The Importance of Citing TED Talks Correctly in APA, MLA, and Chicago
Accurately citing TED Talks in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles is crucial for academic integrity and credibility. These citations allow readers to locate the original source, ensuring transparency and proper attribution of ideas. Each style has unique requirements, such as APA’s emphasis on publication dates and media type, MLA’s focus on speaker and platform details, and Chicago’s inclusion of filming dates and durations. Proper citation helps avoid plagiarism, supports your arguments with credible sources, and showcases your understanding of research conventions.
Correctly citing TED Talks also reflects your commitment to ethical research practices. By acknowledging the creators and contributors of the content, you demonstrate respect for intellectual property and foster a culture of honesty and trust within the academic community. Proper citation practices not only strengthen your work but also guide others in their research journeys, promoting a shared foundation of knowledge and scholarly communication. Whether you’re a student, researcher, or professional, adhering to citation standards is a fundamental aspect of effective and responsible writing.
How to Cite a TED Talk in APA Style
Citing TED Talks in APA style can vary depending on whether you accessed the video from the official TED website or a different platform like YouTube. Each source type requires specific elements, including the speaker’s name, the date of the talk, the title of the presentation, and the format of the video. Properly citing these sources ensures academic integrity and helps readers locate the original material. Below are detailed guidelines and examples for citing TED Talks in APA format.
How to Cite a TED Talk from the TED Website
When citing a TED Talk from the TED website, include the speaker’s name, the year and month of the presentation, the title of the talk in italics, the label “[Video],” the website name, and the URL. Here’s how to format it:
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APA in bibliography (TED Website) |
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Speaker's Last Name, First Initial(s). (Year, Month). Title of the Talk. [Video]. TED Conferences. URL |
Stokes, C. (2012, November). How movies teach manhood. [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/colin_stokes_how_movies_teach_manhood |
For the in-text citation, include the speaker’s last name and the year of the talk:
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APA in-text |
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(Stokes, 2012) |
(Stokes, 2012, 6:12) |
How to Cite a TED Talk from YouTube
For TED Talks on YouTube, include the uploader’s name or screen name, the date of posting, the title of the video in italics, the format “[Video],” the platform name (YouTube), and the URL. Here’s the format to follow:
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APA in bibliography (YouTube) |
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Uploader’s Last Name, First Initial(s). [Screen name]. (Year, Month). Title of the Talk [Video]. YouTube. URL |
TEDx Talks [TEDxTalks]. (2016, April). Why "scout mindset" is crucial to good judgment | Julia Galef | TEDxPSU. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MYEtQ5Zdn8 |
For in-text citations, mention the uploader’s name and the date:
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APA in-text (YouTube) |
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(TEDx Talks, 2016) |
How to Cite a TED Talk with Multiple Speakers
If a TED Talk features multiple speakers, list the names in the order they appear, followed by the date, title, and format. This provides clarity and proper attribution for all contributors. Use the format below:
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APA in bibliography (Multiple Speakers) |
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First Speaker’s Last Name, Initials., & Second Speaker’s Last Name, Initials. (Year, Month). Title of the Talk. [Video]. TED Conferences. URL |
Jones, A., & Smith, B. (2018, May). Innovations in sustainable energy. [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/jones_smith_innovations_in_sustainable_energy |
In-text citation example for multiple speakers:
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APA in-text (Multiple Speakers) |
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(Jones & Smith, 2018) |
(Jones & Smith, 2018, 2:45) |
How to Cite a TED Talk in MLA Style
Citing TED Talks in MLA format is essential for accurately referencing these sources in your research papers and essays. MLA citations emphasize the speaker’s name, title of the talk, and the platform. The format varies slightly depending on whether the TED Talk was accessed through the official website or a different platform like YouTube. Below are detailed instructions and examples for citing TED Talks in MLA format to ensure clarity and academic integrity.
