If you need to cite a YouTube video for an essay or research, make sure you know the video name, user name, date the video was posted, video URL, and duration. The specific items to cite for a YouTube video vary depending on the citation style you use. Here's how to quote a Youtube video in the APA, MLA and Chicago style.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Method One: APA Style
Step 1. User name
If the real name of the user or manufacturer is available, write it in the format surname, initial of the first name. Otherwise, use the username that appears on the screen. If the video was posted via an official YouTube channel, it indicates that the author's name is "YouTube". End with a period.
- Doe, J.
- Sephora.
- YouTube.
Step 2. Indicate the date the video was published
Write the date in year-month-day format and enclose it in parentheses. End with another point.
YouTube. (2012, December 21)
Step 3. Write the video title
Capitalize only the first letter of the first word and any proper names. If there is a subtitle, capitalize the first letter following the colon as well.
YouTube. (2012, December 21). Most searched on YouTube: August - November 2012
Step 4. Specify that the source is a video file
In square brackets, write the words "Video file". Put a period after the square brackets.
YouTube. (2012, December 21). Most searched on YouTube: August - November 2012 [Video files]
Step 5. Include the video URL
Enter the URL with the expression "Taken from". Use the specific URL of the video, not the general YouTube URL. Don't put a period after the URL.
YouTube. (2012, December 21). Most searched on YouTube: August - November 2012 [Video files]. Taken from
Method 2 of 3: Method Two: MLA style
Step 1. Enter the name or username of whoever posted the video
If the user indicates their real name, use it. Otherwise, use the username that appears on the screen. If you mention an official YouTube channel, specify the username as "YouTube". End with a period.
- Doe, John.
- Sephora.
- YouTube.
Step 2. Write the video title
Write the title in quotes and end with a period. Capitalize all the initials of the main words (i.e. all those words that are not articles, conjunctions or prepositions).
YouTube. "Most Searched on YouTube: August - November 2012."
Step 3. Specify the citation format
Indicates that you are citing an "Online Video". End with a period.
YouTube. "Most Searched on YouTube: August - November 2012." Online video
Step 4. Indicate that the video is from YouTube
Even if the video is taken from an official YouTube channel, you still have to indicate that the video is taken from YouTube. Write the website name in italics and end with a comma.
YouTube. "Most Searched on YouTube: August - November 2012." Online video. YouTube,
Step 5. Write the publication date
Write the date in day-month-year format. Conclude with a period.
YouTube. "Most Searched on YouTube: August - November 2012." Online video. YouTube, December 21, 2012
Step 6. Specify that the video is on the web
It may sound repetitive, but the MLA format requires that you specify whether the source is electronic or printed. Type "Web" followed by a period.
YouTube. "Most Searched on YouTube: August - November 2012." Online video. YouTube, December 21, 2012. Web
Step 7. Enter the date you accessed the video
Write the date in day-month-year format. End with one last point.
YouTube. "Most Searched on YouTube: August - November 2012." Online video. YouTube, December 21, 2012. Web. December 31, 2012
Method 3 of 3: Method Three: Chicago Style
Step 1. Write the video title
Write the title in quotes and capitalize the first letter of each main word. End with a comma.
Most Searched on YouTube: August - November 2012,
Step 2. Indicate that the source is a YouTube video
Include the phrase "vieo YouTube" after the title, followed by another comma.
"Most Searched on YouTube: August - November 2012," YouTube video,
Step 3. Specify the duration of the video
Separate the minutes from the seconds with a colon. Add another comma after the seconds.
"Most Searched on YouTube: August - November 2012," YouTube video, 2:13 pm,
Step 4. Enter the name of the user who posted the video
Enter the name with the expression "posted by." Enter the username of the publisher. If you use a video from the official YouTube channel, use "YouTube" as the username. Write the name in quotes and use capital letters the same way they are used in the channel. End with another comma.
- "Sephora Features: Sophy Robson's Wild Giraffe Nail Tutorial," YouTube video, 1:16, posted by "sephora,"
- "Most Searched on YouTube: August - November 2012," YouTube video, 2:13, posted by "YouTube,"
Step 5. Write the date the video was posted
The date goes in the month-day-year format. Put a comma after the year.
"Most Searched on YouTube: August - November 2012," YouTube video, 2:13, posted by "YouTube," December 21, 2012,
Step 6. Conclude with the video URL
There is no need to enter the URL with some expression. Simply paste the exact URL and finish with a period.
"Most Searched on YouTube: August - November 2012," YouTube video, 2:13, posted by "YouTube," December 21, 2012,
Step 7. Note that the style shown above applies to footnote and end-of-page citations
To cite a YouTube video in a Chicago-style bibliography, follow the same format, but replace the commas following the video title, duration, and date with periods.
