As more information is introduced through the web, students and teachers should anticipate an increase in the number of online citations contained in research papers. YouTube videos are one of the content that must start to be regulated. Keep reading for specific instructions and examples on how to cite YouTube videos in MLA format.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Quotes in Text
Step 1. Type part of the title in parentheses
Follow the excerpt, paraphrase, or summary of information contained in the text with the full video title or a shortened version of the video title. Write the title in parentheses, and put punctuation outside the brackets.
Maru is a cat known for his various cuteness (“Maru Greatest Hits”)
Step 2. Enter the title in the sentence
In addition to writing the title in brackets, you can also include the full title of the video or the short title directly in the sentence when you write down the information taken from the video. Write the title in quotation marks/quotes.
As seen in “Maru Greatest Hits”, Maru is a cat who is famous for his various cuteness
Step 3. Enter the name of the video maker if possible
If you know the name of the director or someone else who created the video, write down that person's last name. YouTube usernames can be used if no real name is listed. Names can be written in parentheses or entered directly in sentences containing citation information.
- The person responsible for taking the three Cleveland women hostage has been detained along with two other suspects (Associated Press, "3 Women").
- As noted in "3 Women," the person responsible for the three Cleveland women hostage has been detained along with two other suspects (Associated Press).
- According to the Associated Press, the person responsible for holding the three Cleveland women hostage has been detained along with two other suspects ("3 Women").
- In "3 Women," the Associated Press explains that the person responsible for the three Cleveland women hostage has been detained along with two other suspects.
Method 2 of 4: Bibliography Page with Video Maker Name
Step 1. State the name or username of the video creator
Use the real names of the director, editor, or composer of the video if applicable. Write in LastName, FirstName format. If citing a video from an organization or if the original name of the video creator is not available, cite the name of the organization or the username associated with the YouTube account. Whatever name you use, follow it with a full stop.
- Associated Press.
- Tofield, Simon.
Step 2. Write the full title of the video
Write the title the same as it is written online. Don't abbreviate it; write the full title as some videos may be shortened in the same way. Type a full stop after the last word and write the title in double quotes.
- Associated Press. "3 Women, Missing for Years, Found Alive in Ohio."
- Tofield, Simon. "Screen Grab - Simon's Cat."
Step 3. Write the name of the website
In this case, the website name is simply “YouTube”. Italicize the website name and follow it with a full stop.
- Associated Press. "3 Women, Missing for Years, Found Alive in Ohio." YouTube.
- Tofield, Simon. "Screen Grab - Simon's Cat." Youtube.
Step 4. Write the name of the sponsor/publisher
Sponsor refers to the official name of the company or entity responsible for the website. In this case, the sponsor is “YouTube”. Don't write it in quotation marks or italicize it. Don't follow it with a full stop, but use a comma.
- Associated Press. "3 Women, Missing for Years, Found Alive in Ohio." YouTube. YouTube,
- Tofield, Simon. "Screen Grab - Simon's Cat." Youtube. YouTube,
Step 5. Write down the video creation date
The date the video is posted must be written in Date Month Year format. Follow with a period punctuation.
- Associated Press. "3 Women, Missing for Years, Found Alive in Ohio." YouTube. YouTube, May 6, 2013.
- Tofield, Simon. "Screen Grab - Simon's Cat." Youtube. YouTube, April 12, 2013.
Step 6. Name the publishing medium
For all YouTube videos, the medium is written as “Web”. Media, must also be followed by a period punctuation mark.
- Associated Press. "3 Women, Missing for Years, Found Alive in Ohio." YouTube. YouTube, May 6, 2013. Web.
- Tofield, Simon. "Screen Grab - Simon's Cat." Youtube. YouTube, April 12, 2013. Web.
Step 7. Enter the access date
Access date refers to the date you first visited the video to use it as the source of the citation. Write the date in the format Date Month Year. End with a period punctuation mark.
- Associated Press. "3 Women, Missing for Years, Found Alive in Ohio." YouTube. YouTube, May 6, 2013. Web. May 7, 2013.
- Tofield, Simon. "Screen Grab - Simon's Cat." Youtube. YouTube, April 12, 2013. Web. May 7, 2013.
Step 8. Type the URL, if prompted
URLs are not a standard part of the MLA citation style for online videos. Even so, many teachers still ask for URL writing. If your teacher does ask for a video URL, write the URL in angle brackets and follow the closing brackets with a period.
