Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: APA style
• Method 2 of 3: MLA style
• Method 3 of 3: Chicago style

If you want to quote a video from YouTube for a paper or other assignment, make sure you know the name of the video, the name of the user, the date the video was posted, the url and the length of the video. The specific requirements for citing a YouTube video depend on the style you use for citations. Don't worry - we'll cover them all!

To step

Method 1 of 3: APA style

1. Enter the name of the maker. If the real name of the producer or compiler is available, write down the last name and the first initial. Otherwise, use the compiler's screenname. If the video was taken from an official YouTube channel, enter the author's name "YouTube." End with a period.
   • Doe, J.
   • Sephora.
   • YouTube.
2. Enter the date the video was posted. Write down the date in day-month-year format and place it between brackets. End with a period.
   • YouTube. (December 21, 2012).
3. Type the name of the video. Capitalize only the first letter of the first word. If there is a subtitle, start it with a capital letter as well.
   • YouTube. (December 21, 2012). Best YouTube search results: August - November 2012
4. State that the source is a video file. Type the words "Video file" in square brackets. Place a period after the parentheses.
   • YouTube. (December 21, 2012). Best YouTube search results: August - November 2012 [Video file].
5. Include the url of the video. Introduce the url with the words "Obtained on." Use the video specific URL, not the YouTube generic URL. Do not end with a period.
   • YouTube. (December 21, 2012). Best YouTube search results: August - November 2012 [Video file]. Obtained from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWQ3NXh5tUE

Method 2 of 3: MLA style

1. Enter the name of the maker. If the real name of the producer or compiler is available, use it. Otherwise, use the compiler's screenname. If the video was taken from an official YouTube channel, enter the author's name "YouTube." End with a period.
   • Do, John.
   • Sephora.
   • YouTube.
2. Enter the name of the video. Place the title in quotation marks and end with a period. Start each word with a capital letter (everything except articles, prepositions, etc.).
   • YouTube. "Best search results on YouTube: August - November 2012."
3. Indicate the format of the citation. Indicate that it is an "Online video clip". End with a period.
   • YouTube. "Best search results on YouTube: August - November 2012." Online video clip.
4. Indicate that the video is from YouTube. Even if the video was taken from YouTube's official channel, you will still need to indicate that the video is from YouTube. Write the name of the website in italics and follow with a comma.
   • YouTube. "Best search results on YouTube: August - November 2012." Online video clip. YouTube,
5. Write down the date the video was posted. Type the date in day-month-year format. End with a period.
   • YouTube. "Best search results on YouTube: August - November 2012." Online video clip. YouTube, December 21, 2012.
6. State that the video is from the Internet. This may seem a bit redundant, but the MLA format requires you to state whether a source is electronic or printed. Write down "Web" and end with a period.
   • YouTube. "Best search results on YouTube: August - November 2012." Online video clip. YouTube. December 21, 2012. Web.
7. Enter the date you obtained the video. Write the date as day-month-year. End with a final point.
   • YouTube. "Best search results on YouTube: August - November 2012." Online video clip. YouTube, December 21, 2012. Web. December 31, 2012.

Method 3 of 3: Chicago style

1. Include the name of the video. Capitalize each important word, enclosed in quotation marks, followed by a comma.
   • "Best search results on YouTube: August - November 2012,"
2. Indicate that the source is a YouTube video. Place the words "YouTube video" after the video title, followed by a comma.
   • "Best search results on YouTube: August - November 2012," YouTube video,
3. Specify the duration of the video. Separate the minutes and seconds with a colon and add another comma.
   • "Best search results on YouTube: August - November 2012," YouTube video, 2:13,
4. Enter the name of the source responsible for the placement. Introduce the name with the words "posted by." Type the compiler username. If you are listing a video from an official YouTube channel, please include "YouTube" as the username. Put the name in quotation marks and use capital letters in the same way as for the channel. Place a comma after this again.
   • "Sephora Features: Sophy Robson's Wild Giraffe Nail Tutorial," YouTube video, 1:16, posted by "sephora,"
   • "Best search results on YouTube: August - November 2012," YouTube video, 2:13, posted by "YouTube,"
5. Type the date the video was posted. The date should be in day-month-year format. Place a comma after the year.
   • "Best Search Results on YouTube: August - November 2012," YouTube video, 2:13, posted by "YouTube," December 21, 2012,
6. End with the url of the video. You do not have to initiate this. Just paste the exact url of the video and end with a period.
   • "Best Search Results on YouTube: August - November 2012," YouTube video, 2:13, posted by "YouTube," December 21, 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWQ3NXh5tUE.
7. Note that the above style applies to footnotes and endnotes. To list a Chicago-style YouTube video for bibliography, use the format above, but replace the commas after the video title, length, and date with periods.
   • "Best search results on YouTube: August - November 2012." YouTube video, 2:13. Posted by "YouTube," Dec 21, 2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWQ3NXh5tUE.