Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Mentions in the text
• Method 2 of 4: List of works cited with the name of the creator
• Method 3 of 4: List of works cited without the creator's name
• Method 4 of 4: List of works cited where YouTube is directly cited
• Tips

As more and more information is offered via the Web, students and teachers can expect an increase in the number of online citations included in scientific publications. YouTube videos are one of the content to learn how to use. Keep reading for specific instructions and examples of how to list a YouTube video in MLA format.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Mentions in the text

1. Place part of the title in parentheses. Place after quoted, paraphrased, or summarized information included in the text, through the full or an abbreviated version of the video title. Place the title in parentheses and punctuation marks on the outside of the parentheses.
   • Maru is a famous cat, known for his weird antics ("Maru Greatest Hits").
2. Place the title in the sentence. Instead of putting the title in parentheses, you can also put the full title of the video, or a shorthand former of, directly in the sentence, when you unsubscribe the borrowed information. Place quotation marks around the title.
   • As seen in "Maru Greatest Hits", Maru is a famous cat, known for his weird antics.
3. Also, if possible, mention the name of the maker. If you know the name of the director or someone else responsible for creating the video content, please include that person's last name. A YouTube username can be used if no real name is provided. The name can either be included in parentheses or placed directly in the sentence where the quoted data is.
   • The man responsible for detaining the three Cleveland women has been arrested, along with two other suspects (Associated Press, "3 Women").
   • As noted in "3 Women," the man responsible for detaining the three Cleveland women has been arrested along with two other suspects (Associated Press).
   • According to the Associated Press, the man responsible for detaining the three Cleveland women has been arrested along with two other suspects ("3 Women").
   • In "3 Women," the Associated Press explains that the man responsible for detaining the three Cleveland women has been arrested along with two other suspects.

Method 2 of 4: List of works cited with the name of the creator

1. Include the name or username of the creator. Use the real name of the director, editor, or compiler, if available. Write this down in the order Surname first name. If it's a reference to video from an organization, or if the creator's real name is unknown, please include the organization name or username associated with that YouTube account. Regardless of what name you use, end it with a period.
   • Associated Press.
   • Tofield, Simon.
2. Include the full title of the video. Write the title exactly as it was typed online. Never abbreviate it. Write the full title as multiple videos can be similarly truncated. Place a period after the last word and enclose it all in double quotes.
   • Associated Press. "3 Women, Missing for Years, Found Alive in Ohio."
   • Tofield, Simon. Screen Grab - Simon's Cat.
3. State the name of the website. In this case, the website name is simply "YouTube". Write the name of the website in italics and end with a period.
   • Associated Press. "3 Women, Missing for Years, Found Alive in Ohio." YouTube.
   • Tofield, Simon. Screen Grab - Simon's Cat. Youtube.
4. State the client / publisher. The sponsor refers to the official legal name of the corporation or entity responsible for the website. In this case, it is "YouTube." Do not enclose this in quotation marks or put it in italics. Use a comma instead of a period at the end.
   • Associated Press. "3 Women, Missing for Years, Found Alive in Ohio." YouTube. YouTube,
   • Tofield, Simon. Screen Grab - Simon's Cat. Youtube. YouTube,
5. State when the video was created. The date on which the video was posted must be listed in the order Day month Year. End with a period.
   • Associated Press. "3 Women, Missing for Years, Found Alive in Ohio." YouTube. YouTube, 6 May 2013.
   • Tofield, Simon. Screen Grab - Simon's Cat. Youtube. YouTube, April 12, 2013.
6. Indicate the publication medium. For all YouTube videos, the medium should be displayed as "Web." This should also be followed by a period.
   • Associated Press. "3 Women, Missing for Years, Found Alive in Ohio." YouTube. YouTube, May 6, 2013. Web.
   • Tofield, Simon. Screen Grab - Simon's Cat. Youtube. YouTube, April 12, 2013. Web.
7. Indicate the date of consultation. The date of consultation refers to the first time you visited that video for the purpose of using it as a source for a citation. Please state the date in the order Day month Year. End with a period.
   • Associated Press. "3 Women, Missing for Years, Found Alive in Ohio." YouTube. YouTube, May 6, 2013. Web. May 7, 2013.
   • Tofield, Simon. Screen Grab - Simon's Cat. Youtube. YouTube, April 12, 2013. Web. May 7, 2013.
8. Please include the URL if requested. The URL is not a standard part of the MLA citation style for online videos. Nevertheless, this is still required by many teachers. If your teacher does require a URL, enclose it with greater / less than parentheses and follow the last parenthesis with a period.
   • Associated Press. "3 Women, Missing for Years, Found Alive in Ohio." YouTube. YouTube, May 6, 2013. Web. 7 May 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9ZXoHnzbcA>.
   • Tofield, Simon. Screen Grab - Simon's Cat. Youtube. YouTube, April 12, 2013. Web. 7 May 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpHpm_b0vRY>.

