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Citation Guide (MLA 9th Edition) UNDER CONSTRUCTION

How to cite sources according to MLA

Tips

Page Numbers

Because videos do not have page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, this information is left out of the in-text citation.

For time-based media, such as films or podcasts, include the range of hours, minutes and seconds in the in-text citation, like so (00:02:15-00:02:35).

Who to Credit - DVD or Film

Many people can be involved in the production of a video and not all need to be listed in the citation. Typically the director, producer and/or writer are the names that are used. To clarify what role the person has in the production, their job title such as Director is put after their name in round brackets if the job title is known.

Who to Credit - Streaming Video from a Website

For videos from websites such as YouTube or Vimeo, credit the person who posted the content. If a real name is provided, use it. If the real name of the person who posted the content is not known, use their user name.

Streaming Video From a Website (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.)

Last Name, First Name of video creator or Username of Creator. "Title of Video." Title of the Hosting Website, uploaded by User, Day Month Year of Publication, URL of video.

For in-text citations, use (Last Name of Video Creator)

Works Cited List Example

McGonigal, Jane. "Gaming Can Make a Better World." YouTube, uploaded by TED, 17 March 2010, youtu.be/dE1DuBesGYM. Accessed 6 Nov. 2017.

 Note: While the Accessed date is optional in MLA 8th edition, it is good practice to add for any resource found on the web .

In-Text Citation Example (McGonigal)

 Note: Only list the creator if they are different from the uploader. If they are the same, start the citation with the title.

Streaming Video From a Library Database (Kanopy, Netflix, Hulu, etc.)

"Title of Video." Publisher/Production Company, Date. Title of Library Database, URL.

For in-text citations, use ("Words From Title")

Works Cited List Example

"I Am Not Your Negro." Kino Lorber Edu, 2016. Kanopy, otis.kanopystreaming.com/video/i-am-not-your-negro. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017.

 Note: Typically films are cited without an author. 

 Note: While the Accessed date is optional in MLA 8th edition, it is good practice to add for any resource found on the web.

Example

("I Am Not Your Negro")

 Note: Because web addresses change often, use the stable version of the URL. It is usually identified as Permalink, DOI, or Share This. For many databases, the URL in the browser bar may contain login and session data and will stop working.

MLA 9th edition (2021) change: Treat films from Kanopy, Netflix, etc. like a DVD or Film

Title of Video. Director's Name. Performers Names. Production Company, Date. Title of Site. URL.

For in-text citations, use ("Words From Title")

Works Cited List Example

I Am Not Your Negro. Directed by Raoul Peck. Performances by James Baldwin and Samuel L. Jackson. Kino Lorber Edu, 2016. Kanopy. otis.kanopystreaming.com/video/i-am-not-your-negro. Accessed 1 Nov. 2017.

 Note: While the Accessed date is optional in MLA 8th edition, it is good practice to add for any resource found on the web.

Example

(I Am Not Your Negro)

DVD or Film

Title of Movie, Version. Director's Name. Performers Names. Production Company, Year of Release. 

For in-text citations, use (Title of Movie)

Note: If you are writing about a film or television series without focusing on an individual's contribution, begin with the title. You can include information about the director and other key participants in the position of other contributors.

 Note: Exclude the list of performers if not relevant. Add Version if applicable, such as for unrated editions or directors' cuts.

Works Cited List Example

I Am Not Your Negro. Directed by Raoul Peck. Performances by James Baldwin and Samuel L. Jackson. Magnolia Home Entertainment, 2016. 

In-Text Citation Example

(I Am Not Your Negro)

Note: The title of the film is in italics in the in-text citation because that is how it appears in the Works Cited List Example.

Television Series Episode

"Title of Episode." Title of TV Series. Contributors Name(s), Season, Episode,  Production Company, Year of Release. 

For in-text citations, use ("Title of Episode")

Note: If the episode has many contributors, include the ones most relevant to your project. i.e. if you are writing about an episode that focuses on a key character, you might mention the series creator and the actor who portrays the character.

Note: Seasons of a television series are usually numbered in sequence, as are the episodes. Both numbers should be included in the works cited list if available.

Works Cited List Example

"The One Where Chandler Can't Cry." Friends, created by Marta Kauffman, performance by Matthew Perry, season 6, episode 14, Warner Brothers, 2004. 

In-Text Citation Example

("The One Where Chandler")

Note: The title of the episode is in quotation marks in the in-text citation because that is how it appears in the Works Cited List Example.

Online Lectures, Oral Presentations, and Speeches

Last Name, First Name of Speaker/Presenter. "Title of Lecture." Conference or Organization Name, Day Month Year of Lecture, Location, URL of video.

For in-text citations, use (Last Name of Speaker/Presenter)

 Note: You can also treat an online lecture as an online video - see McGonigal above. Be consistent within your Works Cited.

Works Cited List Example

Hudson, Linda. "Exposing 'the Selfie'." TEDx Manhattan Beach Conf., 15 Nov. 2014, tedxmanhattanbeach.com/2014-videos. Accessed 14 Sept. 2018.

 Note: Location was omitted since it was included in the conference title.

 Note: While the Accessed date is optional in MLA 8th edition, it is good practice to add for any resource found on the web.

In-Text Citation Example (Hudson)

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