How to Cite a YouTube Video in APA

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While doing research for a paper, you may find relevant YouTube videos that yous want to cite. You may already know how to cite a website in APA, but it can be difficult to know how to cite YouTube in APA manner. You may besides want to cite quotes inside the video, user comments, or entire YouTube accounts.

The guidelines of this page encompass APA 7th edition and specifies what you need to know to cite any various YouTube video content in APA style. For like but different media, like citing a picture in APA or a tv show,  you'll demand to visit some other guide.

Guide Overview

Hither's a run-through of everything this page includes:

  • Footstep-by-stride instructions for a YouTube video commendation in APA mode
  • Bones YouTube video citation structure
  • Video with creator'due south real name and screen mame
  • Video without uploader'due south real proper noun OR video by an organization
  • Citing a YouTube aqueduct
  • Citing a straight quote from a video
  • Citing a annotate on a YouTube video
  • Citing a TED talk found on YouTube
  • A notation on APA 7th edition
  • Citing a YouTube video in APA
  • What you lot need
  • Troubleshooting
  • References

Stride-by-step instructions for a YouTube video commendation in APA mode

  1. List the existent concluding name of the video'south uploader, capitalizing the first letter. Place a comma later on the last proper noun and then list the first initial of their commencement name, followed by a menstruum. If you discover their middle initial, list it after the first initial and menstruum, also followed by a flow. If the creator's name is unavailable, skip this footstep and begin your citation with the adjacent pace.
  2. Next, using brackets, list the screen name of the video'southward uploader every bit it is spelled on the page. Identify a period after the closing bracket.
  3. And so, in parentheses, put the full numerical year followed by a comma, the full written calendar month starting with a capital letter and followed by a comma, and the numerical twenty-four hours that the video was posted. Close the parentheses and follow with a period.
  4. Put the title of the video in Italics and in sentence case (simply capitalizing the start letter and proper nouns). Do not place a flow afterwards the championship.
  5. Later on the championship, put the word Video (for the source format), capitalized, in normal font, and in brackets. Place a flow subsequently the closing bracket.
  6. Put the word YouTube (for the website source name) as it is spelled here, followed past a period.
  7. List the full URL for the web folio containing the YouTube video you lot are citing. Do not follow with a period.

Notation that in your citation, you must indent whatsoever lines after the beginning line. APA-style in-text citations for quoting and paraphrasing are the aforementioned for YouTube videos.

Bones YouTube video commendation structure

Reference Folio
Structure

Uploader Terminal Name, Starting time Initial. Eye Initial. [Screen name]. (Year, Month Day). Championship of the video [Video]. Proper name of website. URL
In-text commendation
Structure

(Uploader Concluding Name OR Screen proper name, Year)

Video with creator's existent name and screen proper noun

Reference Page
Case

Bissett, A. [Ariel Bissett]. (2016, May 28). Some thoughts on the catcher in the rye [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/scout?5=GRj4R0hgi8w
In-text commendation
Example

(Bissett, 2016)

Video without uploader'due south real name OR video by an organization

If only the screen name is bachelor, you put the screen proper name first in the citation and omit the "[Screen name]" part of the citation.

Reference Page
Example

Chegg. (2018, Nov 15). How to cite quotes to avoid plagiarism [Video]. YouTube. https://world wide web.youtube.com/watch?5=N4gmmme8HjQ

View Screenshot

In-text commendation
Example

(Chegg, 2018)

View Screenshot

Citing a YouTube channel

At present that you know how to cite YouTube in APA style, you lot may need more specific information on citing channels, quotes, or comments.

Instead of citing ane particular YouTube video, y'all may want to cite an entire YouTube channel. While the format is similar to citing a YouTube video, at that place are a few key differences y'all can see in the format guidelines below.

  • You will e'er use "n.d." for "no date" because YouTube channels are undated.
  • The word "Domicile" is included considering every YouTube channel's page name is "Home" past default.
    • If you are instead citing another tab of the account (Videos, Playlists, Channels, Give-and-take, Virtually), put the correct tab name instead of the give-and-take "Abode."
  • Utilise the words "YouTube Channel" instead of the name of any specific videos since yous're citing a whole channel (not merely ane video).
Reference Folio
Structure & Example

YouTube Aqueduct Uploader'southward Last Proper name, First Initial OR Screen proper name. (n.d.) Habitation [YouTube Channel]. URL of YouTube channel

The Guardian. (due north.d.) Abode [YouTube Channel]. https://www.youtube.com/guardian
In-text citation
Construction &

Example

(YouTube Aqueduct Uploader's Last Proper name OR Screen proper noun, n.d.)

