MLA 9th Edition — YouTube & Video Citations

MLA YouTube Video Citation Generator

Cite YouTube videos, TED talks, and online lectures in MLA 9th edition format. Get the Works Cited entry and in-text citation ready to copy.

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How to cite a youtube video in MLA

Search for the youtube video

Paste a DOI, URL, ISBN, title, or author name to find the exact source record.

Check the MLA formatting fields

Verify author, year, title, container, and publication details before copying the final citation.

Copy the formatted result

Get the complete MLA citation plus the matching in-text citation or footnote format.

MLA YouTube Citation Format

YouTube Video:

Last Name, First Name or Channel Name. "Title of Video." YouTube, uploaded by Channel, Day Month Year, URL.

TED Talk (TED.com):

Speaker Last Name, First Name. "Title of Talk." TED, Month Year, URL.

In-Text Citation:

(Author Last Name) or (Channel Name) — e.g., (Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell)

MLA YouTube Citation Examples

YouTube Video (Channel Name as Author)

Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell. "The Immune System Explained." YouTube, 10 June 2023, youtu.be/example.

In-text: (Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell)

YouTube Video (Real Name Known)

Sproul, R. C. "What Is Reformed Theology?" YouTube, uploaded by Ligonier Ministries, 15 Mar. 2019, youtu.be/example.

In-text: (Sproul)

TED Talk (TED.com)

Brown, Brené. "The Power of Vulnerability." TED, June 2010, www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability.

In-text: (Brown)

Educational Lecture

Harvard University. "Introduction to Machine Learning." YouTube, 20 Jan. 2024, youtu.be/example.

In-text: (Harvard University)

Examples formatted in MLA style

Using Timestamps in MLA Video Citations

Citing a Specific Moment

Include the timestamp in the in-text citation after the author:

...as demonstrated (Harvard University 00:14:32)...

Format

Hours:minutes:seconds:

(Author 00:03:45)

(Author 01:23:45)

Never add timestamps to the Works Cited entry.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a YouTube video in MLA?

Format: Last Name, First Name or Channel Name. "Title of Video." *YouTube*, uploaded by Channel Name, Day Month Year, URL. Example: Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell. "The Immune System Explained." *YouTube*, 10 June 2023, youtu.be/example.

Do I use the channel name or real name in MLA YouTube citations?

Use the real name of the creator if it is available. If only the channel name is known, use it as the author. When the channel name differs from the uploader, add "uploaded by Channel Name" after the container title.

How do I cite a TED talk in MLA?

For TED.com: Speaker Last Name, First Name. "Title of Talk." *TED*, Month Year, URL. For a TED talk on YouTube: TED. "Speaker Name: Title of Talk." *YouTube*, Day Month Year, URL.

What is the in-text citation for a YouTube video in MLA?

Use the author or channel name in parentheses: (Channel Name) or (Last Name). Example: (Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell). If citing a specific moment, you may include a timestamp: (Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell 00:03:45).

How do I cite a YouTube video with no author in MLA?

Start the Works Cited entry with the video title in quotation marks. Example: "Title of Video." *YouTube*, uploaded by Channel Name, Day Month Year, URL. The in-text citation uses a shortened title: ("Title of Video").

Is this MLA YouTube citation generator free?

Yes. CiteMe lets you generate MLA YouTube video citations for free. Search for any video or enter details manually to get a formatted Works Cited entry and in-text citation instantly.