cite an speech apa

APA 7th Referencing

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Speeches format

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• From an edited book
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Speech from an edited book

Reference the source in which you found the speech.

Reference elements

In-text citation

• Citations need to include both the original author of the speech and the secondary source in which the speech was found (e.g. an edited anthology of speeches).

• In the reference list, you will need to cite only the secondary source (i.e. the edited book) in which you found the citation.

Speech from a web source

• If you want to acknowledge the speech's title, make sure to do so in  italics . 

Speech from YouTube

• Citations need to include both the original author of the speech and the secondary source in which the speech was found (e.g. an edited anthology of speeches). 
• Because the British Broadcasting Corporation is known in its abbreviated form, the 2nd citation onwards should be shortened to BBC (2020) or (BBC, 2020). See:  in-text citation formats  for more information. 
• When quoting directly from a YouTube video, provide a time stamp.

• In the reference list, you will need to cite only the secondary source (i.e. the YouTube video ) in which you found the citation. 
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Citing Sources: Citing Orally in Speeches

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Citing Orally in Speeches

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• Oral Source Citations - James Madison University Communication Center
• Using Citations and Avoiding Plagiarism in Oral Presentations - Hamilton College, Dept. of Rhetoric and Communication
• Referencing: Citing in Orals - James Cook University

General Tips:

Tell the audience your source before you use the information (the opposite of in-text citations).

Do not say, “quote, unquote” when you offer a direct quotation. Use brief pauses instead.

Provide enough information about each source so that your audience could, with a little effort, find them. This should include the author(s) name, a brief explanation of their credentials, the title of the work, and publication date.

 “In the 1979 edition of The Elements of Style, renowned grammarians and composition stylists Strunk and White encourage writers to ‘make every word tell.’”

If your source is unknown to your audience, provide enough information about your source for the audience to perceive them as credible. Typically we provide this credentialing of the source by stating the source’s qualifications to discuss the topic.

“Dr. Derek Bok, the President Emeritus of Harvard University and the author of The Politics of Happiness argues that the American government should design policies to enhance the happiness of its citizens.”

Provide a caption citation for all direct quotations and /or relevant images on your PowerPoint slides.

Direct Quotations:

These should be acknowledged in your speech or presentation either as “And I quote…” or “As [the source] put it…”

Include title and author: “According to April Jones, author of Readings on Gender…”

Periodical/Magazine:

Include title and date: “Time, March 28, 2005, explains…” or “The New York Times, June 5, 2006, explained it this way…”

Include journal title, date, and author: “Morgan Smith writes in the Fall 2005 issue of Science…”

For organizational or long-standing website, include title: “The center for Disease Control web site includes information…” For news or magazine websites, include title and date: “CNN.com, on March 28, 2005, states…” (Note: CNN is an exception to the “don’t use the address” rule because the site is known by that name.)

Interviews, lecture notes, or personal communication:

Include name and credentials of source: “Alice Smith, professor of Economics at USM, had this to say about the growth plan…” or “According to junior Speech Communication major, Susan Wallace…”

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Research Guide: Citations

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Verbal Citations in Speeches and Presentations

What should you include in a verbal citation, when you give a speech....

(click on image to enlarge)

Why cite sources verbally?

• to c onvince your audience  that you are a  credible  speaker.  Building on the work of others lends authority to your presentation
• to prove that your information comes from solid,  reliable sources that your audience can trust.
• to give credit to others for their ideas, data, images (even on PowerPoint slides), and words to  avoid plagiarism.
• to  leave a path for your audience  so they can locate your sources.

What are tips for effective verbal citations?

When citing books:

• Ineffective : “ Margaret Brownwell writes in her book Dieting Sensibly that fad diets telling you ‘eat all you want’ are dangerous and misguided.” (Although the speaker cites and author and book title, who is Margaret Brownwell?  No information is presented to establish her authority on the topic.)
• Better : “Margaret Brownwell, professor of nutrition at the Univeristy of New Mexico , writes in her book, Dieting Sensibly, that …” (The author’s credentials are clearly described.)

When citing Magazine, Journal, or Newspaper articles

• Ineffective : “An article titled ‘Biofuels Boom’ from the ProQuest database notes that midwestern energy companies are building new factories to convert corn to ethanol.” (Although ProQuest is the database tool used to retrieve the information, the name of the newspaper or journal and publication date should be cited as the source.)
• Better : “An article titled ‘Biofuels Boom’ in a September 2010 issue of Journal of Environment and Development” notes that midwestern energy companies…” (Name and date of the source provides credibility and currency of the information as well as giving the audience better information to track down the source.)

When citing websites

• Ineffective : “According to generationrescue.org, possible recovery from autism includes dietary interventions.” (No indication of the credibility or sponsoring organization or author of the website is given)
• Better : “According to pediatrician Jerry Kartzinel, consultant for generationrescue.org, an organization that provides information about autism treatment options, possibly recovery from autism includes dietary interventions.” (author and purpose of the website is clearly stated.)

Note: some of the above examples are quoted from: Metcalfe, Sheldon. Building a Speech. 7th ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2010. Google Books. Web. 17 Mar. 2012.

Video: Oral Citations

Source: "Oral Citations" by COMMpadres Media , is licensed under a Standard YouTube License.

Example of a Verbal Citation

Example of a verbal citation from a CMST 238 class at Green River College,  Auburn, WA, February 2019

What to Include in a Verbal Citation

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Transcript of an Audiovisual Work References

This page contains reference examples for transcripts of audiovisual works, including the following:

• Speech transcript
• Podcast transcript
• Radio broadcast transcript

1. Speech transcript

Bryan, W. J. (2010). Against imperialism [Speech transcript]. American Rhetoric. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/PDFFiles/William%20Jennings%20Bryan%20-%20Imperialism.pdf (Original work published 1900)

• Parenthetical citation : (Bryan, 1900/2010)
• Narrative citation : Bryan (1900/2010)
• Provide the name of the speaker as the author.
• If the transcript and original work were published in different years (e.g., in the transcript of an old speech, as shown in the example), provide the year of the transcript in the main date element of the reference and the year of the original work in parentheses at the end of the reference.
• Provide both years in the in-text citation, separated with a slash, the earlier year first.
• Describe the type of transcript in square brackets (e.g., “[Speech transcript]”).
• Provide the site name in the source element of the reference, followed by the URL of the transcript.
• For an example reference to a speech’s audio recording, see Example 96 in the Publication Manual .

2. Podcast transcript

Cornish, A. (Host). (2017, May 17). This simple puzzle test sealed the fate of immigrants at Ellis Island [Audio podcast transcript]. In All things considered . NPR. http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=528813842

Vogt, P. J., & Goldman, A. (Hosts). (2019, June 27). Dark pattern (No. 144) [Audio podcast transcript]. In Reply all . Gimlet Media. https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/6nhgol/144-dark-pattern

• Parenthetical citations : (Cornish, 2017; Vogt & Goldman, 2019)
• Narrative citations : Cornish (2017) and Vogt and Goldman (2019)
• The format for a podcast transcript is nearly the same as for a podcast episode (see Example 94 in the Publication Manual ). The only difference is that the description after the transcript title is “[Audio podcast transcript]” rather than “[Audio podcast].”
• Provide the name of the host of the podcast as the author and include their role in parentheses.
• Provide the specific date of the podcast.
• Provide the episode number after the title in parentheses. If the podcast does not number episodes, omit the number from the reference.
• Provide the name of the site that published the transcript (in the examples, NPR and Gimlet Media) and the URL of the transcript.

3. Radio broadcast transcript

Mottram, L. (2020, January 8). Hazard reduction burning is not a panacea to bushfire risk: Expert [Radio broadcast transcript]. ABC. https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/pm/thinned-forests-can-be-more-prone-to-fire,-expert-says/11853280

• Parenthetical citation : (Mottram, 2020)
• Narrative citation : Mottram (2020)
• The format for a radio broadcast transcript is nearly the same as for a radio broadcast . The only difference is that the description after the transcript title is “[Radio broadcast transcript]” rather than “[Radio broadcast].”
• Provide the name of the announcer as the author.
• Provide the full date of the radio broadcast.
• Provide the title of the story in italics, followed by the description “[Radio broadcast transcript].”
• Provide the name of the site that published the radio broadcast (in the example, ABC) and the URL of the broadcast. In the example, both the radio recording and the transcript are available from the same link, so that link appears in the reference.

Audiovisual transcript references are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Section 10.12 and the Concise Guide Section 10.10

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Q. How do I cite a speech in APA format?

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Answered By: Gabe Gossett Last Updated: Oct 13, 2021     Views: 77114

Citing a speech depends on the format in which you accessed that speech. For example, if you read a text transcript of a speech, you should cite it as a speech transcript:

Lincoln, A. (2019). Gettysburg address [Speech transcript]. American Rhetoric.  https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/gettysburgaddress.htm (Original work published 1863)

• Parenthetical Citation: (Lincoln,1863/2019)
• Narrative Citation: Lincoln (1863/2019)
• Note: In the reference entry, the first date in the reference entry is associate with the work where the transcript is published. For more info see the APA Style Guide on Transcripts .

If you watched a speech on YouTube, you would cite it as a streaming video:

CNBC Television. (2021, April 28). President Joe Biden delivers his first state of the Union address . [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dggKaPXt0gI

• Parenthetical Citation: (CNBC, 2021)
• Narrative Citation: CNBC (2021)
• Note: The person or organization who uploaded the video is considered the author. For more information see pg. 344 of the APA 7th Edition Style Guide (2020)

If you listened to a speech as an audio recording, you would cite it as a speech audio recording:

King, M.L., Jr. (1963, August 28). I have a dream [Speech audio recording]. American Rhetoric. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

• Parenthetical Citation: (King, 1963)
• Narrative Citation: King (1963)
• Note: This example was sourced from pg. 346 of the APA 7th Edition Style Guide (2020)

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Speech: Citing Sources in APA

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How to Cite in Your Speech

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To orally cite something, you will need to give sufficient information about the source. Typically, this is the author, title, and date of a source. By including this information, you allow your listeners to find your original sources, as well as allow them to hear that your sources are recent and are credible.