How to Cite a TED Talk from the TED Website
When citing a TED Talk from the TED website, include the speaker’s name, the title of the talk in quotation marks, the name of the TED website, the month and year of the presentation, and the URL. Use the following format:
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MLA in bibliography (TED Website) |
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Speaker's Last Name, First Name. “Title of the TED Talk.” TED, Month Year, URL. |
Stokes, Colin. “How Movies Teach Manhood.” TED, Nov. 2012, https://www.ted.com/talks/colin_stokes_how_movies_teach_manhood |
For the in-text citation, include the speaker’s last name and the time stamp of the specific quote:
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MLA in-text |
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(Stokes 6:12) |
How to Cite a TED Talk from YouTube
When citing a TED Talk from YouTube, include the speaker’s name, the title of the talk in quotation marks, the platform name (YouTube), the uploader’s name, the date of publication, and the URL. This format ensures you give credit to both the speaker and the uploader. Here’s how to structure it:
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MLA in bibliography (YouTube) |
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Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of the TED Talk.” YouTube, uploaded by TED or TEDx Talks, Day Month Year, URL. |
Imbo, Frederik. “How Not to Take Things Personally? | Frederik Imbo | TEDxMechelen.” YouTube, uploaded by TEDx Talks, 4 Mar. 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnJwH_PZXnM. |
For in-text citations, include the speaker’s last name and the time stamp of the quote:
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MLA in-text (YouTube) |
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(Imbo 11:34) |
How to Cite a TED Talk with Multiple Speakers
If a TED Talk has multiple speakers, list each speaker’s name in the order they appear in the video, followed by the talk’s title in quotation marks, the name of the TED platform, the month and year, and the URL. This method ensures that all contributors receive credit. Here’s an example:
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MLA in bibliography (Multiple Speakers) |
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First Speaker’s Last Name, First Name, and Second Speaker’s First Name Last Name. “Title of the TED Talk.” TED, Month Year, URL. |
Jones, Alice, and Ben Smith. “Innovations in Sustainable Energy.” TED, May 2018, https://www.ted.com/talks/jones_smith_innovations_in_sustainable_energy |
For in-text citations, include the last names of the speakers and the time stamp:
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MLA in-text (Multiple Speakers) |
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(Jones and Smith 2:45) |
How to Cite a TED Talk in Chicago Style
Citing TED Talks in Chicago style can vary depending on the source and platform. Proper citation is essential for academic and professional integrity, ensuring that readers can trace the original source. The Chicago Manual of Style provides guidelines for both bibliography and in-text citations. Below, we’ll explore the different formats required for citing TED Talks accessed from the TED website, YouTube, and those featuring multiple speakers.
How to Cite a TED Talk from the TED Website
When citing a TED Talk from the TED website, include the speaker’s name, the title of the talk in quotation marks, the description “TED Video,” the date, and the URL. This format allows you to clearly attribute the source while providing the necessary details for readers to find the original content.
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Chicago in bibliography (TED Website) |
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Speaker’s First Name Last Name. “Title of the TED Talk.” TED Video, Month Day, Year. URL. |
Colin Stokes. “How Movies Teach Manhood.” TED Video, November 2012. https://www.ted.com/talks/colin_stokes_how_movies_teach_manhood. |
For in-text citations, include the speaker’s name and the talk’s title. You can use a shortened version of the title if necessary:
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Chicago in-text |
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(Colin Stokes, “How Movies Teach Manhood”) |
How to Cite a TED Talk from YouTube
For TED Talks available on YouTube, include the speaker’s name, the title of the talk in quotation marks, the date it was filmed, the description “YouTube video,” the duration, the name of the uploader, and the URL. This comprehensive citation gives readers all the necessary information to locate the video.
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Chicago in bibliography (YouTube) |
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Speaker’s First Name Last Name. “Title of the TED Talk.” Filmed Month Day, Year. YouTube video, [Duration], posted by TED or TEDx Talks, URL. |
Frederik Imbo. “How Not to Take Things Personally? | Frederik Imbo | TEDxMechelen.” Filmed March 4, 2020. YouTube video, 18:17, posted by TEDx Talks, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnJwH_PZXnM. |
For in-text citations, use the speaker’s name and a shortened version of the title:
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Chicago in-text (YouTube) |
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(Frederik Imbo, “How Not to Take Things Personally?”) |
Citing a TED Talk with Multiple Speakers
If the TED Talk features multiple speakers, list each speaker’s name in the order they appear, followed by the talk’s title, the description “TED Video,” the date, and the URL. This format ensures that all contributors are acknowledged in the citation. Here’s an example:
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Chicago in bibliography (Multiple Speakers) |
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First Speaker’s First Name Last Name, and Second Speaker’s First Name Last Name. “Title of the TED Talk.” TED Video, Month Day, Year. URL. |
Alice Jones, and Ben Smith. “Innovations in Sustainable Energy.” TED Video, May 2018. https://www.ted.com/talks/jones_smith_innovations_in_sustainable_energy. |
For in-text citations, include the names of all speakers and a shortened version of the talk’s title:
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Chicago in-text (Multiple Speakers) |
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(Alice Jones and Ben Smith, “Innovations in Sustainable Energy”) |
Conclusion: The Value of Properly Citing TED Talks
Citing TED Talks accurately is essential for maintaining academic integrity and enhancing the credibility of your work. By adhering to the guidelines of APA, MLA, or Chicago styles, you ensure that your sources are properly attributed, allowing readers to trace the original content and further explore the ideas presented. Whether you’re using TED Talks to support an argument, present research, or inspire creativity, correct citation practices are fundamental to effective scholarly communication.
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