How to Cite Reddit in Chicago 17 Format

Reddit presents unique citation challenges because posts and comments are often written under pseudonymous usernames, threads can contain hundreds of nested replies, and content is organized by subreddit communities rather than traditional publication structures. The Chicago Manual of Style 17th Edition treats Reddit posts as social media content (section 14.209), but the platform's distinctive features—usernames prefixed with "u/," subreddit names prefixed with "r/," and deeply threaded comment chains—require specific formatting decisions that go beyond the general social media citation guidelines.

This guide covers how to cite Reddit posts, comments, and AMAs (Ask Me Anything sessions) using both the notes-bibliography and author-date systems in Chicago 17th Edition format.

Where to Find Citation Information on Reddit

Every element you need for a Chicago-style citation appears on the Reddit post or comment page, though some details require careful attention:

• Username (Author): Displayed directly above or beside the post content, prefixed with "u/." Use the full username including the "u/" prefix (e.g., u/AskHistorians_mod). If the user has deleted their account, the post will show "[deleted]."
• Post Title: The title line at the top of the thread. Comments do not have titles—use the first 160 characters of the comment text instead.
• Subreddit: Shown at the top of the post, prefixed with "r/" (e.g., r/AskHistorians). This functions like the publication venue.
• Date: Hover over the relative timestamp (e.g., "3 days ago") to reveal the exact date and time the post was made. On old Reddit, the full timestamp appears on hover. On new Reddit, click into the post to find the precise date.
• URL: Use the permalink for the specific post or comment. For comments, click the timestamp or "permalink" link beneath the comment to get a direct URL rather than a link to the full thread. Comment permalinks typically end with the comment's unique ID after the thread URL.

Tip: If you are citing a comment rather than the original post, make sure you grab the comment's permalink, not the thread URL. The permalink ensures readers land on the exact comment, even in threads with thousands of replies.

Reddit Post Citation Examples

Example 1: Standard Reddit Post

A post from the r/science subreddit discussing a published study:

Example 2: Reddit Comment

When citing a specific comment within a thread, use the commenter's username and the first 160 characters of the comment as the title. Include "comment on" followed by the original post title or a shortened version to give context:

Example 3: AMA (Ask Me Anything)

AMAs often feature verified public figures. When the poster's real identity is known and verified, you may include their real name followed by the username in parentheses:

Example 4: Deleted User Post

When a user has deleted their account but the post content remains visible:

Step-by-Step: Citing a Reddit Post

1. Identify the author. Use the Reddit username with the "u/" prefix. If the poster's real name is known and verified (as in AMAs), place the real name first, followed by the username in parentheses. If the account is deleted, use [deleted].
2. Capture the title. For posts, use the full post title in quotation marks. For comments, use "comment on" followed by the original post title in quotation marks. If the post title is extremely long, you may truncate it at roughly 160 characters and add an ellipsis.
3. Name the platform. Write "Reddit" as the platform name—this is the equivalent of the publisher.
4. Include the subreddit. After "Reddit," add the subreddit name with its "r/" prefix, preceded by a comma (e.g., Reddit, r/AskHistorians).
5. Add the date. Use the exact date the post or comment was published. Format as Month Day, Year (e.g., March 14, 2024). Hover over the relative timestamp on Reddit to find the exact date.
6. Provide the URL. Use the full permalink. For comments, use the comment-specific permalink rather than the thread URL.
7. Format for your system. In notes-bibliography style, arrange the footnote with commas separating elements and a period at the end. In the bibliography, the username begins the entry (no inversion needed since usernames are single elements), and periods separate the major groups.

Notes-Bibliography vs. Author-Date

Most Chicago-style citations of Reddit will use the notes-bibliography system, since social media content is typically cited in footnotes. However, if you are using the author-date system, format the in-text citation and reference list entry as follows:

Note that the year appears after the author in the reference list, and the full date still appears later in the entry.