Source: Santa Fe College Library. (2023). Reading Scholarly Papers . https://sfcollege.libguides.com/speech/oral-citations

How to Cite in Your Outline

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The first thing you want to figure out when you are creating a reference is what type of material you are referencing. Depending on what your item is, the reference will look slightly different. Check out the tabs for examples of how to cite. 

Your Reference page should include the following:

• At the top, it should have the word   References  centered and in bold.
• References will be in alphabetical order by the first author's last name.
• The references will be   double spaced  and have  hanging indentation . Hanging indentation means that the first line of the reference is all the way to the left, and the rest of the lines of the reference are indented. 

Check out our APA Help Page for more in-depth information on citing in APA format. 

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How to Cite a Speech in APA Style

Speeches are valuable primary sources in academic research. Citing speeches in APA style requires specific elements: speaker’s name, speech title, event name, date, location, and type of speech. For recorded speeches, include the medium and URL if available. These details apply to both in-text citations and reference list entries.

Key Elements in APA Citations

When citing speeches, the core components of APA citations remain consistent but are adapted to fit the nature of the speech:

• Speaker : The person who delivered the speech.
• Date : The specific date when the speech was delivered.
• Title : The official title of the speech, if available. If not, a descriptive title in brackets.
• Location : Where the speech was delivered, including the event name and venue.

Gathering Information Before You Begin

Crucial details to collect.

Accurate citation begins with meticulous information gathering. For a speech, ensure you collect:

• The speaker’s full name and title.
• The speech’s official title or a descriptive summary.
• The exact date of the speech.
• The location, including the event name and venue.

Tips for Accurate Recording

During live speeches, it can be challenging to capture all necessary details accurately. Here are some tips:

• Use a recorder : If permissible, record the speech for reference.
• Take detailed notes : Note down key points, especially names, dates, and specific phrases.
• Verify details : Cross-check the event program or official announcements for accuracy.

Crafting the Reference List Entry for a Speech

Step-by-step guide.

Creating a reference list entry for a speech involves several steps:

• Start with the speaker’s name:  Last name, followed by initials.
• Date of the speech:  Enclosed in parentheses.
• Title of the speech:  Italicized if it’s a published title; if not, use a descriptive title in brackets.
• Event and location details: Name of the event, venue, and location.

For example:

Smith, J. (2020, March 5). [Keynote address on climate change] . Environmental Summit, Green Convention Center, Boston, MA.

Handling Missing Details

Sometimes, not all details are available. In such cases:

• No title : Use a descriptive title in brackets.
• No date : Use “n.d.” to indicate no date.
• Unspecified locatio n: Provide as much detail as possible.

Examples of Well-Formatted References

Doe, J. (2019, May 10). [Commencement address] . University of Learning, Graduation Ceremony, Springfield, IL.

Johnson, A. B. (n.d.). [Motivational speech on leadership] . Corporate Leadership Conference, Tech Hub, San Francisco, CA.

In-Text Citations for Quoting or Paraphrasing Speeches

Simplifying in-text citations.

When incorporating speeches into your text, differentiate between direct quotes and paraphrases. For direct quotes, include the speaker’s last name, year, and a specific locator (if available):

• Direct quote: (Smith, 2020, p. 5)
• Paraphrase : (Smith, 2020)

Importance of Page Numbers and Timestamps

For longer speeches or recordings, using timestamps (minutes) can guide readers to the exact part of the speech:

• “Climate change is our most pressing issue” (Smith, 2020, 12:34).

Real-Life Examples

Direct quote: “The future of our planet hinges on our actions today” (Doe, 2019, 22:15).

Paraphrase: Johnson (n.d.) emphasized the importance of proactive leadership in corporate settings.

Citing Recorded Speeches and Online Presentations

Adjustments for Digital Formats

Citing recorded speeches and online presentations requires slight adjustments. Include the format description and access information:

• Speaker’s name, date, title, format, URL, and access date.

Including URLs and Access Dates

When citing online speeches, always include the URL and the date you accessed the material:

Doe, J. (2019, May 10). Commencement address [Video]. University of Learning. https://www.university.edu/commencement

Example Citations

Smith, J. (2020, March 5). Keynote address on climate change [Video]. Environmental Summit. https://www.summit.org/climate2020

Why is it important to cite speeches in academic writing?

Citing speeches in academic writing is crucial for acknowledging the original ideas and contributions of speakers. It enhances the credibility of your work by providing a robust foundation built on reliable sources, and it respects the intellectual property of the speaker, ensuring their insights are properly recognized within the scholarly community.

What key elements are required for an APA citation of a speech?

An APA citation of a speech must include the speaker’s full name, the date of the speech, the title of the speech (or a descriptive title if no official title is available), and the location where the speech was delivered. These elements ensure that the citation is comprehensive and allows readers to trace the original source accurately.

How should I format in-text citations for speeches in APA style?

For in-text citations of speeches in APA style, you should differentiate between direct quotes and paraphrases. For direct quotes, include the speaker’s last name, the year of the speech, and a specific locator like a page number or timestamp (e.g., Smith, 2020, p. 5 or Smith, 2020, 12:34). For paraphrases, simply include the speaker’s last name and the year (e.g., Smith, 2020).

Accurate citation of speeches in APA format involves including speaker information, speech details, event context, and location specifics. Following these guidelines helps properly attribute ideas to speakers and provides readers with the necessary information to locate the original source.

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How to Cite a Speech in APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard

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A speech means a formal address or discourse delivered to a given audience. Basically, renowned people give their statements, which contain credible information for citations. In this case, scholars and researchers can cite reports from live or online speeches for a quotation. Moreover, most speakers put their presentations on websites, being scripts, voice recordings, or videos. Then, students should cite speech presentations in different referencing styles. For instance, one should mention the speech in APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard formats. Also, these citation methods rely on various rules that govern the capitalization of words and punctuations. In turn, bibliographic entries for APA and Harvard referencing styles require the use of initials and sentence case when writing the title. Besides, MLA and Chicago/Turabian entries need one to use full speaker’s names and follow title case rules.

General Aspects of Citing a Speech in APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard Formats

By considering a definition, a speech suggests a formal address or discourse that an individual delivers to an audience. In practice, prominent leaders and scholars give an address that focuses on specific topics, intending to inform the general audience on issues that affect their lives. Basically, outstanding speeches contain credible information that students can use for academic citations. Also, one can use the information contained in an address to support the main arguments in an essay. However, one must follow the necessary guidelines when citing a speech in different writing formats.

Live or Online Speech

One can use live or online speech for a citation. Basically, this type of speech is where one listens to a speaker addressing an audience. In this case, writers developing the quote listen to the speaker and take relevant notes. However, one can find presentations on various websites. Also, most speakers put their performances on sites to allow more people to access them effectively. In turn, such speeches may appear as recordings, PowerPoint presentations, or videos. Hence, one should cite each of these presentations differently.

APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard

Students should cite speech presentations in different referencing styles. For instance, writers should cite a speech in APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard referencing styles in essays and research papers to support their arguments. Basically, these citation methods rely on various rules that govern the capitalization of words and punctuations. Moreover, the failure to follow specific regulations makes references less credible. In turn, the following guide provides accurate steps that one should follow in citing speech in different referencing styles.

How to Cite a Speech in APA

One should provide adequate bibliographic details for an individual presentation in a large symposium. Basically, some of the features include contributors, date of submission, the title of the speech, the conference or panel, and location. Also, the time of presentation should consist of day, month, and year. In some instances, speech presentations may have some descriptions. Moreover, one should include the necessary Description when developing the bibliographic entry. In turn, writers should identify all the speakers involved when they cite a speech. Therefore, a citation of a statement in APA should include adequate bibliographic details. 

The Title of the Speech

The title of the presentation should appear in sentence case, inside punctuation marks. For instance, writers should ensure that all words in the title start with small letters. In this case, the first word and the one following a colon should begin with a capital letter. Also, the title should appear in quotation marks and not be italicized or underlined. Therefore, the title of the speech should appear in sentence case, within punctuation marks.

Following Punctuation Marks

Writers should observe the correct punctuation marks when developing speech citations in APA. For instance, one should use a comma to separate the last name and the initial of the first name. Besides, a comma separates the title of the conference and the place of presentation. In this case, a period should follow the initial of the speaker’s name and the title of the speech. Moreover, the period after the title should appear inside the punctuation marks when someone cite a speech within essays and research papers. Hence, one must observe the right punctuation marks when developing the bibliographic entry of the speech.

Using the URL Link

The bibliographic entry of the speech found online should contain the correct URL link. Basically, one should copy the URL link from the website, including the presentation. In practice, one should find the URL link at the top of the web page. Also, website links should be the last item in bibliographic entries. In turn, one should not include a period after the bibliographic entry. Hence, one should include the URL link of the website that contains the speech.

How to Cite a Speech in MLA

The accurate bibliographic entry of the speech should contain the speaker’s name, title, and conference, and organization. Basically, writers should include the first name and surname of the speaker without using the initials. In this case, the title of the speech should appear within quotation marks. Also, one should ensure that the title of the specific conference or meeting follows the title. In some instances, students should include the speaker’s organization, the venue, and the city. Then, other essential details include descriptors that express the type of presentation cited. Besides, some common words include address, lecture, reading, keynote speech, guest lecture, and conference presentation. Hence, the MLA bibliographic entry of the speech should contain adequate details.

