How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA 9 Format

MLA 9 YouTube Video Citation Format (Works Cited)

In MLA 9th edition, a YouTube video is usually treated as a work found in a container. The “work” is the video itself, and the “container” is the website YouTube. Your goal is to give readers enough information to find the exact video quickly and to credit the correct creator.

A standard MLA Works Cited entry for a YouTube video often looks like this:

Author or creator. “Title of Video.” YouTube, uploaded by Channel Name (if different from author), Day Month Year, URL. Accessed Day Month Year (optional).

Not every video has every element, so MLA lets you include what is available and skip what is not. The most important pieces are the creator, the video title, the website, the date, and the URL.

Core Parts of the Citation, In Order

1) Author (the creator of the video)

This is the person or group responsible for the content. In MLA, the author goes first because Works Cited entries are alphabetized by the first element.

Follow your rules for names:

• Use full first names, not initials.
• Invert the first author’s name: Last, First Middle.
• Two authors: first author inverted, second author normal order, joined with and.
• Three or more authors: first author inverted, then et al.
• No author: start with the title.

If the creator is an organization or a group, use the organization name as the author.

2) Title of the video (in quotation marks)

Put the video title in quotation marks because it is a short work inside a larger container.

Example pattern:
- “How to Solve Quadratic Equations”

Capitalize the title using MLA title case, which means capitalize major words.

3) Container: YouTube (in italics)

The container is the platform hosting the video.

Write:
- YouTube,

4) “Uploaded by” (only if needed)

Use Uploaded by Channel Name when the channel is different from the author you listed at the start. If the author and the channel are the same, you can usually skip “uploaded by” because it would repeat information.

Write:
- uploaded by CrashCourse,

5) Publication date

Use the date the video was uploaded. MLA format is:
- Day Month Year (example: 12 Mar. 2023)

If you cannot find a day, use what you have (Month Year, or Year). Do not invent a date.

6) URL

Use the direct URL to the video. MLA 9 allows you to use a shortened URL, but a full URL is also fine. Do not put the URL in angle brackets.

7) Access date (optional, but sometimes helpful)

MLA says access dates are optional, but they are useful when a source can change, be removed, or be updated. YouTube videos sometimes disappear or get edited, so an access date can be a smart choice.

Write:
- Accessed 18 Sept. 2025.

Why These Rules Matter

Alphabetizing and easy scanning

Inverting the first author’s name, for example Nguyen, Alana Marie, helps your Works Cited list stay consistent and easy to alphabetize. Readers can scan quickly for last names, which is the main reason MLA uses inversion.

Clear credit and ethical use

Using full first names instead of initials helps identify the creator accurately, especially when multiple creators share a last name. It also shows respect for the creator’s identity.

Reliable retrieval

YouTube has many similar titles and many reuploads. The combination of title, date, and URL helps readers locate the exact video you used. The access date can help explain what version you saw if the video changes later.

Examples (With Explanations)

Example 1: Individual creator, channel and author are the same

Works Cited entry

Nguyen, Alana Marie. “How to Write a Strong Thesis Statement.” YouTube, 12 Mar. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abcdef12345.

Why this is correct
- Author first, inverted: Nguyen, Alana Marie.
- Video title in quotes: “How to Write a Strong Thesis Statement.”
- Container in italics: YouTube.
- No “uploaded by” line because the author is the uploader, so adding it would repeat the same name.
- Date included in Day Month Year format.
- URL included so the reader can find the exact video.

Common pitfall this avoids
Some students list the channel name as the author even when a real person is clearly credited. If the video clearly identifies the creator, use that creator as the author.

Example 2: Two authors (follow your two author rule)

Works Cited entry

Patel, Rina Saanvi, and Jordan Michael Lee. “Beginner Yoga for Lower Back Pain.” YouTube, 8 Jan. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghijk67890.

Why this is correct
- First author inverted: Patel, Rina Saanvi
- Second author not inverted: Jordan Michael Lee
- Uses and between names, as MLA prefers.
- Title in quotes, then YouTube, then date, then URL.

Common pitfall this avoids
Do not invert the second author. A frequent error is writing: “Patel, Rina Saanvi, and Lee, Jordan Michael.” That is not the MLA format for two authors.

Example 3: No author listed (start with the title)

Sometimes a video does not clearly identify an author, or the uploader is unclear, or you cannot confidently determine a creator name. In that case, MLA allows you to start with the title.

Works Cited entry

“How to Replace a Kitchen Faucet, Step by Step.” YouTube, 4 May 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmnop24680. Accessed 18 Sept. 2025.

