Videos are increasingly used as academic sources, from recorded lectures to documentaries, but students often struggle to cite them. This UK guide shows you how to reference a YouTube video in Harvard, APA 7 and MLA, explains who counts as the author, and highlights the common mistakes to avoid.
How to Reference a YouTube Video in Harvard
In Harvard, the in-text citation uses the person or organisation that uploaded the video and the year: (BBC News, 2024). The reference-list entry is: Uploader (Year) Title of video. Available at: URL (Accessed: day month year). Use the name of the channel or account that posted the video as the author, and include the access date because online content can change or be removed.
How to Reference a YouTube Video in APA 7
APA 7 credits the person or group that uploaded the video, treating the channel name as the author if that is how it appears. The entry reads: Uploader. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL. The in-text citation is (Uploader, Year). Note the “[Video]” label and “YouTube” as the site name.
How to Reference a YouTube Video in MLA
In MLA the Works Cited entry reads: “Title of Video.” YouTube, uploaded by Uploader, Day Month Year, URL. The in-text citation is a shortened version of the title in quotation marks if there is no clear author. MLA places the platform (YouTube) as the container that hosts the video.
Who Counts as the Author of a Video?
This is where students most often get stuck. The convention across styles is to credit the account that uploaded the video, because that is who made it available. If a named individual clearly created the content but posted it under a channel name, you can give the individual’s name followed by the channel. When the real name and username differ, most styles let you give the real name first with the username in square brackets. Be consistent with whichever approach your style guide recommends.
Common Mistakes When Referencing Videos
Frequent errors include leaving out the upload date, citing the video’s title without the channel, forgetting the “[Video]” label in APA, and pasting a shortened or tracking-laden URL instead of the clean link to the video. Also make sure a YouTube video is really the best source — if the same content exists as a published article or official report, cite that more authoritative version instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I use as the author of a YouTube video?
Use the name of the channel or account that uploaded the video. If a named creator is clearly responsible, you can give their name followed by the channel name.
Do I need a timestamp for a specific point in the video?
Yes, for a direct quotation or a specific moment, include the timestamp (for example, 3:24) in your in-text citation so your reader can find the exact point.
Can I cite a YouTube video in an academic essay?
You can, provided it is relevant and credible. Prefer official or expert channels, and where a more authoritative published source exists, cite that instead.
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