Writers should use title case when writing the speech’s bibliographic entry in MLA. For example, the title case implies that all words, apart from conjunctions, should begin with a capital letter. In this case, the title enclosed in punctuation marks should not appear as italicized or underlined. Moreover, one should use the title case for the descriptors provided in the bibliographic entry. Besides, the title of the conference, the meeting of the symposium should follow a similar strategy. Therefore, one must observe the title case when writing the bibliographic entry of the speech in MLA.

Using Punctuation Marks

Writers should use the correct punctuation marks when writing the bibliographic entry of the speech in MLA. For instance, commas and periods are the two types of punctuation marks that one must use when developing the entry. Firstly, the period should appear between the speaker’s surname name, title, and conference or meeting. In this case, each entry should end with a period to follow the rules on how to cite a speech. Then, the comma should separate the speaker’s last and first names, the meeting title, the date, place, and city of publication. Hence, one must observe the right punctuation marks when developing the bibliographic entry of a speech.

Citing a Web Link

The bibliographic entry of the speech found online should contain a correct URL. For instance, one should find the URL from the top of the webpage containing the address. Basically, this information should appear as the last item in the bibliographic entry. In turn, the correct URL should lead interested readers to the website providing the cited information. Hence, one should include the URL link to cite a speech found online.

How to Cite a Speech in Chicago/Turabian

Writers should create bibliographic entries for different types of speech following the rules provided in the Chicago/Turabian manual. Basically, some examples of speeches include lectures, expositions at meetings sessions, and other similar presentations. In this case, entries of these sources should contain sponsorship, location, and date of the exhibition. Moreover, one should include more bibliographic entries for sources to be credible. Therefore, the bibliographic entry of a bibliographic reference must contain adequate details that enhance its credibility.

Following a Specific Order

The bibliographic entry of a speech in Chicago style must follow a specific order. Basically, the first piece should be the name of the speaker, which must appear in an inverted form. In practice, one should start with the speaker’s surname, followed by the first name. Moreover, the speech’s title must appear in the title case within quotation marks. Then, other important details on how to cite a speech that students need to follow include the medium of the address, location, and date. Hence, quality bibliographic entries of the speech in the Chicago/Turabian style must track specific order to enhance its quality.

Considering Punctuation Marks

Credible bibliographic entry in the Chicago/Turabian style should follow the right punctuation marks. For example, one must use commas and periods when writing the entry. In this case, students should place the punctuation marks where appropriate. Then, commas should separate the speaker’s names, the medium of the speech, location, and date. Also, the period separates the title of the address and the medium. In turn, the bibliographic entry ends with a period by considering how to cite a speech. Moreover, the period that follows the title should appear inside quotation marks. Hence, writers should use the right punctuation marks when developing the bibliographic entry.

Including the Link

Bibliographic entries of an online speech in the Chicago/Turabian referencing format should contain the correct URL. For instance, writers should obtain the exact URL from the top of the website that includes the address. Basically, this information should appear as the last item in the entry. In practice, a correct URL should lead readers to cited addresses. Hence, the bibliographic entry for speeches found online should include the correct URL.

How to Cite a Speech in Harvard

The bibliographic entry of the speech in the Harvard referencing style should contain accurate and detailed information. For example, some of the details that one should include in the listing include the speaker’s name, the year, the title of the speech, and the type of sources. In this case, one can find lectures in the form of a video, transcript, or PowerPoint. Then, other essential details include the date that one viewed the speech. Therefore, the bibliographic entry of the statement in the Harvard writing format should contain adequate and credible information.

Covering Punctuation Marks

The bibliographic entry of a speech in Harvard must contain the right punctuation marks. For instance, the Harvard style requires one to create a listing that does not have periods. In this case, one should use commas to separate all the details in the bibliographic entry, covering the rules on how to cite a speech. Then, one should use the comma to separate the last name and initials. However, one should not separate the initials of speakers if they are more than one. Hence, one should use the right punctuations when writing the bibliographic entry for a speech for the Harvard style.

Title Format

The title of the speech should appear in the right format. For instance, one should use the title case when writing the bibliographic entry. In this case, all the words in the title should start with a capital letter. Also, the heading of a broadcast speech should appear as italicized. However, the title of the speech should appear inside single punctuation marks. In turn, one should place the comma outside the single punctuation mark after the title. Besides, the failure to follow the correct format rules when writing the speech title in Harvard style can mislead readers. Hence, one must follow the right formatting when referencing the title for the speech.

The Citing Scheme of a Speech in APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard Reference Styles

Scholars need to follow the right referencing formats when citing speeches to avoid possible cases of plagiarism. In most cases, students may not access the manual for different referencing styles. Hence, the following are the schemes that one should use to develop the citations.

1. APA 7 Structure:

• Speaker’s Last Name, Initial. (Year, Month Day). Title of the speech [Description of the Address]. Title of Speech/ Conference/ Meeting, Location.
• Speaker, A. (Year, Month Day). Title of the speech [Description of the statement]. Title of Speech/ Conference/ Meeting, Location. Retrieved from https://www.site.com

2. MLA 9 Structure:

• Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. “The Title of the Speech.” Name of the Conference, Day Month Year, Location of the Conference, City of Presentation, IN. Type of Speech.
• Speaker’s First Name, Last Name. “The Title of the Speech.” Name of the Site, Day Month Year, www.site.com. Accessed Date.

3. Chicago/Turabian Structure:

• Last Name, First Name. “Title of Lecture.” Medium at sponsorship, location, date.
• Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Lecture.” Medium at sponsorship, location, date, https://site.com.

4. Harvard Structure:

• Speaker’s Last Name, Initial Year, ‘Title of the Speech’, Type of the Speech, Year.
• Speaker’s Last Name, Initial Year, ‘Title of the Speech’, Type of the Speech, Year, viewed Day Month Year, <http://www.site.com>.

Examples of a Speech Reference for Citing in APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard Writing Formats

1. apa 7 samples:.

• Joan, C. (2019, 5 April). How to get your brain to focus  [Address]. TEDxManchester, Manchester.
• Joan, C. (2019, 5 April). How to get your brain to focus  [Address]. TEDxManchester, Manchester, U.K. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu4Yvq-g7_Y

2. MLA 9 Samples:

• Stein, Billy. “Conserving the Environment in the Twenty-First Century.” Discovering and Promoting Sustainability, Nature Conservation Conference, 23 May 2003, Union Club Hotel, West Lafayette, IN. Keynote Address.
• Thunberg, Greta. “Thunberg’s Full Speech to World Leaders at UN Climate Action Summit.” YouTube , 23 September 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAJsdgTPJpU. Accessed 3 June 2020.

3. Chicago/Turabian Samples:

• John, Billy. “The Most Effective Ways that People can Use to Conserve the Environment in the Twenty-First Century.” Speech presented at the Annual Convention of the Conference on Environmental Sustainability, San Francisco, CA, March 2009.
• Thunberg, Greta. “Thunberg’s Full Speech to World Leaders at UN Climate Action Summit.” YouTube Video. YouTube , 23 September 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAJsdgTPJpU.

4. Harvard Samples:

• Thunberg, G 2019, Thunberg’s full speech to world leaders at UN Climate Action Summit , YouTube .
• Obama, B 2012, ‘Address to America Israel Public Affairs Committee’, transcript, The Guardian , 4 March, viewed 22 May 2012, <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/04/obama-aipac-speech-read-text>.

Citing a Transcript of a Speech in APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard

One may find the transcript of the text by famous individuals like Martin Luther King, Jr. to cite a speech in essays and research papers. Hence, the following are the guidelines for writing the bibliographic entries in different formats.

1. APA 7 Reference Example:

• Luther, M. (1963). I have a dream [Script]. March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Retrieved from https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/i-have-dream-address-delivered-march-washington-jobs-and-freedom

2. MLA 9 Example of the Citation Entry for Works Cited:

• Luther, Martin. “I Have a Dream.” Standford University , 1963, https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/i-have-dream-address-delivered-march-washington-jobs-and-freedom. Accessed 3 June 2020.

3. Example of the Chicago/Turabian Bibliography Entry:

• Luther, Martin. “I Have a Dream.” Script. Presented on the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, 1963. https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/i-have-dream-address-delivered-march-washington-jobs-and-freedom.

4. Example of a Reference Entry in Harvard:

• Luther, M 1963, ‘I have a dream’, viewed 22 July 2020, <https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/i-have-dream-address-delivered-march-washington-jobs-and-freedom>.

Summing Up on How to Cite a Speech in APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard Referencing Styles

Speech writing refers to a formal address or discourse that an individual delivers to an audience. Basically, renowned individuals give their statements, which contain credible information for citations. In this case, a writer can cite reports from live or online speech for a quotation. Also, a live speech is where one listens to a speaker addressing an audience. Then, most speakers put their presentations on websites to allow more people to access them effectively. As a result, such declarations exist as scripts, voice recordings, or videos. In turn, one should recall the following points when developing bibliographic entries for speech sources.

• Students should cite speech presentations in different referencing styles. For instance, one should mention the speech in APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, and Harvard writing formats.
• Citation methods rely on different rules that govern the capitalization of words and punctuations.
• The failure to follow specific rules makes speech references less credible.
• One should use initials in APA and Harvard and full speaker’s names in MLA and Chicago/Turabian.
• The speech title should appear in the title case in MLA and Chicago/Turabian styles and follow the sentence case for APA and Harvard formats. 

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General information.

The APA Style page " Transcript of an Audiovisual Work References " provides guidance on how to cite a speech in transcript:

• Provide the name of the speaker as the author.
• Describe the type of transcript in square brackets (e.g., “[Speech transcript]”).
• Provide the site name in the source element of the reference, followed by the URL of the transcript.