Why this is correct
- No author, so the citation begins with the title.
- The title is in quotation marks.
- YouTube is the container.
- The date and URL help readers locate the video.
- An access date is included, which is useful because instructional videos are sometimes removed, reuploaded, or updated.

Common pitfall this avoids
Do not use “Anonymous” or “n.d.” MLA does not require those placeholders for YouTube videos. If there is no author, start with the title.

Practical Tips for Getting the Details Right

Use the “Share” link, but check it

YouTube’s Share button gives a clean URL. Make sure it leads to the exact video you used.

Decide who the “author” really is

• If a real person is credited and clearly responsible for the content, use that person as author.
• If the content is produced by a brand or organization, use the organization name.
• If you cannot confidently identify an author, start with the title.

Use “uploaded by” only when it adds information

If the channel name is different from the author, “uploaded by” helps readers find the video.

Example pattern:

Last, First Middle. “Title.” YouTube, uploaded by Channel Name, Day Month Year, URL.

Keep punctuation and italics consistent

MLA punctuation is part of the format. Periods and commas signal where each element ends. Also remember:
- Video title: quotation marks
- YouTube: italics

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1) Using initials instead of full first names

If you have the full name, use it. Initials reduce clarity.

2) Putting the URL in brackets or adding extra text

Do not use angle brackets. Do not write “URL:” before the link.

3) Mixing up the title format

The video title is in quotation marks, not italics. The container, YouTube, is italicized.

4) Forgetting the date

Many YouTube citations are missing the upload date. Include it when available because it helps identify the exact source.

5) Listing too many authors

If there are three or more authors, list only the first author (inverted, full first name), then add et al. Do not list the rest.

Quick Template You Can Copy

With an author

Last, First Middle. “Title of Video.” YouTube, Day Month Year, URL.

With a different uploader

Last, First Middle. “Title of Video.” YouTube, uploaded by Channel Name, Day Month Year, URL.

No author

“Title of Video.” YouTube, Day Month Year, URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

If you want, share one YouTube link you are citing and tell me whether the creator name is a person, an organization, or unclear. I can format the Works Cited entry using your exact rules.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Common Errors for Youtube Video Citation Mla Citations

Validation Checklist

Special Cases

Core MLA 9 YouTube format (quick baseline)

Before the edge cases, it helps to anchor the “normal” MLA 9 Works Cited entry for a YouTube video:

Creator (or uploader). “Title of Video.” YouTube, uploaded by Channel Name (if different), Day Month Year, URL. Accessed Day Month Year (optional).

In practice, YouTube citations often vary because “creator,” “uploader,” and “publisher” can be different, and because YouTube pages change over time. The special cases below explain how to adapt while keeping MLA’s goal, which is helping readers find the exact source you used.

Special case 1: Individual person vs. channel name (who counts as the author)

What to do

Use the name of the person or group that is most responsible for the content as the author. On YouTube, that is often the channel name. Sometimes the channel clearly represents a real person. Sometimes it is a brand, organization, or show title.

Why it matters

MLA’s first element is the author because it helps readers quickly see who is speaking and it determines alphabetization in your Works Cited list. Choosing the most responsible creator also improves credibility, because it separates the speaker from the platform.

Practical tips

• If the channel is a person and the full name is available, use the full name. Avoid initials.
• If the channel is a brand or organization, use the full name of the organization as it appears.
• If you cannot confidently identify a person behind a channel, treat the channel name as the author.

Common pitfall

Do not treat “YouTube” as the author. YouTube is the container, not the creator.

Special case 2: “Uploaded by” is different from the creator

What to do

If the author and uploader are different, MLA lets you include Uploaded by after the container (YouTube). Use this when it genuinely helps identify responsibility. For example, a lecture by a professor might be uploaded by a university department channel. Or a film clip might be uploaded by a distributor’s channel.

Why it matters

This clarifies who made the content versus who posted it. That distinction can matter for trust and for locating the video later.

Practical tips

• If the author and the channel name are identical, you usually do not need “uploaded by.”
• If the uploader is the only identity available, treat the uploader as the author and skip “uploaded by.”

Special case 3: No author listed (or author unclear)

What to do

If there is no clear author or uploader identity you can reasonably use, start with the title of the video in quotation marks. Do not use “Anonymous” or “n.d.”

Why it matters

MLA prefers accurate information over placeholders. Starting with the title still allows readers to locate the video and keeps your citation honest.

Practical tips

• Use the video title exactly as shown, including capitalization and punctuation.
• For alphabetization, ignore A, An, and The.

Special case 4: Two authors or three or more authors (your name rules)

YouTube videos sometimes credit multiple hosts, interviewers, or creators.

Two authors

Use and between names. Only the first author is inverted.

Last, First Middle and First Last. “Title.” YouTube, Day Month Year, URL.