Common Mistakes When Citing Reddit

1. Omitting the "u/" and "r/" Prefixes

The "u/" and "r/" prefixes are integral parts of Reddit identifiers. Writing just "mvea" instead of "u/mvea" or "AskHistorians" instead of "r/AskHistorians" makes it harder for readers to locate the source. Always include these prefixes.

2. Using the Thread URL for a Comment Citation

A thread may contain hundreds or thousands of comments. If you cite a specific comment but link to the thread URL, your reader has no way to find the relevant comment. Always use the comment's permalink, which includes the comment ID at the end of the URL.

3. Neglecting to Record the Date

Reddit displays relative timestamps ("posted 2 hours ago") by default, which are useless for citations. You must hover over or click the timestamp to capture the actual date. If you copy the URL without recording the date, you may not be able to reconstruct it later—especially if the post is later deleted.

4. Treating Reddit as a Scholarly Source Without Context

Chicago style does not prohibit citing Reddit, but your text should make clear why a Reddit post is relevant to your argument. Unverified Reddit content should be contextualized appropriately. Verified AMAs and expert-moderated subreddits like r/AskHistorians carry different weight than anonymous posts.

5. Forgetting to Archive Volatile Content

Reddit posts and comments can be deleted or edited at any time. Consider saving a copy through the Wayback Machine (web.archive.org) and including the archived URL alongside or instead of the live URL. Chicago 17 permits citing archived versions of web content.

6. Citing Crossposted Content from the Wrong Subreddit

When a post is crossposted, cite the version you actually consulted. The subreddit, URL, and sometimes the date will differ between the original and the crosspost.

Special Cases

Citing an Image or Video Post

If the Reddit post is primarily an image or video, note the media type in your footnote after the title:

Citing an Entire Subreddit

If you reference a subreddit as a community rather than a specific post, treat it similarly to a website or ongoing forum. This is typically done in a footnote rather than the bibliography:

Edited Posts

Reddit marks edited posts with an asterisk or "edited" notation. If the edit is relevant to your citation, note it parenthetically: "(post edited after original publication)." Cite the date of the original post, not the edit date, unless the edit is the focus of your discussion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use the Reddit username or try to find the poster's real name?

Use the Reddit username with the "u/" prefix as the default. Only include a real name when it is publicly verified on the platform—such as in an official AMA where the poster's identity is confirmed by Reddit moderators or through linked verification. Do not attempt to identify anonymous users. When you do know the real name, place it first with the username in parentheses: Barack Obama (u/PresidentObama).

Do Reddit citations belong in the bibliography or only in footnotes?

Chicago 17 (section 14.209) suggests that social media content is often cited only in footnotes or parenthetical citations and omitted from the bibliography. However, if a Reddit post or comment is central to your argument—for instance, if you are studying online communities or analyzing discourse—include it in the bibliography. Use your judgment based on how important the source is to your work.

How do I handle Reddit posts that have been deleted?

If the post was deleted after you consulted it, include as much information as you have and note that the content is no longer available. If you saved an archived version (via the Wayback Machine or a similar service), provide the archive URL. Your citation might include a parenthetical note: "(post subsequently deleted; archived version accessed [date])." This is another reason to archive Reddit sources at the time you consult them.

Can I cite a Reddit post in a formal academic paper?

Yes, but context matters. Chicago style accommodates citations from any source type. The question is whether a Reddit post is appropriate for your discipline and argument. Unverified Reddit posts carry less authority than peer-reviewed sources. However, Reddit content can be legitimate primary source material for research on public opinion, internet culture, community knowledge-sharing, and other topics where the platform itself is the object of study.

Summary

Citing Reddit in Chicago 17 format follows the general framework for social media citations but requires attention to platform-specific conventions: always include "u/" and "r/" prefixes, use comment permalinks rather than thread URLs, and verify dates by hovering over relative timestamps. For a complete overview of Chicago citation principles, see our Chicago 17th Edition guide.