Web Source Example

For example, Ronald Reagan's "Remarks at the Brandenburg Gate," cited from the Presidential Library:

In-Text Citation

(Reagan, 1987).

Reference Page

Reagan, R. (1987). Tear Down This Wall: Remarks at Brandenburg Gate  [Speech transcript]. Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library, https://www.reaganfoundation.org/media/128814/brandenburg.pdf .

YouTube Video Example

(BarakObamadotcom, 2008).

BarakObamadotcom.(2008, Mar 18). Barak Obama speech: A more perfect union [Video].  YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrp-v2tHaDo .

• Citing Sources Guide (Shapiro Library)

This information is intended to be a guideline, not expert advice. Please be sure to speak to your professor about the appropriate way to cite sources in your class assignments and projects.

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Presidents’ Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February each year in the United States—and it offers the perfect opportunity to honor the life and achievements of past American presidents, especially historical standouts like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln.

The holiday was initially held on February 22nd to honor the life and achievements of George Washington (it coincided with his birthday). So, what better way to commemorate the holiday than by learning to cite one of Washington’s most famous presidential speeches: his farewell address.

Below, we’ve laid out instructions on how to cite any presidential speech in three citation styles: MLA, APA and Chicago. For each style, we’ve cited Washington’s farewell address as an example.

In order to properly cite a presidential speech, you need to know the following pieces of information:

• Speaker’s first and last name
• Speech’s title
• Date the speech was delivered
• Editor’s name (if applicable)

If you found the speech in a book, you should also take note of the following:

• Book’s title
• First and last name of the book’s author
• Book’s publisher
• Book’s year of publication
• City and state the publisher is located in
• Page number(s) of the speech

If you found the speech on the internet, instead pay attention to:

• Title of the article
• Title of the webpage (if it differs from the article name)
• Where the speech was given
• Publisher of the website
• Date the article was posted
• URL of the website where the speech resides

Citing Washington’s Farewell Address in MLA Style

How it would look if found in a book :

Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Speech.” Date Speech Delivered. Title of Book, edited or translated by First Name Last Name (if applicable) , Publisher, Year of Publication.

MLA citation example (We used the book shown here ) :

Washington, George. “George Washington’s Farewell Address.” 17 Sept. 1796. George Washington’s Farewell Address: Little Books of Wisdom , edited by John Brooks, Applewood Books, 1999.

Online Transcript

How it would look if found in an online transcript :

Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Speech.” Date Speech Was Delivered. Title of Website, Publisher’s Name, Date of Publication, URL (no http:// or https://). Transcript (include if video/audio formats also available).

MLA example :

Washington, George. “George Washington’s Farewell Address.” 17 Sept. 1796. The Avalon Project , Lillian Goldman Law Library, 2008, avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp. 

Citing Washington’s Farewell Address in APA Style

Title of speech. (Publication Year of Book). In Editor’s Initial. Last Name (Ed.), Book title . City, State: Publisher.

APA citation example :

George Washington’s farewell address. (1999). In J. Brooks (Ed.), George Washington’s farewell addres s: Little books of wisdom . Bedford, MA: Applewood Books.

Author’s Last name, First Initial. Middle Initial. (Year of Publication for Webpage). Title of the article or individual page [Format]. Retrieved from URL (no http:// or https://).

APA example :

Washington, G. (2008). Washington’s farewell address 1796   [Transcript]. Retrieved from avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp.

Citing Washington’s Farewell Address in Chicago Style

Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of Speech.” Year Speech Was Delivered. In Book Title, edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name. City, State: Publisher, Year Published.

Chicago citation example :

Washington, George. “George Washington’s Farewell Address.” 1796. In George Washington’s Farewell Address: Little Books of Wisdom , edited by John Brooks. Bedford, Massachusetts: Applewood Books, 1999.

Speaker’s Last Name, Speaker’s First Name. “Title of Speech.” Speech, Location Delivered, Date Delivered. “Title of Webpage,” Title of Site . Date Accessed. URL.

Chicago example :

Washington, George. “Washington’s Farewell Address.” Speech, Washington, D.C., 1796. “The Avalon Project: Documents in Law ,History and Diplomacy,” Avalon Project. Accessed November 6, 2018. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp.

Need to cite more than what’s outlined above? Cite This For Me has several citing resources including a Harvard referencing generator , a guide on how to do an in-text citation ,  an annotated bibliography example you can learn from, and other bibliographic tools.

To cite a speech from a printed book in the MLA style, use the following format.

Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. “Speech Title.” Date Speech Delivered (if available). Title of Book , edited or translated by First and Last Name (if applicable), Publisher, Year.

Prakash, Navya. “An Appeal Against Logic.” The Tyranny of Reason , Thoughtful Books, 2021.

To cite a speech from an online transcript in the MLA style, use the following format.

Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. “Speech Title.” Date Speech Delivered (if available). Title of Website , Publisher Name, Date, URL (without the http(s)://). Transcript. (Include if speech is also in video or audio format)

Prakash, Navya. “An Appeal Against Logic.” The Tyranny of Reason Project , The Laws of Reason Library, 2021, www.thereasonlibrary.edu/tyrannyofreason/an-appeal-against-logic_htm. Transcript.

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The Ultimate Guide to Citing Speeches in APA, MLA, and Chicago

Updated 03 Sep 2024

Citing speeches in academic writing requires careful attention to the specific citation style—APA, MLA, or Chicago—each of which has its own set of guidelines. The APA 7th edition focuses on including details like the speaker’s name, date, and format of the speech, whether it’s an audio recording or a transcript. MLA style, on the other hand, emphasizes the type of source, such as a live event, transcript, or recording, and often uses more abbreviated book titles. Chicago style offers flexibility, with distinct approaches for footnotes, bibliography entries, and author-date citations, depending on whether the speech was attended in person or accessed through a transcript or recording. This guide explores how to accurately cite speeches across these three major citation styles, ensuring your references are both precise and properly formatted by following format guidelines.

How to Cite a Speech in APA: Essential Guidelines

Citing a speech in APA 7th edition can be challenging, especially when you need to support an argument or idea. For students majoring in Law or Political Science, referencing speeches is a common requirement. The APA 7th edition manual provides clear guidelines for creating accurate citations, but the approach depends on the type of speech and the format of the source.

To cite a speech, you should include the speaker’s name, the recording date, the speech title in italics, and specify the type of speech in square brackets (e.g., [Speech audio recording]). Additionally, include the website or platform name where the speech is accessible and provide the URL. Adding a timestamp for in-text citations can help your readers locate the specific part of the speech. Remember to include the publication date in your reference to ensure academic integrity and clarity.

Here’s a summary of the key points:

Speaker’s Name : Start with the name of the person delivering the speech.

Date of Recording : Include the date when the speech was recorded or delivered.

Title in Italics : The title of the speech should be italicized.

Speech Type in Brackets : Use square brackets to describe the type of speech (e.g., [Speech audio recording]).

Source and URL : Mention the platform or website where the speech can be found and provide the URL.

By following these steps, you can ensure your APA citations are accurate and complete, allowing your readers to easily locate the referenced speech.

APA Speech Template

Speaker’s Last Name, Initial(s). (Year, Month Day). Title of your speech . [Speech audio recording]. Website’s Name. URL

APA Speech Reference

Luther King, M. Jr. (1968 April 4). I’ve been to the Mountaintop . [Speech audio recording]. American Rhetoric. https://www.learnoutloud.com/Catalog/History/-/Ive-Been-to-the-Mountaintop/16724

(Luther King, 1968, 2:17)

As for the other types and formats of a speech that can be cited in APA style, you may be dealing with a conference, a paper presentation, or deal with the personal communication source. Now, if you have to cite a TED Talk or something that has been uploaded to YouTube, you must use the referencing conventions for video citations since it is a different quote type.

Citing a Paper Presentation

When you are asked to cite a paper presentation that is related to an academic conference by turning to APA 7th edition style , you should use the following rules. Such presentations are often found in a book, especially in conference proceedings. Remember to include the date by stating the range of days as you can see below:

APA Citation Template

Author’s Last Name, Initial(s). (Year, Month Day-Day).  Title of the Document  [Paper presentation]. Conference Name, City, State, Country. URL

APA Citation Reference

Holmes, N. (2015, May 11-15).  Social disparity and the challenges of the school attendance problem in Scotland  [Paper presentation]. SSNCV 2015: Education in Scotland Open Conference, Aberdeen, UK.

APA Speech in-Text

(Holmes, 2015) Note:* when you have to cite a published conference that comes from an academic journal or a book that is available in print, the APA 7th manual recommends using the relevant citation rules for each specific source. Using APA how to cite a speech rules means that you should either choose the book citation style or the academic journal referencing system.*

Citing Speeches as Personal Communications

In certain situations, you may need to cite a speech that hasn’t been recorded or officially transcribed, such as a speech given at a private event. In these cases, APA style considers the speech as a personal communication. Since personal communications are not retrievable by your audience, they should only be cited in the text and not included in the reference list. Simply mention the speaker, the nature of the communication, and the date within your in-text citation.

Personal Communication Citation Example: 

The subject of domestic violence in Chicago's suburbs has been researched in the speech (R. Barley, personal communication, June 4, 2022). 

Citing a speech in APA format can be tricky, so if you need assistance, you might consider hiring a professional speech writer to ensure your citations are accurate and properly formatted.

How to Cite a Speech in MLA Style

When citing a speech in MLA style, the format depends on whether you accessed the speech live, via a transcript, or through a recording. Here’s a guide to help you cite each type correctly:

1. Citing a Speech You Attended:

Format: Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. Title of the Speech . Title of the Event, Date, Location.

Example: Smith, John. The Future of Technology . Tech Innovation Conference, 5 May 2023, Silicon Valley Conference Center.

