    • “8 Hot Dog Gadgets put to the Test.” YouTube,
  4. Image titled Cite a YouTube Video in MLA Step 7
    4
    Indicate who uploaded the video. Next, write "uploaded by" and type the name of the person or company who uploaded the video. End with a comma.[4]
    • McGonigal, Jane. “Gaming and Productivity.” YouTube, uploaded by Big Think,
    • “8 Hot Dog Gadgets put to the Test.” YouTube, uploaded by Crazy Russian Hacker,
  5. Image titled Cite a YouTube Video in MLA Step 8
    5
    State when the video was created. The date that the video was posted should be written in "Day Month Year" format. Follow it with a comma.[5]
    • 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,
  6. Image titled Cite a YouTube Video in MLA Step 9
    6
    Finish with the URL. Include the complete URL to direct the reader to the video on the YouTube website. End with a period.[6]
    • 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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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Can you reference a YouTube video?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    It depends on the context, but generally speaking, yes. For instance, if you’re writing an academic essay about social media, you might use YouTube videos as primary sources. If you discuss a video or cite information from it, you will need to cite it like any other reference.
  • Question
    Do you italicize YouTube video titles?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    In MLA style, no. You would put the title of the video in quotes, but italicize the name of the website (in this case, YouTube).
  • Question
    How do you cite a YouTube channel?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    You’d provide the author’s name (if available), the title of the channel in italics, then the name of the website (YouTube) in italics. Follow with the date, a link to the channel, and a description of the source (i.e., “YouTube channel.”).
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References

  1. ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html
  2. ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html
  3. ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html
  4. ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html
  5. ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html
  6. ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html

About This Article

Cara Barker, MA
Co-authored by:
Cara Barker, MA
Research & Instruction Librarian
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 292,009 times.
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Co-authors: 13
Updated: October 25, 2022
Views: 292,009
Categories: YouTube Videos | MLA Style Manual | Citation
Article SummaryX

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!

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