Mistakes Checklist
Common MLA Instagram Post Citation Mistakes
Published studies report citation/reference error rates between 25-54%. Use this page to catch the most frequent formatting failures before submission.
Top mistakes to avoid
- ⚠Linking to the profile instead of the individual post.
- ⚠Not italicizing the platform name.
- ⚠Leaving out the handle alongside the real name.
- ⚠Using the year only instead of the full date.
Wrong vs correct examples
Linking to profile instead of specific post
Wrong
NASA [@nasa]. "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." *Instagram*, 15 Nov. 2024, www.instagram.com/nasa/.
Correct
NASA [@nasa]. "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." *Instagram*, 15 Nov. 2024, www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/.
Always link to the specific post permalink, not the user's profile page. The profile URL does not point to the cited content.
Not italicizing the platform name
Wrong
NASA [@nasa]. "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." Instagram, 15 Nov. 2024, www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/.
Correct
NASA [@nasa]. "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." *Instagram*, 15 Nov. 2024, www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/.
MLA treats the platform as the container. Container titles must be italicized in MLA format.
Using full month name instead of abbreviation
Wrong
NASA [@nasa]. "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." *Instagram*, 15 November 2024, www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/.
Correct
NASA [@nasa]. "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." *Instagram*, 15 Nov. 2024, www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/.
MLA abbreviates months longer than four letters. "November" becomes "Nov." with a period.
Fix checklist
- ✓Use the post's caption as the title, in quotation marks.
- ✓Italicize *Instagram* as the container title.
- ✓Link to the specific post, not the account profile.
- ✓Use day-month-year format and abbreviate months longer than four letters.
Frequently asked questions
What do I use as the title if an Instagram post has no caption?
Write a brief description of the image or video in square brackets (e.g., [Photograph of the Pillars of Creation]).
Is an Instagram post a credible source for academic work?
Instagram posts are primary sources when analyzing social media content, public statements, or visual culture. For factual claims, prefer peer-reviewed sources.
Build the corrected citation now
Use the template and guide, then generate the final citation from verified academic sources.