2. Citing a Transcribed Speech in a Book:

Format: Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Speech.” Title of the Book , edited by Editor’s Name, Publisher, Year, page numbers.

Example: King, Martin Luther Jr. “I Have a Dream.” Speeches That Changed the World , edited by Jon Smith, Penguin Books, 2020, pp. 45-50.

3. Citing a Recorded Speech:

Format: Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. Title of the Speech . Date of Speech. Title of the Website/Platform , URL.

Example: Obama, Barack. Farewell Address . 10 Jan. 2017. YouTube , www.youtube.com/watch?v=obama_farewell .

These examples should help you accurately cite speeches in MLA format, depending on the source and context, and ensure you include the book title when citing transcribed speeches.

How to cite a speech in Chicago style

When citing contemporary speeches in Chicago style, it’s crucial to follow the correct format based on how you accessed the speech. If you attended the speech in person, include details about the event’s location and date. For transcribed or recorded speeches, the citation should match the format of the source type, such as a website or book, and must include the publisher name.

Understanding these distinctions ensures accurate citation, helping readers locate the original source of the speech. Let’s explore the key details and Chicago requirements for referencing speeches effectively.

How to Cite a Recorded or Transcribed Speech

When citing a video recording or online transcript, it’s essential to follow the correct format based on where you accessed the material. Start with the speaker’s name and ensure that punctuation and quotation marks are correctly used.

For a Transcript in a Book:

Use the standard book citation format, but begin with the speaker’s name instead of the book authors. Include the title of speech, title, page range, and chapter (if relevant), along with the book’s publication details. This approach provides a clear reference that aligns with the source type.

Bibliography:

Black, Jane. “The New Year Speech.” In Best Speeches , edited by Ronald Grey, 115-118. Newtown: Doe Publishers, 2022.

Jane Black, “The New Year Speech,” in Best Speeches ed. Ronald Grey (Newtown: Doe Publishers, 2022), 115-118.

Short note:

Black, “The Speech,” 115-118.

Citing a speech transcript found on a website

For this type of quote, it’s important to prioritize the speaker’s name over the website owners. While following the general guidelines of the Chicago style (which differ from those you follow to cite a speech in APA), emphasize the speaker.

Obama, Barack. “A More Perfect Union.” Transcript of speech delivered at the National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, 18 March 2008. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barackobama/barackobamaamoreperfectunion.htm .

Barack Obama,  “A More Perfect Union,” transcript of speech delivered at the National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, 18 March, 2008, https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barackobama/barackobamaamoreperfectunion.htm .

Obama, “A More Perfect Union”.

For historical speeches, such as George Washington's Farewell Address, you can reference the Avalon Project for the source. For example, in APA style, you would cite it as: Washington, G. (1796). Farewell Address. Retrieved from avalon.law.yale.edu 18th_century washing.asp.

Citing from a video on a website

Video presentations often provide condensed and valuable information for essays. Here is a sample of citing video content found on a website.

Smith, Emily. "The Science of Climate Change." Lecture, Environmental Studies Seminar, University of California, filmed March 12, 2022. Video of lecture, 1:25:37. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYZ12345 .

1. Emily Smith, "The Science of Climate Change," Lecture, Environmental Studies Seminar, University of California, filmed March 12, 2022, video of lecture, 1:25:37, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYZ12345 .

Smith, “Climate Change,” 1:23:35.

Citing a lecture you attended

You may need to reference a lecture, conference presentation, or public talk you attended. The format is relatively straightforward since no published materials are involved in this case. You should indicate the following information:

name of the speaker;

"Lecture" label;

details about the institution hosting the conference (its name, location);

Johnson, Lisa. “Globalization and Its Impact on Modern Society.” Lecture, Global Studies Seminar, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, March 5 2022.

1. Liza Johnson, “Globalization and Its Impact on Modern Society” (lecture, Global Studies Seminar, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, March 5, 2022).

Johnson, “Globalization.”

Citing speeches in Chicago author-date style

When asked how to cite a speech in Chicago style, many students are often interested in creating in-text quotes and a works cited entry using an author-date format. For that, it’s necessary to follow the pattern:

Obama, Barack. 2008. “A More Perfect Union.” Transcript of speech delivered at the National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, 18 March 2008. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/barackobama/barackobamaamoreperfectunion.htm .

In-text citation in an author-date format:

(Obama, 2008)

The difference is that you need to add the year right after the author’s name.

Citing a speech: Chicago format for best academic papers

Accurately citing your sources is an essential aspect of any academic writing task. In this article, we’ve covered the essentials of citing speeches in Chicago style. We discussed the general rules and delved into specific formatting variations for different scenarios. To make your writing process easier and faster, we recommend using our Chicago style citation generator to create correct citations in one mouse click. Take advantage of our effective tool elaborated by EduBirdie specialists and complete outstanding academic papers in Chicago style! Citing a speech in Chicago style can be intricate, so if you're struggling with it, you might consider the option to pay someone to do my homework to ensure your citations are correctly formatted.

What to do if the date is not indicated?

In cases where the lecture or conference you referenced does not have a listed date, you should use “n.d.” in your citation. This abbreviation means “no date.”

What are the formatting requirements if there’s no author mentioned?

When no author is indicated for the lecture or speech you quote, you can start your reference with the title. As for other details, follow the typical requirements when citing speeches or lectures.

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Written by Brandon Kryeger

Brandon Kryeger is an innovative writer specializing in creating in-depth guides on various academic tasks, including creative projects, multimedia presentations, and research papers. With a unique blend of creativity and academic rigor, Brandon provides students with practical tips and strategies to enhance their learning experience. Beyond his writing expertise, Brandon is passionate about the intersection of music and education, often exploring how hip-hop can be used as a powerful tool for student engagement and learning.

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Citing a speech

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Published January 29, 2021. Updated November 20, 2021.

To create a reference or citation for a speech, you will need to know the speaker, date, title of the speech, and URL (uniform resource locator).

The templates and examples below will show you how to cite a speech in MLA, APA, Chicago style, and Harvard referencing.

Easily cite a speech in the style of your choice using the  Chegg Writing citation generator .

Citing a speech in MLA style

In-text citation example: f

Works cited entry example:

Long, Huey P. “Every Man a King.” Radio Speech to the Nation, 23 Apr. 1934.

For more examples and information, view our  citing a speech in MLA  guide.

Help protect your paper against accidental plagiarism with the Chegg Writing  plagiarism checker  and  citation generator .

Citing a speech in APA style

In-text citation example:

(Long, 1934/2017)

Reference list entry example:

Long, H. P. (2017).  Every man a king  [Speech transcript]. American Rhetoric. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/PDFFiles/Huey%20P.%20Long%20-%20Every%20Man%20A%20King.pdf (Original work published 1934).

For more examples and information, view our  citing a speech in APA  guide.

Citing a speech in Chicago style, notes-bibliography

Footnote example:

Huey P. Long, “Every Man a King” (speech, Radio Speech to the Nation, April 23, 1934), https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/PDFFiles/Huey%20P.%20Long%20-%20Every%20Man%20A%20King.pdf.

Bibliography entry example:

Long, Huey P. “Every Man a King.” Speech, Radio Speech to the Nation, April 23, 1934. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/PDFFiles/Huey%20P.%20Long%20-%20Every%20Man%20A%20King.pdf.

For more examples and information, view our  citing a speech in Chicago Style  guide.

Citing a speech in Chicago style, author-date

(Long 1934)

Long, Huey P. 1934. “Every Man a King.” Speech, Radio Speech to the Nation.  https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/PDFFiles/Huey%20P.%20Long%20-%20Every%20Man%20A%20King.pdf.

How to cite a speech in Harvard referencing style

(Long, 1934)

Long, H. P. (1934)  Every man a king  [Speech transcript]. 23 April. Available at: https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/PDFFiles/Huey%20P.%20Long%20-%20Every%20Man%20A%20King.pdf (Accessed: 15 January 2021).

For more examples and information, view our  citing a speech in Harvard Referencing Style  guide.

Writing a paper ? Don’t forget to include a  bibliography .

Citation Examples

Digital media, personal communication, government documents, additional sources, frequently asked questions, how do i cite a recorded taping of a speech.

Below are the guidelines, templates, and examples for citing a recorded taping of a speech in MLA and APA styles.

To cite a recording of a speech in MLA, use the speaker’s last name for in-text citations. For the works-cited-list entry, include the first and last name of the speaker, the title of the speech, the production company, the date, and the URL (if applicable).

In-text citation

(Speaker’s Surname)

Works-cited list

Speaker’s Surname, F. M. “Title of the Speech.” Production Company/Publisher, Day Month Year, URL.

Clinton, William Jefferson. “Farewell Address to the Nation.”  American Rhetoric , 18 Jan. 2001, www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/wjclintonfarewell.htm.

To cite a recorded taping of a speech in APA, use the name of the speaker and the publication year for in-text citations. For the reference list entry, include the first and last name of the speaker, the publication date, the title of the speech, the format of the recording in brackets, the production company or publisher, and the URL (if available).

(Speaker’s Surname, Year)

(Clinton, 2001)

Reference list entry

Speaker’s Surname, F. M. (Year, Month Day).  Title of the speech  [Format Description]. Production Company/Publisher. URL

Clinton, W. J. (2001, January 18).  Farewell address to the nation  [Speech audio recording]. American Rhetoric.  https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/wjclintonfarewell.htm

How do I cite "I Have a Dream"?

Below are the guidelines, templates, and examples for citing “I Have a Dream” in MLA and APA styles.

To cite “I Have a Dream” in MLA, use the last name of the speaker in in-text citations. The works cited list entry includes the name of the speaker, title of the speech, title of the website where the speech was found, date of the speech and its publication online, and the URL.

