As video content becomes increasingly integral to research and learning, knowing how to properly cite a YouTube video is an essential skill. Whether you’re using APA or MLA format, citing online videos correctly gives credit where it’s due and strengthens your academic work. This guide will walk you through the process of citing YouTube videos in both APA and MLA styles, ensuring accuracy and academic integrity in your citations.
Citing YouTube Videos in APA Style
The American Psychological Association (APA) style requires a specific format for online video citations. The focus is on who uploaded the video and when it was published. Here’s the general structure:
Creator Last Name, First Initial. [Screen Name]. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video file]. YouTube. URL
It’s crucial to identify the uploader of the video. This might be an individual or an organization. Sometimes, you’ll have both a full name and a screen name. If both are available, include the full name followed by the screen name in brackets. If only a screen name is available, start your citation with that.
Citation with Full Name and Screen Name:
Creator Last Name, First Initial. [Screen Name]. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video file]. YouTube. URL
Example:
Doe, J. [janedoe]. (2016, December 19). Day in the Life [Video file]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/xxxx
Citation with Only Screen Name:
Screen Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video file]. YouTube. URL
Example:
Janedoe. (2016, December 19). Day in the Life [Video file]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/xxxx
For APA in-text citations, use the creator’s last name or screen name and the year of publication.
In-text Citation Examples (APA):
(Doe, 2016) or (Janedoe, 2016)
Citing YouTube Videos in MLA Style
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style emphasizes the video title and the platform. Here’s the basic format for MLA YouTube citations:
“Title of Video.” YouTube, uploaded by Screen Name, Day Month Year, URL.
In MLA, if the author is different from the uploader, you’ll begin with the author’s name. If the author is the same as the uploader or unknown, you start with the video title.
Citation with Different Author and Uploader (MLA):
Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Video.” YouTube, uploaded by Screen Name, Day Month Year, URL.
Example:
Beyoncé. “Sorry.” YouTube, uploaded by BeyFan123, 17 Dec. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/xxxx.
Citation with Same Author and Uploader or No Known Author (MLA):
“Title of Video.” YouTube, uploaded by Screen Name, Day Month Year, URL.
Example:
“Day in the Life.” YouTube, uploaded by janedoe, 19 Dec. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/xxxx.
MLA in-text citations generally include the first element of your Works Cited entry, which could be the author’s last name or the video title in quotation marks. When citing a specific segment of the video, include the time range.
In-text Citation Examples (MLA):
(Last name, 00:01:15-00:02:00) or (“Title of Video,” 00:01:15-00:02:00)
Example Citations: Berkeley College Video
Let’s look at an example using a video from Berkeley College on YouTube.
Example of YouTube video citation in APA and MLA formats, showing Berkeley College video citation
APA Style Example:
Works Cited:
berkeleycollege. (2019, January 16). File Your FAFSA Today! [Video file]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/HaFACQA5SFY
In-text:
(berkeleycollege, 2019)
MLA Style Example:
Works Cited:
“File Your FAFSA Today!” YouTube, uploaded by berkeleycollege, 16 Jan. 2019, https://youtu.be/HaFACQA5SFY.
In-text:
(“File your FAFSA,” 00:00:30-00:00:45)
By following these guidelines, you can confidently cite YouTube videos in both APA and MLA styles. Always ensure you have all the necessary information for your citation to maintain academic integrity and properly credit online video sources in your work. For more detailed guidance, refer to the official APA or MLA style manuals or consult your institution’s writing center.
