Chicago YouTube Video Citation Generator
Cite YouTube videos, TED talks, and online lectures in Chicago 17th edition (Notes-Bibliography) format. Get the footnote and bibliography entry ready to copy.
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Chicago YouTube Citation Format
Footnote (YouTube Video):
Bibliography (YouTube Video):
TED Talk (TED.com):
In-Text Citation:
Chicago YouTube Citation Examples
YouTube Video (Known Author)
Footnote:
Bibliography:
In-text: ¹
YouTube Video (Channel Name as Author)
Footnote:
Bibliography:
In-text: ²
TED Talk (TED.com)
Footnote:
Bibliography:
In-text: ³
Educational Lecture
Footnote:
Bibliography:
In-text: ⁴
Citing Timestamps in Chicago Video Citations
Citing a Specific Moment
Include the timestamp in the footnote only:
...as demonstrated.³ [Footnote: Harvard University, "Introduction to Machine Learning," YouTube video, at 14:32, January 20, 2024, URL.]Shortened Subsequent Notes
After the first full footnote, use a shortened form:
Never add timestamps to the bibliography entry.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cite a YouTube video in Chicago style?
Chicago style (Notes-Bibliography) uses two formats. The footnote uses first name first with commas: Footnote: First Name Last Name, "Title of Video," YouTube video, duration, Month Day, Year, URL. Bibliography: Last Name, First Name. "Title of Video." YouTube video, duration. Month Day, Year. URL. In-text, use a superscript number (e.g., ¹) that corresponds to the footnote.
Do I need the video length in a Chicago YouTube citation?
Including the duration is recommended when it is available (e.g., "YouTube video, 12:34"). It helps readers identify the source. If the duration is not readily available, you may omit it — the citation is still valid without it.
How do I cite a TED talk in Chicago style?
For a TED talk on TED.com: Footnote: First Name Last Name, "Title of Talk," TED video, duration, Month Year, URL. Bibliography: Last Name, First Name. "Title of Talk." TED video, duration. Month Year. URL. For a TED talk uploaded to YouTube, use the standard YouTube format with the YouTube URL.
What goes in the footnote vs. the bibliography for a video?
The footnote uses first name first and separates elements with commas: First Name Last Name, "Title," YouTube video, duration, Month Day, Year, URL. The bibliography uses last name first and separates elements with periods: Last Name, First Name. "Title." YouTube video, duration. Month Day, Year. URL. After the first full footnote, subsequent references use a shortened form: Last Name, "Shortened Title."
How do I cite a YouTube video with no author in Chicago style?
If no individual or organizational author can be identified, begin the citation with the video title: Footnote: "Title of Video," YouTube video, duration, Month Day, Year, URL. Bibliography: "Title of Video." YouTube video, duration. Month Day, Year. URL. If a channel name is available, use it as the author.
Is this Chicago YouTube citation generator free?
Yes — CiteMe lets you generate Chicago-style YouTube video citations for free. Search for any video and get the correctly formatted footnote, bibliography entry, and superscript in-text marker instantly.
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