In-text citation template & example: 

Works cited list template & example: 

Speaker’s Surname, First Name. “Title of the Speech.” Date given.  Title of Website , Publisher of the Website (if different from website name), date transcript was published, URL.

King, Martin Luther, Jr. “I Have a Dream.” 28 Aug. 1963.  American Rhetoric , 20 Aug. 2020, www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm.

In MLA style, the date the speech was originally given can be included after the title, followed by a period.

To cite “I Have a Dream” in APA, use the last name of the speaker and year of the speech in in-text citations. The reference list entry includes the name of the speaker, title of the speech, website where the speech was found, date of the speech, and URL.

(Speaker’s Last Name, year)

(King, 1963)

Reference list entry template & example: 

Speaker’s Surname, F. M. (Date speech was given).  Title of the speech  [Description]. Website Name. URL

King, M. L., Jr. (1963, August 28).  I have a dream  [Speech audio recording]. American Rhetoric. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

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Chegg Writing  »  Citations  » Citing a speech

APA Citation Style

• Getting Started
• In-Text Citations
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Apa style part i: introduction & in-text citations.

APA Style Part II: Reference Citations

APA Style Part III: DOI vs URL vs Database Name

APA Style Part IV: Other Resources

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• Introduction
• Parenthetical vs. narrative
• Multiple authors

Missing information

• Sources to include

Tools and resources

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How to create APA citations

APA Style is widely used by students, researchers, and professionals in the social and behavioral sciences. Scribbr’s free citation generator automatically generates accurate references and in-text citations.

This citation guide outlines the most important citation guidelines from the 7th edition APA Publication Manual (2020).

• Cite a webpage
• Cite a book
• Cite a journal article
• Cite a YouTube video

APA in-text citations

APA in-text citations include the author’s last name, publication date, and, if relevant, a locator such as a page number or timestamp. For example, (Smith, 2021, p. 170) . See it as a shorter version of the entry in the reference list .

You should include in-text citations every time you’re quoting or paraphrasing someone else’s ideas or words. In doing so, you give credit to the original author and avoid plagiarism .

Parenthetical vs. narrative citation

The in-text citation can take two forms: parenthetical and narrative. Both types are generated automatically when citing a source with Scribbr’s APA Citation Generator.

• Parenthetical citation: According to new research … (Smith, 2020) .
• Narrative citation: Smith (2020) notes that …

Multiple authors and corporate authors

The in-text citation changes slightly when a source has multiple authors or an organization as an author. Pay attention to punctuation and the use of the ampersand (&) symbol.

When the author, publication date or locator is unknown, take the steps outlined below.

APA Citation Generator

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APA references

APA references generally include information about the author , publication date , title , and source . Depending on the type of source, you may have to include extra information that helps your reader locate the source.

It is not uncommon for certain information to be unknown or missing, especially with sources found online. In these cases, the reference is slightly adjusted.

Formatting the APA reference page

On the first line of the page, write the section label “References” (in bold and centered). On the second line, start listing your references in alphabetical order .

Apply these formatting guidelines to the APA reference page:

• Double spacing (within and between references)
• Hanging indent of ½ inch
• Legible font (e.g. Times New Roman 12 or Arial 11)
• Page number in the top right header

Which sources to include

On the reference page, you only include sources that you have cited in the text (with an in-text citation ). You should not include references to personal communications that your reader can’t access (e.g. emails, phone conversations or private online material).

In addition to the APA Citation Generator, Scribbr provides many more tools and resources that help millions of students and academics every month.

• Citation Generator : Generate flawless citations in APA, MLA , and Harvard style .
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• Guides and videos : Explore hundreds of articles, bite-sized videos, time-saving templates, and handy checklists that guide you through the process of research, writing, and citation.

• Plagiarism and grammar
• Citation guides

APA Citation Generator

Don't let plagiarism errors spoil your paper, a comprehensive guide to apa citations and format, overview of this guide:.

This page provides you with an overview of APA format, 7th edition. Included is information about referencing, various citation formats with examples for each source type, and other helpful information.

If you’re looking for MLA format , check out the Citation Machine MLA Guide. Also, visit the Citation Machine homepage to use the APA formatter, which is an APA citation generator, and to see more styles .

Being responsible while researching

When you’re writing a research paper or creating a research project, you will probably use another individual’s work to help develop your own assignment. A good researcher or scholar uses another individual’s work in a responsible way. This involves indicating that the work of other individuals is included in your project (i.e., citing), which is one way to prevent plagiarism.

Plagiarism? What is it?

The word plagiarism is derived from the Latin word, plagiare , which means “to kidnap.” The term has evolved over the years to now mean the act of taking another individual’s work and using it as your own, without acknowledging the original author (American Psychological Association, 2020 p. 21). Plagiarism can be illegal and there can be serious ramifications for plagiarizing someone else’s work. Thankfully, plagiarism can be prevented. One way it can be prevented is by including citations and references in your research project. Want to make them quickly and easily? Try the Citation Machine citation generator, which is found on our homepage.

All about citations & references

Citations and references should be included anytime you use another individual’s work in your own assignment. When including a quote, paraphrased information, images, or any other piece of information from another’s work, you need to show where you found it by including a citation and a reference. This guide explains how to make them.

APA style citations are added in the body of a research paper or project and references are added to the last page.

Citations , which are called in-text citations, are included when you’re adding information from another individual’s work into your own project. When you add text word-for-word from another source into your project, or take information from another source and place it in your own words and writing style (known as paraphrasing), you create an in-text citation. These citations are short in length and are placed in the main part of your project, directly after the borrowed information.

References are found at the end of your research project, usually on the last page. Included on this reference list page is the full information for any in-text citations found in the body of the project. These references are listed in alphabetical order by the author's last name.

An APA in-text citation includes only three items: the last name(s) of the author(s), the year the source was published, and sometimes the page or location of the information. References include more information such as the name of the author(s), the year the source was published, the full title of the source, and the URL or page range.

Why is it important to include citations & references

Including APA citations and references in your research projects is a very important component of the research process. When you include citations, you’re being a responsible researcher. You’re showing readers that you were able to find valuable, high-quality information from other sources, place them into your project where appropriate, all while acknowledging the original authors and their work.

Common ways students and scholars accidentally plagiarize

Believe it or not, there are instances when you could attempt to include in-text and full references in the appropriate places, but still accidentally plagiarize. Here are some common mistakes to be aware of:

Mistake #1 - Misquoting sources: If you plan to use a direct quote, make sure you copy it exactly as is. Sure, you can use part of the full quote or sentence, but if you decide to put quotation marks around any words, those words should match exactly what was found in the original source. Here’s a line from The Little Prince , by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry:

“Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.”

Here’s an acceptable option:

“Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves,” stated de Saint-Exupéry (1943, p. 3).

Here’s a misquote:

“Grown-ups barely ever understand anything by themselves,” stated de Saint-Exupéry (1943, p. 3).

Notice the slight change in the words. The incorrect phrasing is an instance of accidental plagiarism.

Mistake #2 - Problems with paraphrasing: When we paraphrase, we restate information using our own words and writing style. It’s not acceptable to substitute words from the original source with synonyms.

Let’s use the same sentence from The Little Prince .

A correct paraphrase could be:

de Saint-Exupéry (1943) shares various ways adults frustrate children. One of the biggest being that kids have to explain everything. It’s too bad adults are unable to comprehend anything on their own (p. 3).

An incorrect paraphrase would be:

de Saint-Exupéry (1943) shares that adults never understand anything by themselves, and it is exhausting for kids to be always and forever clarifying things to them (p.3).

Notice how close the incorrect paraphrase is from the original. This is an instance of accidental plagiarism.

Make sure you quote and paraphrase properly in order to prevent accidental plagiarism.

If you’re having a difficult time paraphrasing properly, it is acceptable to paraphrase part of the text AND use a direct quote. Here’s an example:

de Saint-Exupery (1943) shares various ways adults frustrate children. One of the biggest being that kids have to explain everything, and “it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them” (p. 3).

Information About APA

Who created it.

The American Psychological Association is an organization created for individuals in the psychology field. With close to 121,000 members, they provide educational opportunities, funding, guidance, and research information for everything psychology-related. They also have numerous high-quality databases, peer-reviewed journals, and books that revolve around mental health.

The American Psychological Association is also credited with creating their own specific citation and reference style. Today, this format is used by individuals not only in the psychology field, but many other subject areas as well. Education, economics, business, and social sciences also use APA style quite frequently. Click here for more information . This guide covers general information about the style, but is not affiliated with the American Psychological Association.

Why was this style created?

This format was first developed in 1929 to form a standardized way for researchers in science fields to document their sources. Prior to the inception of these standards and guidelines, individuals were recognizing the work of other authors by including bits and pieces of information in random order. There wasn’t a set way to format citations and references. You can probably imagine how difficult it was to understand the sources that were used for research projects!

Having a standard format for citing sources allows readers to glance at a citation or APA reference and easily locate the title, author, year published, and other critical pieces of information needed to understand a source.

The evolution of this style

The guide below is based on APA style 7th edition, which was released in 2020. In previous versions of APA format, researchers and scholars were required to include the publisher location for books and the date that an electronic resource was accessed. Both are no longer required to be included.

Details on the differences between the 6th and 7th editions is addressed later in this guide.

Citations & References

The appearance of citations & references.

The format for references varies, but most use this general format:

%%Author’s Last name, First initial. (Date published). Title . URL

Researchers and scholars must look up the proper format for the source that they’re attempting to cite. Books have a certain format, websites have a different format, periodicals have a different format, and so on. Scroll down to find the proper format for the source you’re citing or referencing.

