Cite YouTube in MLA, APA & Chicago_
Academic papers need precise citations — including the exact moment a source said something. This guide shows the correct format for each style, and how the timestamped segments from Y/T_TRANSCRIPT make quoting specific seconds easy.
MLA (9th edition)
Format: Uploader. "Title of Video." YouTube, uploaded by Channel, Day Month Year, URL.
Example: TED-Ed. "How to make your writing funnier." YouTube, uploaded by TED-Ed, 4 May 2016, youtube.com/watch?v=ZUwutmQTFCY.
In-text with timestamp: (TED-Ed 02:15).
APA (7th edition)
Format: Uploader. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL
Example: TED-Ed. (2016, May 4). How to make your writing funnier [Video]. YouTube. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZUwutmQTFCY
In-text with timestamp: (TED-Ed, 2016, 2:15).
Chicago (17th edition)
Notes-Bibliography format: Uploader, "Title of Video," YouTube video, length, Month Day, Year, URL.
Example: TED-Ed, "How to make your writing funnier," YouTube video, 4:32, May 4, 2016, https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZUwutmQTFCY.
Quoting a specific moment
Both MLA and APA accept a timestamp in place of a page number. Paste the video URL into the transcript tool, find the segment, and copy the exact MM:SS mark — no scrubbing required.
- Open Y/T_TRANSCRIPT and paste the video URL.
- Find the quote in the timestamped transcript.
- Copy the timestamp shown next to the segment.
- Paste into your citation, e.g.
(Author 04:12).
Common mistakes
- Using the channel's display name instead of the uploader handle.
- Omitting the upload date — APA and Chicago require it.
- Linking to a shortened
youtu.beURL. Use the fullyoutube.com/watch?v=form. - Quoting a paraphrase without the timestamp — always cite the exact moment.