(The Guardian, n.d.)

Citing a straight quote from a video

You may want to include a straight quote from a YouTube video within your newspaper. While your reference folio commendation for the quote volition exist the aforementioned as a citation for the whole video, your in-text commendation volition need a timestamp to assist readers easily admission the quote (Publication Manual, p. 274). It is commonly accepted to but include a timestamp for the beginning of the quote, simply you may utilise a timestamp range if you think it would be helpful.

Reference Page
Structure

Uploader'due south Last Name, Kickoff Initial. Centre Initial. [Screen name]. (Year, Month Day). Title of the video [Video]. Name of website. URL
In-text citation
Structure

(Author/Creator Last Proper name OR screen name, Year, Timestamp 0:00)

While researching your topic, yous may find that yous want to include a comment left on a YouTube video. You will demand to cite the comment itself rather than the YouTube video. The format for citing a YouTube comment is similar to citing a YouTube video with a few central differences.

Reference Page
Structure & Example

Commentor's Last Name, Beginning Initial. OR Commenter's Username. (Year, Month Day). Title of comment OR up to the first 20 words of the comment [Comment on the video "Title of video"]. YouTube. URL of YouTube video

Blanco, B. (2021, November 21). My favorite Jackson… in the unabridged Galaxy! 💕 [Annotate on video "Essentials for indoor cat happiness"].YouTube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaVttlOqcX4
In-text citation
Structure &

Instance

(Commentor's Last Name OR Username, Year)

(Blanco, 2021)

Citing a TED talk found on YouTube

TED Talks are often great sources of data, and they can exist constitute on both the TED website and on YouTube. When citing a TED Talk found on YouTube, list TED as the author for the in-text citation and the reference folio.

Reference Page
Structure

TED (2011, January 3). The ability of vulnerability [Video]. YouTube. https://world wide web.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o
In-text citation
Structure

(TED, 2011)

A notation on APA 7th edition

The 7th edition of the APA Manual came out in 2020, replacing the 6th edition that came out in 2009. In that location are a few changes in the newest manual that apply when you demand to cite YouTube video APA style.

Notable 7th edition changes include:

  • Omission of "Retrieved from" before URLs
  • Addition of the website name
  • Uses "Video" instead of "Video file."
  • In-text commendation format is the same,

APA sixth Edition Reference Folio Format:

Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. [Screen proper name]. (Year, Month Twenty-four hour period). Title of the video [Video file]. Retrieved from URL

APA 7th Edition Reference Page Format:

Uploader Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. [Screen proper name]. (Yr, Calendar month Mean solar day). Title of the video [Video]. Name of website. URL

In-text Commendation Format (sixth AND seventh Edition):

(Author/Creator Last Proper name OR Screen proper name, Twelvemonth)

Citing a YouTube video in APA

What you need

To cite YouTube videos in APA style, you lot volition need certain information. If bachelor, find the following to include in your commendation:

  • Name of the individual(south) or group who uploaded the video. If information technology's an individual, use their existent name.
  • Video uploader'southward screen proper noun
  • Date attached to the video (including year, calendar month, date)
  • Championship of the video
  • URL of the video'southward webpage

If whatsoever of the higher up information is not bachelor on the same folio every bit the YouTube video, you may need to practice a footling more research to find it. For case, to notice the real proper noun of the video's uploader, y'all can click on the screen name to view the creator'southward business relationship where yous might find their real name in the bio.

If any of the information is non available, even after doing additional research, just leave information technology out of the commendation, simply include the residue of the information post-obit the gild of the bones format below.

Who is the writer?

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Clan(2020, p. 344) clarifies that the uploader of the video is used as the "author" of the video, even if they are not the creator of it.

Further information on citing in APA can be establish in the Publication Transmission of the American Psychological Association in Section ten.12.

Troubleshooting

Solution #1: How to cite a video when the uploader'due south real name cannot be found

In APA

When you want to cite a video from YouTube, Vimeo, or any other video-hosting sites, but cannot notice the uploader's real name, use their username in place of their bodily name in your APA works-cited commendation.