If you would like help citing your sources, CitationMachine.com has a citation generator that will help make the APA citation process much easier for you. To start, simply click on the source type you're citing:

• Journal articles

In-text citations

An APA in-text citation is included in research projects in three instances: When using a direct quote, paraphrasing information, or simply referring to a piece of information from another source.

Quite often, researchers and scholars use a small amount of text, word for word, from another source and include it in their own research projects. This is done for many reasons. Sometimes, another author’s words are so eloquently written that there isn’t a better way to rephrase it yourself. Other times, the author’s words can help prove a point or establish an understanding for something in your research project. When using another author’s exact words in your research project, include an APA in-text citation directly following it.

In addition to using the exact words from another source and placing them into your project, these citations are also added anytime you paraphrase information. Paraphrasing is when you take information from another source and rephrase it, in your own words.

When simply referring to another piece of information from another source, also include a citation directly following it.

Citations in the text are found near a direct quote, paraphrased information, or next to a mention of another source. To see examples of some narrative/ parenthetical citations in action, look at the image above, under “All About Citations & References.”

Note: *Only include the page or paragraph number when using a direct quote or paraphrase. Page numbers have a p. before the number, pp. before the page range, and para. before the paragraph number. This information is included to help the reader locate the exact portion of text themselves. It is unnecessary to include this information when you’re simply referring to another source.

Examples of APA in-text citations:

“Well, you’re about to enter the land of the free and the brave. And I don’t know how you got that stamp on your passport. The priest must know someone” (Tóibín, 2009, p. 52).

Student teachers who use technology in their lessons tend to continue using technology tools throughout their teaching careers (Kent & Giles, 2017, p. 12).

If including the author’s name in the sentence, place the year in the parentheses directly next to his or her name. Add the page number at the end, unless it’s a source without any pages or paragraph numbers (See Section 8.10 of the Publication manual for more details).

In-text citation APA example:

According to a study done by Kent and Giles (2017), student teachers who use technology in their lessons tend to continue using technology tools throughout their teaching careers.

The full references, or citations, for these sources can be found on the last part of a research project, titled the “References.”

Here’s how to create in-text citations for specific amounts of authors:

APA citation with no author

When the source lacks an author’s name, place the title, year, and page number (if available) in the text. The title should be in italics if it sits alone (such as a movie, brochure, or report). If the source is part of a whole (as many web pages and articles are), place the title in quotation marks without italics (See Section 8.14 of the Publication manual ).

Structure of an APA format citation in the text narratively, with the author's name missing:

Title of Source (Year) or “Title of Source” (Year)

Structure of an APA style format citation, in parentheses at the end of the sentence, with the author’s name missing: (Title of Source, Year) or (“Title of Source,” Year)

Structure for one author

In the text, narratively: Last name of Author (Year)...(page number).

In parentheses, at the end of the sentence: (Last name of Author, Year, page number).

Structure for two authors

Place the authors in the order they appear on the source. Only use the ampersand in the parenthetical citations (see Section 8.17 of the Publication manual ). Use ‘and’ to separate the author names if they’re in the text of the sentence.

In the text, narratively: Last name of Author 1 and Last name of Author 2 (Year)....(page number).

In parentheses, at the end of the sentence: (Last name of Author 1 & Last name of Author 2, Year, page number).

Structure for three or more authors

Only include the first listed author’s name in the first and any subsequent citations. Follow it with et al.

(Last name Author 1 et al., Year, page number)

(Agbayani et al., 2020, p. 99)

Last name of Author 1 et al. (Year)...(page).

Agbayani et al. (2020)...(p. 99)

One author, multiple works, same year

What do you do when you want to cite multiple works by an author, and the sources all written in the same year?

Include the letters ‘a’ ‘b’ ‘c’ and so on after the year in the citation.

(Jackson, 2013a)

Jackson (2013a)

Writers can even lump dates together.

Example: Jackson often studied mammals while in Africa (2013a, 2013b).

On the APA reference page, include the same letters in the full references.

Groups and organizations

Write out the full name of the group or organization in the first citation and place the abbreviation next to it in brackets. If the group or organization is cited again, only include the abbreviation. If it doesn’t have an abbreviation associated with it, write out the entire organization’s name each and every time (see Section 8.21 of the Publication manual ).

First APA citation for an organization with an abbreviation: (World Health Organization [WHO], Year)

World Health Organization (WHO, Year)

Notice in the example directly above, the name of the organization is written out in full in the text of the sentence, and the abbreviation is placed in parentheses next to it.

Subsequent APA citations in the text for an organization with an abbreviation: (WHO, Year) OR WHO (Year)

All citations in the text for an organization without an abbreviation: (Citation Machine, Year) or Citation Machine (Year)

One in-text citation, multiple works

Sometimes you’ll need to cite more than one work within an in-text citation. Follow the same format (author, year) format but place semicolons between works (p. 263).

(Obama, 2016; Monroe et al., 1820; Hoover & Coolidge, 1928)

Reminder: There are many citation tools available on CitationMachine.com. Head to our homepage to learn more, check out our APA citation website, and cite your sources easily! The most useful resource on our website? Our APA citation generator, which doesn’t just create full references, it’s also an APA in-text citation website! It’ll do both for you!

Click here to learn more about crediting work .

Reference list citation components

References display the full information for all the citations found in the body of a research project.

Some things to keep in mind when it comes to the references:

• All references sit together on their own page, which is usually the last page(s) of a paper.
• Title the page ‘References’
• Place ‘References’ in the center of the page and bold it. Keep the title in the same font and size as the references. Do not italicize, underline, place the title in quotation marks, or increase the font size.
• The entire page is double spaced.
• All references are listed in alphabetical order by the first word in the reference, which is usually the author’s last name. If the source lacks an author, alphabetize the source by the title (ignore A, An, or The)
• All references have a hanging indent, meaning that the second line of text is indented in half an inch. See examples throughout this guide.
• Remember, each and every citation in the text of the paper MUST have a full reference displayed in the reference list. The citations in the text provide the reader with a quick glimpse about the sources used, but the references in the reference list provide the reader with all the information needed to seek out the source themselves.

Learn more about each component of the reference citation and how to format it in the sections that follow. See an APA sample paper reference list at the end of this entire section.

Author’s names

The names of authors are written in reverse order. Include the initials for the first and middle names. End this information with a period (see Section 9.8 of the Publication manual ).

Format: Last name, F. M.

• Angelou, M.
• Doyle, A. C.

Two or more authors

When two or more authors work together on a source, write them in the order in which they appear on the source. You can name up to 20 authors in the reference. For sources with 2 to 20 authors, place an ampersand (&) before the final author. Use this format:

Last name, F. M., & Last name, F. M.

Last name, F. M., Last name, F. M., Last name, F. M., Last name, F. M., & Last name, F. M.

Kent, A. G., Giles, R. M., Thorpe, A., Lukes, R., Bever, D. J., & He, Y.

If there are 21 or more authors listed on a source, only include the first 19 authors, add three ellipses, and then add the last author’s name.

Roberts, A., Johnson, M. C., Klein, J., Cheng, E. V., Sherman, A., Levin, K. K. , ...Lopez, G. S.

If you plan on using a free APA citation tool, like the one at CitationMachine.com, the names of the authors will format properly for you.

###No authors

If the source lacks an author, place the title in the first position in the reference (Section 9.12 of the Publication manual ). When the source’s title begins with a number (Such as 101 Dalmatians ), place the reference alphabetically as if the number was spelled out. 101 Dalmatians would be placed in the spot where ‘One hundred’ would go, but keep the numbers in their place.

Additionally, if the title begins with the words ‘A’, ‘An,’ or ‘The,’ ignore these words and place the title alphabetically according to the next word.

See the “Titles” section below for more information on formatting the title of sources.

###Corporate/Organization authors

On an APA reference page, corporate authors are always written out in full. In the text of your paper, you may have some abbreviations (such as UN for United Nations), but in the full references, always include the full names of the corporation or organization (following Section 9.11 of the official Publication manual ).

%%United Nations. (2019). Libya: $202 million needed to bring life-saving aid to half a million people hit by humanitarian crisis. https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/02/1031981

Publication date & retrieval date

Directly after the author’s name is the date the source was published. Include the full date for newspapers and magazine articles, and only the year for journals and all other sources. If no date is found on the source, include the initials, n.d. for “no date.”

%% Narducci, M. (2017, May 19). City renames part of 11th Street Ed Snider Way to honor Flyers founder. The Philadelphia Inquirer . http://www.philly.com/

If using our APA Citation Machine, our citation generator will add the correct format for you automatically.

Giving a retrieval date is not needed unless the online content is likely to be frequently updated and changed (e.g., encyclopedia article, dictionary entry, Twitter profile, etc.).

%%Citation Machine [@CiteMachine]. (n.d.). Tweets [Twitter profile]. Twitter. Retrieved October 10, 2019, from https://twitter.com/CiteMachine

When writing out titles for books, articles, chapters, or other non-periodical sources, only capitalize the first word of the title and the first word of the subtitle. Names of people, places, organizations, and other proper nouns also have the first letter capitalized. For books and reports, italicize the title in the APA citation.

Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Roots: The saga of an American family.

For articles and chapters in APA referencing, do not italicize the title.

Wake up the nation: Public libraries, policy making, and political discourse.

For newspapers, magazines, journals, newsletters, and other periodicals, capitalize the first letter in each word and italicize the title.

The Seattle Times.

A common question is whether to underline your title or place it in italics or quotation marks in the reference list. Here’s a good general rule: When a source sits alone and is not part of a larger whole, place the title in italics. If the source does not sit alone and is part of a larger whole, do not place it in italics.

Books, movies, journals, and television shows are placed in italics since they stand alone. Songs on an album, episodes of television shows, chapters in books, and articles in journals are not placed in italics since they are smaller pieces of larger wholes.

The Citation Machine citation generator will format the title in your citations automatically.

