Mistakes Checklist
Common Chicago TikTok Video Citation Mistakes
Reference errors are common even in published research: 54% of 1,867 references in one journal's accepted articles had a mistake (Key & Roland, 1977). Use this page to catch the most frequent formatting failures before submission.
Top mistakes to avoid
- ⚠Using the creator profile URL instead of the individual video URL.
- ⚠Abbreviating the month name.
- ⚠Omitting the handle from the author entry.
- ⚠Forgetting the period at the end of the URL.
Wrong vs correct examples
Using creator profile URL instead of video URL
Wrong
NASA (@nasa). "Watch how astronauts wash their hair." TikTok, November 15, 2024. https://www.tiktok.com/@nasa.
Correct
NASA (@nasa). "Watch how astronauts wash their hair." TikTok, November 15, 2024. https://www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7305123456789012345.
Always link to the specific video, not the creator's profile. The profile URL does not identify which video you are citing.
Abbreviating month names
Wrong
NASA (@nasa). "Watch how astronauts wash their hair." TikTok, Nov. 15, 2024. https://www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7305123456789012345.
Correct
NASA (@nasa). "Watch how astronauts wash their hair." TikTok, November 15, 2024. https://www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7305123456789012345.
Chicago always uses full, unabbreviated month names. Write "November," not "Nov." — this is a key difference from MLA.
Using commas instead of periods between elements in bibliography
Wrong
NASA (@nasa), "Watch how astronauts wash their hair," TikTok, November 15, 2024, https://www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7305123456789012345.
Correct
NASA (@nasa). "Watch how astronauts wash their hair." TikTok, November 15, 2024. https://www.tiktok.com/@nasa/video/7305123456789012345.
The bibliography uses periods between major elements (author. title. platform, date. URL). Commas throughout is the footnote format, not the bibliography format.
Fix checklist
- ✓Use the video caption as the title, in quotation marks.
- ✓Write the handle in parentheses after the real name: NASA (@nasa).
- ✓Use full month names — Chicago does not abbreviate months.
- ✓Use the direct video URL, not the creator's profile page.
Frequently asked questions
Should I add a description of the video content in Chicago?
It is optional but helpful. You can add a brief descriptor in square brackets after the title (e.g., "Caption text" [video]) to clarify the medium for readers.
How do I write the Chicago footnote for a TikTok video?
Footnote: Author Name (@handle), "Video description," TikTok, Month Day, Year, URL.
Build the corrected citation now
Use the template and guide, then generate the final citation from verified academic sources.