Three or more authors

List only the first author (inverted) followed by et al.

Last, First Middle, et al. “Title.” YouTube, Day Month Year, URL.

Why it matters

These rules keep citations readable and consistent, and they make Works Cited entries easy to scan.

Common pitfall

Do not invert the second author’s name. Do not list multiple authors before “et al.”

Special case 5: Corporate or organizational authors

What to do

If an organization is responsible for the video, use the organization as the author. This is common for news outlets, museums, universities, and nonprofits.

Why it matters

Organizational authorship affects credibility and helps readers interpret the content’s purpose.

Practical tips

• Use the organization’s full name as displayed.
• If the organization and the channel are the same, you can usually omit “uploaded by.”

Special case 6: Missing or unclear date

What to do

YouTube usually provides a date, but sometimes reuploads, shorts, or embedded pages make it hard to confirm. If you truly cannot find a date, MLA allows you to omit it. Then consider adding an Accessed date because the page may change.

Why it matters

Dates help readers understand context and version. When dates are missing, an access date helps document when you saw the content.

Common pitfall

Do not insert “n.d.” MLA does not require that placeholder.

Special case 7: Live streams, premieres, and recordings

What to do

Cite the video as you viewed it on YouTube. Use the date shown on the video page. If it is a live stream recording, the date usually reflects when it was streamed or published.

Why it matters

Live content can be edited, trimmed, or reuploaded. Using the page’s date and URL is the most reliable path for a reader to find the same version.

Practical tip

If the title includes “Live,” keep it as part of the title. Do not add extra labels unless they appear on the page.

Special case 8: YouTube Shorts

What to do

Cite Shorts like other YouTube videos. The main difference is that Shorts sometimes have minimal metadata. Use what you can verify, and add an access date if details are sparse.

Why it matters

Shorts are easy to repost and harder to track. Strong identifying details reduce confusion.

Special case 9: Time stamps for quoting a specific moment

What to do

MLA typically handles time stamps in the in-text citation, not the Works Cited entry. In your in-text citation, you can add a time range after the author or title.

Example in text: (Channel Name 2:10 to 2:45)

Why it matters

Videos are long, and readers need a path to the exact moment you are analyzing.

Practical tip

Use consistent formatting for time, such as 2:10 or 01:02:15 if the video is long.

Special case 10: URL choices and tracking links

What to do

Use a clean URL when possible. Avoid extra tracking parameters after the video ID.

Why it matters

Clean URLs are more stable and easier for readers to use.

Practical tip

A standard format like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEOID is usually best.

Examples (with explanations and correct formatting)

Example 1: Channel is a person, standard case

Works Cited entry
Smith, John Michael. “How to Read Poetry for Meaning.” YouTube, 14 Mar. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abcdef12345.

Why this is correct
- The author is a person, so the name is inverted as Smith, John Michael.
- The video title is in quotation marks because it is a short work within a larger container.
- YouTube is italicized as the container.
- The date is in MLA day month year format, with the month abbreviated.
- The URL is included without extra tracking details.

Common pitfall to avoid
Do not write “J. M. Smith.” Your rule requires full first names, and it also improves clarity.

Example 2: Two authors (first inverted, second normal), both credited

Works Cited entry
Garcia, Maria Elena and David Chen. “Explaining Inflation in Five Minutes.” YouTube, 2 Feb. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghijk67890.

Why this is correct
- Two authors are listed because both are credited as creators.
- Only the first author is inverted. The second stays in normal order.
- “and” is used between authors, as MLA prefers.
- The rest follows standard YouTube format.

Common pitfall to avoid
Do not invert the second name, and do not use an ampersand.

Example 3: Organizational author, uploader information helps

Works Cited entry
National Gallery of Art. “Conservation of Oil Paintings: Varnish Removal.” YouTube, uploaded by NGA Conservation Department, 9 Sept. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmnop24680.

Why this is correct
- The organization is responsible for the content, so it is the author.
- “uploaded by” is useful here because the uploader name gives a more specific department identity, which can help readers locate the exact channel if the institution has multiple channels.
- The format still keeps YouTube as the container, not the author.

Common pitfall to avoid
Do not start with “YouTube.” That would misidentify the source’s creator.

Practical checklist and common mistakes

Quick checklist

• Use a real author when you can, otherwise use the channel name, otherwise start with the title.
• First author is inverted, full first name, no initials.
• Two authors use “and,” second not inverted.
• Three or more authors use first author plus “et al.”
• Title in quotation marks, YouTube italicized.
• Include the date shown on the video page when available.
• Use a clean URL.
• Use time stamps in the in-text citation when quoting a specific moment.

