MLA · 9th Edition
How to Cite a Tweet or X Post in MLA 9th Edition
Learn how to cite tweets and X (formerly Twitter) posts in MLA 9th edition format. Includes template, real example, and common mistakes.
Quick Answer
To cite a tweet or X post in MLA 9th edition, use: Author [@handle]. "Tweet text." X (formerly Twitter), Day Month Year, URL. Put the full tweet text in quotation marks — this serves as the title of the work. Italicize the platform name, X (formerly Twitter), since MLA treats it as the container. Use the day-month-year date format with abbreviated months. The in-text citation uses only the author name, without a page number: (NASA). When sorting alphabetically in the Works Cited, ignore the @ symbol in the handle. Example: NASA [@NASA]. "Today marks 25 years since the launch of the first International Space Station module, Zarya." X (formerly Twitter), 15 Nov. 2024, https://x.com/NASA/status/1857344100000000000. Note that MLA italicizes the platform name while APA does not — this is a common mix-up between the two styles. CiteMe applies the correct formatting conventions for each citation style so you avoid these cross-style mistakes.
Quick answer: To cite a tweet / x post in MLA (9th Edition), use this template: Author [@handle]. "Tweet text." X (formerly Twitter), Day Month Year, URL.
Citation template
Full example
Reference / Bibliography
NASA [@NASA]. "Today marks 25 years since the launch of the first International Space Station module, Zarya." X (formerly Twitter), 15 Nov. 2024, https://x.com/NASA/status/1857344100000000000.
In-text citation
(NASA)
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
- 15 Nov. 2024
- url
- https://x.com/NASA/status/1857344100000000000
Tips
- ✓Put the tweet text in quotation marks.
- ✓Italicize the platform name (X (formerly Twitter)).
- ✓Use day-month-year format and abbreviate months.
- ✓The in-text citation uses only the author name in MLA.
Common mistakes
- ⚠Italicizing the tweet text instead of the platform name.
- ⚠Using year-only date instead of full day-month-year.
- ⚠Omitting the handle after the real name.
- ⚠Including the @ symbol when sorting alphabetically — ignore it.
Before & after
Italicizing tweet text instead of platform name
Wrong
NASA [@NASA]. Today marks 25 years since the launch of the ISS. X (formerly Twitter), 15 Nov. 2024, https://x.com/NASA/status/1857344100000000000.
Correct
NASA [@NASA]. "Today marks 25 years since the launch of the ISS." X (formerly Twitter), 15 Nov. 2024, https://x.com/NASA/status/1857344100000000000.
The tweet text is the title and goes in quotation marks. The platform name is the container and should be italicized.
Using year-only date instead of full date
Wrong
NASA [@NASA]. "Today marks 25 years since the launch of the ISS." X (formerly Twitter), 2024, https://x.com/NASA/status/1857344100000000000.
Correct
NASA [@NASA]. "Today marks 25 years since the launch of the ISS." X (formerly Twitter), 15 Nov. 2024, https://x.com/NASA/status/1857344100000000000.
MLA requires the full date (day-month-year) for social media posts. Using only the year omits essential information for locating the source.
Omitting the handle after the author name
Wrong
NASA. "Today marks 25 years since the launch of the ISS." X (formerly Twitter), 15 Nov. 2024, https://x.com/NASA/status/1857344100000000000.
Correct
NASA [@NASA]. "Today marks 25 years since the launch of the ISS." X (formerly Twitter), 15 Nov. 2024, https://x.com/NASA/status/1857344100000000000.
MLA requires the handle in square brackets after the author name to help readers find the account on the platform.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create a Works Cited entry for a tweet in MLA?
Format: Author [@handle]. "Tweet text." Platform, Day Month Year, URL. Treat the tweet text as the title of the work, in quotation marks.
Should I include the full URL or just the domain?
MLA 9 prefers the permalink URL. If very long, you may use a shortened version, but the full URL leaves no ambiguity. Always test that the link works.
Related resources
Other MLA guides
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