If using a username in place of a typical name, go on the same format and case of the username every bit information technology is discovered online, and omit the bracketed "username" role of your APA citation in your bibliography.

Use the username in place of the author'south name for your in-text citation.

Example in-text citation:

(videogamedunkey, 2021)

Example reference:

videogamedunkey. (2021, September 21). Originality in video games [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/spotter?v=AOQzTtsr3AQ

References

American Psychological Clan (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/ten/1037/0000165-000

Published July 21, 2014. Updated Apr 16, 2020.

Written and edited by Michele Kirschenbaum and Elise Barbeau. Michele Kirschenbaum is a schoolhouse library media specialist and the in-house librarian at EasyBib.com. Elise Barbeau is the Citation Specialist at Chegg. She has worked in digital marketing, libraries, and publishing.

APA Formatting Guide

What is the proper style to cite a YouTube video in APA?

To cite a YouTube video, yous need to have the proper name of the uploader or the screen name, the total date the video was uploaded, the title of the video, and the URL (compatible resource locator). If whatsoever of these details are not bachelor, you can skip it and add together just the available data. The templates for in-text citations and reference listing entries of a YouTube video along with examples are given below.

In-text citation templates and examples:

Narrative:

Video uploader'southward proper noun or Screen name (publication year)

Seburn (2020)

Parenthetical:

(Video uploader's name or Screen name, publication yr)

(Seburn, 2020)

Note that calendar month and day are not mentioned in in-text citations.

Reference list entry template and example:

Video uploader'south Surname F. Thou. [Screen name]. (Publication Year, Month 24-hour interval). Video title [Video]. YouTube. URL

Seburn, C. [Smart Screen]. (2020, May 20). Welcome to the smart educatee! (Introductory video) [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.exist/wz9kb_cQ57Y

If you want to include the screen name, include information technology in foursquare brackets after the uploader's name. Set the championship of the video in italics and sentence case. The word "Video" follows the championship in square brackets. Apply the give-and-take "YouTube" before the URL.

How do I cite a moving-picture show, TV prove, or streaming video in APA style?

Motion-picture show

To cite a movie in APA style, information technology is important that you know basic information such as the proper name of the director, the date, the title of the movie, and the name of the product company.

In-text citation template and example:

Narrative:

Director Surname (Year)

Coppola (1972)

Parenthetical:

(Manager Surname, Year)

(Coppola, 1972)

Reference list entry template and example:

Managing director's Surname, F. Yard. (Director). (Year). Title of the pic [Film]. Product Company.

Coppola, F. F. (Managing director). (1972). The godfather [Film]. Alfran Productions.

Tv set serial

To cite a TV serial in APA style, information technology is of import that you know bones information such equally the name of the executive producer, the date, the title of the Tv set series, and the proper name of the production company.

In-text citation template and instance:

Narrative:

Executive Producer Surname(southward) (Year/south)

Crane and Kauffman (1994–2004)

Parenthetical:

(Executive Producer Surnames, Year/s)

(Crane & Kauffman, 1994–2004)

Reference listing entry template and example:

Executive Producer's Surname, F. M. (Executive Producers). (Yr). Championship of the Boob tube show [TV serial]. Production Visitor.

Crane, D., & Kauffman, G. (Executive Producers). (1994–2004). Friends [TV series]. Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions.

Streaming video

To cite a streaming video in APA style, it is important that you know bones information such as the name of the person or group who uploaded the video (or their username), the yr, calendar month, and day the video was uploaded, the title of the video, the streaming service, and the URL.

In-text citation template and example:

Narrative:

Video uploader's surname or username (Twelvemonth)

Stanford (2010)

Parenthetical:

(Video uploader's surname or username, Year)

(Stanford, 2010)

Reference listing entry template and example:

Video uploader's Surname F. M. [Username]. (Publication Twelvemonth, Month 24-hour interval). Video title. [Video]. YouTube. URL

Stanford. [Smart Screen]. (2010, March 29). Introduction to homo behavioral biology. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/sentry?v=NNnIGh9g6fA

If you desire to include the username with the uploader'south full proper noun, include it in square brackets after the uploader's name. Set up the title of the video in italics and sentence case. The word "[Video]" follows the title. Use the streaming service'south title, "YouTube," before the URL.