How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA 9th Edition Format

How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA 9th Edition Format

This guide explains how to cite a YouTube video in MLA 9th Edition, who uses this format, and exactly how to build both in-text citations and Works Cited entries. If you need a quick citation, try Rephrasely’s free citation generator at Rephrasely Citation Generator.

Introduction — What this format is and who uses it

MLA (Modern Language Association) 9th Edition is a citation style commonly used in the humanities, especially in literature, languages, and cultural studies. It standardizes how you credit sources, including digital media like YouTube videos.

Students, researchers, and instructors who require MLA will use this format for essays, research papers, and class projects. This article focuses on how to cite a YouTube video MLA 9th Edition and also reviews general MLA rules for other source types.

General Rules — Key formatting rules

• Use a Works Cited list (not Bibliography) titled Works Cited or Works Cited List at the end of your paper.
• Use the author’s name when available. For YouTube, the author may be a person’s real name or a username/channel name.
• Place titles of videos in quotation marks and container titles (like YouTube) in italics.
• List the uploader only if it is different from the author or if the uploader is more relevant.
• Include the full URL. MLA 9th Edition recommends including URLs for online sources.
• In-text citations for videos usually list the author (or title) and a time stamp if you reference a specific part.

How to Cite by Source Type — Step-by-step

1. YouTube videos (step-by-step)

Follow this order: Author. "Title of Video." YouTube, uploaded by Uploader (if different), Day Month Year, URL.

Examples (use <code> formatting for citation examples):

Author known (real name and username):

Author is a channel/username only:

Tip: If the uploader and author are the same, omit the "uploaded by" phrase.

2. Books

Order: Author. Title of Book. Publisher, Year.

Include editors or translators when relevant: add "edited by" or "translated by" after the title.

3. Journal articles

Order for online or print: Author. "Article Title." Journal Title, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. pages. For online: DOI or URL.

4. Websites

Order: Author (if available). "Page Title." Website Title, Publisher (if different), Day Month Year, URL.

5. Podcasts / Interviews

For a podcast episode: Host or Speaker. "Episode Title." Podcast Title, season #, episode #, Day Month Year, URL.

In-Text Citations — Rules and examples

In MLA, in-text citations use the author-page format for print. For multimedia, include the author (or title) and a time stamp when quoting or referring to a specific moment.

Basic formats:

• Author name in parentheses: (Smith).
• Direct quote or specific segment from a video: (Author or Title time).

Examples:

When quoting a specific segment of a YouTube video:

If there is no author, use a shortened version of the title in quotation marks:

Reference List — Formatting rules and example

Label the page Works Cited and center the title. Use double spacing and a hanging indent for each entry (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5").

Example Works Cited entry for a YouTube video:

Complete short Works Cited sample with mixed sources:

Common Mistakes — 3–4 errors to avoid

• Omitting the uploader when it’s different from the author. If the uploader is the only identifying entity, list the channel as the author.
• Using access dates routinely. MLA 9 generally does not require access dates for stable sources; include them only when the source is likely to change.
• Failing to include a timestamp for quoted video segments. Always add a time range when quoting or specifying a part of a video.
• Misplacing punctuation and italics. Video titles go in quotation marks; container titles (YouTube) are italicized.

Quick Step-by-Step Checklist

1. Identify the author: real name, username, or channel name.
2. Copy the exact video title and place it in quotation marks.
3. List YouTube as the container (italicize).
4. Add the uploader only if different from the author.
5. Include the full upload date in Day Month Year format.
6. Paste the full URL. Optionally use a DOI if available for other source types.
7. For in-text citations include the author/title and a timestamp for specific moments.

Tools to speed this up

If you want instant results, use Rephrasely’s citation generator at https://rephrasely.com/citation to build MLA 9 citations automatically.

After creating your citation, run your paper through Rephrasely’s plagiarism checker to confirm originality, or use the AI writer for drafting and the AI detector to verify content provenance. Rephrasely also offers a paraphraser and translator to adapt your wording and language when needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I include the URL when citing a YouTube video in MLA 9th Edition?

Yes. MLA 9th Edition recommends including the full URL for online sources like YouTube. Include the complete link at the end of the Works Cited entry. If your instructor requests otherwise, follow their guidelines.

How do I cite a YouTube video if I only know the channel name?

Use the channel name as the author. Format: Channel Name. "Title of Video." YouTube, upload date, URL. Example: TED-Ed. "The History of Coffee." YouTube, 5 Mar. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyyyyy.

Should I include a timestamp in the Works Cited entry?

No. Timestamps belong in in-text citations when you reference a specific moment. The Works Cited entry should include the full upload date and URL, not timestamps.