APA · 7th Edition
How to Cite a Tweet or X Post in APA 7th Edition
Learn how to cite tweets and X (formerly Twitter) posts in APA 7th edition format. Includes template, real example, and common mistakes.
Quick Answer
To cite a tweet or X post in APA 7th edition, use: Author, A. A. [@handle]. (Year, Month Day). Tweet text [Tweet]. X (formerly Twitter). URL. Start with the author's real name, then their handle in square brackets. Include the full date — day, month, and year. Use the first 20 words of the tweet as the title, followed by [Tweet] in square brackets to identify the format. Write "X (formerly Twitter)" as the platform name for posts made after the July 2023 rebrand. End with the permalink URL. For in-text citations, use the author name and year: (NASA, 2024). Example: NASA [@NASA]. (2024, November 15). Today marks 25 years since the launch of the first International Space Station module, Zarya [Tweet]. X (formerly Twitter). https://x.com/NASA/status/1857344100000000000. Because tweets can be deleted, consider adding a retrieval date for high-stakes academic work. CiteMe formats social media citations correctly across all major styles.
Quick answer: To cite a tweet / x post in APA (7th Edition), use this template: Author, A. A. [@handle]. (Year, Month Day). Tweet text [Tweet]. X (formerly Twitter). URL
Citation template
Full example
Reference / Bibliography
NASA [@NASA]. (2024, November 15). Today marks 25 years since the launch of the first International Space Station module, Zarya [Tweet]. X (formerly Twitter). https://x.com/NASA/status/1857344100000000000
In-text citation
(NASA, 2024)
Source breakdown
- author
- NASA [@NASA]
- title
- Today marks 25 years since the launch of the first International Space Station module, Zarya
- site
- X (formerly Twitter)
- year
- 2024, November 15
- url
- https://x.com/NASA/status/1857344100000000000
Tips
- ✓Include the author's real name first, then the handle in brackets.
- ✓Quote the full tweet text as the title.
- ✓Add "[Tweet]" in square brackets after the content.
- ✓Use "X (formerly Twitter)" as the platform name for recent citations.
Common mistakes
- ⚠Using only the handle without the real name.
- ⚠Forgetting the "[Tweet]" descriptor in brackets.
- ⚠Writing "Twitter" instead of "X (formerly Twitter)" for APA 7 citations.
- ⚠Missing the exact date (day, month, year required).
Before & after
Missing [Tweet] descriptor
Wrong
NASA [@NASA]. (2024, November 15). Today marks 25 years since the ISS launch. X (formerly Twitter). https://x.com/NASA/status/1857344100000000000
Correct
NASA [@NASA]. (2024, November 15). Today marks 25 years since the ISS launch [Tweet]. X (formerly Twitter). https://x.com/NASA/status/1857344100000000000
APA 7 requires a description in square brackets after the tweet content to identify the format (e.g., [Tweet]).
Handle-only author
Wrong
@NASA. (2024, November 15). Today marks 25 years since the ISS launch [Tweet]. X (formerly Twitter). https://x.com/NASA/status/1857344100000000000
Correct
NASA [@NASA]. (2024, November 15). Today marks 25 years since the ISS launch [Tweet]. X (formerly Twitter). https://x.com/NASA/status/1857344100000000000
Use the real name or display name first, followed by the handle in brackets. Do not use the handle alone.
Frequently asked questions
Should I write "Twitter" or "X" in APA format?
APA 7 guidance recommends "X (formerly Twitter)" to aid reader recognition. Use this form for posts made after July 2023 when the platform rebranded.
Do I need an access date for a tweet in APA?
APA requires a retrieval date only for content that may change. Because individual tweets can be deleted, consider adding "Retrieved [date]" especially for high-stakes papers.
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