Method 3 of 4: List of works cited without the creator's name

1. Write down the full title of the video. If video material is reposted to YouTube by a user who is not the original creator of the video, and if the creator name is not listed, the first item is the title of the video. Do not include the name or username of the YouTube channel responsible for reposting the video. Enclose the entire title in double quotation marks and end the last word with a period.
   • "Maru Greatest Hits V1."
2. State the name of the website. For all YouTube videos, the website name simply becomes "YouTube." Write the word in italics and end with a period.
   • "Maru Greatest Hits V1." YouTube.
3. Include the name of the sponsor. The official, legal name of the company that owns YouTube should also be provided. Type “YouTube,” followed by a comma.
   • "Maru Greatest Hits V1." YouTube. YouTube,
4. Include the date of posting the video. Specify the original date the video was posted to the YouTube channel where you viewed it. Please state the date in the order Day month Year and ends with a period after Year.
   • "Maru Greatest Hits V1." YouTube. YouTube, April 29, 2009.
5. Indicate the publication medium. For all YouTube videos, the medium should be displayed as "Web." This must also be followed by a period.
   • "Maru Greatest Hits V1." YouTube. YouTube, April 29, 2009. Web.
   1. Indicate the date of consultation. The date of consultation refers to the first time you visited that video for the purpose of citing it in your research. Please state the date in the order Day month Year. End with a period.
   • "Maru Greatest Hits V1." YouTube. YouTube, April 29, 2009. Web. May 7, 2013.
6. Provide the URL everything if required. The URL is not a standard part of the MLA style and can be judged incorrect if you mention it. Nonetheless, listing the URL of each online resource is specifically required by many educators, in which case you should enclose the URL in greater / less than parentheses, then end with a period.
   • "Maru Greatest Hits V1." YouTube. YouTube, April 29, 2009. Web. 7 May 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uDuls5TyNE>.

Method 4 of 4: List of works cited where YouTube is directly cited

1. List as creator "YouTube."This applies to any video uploaded to the official YouTube channel. Unsubscribe the name and end with a period.
   • YouTube.
2. Include the full title of the video. Make sure to include the full title in the quote to minimize the chance of quoting a duplicate or similar title. Follow the title with a period and put parentheses around it.
   • YouTube. "Rewind YouTube Style 2012."
3. Specify the name of the website. Although “YouTube” has been mentioned as the creator of the video once before, you will also have to mention it again as the publisher. Note, however, that you don't have to list it a third time as an official organization. Only mention the name of the website here in italics, and end with a period.
   • YouTube. "Rewind YouTube Style 2012." YouTube.
4. Indicate the publication date. Please include the date the video was first updated in the sequence Day month Year. End Year with a period.
   • YouTube. "Rewind YouTube Style 2012." YouTube. 17 Dec. 2012.
5. Indicate the publication medium. The publishing medium for any YouTube video will be "Web." Type a period after this information.
   • YouTube. "Rewind YouTube Style 2012." YouTube. 17 Dec. 2012. Web.
6. Indicate the date of consultation. Write down the day when you first accessed the video with the intention of using it as a source. Type this in the order Day month Year.
   • YouTube. "Rewind YouTube Style 2012." YouTube. 17 Dec. 2012. Web. May 7, 2013.
7. Write down the URL if specifically requested. The official MLA guidelines do not consider the URL as essential information, but if your teacher asks for it, enclose the URL in greater / less than parentheses and close it with a final dot.
   • YouTube. "Rewind YouTube Style 2012." YouTube. 17 Dec. 2012. Web. 7 May 2013. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCkYw3cRwLo>

Tips

• Ask your teacher if he / she has a preference for the way YouTube videos are cited. Some teachers prefer students to provide the URL of online resources, but many do not. In addition, this data can be considered somewhat subjective, as there is no official set of guidelines regarding the listing of YouTube videos in MLA format.
• Please refer to the guidelines for an MLA citation to verify that the above information is accurate and complete. These guidelines are subject to change.