- Associated Press. "3 Women, Missing for Years, Found Alive in Ohio." YouTube. YouTube, May 6, 2013. Web. May 7, 2013.
- Tofield, Simon. "Screen Grab - Simon's Cat." Youtube. YouTube, April 12, 2013. Web. May 7, 2013.
Method 3 of 4: Bibliography Page Without Video Maker Name
Step 1. Write the full title of the video
If the original video is reposted by a YouTube user who is not the original video creator, and if the original creator's name is not listed, the first information written is the title of the video. Do not write the name or username of the YouTube channel that reposted the video. Write the full title in double quotes, and follow the last word of the title with a full stop.
Maru Greatest Hits V1
Step 2. Write the name of the website
For all YouTube videos, the website name is simply “YouTube”. Italicize the website and follow it with another period punctuation.
"Maru Greatest Hits V1." YouTube
Step 3. Write down the name of the sponsor
The official name of the company that owns YouTube must be included. Type “YouTube”, and follow the company name with a comma.
"Maru Greatest Hits V1." YouTube. YouTube,
Step 4. Enter the installation date
Specify the video's start date on the YouTube channel you're using to access it. Set the date in Date Month Year format and write another full stop after the year.
"Maru Greatest Hits V1." YouTube. YouTube, April 29, 2009
Step 5. Write the publishing medium
For YouTube videos, the publisher's media will always be written as “Web”. Follow the media with another period punctuation.
"Maru Greatest Hits V1." YouTube. YouTube, April 29, 2009. Web
Step 6. Type the access date
Access date is the date, month and year you first accessed the video for the purpose of citing it in your research. Write the date in Date Month Year format and end with a full stop.
"Maru Greatest Hits V1." YouTube. YouTube, April 29, 2009. Web. May 7, 2013
Step 7. Enter the URL only if prompted
Video URLs are not a standard part of the MLA format and may be considered incorrect if you enter them. Oftentimes, however, teachers specifically request that the URL of any online resource be included, in which case, you should write the URL in angle brackets and end with a punctuation last period.
"Maru Greatest Hits V1." YouTube. YouTube, April 29, 2009. Web. May 7, 2013. .
Method 4 of 4: Bibliography Page when Quoting Directly from YouTube
Step 1. Write down the creator of the video, which is "YouTube"
This applies to any video uploaded to the official YouTube channel. Write the name of the creator of the video and follow it with a period punctuation.
YouTube
Step 2. Enter the full title of the video
Be sure to include the full title of the video to reduce the chances of quoting the same or nearly the same title. Follow the title with a full stop and write it in parentheses.
YouTube. "Rewind YouTube Style 2012."
Step 3. Specify the website name
Even if “YouTube” is already written as a video creator, you still have to write it a second time as a publisher. However, note that you don't have to write it down a third time as an official company. Italicize only the website name, and follow it with another period punctuation.
YouTube. "Rewind YouTube Style 2012." YouTube
Step 4. Write down the publication date
Specify the date the video was first posted in the Date Month Year format. Follow the year with a period punctuation.
YouTube. "Rewind YouTube Style 2012." YouTube. 17 December 2012
Step 5. Write the publishing medium
The publishing medium for any YouTube video is “Web”. Type a full stop after this information.
YouTube. "Rewind YouTube Style 2012." YouTube. 17 December 2012. Web
Step 6. Enter the access date
Write down the date you first accessed or viewed the video in order to cite it as the source. Type the date in the Date Month Year format.
YouTube. "Rewind YouTube Style 2012." YouTube. 17 December 2012. Web. May 7, 2013
Step 7. Write the URL if directly asked
The official MLA guidelines don't list URLs as important information, but if your teacher asks for them, put the URL in angle brackets and follow the closing brackets with the last full stop.
YouTube. "Rewind YouTube Style 2012." YouTube. 17 December 2012. Web. May 7, 2013.
Tips
- Ask your teacher if he or she has preferences on how to cite YouTube videos. Some teachers prefer that their students enter URLs for online resources, while many other teachers don't. Moreover, since there is no official guide on how to cite YouTube videos in MLA format, this detail can be considered a bit subjective.
- Check the MLA citation guide to ensure that the information above is accurate and complete. This guide changes periodically.