Common mistakes

• Using initials for names instead of full first names.
• Treating YouTube as the author.
• Inverting the second author in a two-author citation.
• Listing multiple authors before “et al.”
• Adding “n.d.” when the date is missing instead of omitting the date and optionally adding an access date.
• Copying a long tracking URL that is harder to use.

If you want, paste one or two real YouTube links and tell me whether you are citing the whole video or a specific moment, and I will format the Works Cited entries and matching in-text citations using your exact name rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a YouTube video in MLA 9 for my Works Cited page?

In MLA 9, a YouTube video entry usually includes the creator, the video title in quotation marks, the site name YouTube in italics, the uploader (if different from the creator), the upload date, and the URL. Use this common template: Creator or channel name. "Video Title." YouTube, uploaded by Uploader (if different), Day Month Year, URL. If the creator is an individual, use Last name, First name. If it is a channel, use the channel name as it appears. Example: Kurzgesagt. "The Immune System Explained." YouTube, 12 Mar. 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXXX. If you are missing an element, omit it rather than guessing. For official guidance and examples, see Purdue OWL: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html

Do I use the channel name or the person’s real name when citing a YouTube video in MLA?

Use the name that best identifies the creator for your reader. If the video clearly credits an individual as the creator or speaker and you can verify the real name from a reliable source, you may list the person’s name. If the channel name is the primary identifier, and the real name is not clearly stated or is hard to confirm, use the channel name. This is common for organizations and branded channels. Practical scenario: you cite a TED-Ed video, the channel is TED-Ed, and the speaker is a narrator not prominently credited. In that case, list TED-Ed as the author. If a professor posts a lecture on a personal channel and is clearly identified, list their name. MLA guidance on authors and containers can help you decide: https://style.mla.org/works-cited-a-quick-guide/

How do I cite a specific timestamp or quote from a YouTube video in MLA in-text citations?

MLA in-text citations for videos typically use the author or channel name in parentheses. If you are quoting or referring to a specific moment, include a timestamp in the in-text citation so readers can find it quickly. Example: (Kurzgesagt 2:15 to 2:40). If you mention the author in your sentence, you can shorten the parenthetical: (2:15 to 2:40). Practical scenario: you quote a statement at 10 minutes, 5 seconds into a documentary clip. Your in-text citation can be (Channel Name 10:05). Your Works Cited entry still includes the full video details and URL. MLA does not require timestamps, but they are strongly helpful for audiovisual sources. For more on MLA in-text citations, see: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_in_text_citations_the_basics.html

What if the YouTube video has no date, no author, or I cannot find the uploader, how do I cite it in MLA?

If a YouTube video is missing information, MLA recommends citing what you can and omitting what you cannot verify. If there is no clear author or channel attribution, start with the title in quotation marks. If there is no upload date, omit the date rather than using “n.d.” unless your instructor asks for it. If the uploader is present but the creator is unclear, use the uploader as the author and include “uploaded by” only when it adds clarity, such as when the author and uploader differ. Practical scenario: a reuploaded clip from a TV show has an unclear creator and no reliable credits. Start with the video title, then YouTube, then the channel name if available, then the URL, and add an access date only if required by your instructor. MLA’s core elements overview is useful here: https://style.mla.org/mla-core-elements/

How do I cite a YouTube video I watched in a playlist, embedded on a website, or through a learning platform?

Cite the version you actually used, and make it easy for your reader to locate it. If you watched the video on YouTube, cite YouTube and include the direct YouTube URL. If you watched an embedded YouTube video on another site and you are discussing the context of that site, you can cite the website as the container and include the page URL, but it is often still helpful to include the YouTube link if available. Practical scenario: your course LMS embeds a YouTube lecture. If the LMS restricts access, cite the YouTube URL if you can access it, or cite the LMS page as a separate source if the YouTube link is not accessible. When in doubt, follow MLA container rules and prioritize retrievability. See MLA’s container explanation: https://style.mla.org/containers/

How do I cite a YouTube Short, live stream, or reuploaded clip in MLA 9?

For YouTube Shorts, live streams, and reuploads, the structure is similar, but you should label the format when it helps clarify what you used. You can add a description like “YouTube video,” “Short,” or “Livestream” after the title if your instructor expects it, or if the title is ambiguous. Include the upload date shown on YouTube, and use the stable URL. Practical scenario: you cite a live stream that later becomes an archived video. Use the date displayed for the archived upload, and cite the archived URL. For a reuploaded clip, cite the uploader as the author if they are responsible for the posted version, but be cautious about attributing original authorship. If you need to credit the original creator, discuss that in your text and cite the most authoritative source you can find. For examples of citing online videos, see: https://style.mla.org/citing-online-videos/

Last Updated: 2025-12-31
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