Additional information about the title

If you feel it would be helpful to include additional information about the source type, include a descriptive noun or two in brackets immediately following the title. Capitalize the first letter.

%%Kennedy, K., & Molen, G. R. (Producers), & Spielberg, S. (Director). (1993). Jurassic Park [Film]. USA: Universal.

Besides [Film], other common notations include:

• [Audio podcast]
• [Letter to the editor]
• [Television series episode]
• [Facebook page]
• [Blog post]
• [Lecture notes]
• [PowerPoint presentation]
• [Video file]

If you are using Citation Machine citing tools, additional information about the title is automatically added for you.

Publisher information

For books and reports, include the publisher name but not the location (see Section 9.29 of the Publication manual ). Older editions of the style required the city, state and/or country, but this hasn't been the case since the 7th edition was released.

It is not necessary to include the entire name of the publisher. It is acceptable to use a brief, intelligible form. However, if Books or Press are part of the publisher’s names, keep these words in the reference. Other common terms, such as Inc., Co., Publishers, and others can be omitted.

For newspapers, journals, magazines, and other periodicals, include the volume and issue number after the title. The volume number is listed first, by itself, in italics. The issue number is in parentheses immediately after it, not italicized. There is no space after the closing parenthesis and before the volume number.

%%Giannoukos, G., Besas, G., Hictour, V., & Georgas, T. (2016). A study on the role of computers in adult education. Educational Research and Reviews , 11 (9), 907-923. https://doi.org/10.5897/ERR2016.2688

After including the publisher information, end this section with a period.

Perseus Books.

Electronic source information:

For online sources, the URL or DOI (Direct Object Identifier) are included at the end of an APA citation.

DOI numbers are often created by publishers for journal articles and other periodical sources. They were created in response to the problem of broken or outdated links and URLs. When a journal article is assigned a DOI number, it is static and will never change. Because of its permanent characteristic, DOIs are the preferred type of electronic information to include in APA citations. When a DOI number is not available, include the source’s URL (see Section 9.34 in the Publication manual ).

For DOIs, include the number in this format:

http://doi.org/xxxx

For URLs, type them in this format:

http:// or https://

Other information about electronic sources:

• If the URL is longer than a line, break it up before a punctuation mark.
• Do not place a period at the end of the citation/URL.
• It is unnecessary to include retrieval dates, unless the source changes often over time (like in a Wikipedia article).
• It is not necessary to include the names of databases

If using the Citation Machine APA citation website autocite features, the online publication information will be automatically replaced by the DOI. The Citation Machine APA template will properly cite your online sources for you.

Make sure you run your completed paper through the Citation Machine Plus smart proofreader, which scans for grammar, spelling, and plagiarism. Whether it’s an adjective , verb , or pronoun out-of-place, our technology helps edits your paper for you!

Annotated bibliographies:

An APA annotated bibliography is a full bibliography that includes a small note for each reference citation. Each note should be short (1-2 paragraphs) and contain a summary or your evaluation about each source. When creating your citations on CitationMachine.net, there is a field at the bottom of each form to add your own annotations.

Follow the publication manual guidelines on paper format and writing style. Let your instructor guide other details about your annotations. Still confused? Read our guide on annotated bibliographies .

These types of projects look different depending on the style you’re using. Use the link at the top of the page to access resources related to the Modern Language Association’s style. Here’s information related to Chicago citation style .

Page formatting

Need help with the design and formatting of your paper? Look no further! This section provides the ins and outs of properly displaying the information in your APA essay.

• Times New Roman, 12-point size.
• Calibri, Arial, or Georgia, 11-point size
• Lucida, Sans Unicode, or Computer Modern, 10-point size
• Indents = Every paragraph should start with an indent.
• Margins = 1 inch around the entire document
• Spacing = Double space everything!

Arrange your pages in this order:

• Page 1 - APA Title Page (see below for information on the title page)
• Page 2 - Abstract (If your professor requests one)
• Page 3 - First page of text
• References begin on their own page. Include the list of references on the page after the text.
• Tables and figures

Keep in mind that the order above is the recommendation for papers being submitted for peer review. If you’re writing an APA style paper for a class, your professor may be more lenient about the requirements. Also, if you’re submitting your paper for a specific journal, check the requirements on the journal’s website. Each journal has different rules and procedures.

Just a little nudge to remind you about the Citation Machine Plus smart proofreader. Whether it’s a conjunction or interjection out of place, a misspelled word, or an out of place citation, we’ll offer suggestions for improvement! Don’t forget to check out our APA citation maker while you’re at it!

Running heads

In older editions of APA, running heads were required for all papers. Since the 7th edition, that’s changed.

• Student paper: No running head
• Professional paper: Include a running head

The running head displays the title of the paper and the page number on all pages of the paper. This header is found on every page of a professional paper (not a student paper), even on the title page (sometimes called an APA cover page) and reference list (taken from Section 2.8 of the Publication manual ).

It's displayed all in capital letters at the top of the page. Across from the running head, along the right margin, is the page number.

• Use the header feature in your word processor. Both Google Docs and Word have these features available.
• Use one for the recommended fonts mentioned under "Page formatting."

Title pages

A title page, sometimes called an APA cover page, graces the cover of an essay or paper. An APA title page should follow rules from Section 2.3 of the official Publication manual and include:

• Page number, which is page 1
• Use title case and bold font
• The title should be under 12 words in length
• The title should be a direct explanation of the focus of the paper. Do not include any unnecessary descriptors such as “An Analysis of…” or “A Study of…”
• Exclude any labels such as Mr., Ms., Dr, PhD...
• Name of the school or institution
• Course number and/or class name
• Name of your instructor, including their preferred honorifics (e.g., PhD, Dr., etc.)
• Paper’s due date
• If this is a professional paper, also include a running head. If this is a student paper, do not include one.

Follow the directions for the running head and page number in the section above. Below the running head, a few lines beneath, and centered in the middle of the page, should be the title. The next line below is the author’s name(s), followed by the name of the school or institution, the class or course name, your instructor’s name, and the paper’s due date.

All components on this page should be written in the same font and size as the rest of your paper. Double space the title, names, name of school or institution, and all other information on the page (except for the running head and page number).

Example - Student Title Page APA:

Example - Professional Title Page APA:

If you’re submitting your paper to a journal for publication, check the journal’s website for exact requirements. Each journal is different and some may request a different type of APA format cover page.

Looking to create an APA format title page? Head to CitationMachine.com’s homepage and choose “Title Page” at the top of the screen.

An abstract briefly but thoroughly summarizes dissertation contents. It’s found in the beginning of a professional paper, right after the title page. Abstracts are meant to help readers determine whether to continue reading the entire document. With that in mind, try to craft the lead sentence to entice the reader to continue reading.

Here are a few tips:

• Be factual and keep your opinions out. An abstract should accurately reflect the paper or dissertation and should not involve information or commentary not in the thesis.
• Communicate your main thesis. What was the examined problem or hypothesis? A reader should know this from reading your abstract.
• Keep it brief. Stick to the main points and don’t add unnecessary words or facts. It should not exceed 250 words.
• Consider your paper’s purpose. It’s important to cater your abstract to your paper type and think about what information the target audience for that paper type would want. For example, an empirical article may mention methodology or participant description. A quantitative or qualitative meta-analysis would mention the different variables considered and how information was synthesized.
• Use verbs over noun equivalents, and active voice. Example: “There was research into…” becomes “We researched…”

Formatting guidelines:

• The abstract goes after the title page.
• It should have the same font (size and type) as the rest of the paper.
• It should stick to one page.
• Double-space all page text.
• Center and bold the word “Abstract” at the top of the paper.
• Don’t indent the first line of the abstract body. The body should also be in plain text.
• For the keywords, place it on the line after the abstract and indent the first line (but not subsequent lines). The word “Keywords:” is capitalized, italicized, and followed by a colon. The actual keywords are sentence case and in plan font.
• List each keyword one after the other, and separate them by a comma.
• After the last keyword, no ending punctuation is needed.

Tables & Figures

If your paper includes a lot of numerical information or data, you may want to consider placing it into a table or a figure, rather than typing it all out. A visual figure or simple, organized table filled with numerical data is often easier for readers to digest and comprehend than tons of paragraphs filled with numbers. Chapter 7 of the Publication manual outlines formatting for tables and figures. Let's cover the basics below.

If you’d like to include a table or figure in your paper, here are a few key pieces of information to keep in mind:

• At the end of the paper after the APA reference page
• In the text after it is first mentioned
• The table first mentioned in the text should be titled ‘Table 1.’ The next table mentioned in the text is ‘Table 2,’ and so on. For figures, it would be 'Figure 1,' 'Figure 2,' and so forth.

• Even though every table and figure is numbered, also create a title for each that describes the information it contains. Capitalize all important words in the title.
• For tables, do not use any vertical lines, only use horizontal to break up information and headings.
• Single spacing is acceptable to use in tables and figures. If you prefer double spacing your information, that is okay too.
• Do not include extra information or “fluff.” Keep it simple!
• Do not include the same exact information in the paper. Only include the complete information in one area—the table or the text.
• All tables and figures must be referenced in the text. It is unacceptable to throw a table or figure into the back of the paper without first providing a brief summary or explanation of its relevance.

Publication Manual 6th Edition vs 7th Edition

The 6th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association was released in 2009. The current 7th edition came out in the fall of 2019 and was designed to be more student focused, provide more guidance on accessibility, and address changes that have developed over the last 10 years.

Below, we’ve listed what we feel are the most relevant changes related to APA format.

Journals and DOIs

DOI stands for “digital object identifier.” Many journal articles use and have a unique DOI that should be included in a full citation.

When including a DOI in a citation, format it as a URL. Do not label it “DOI.” Articles without DOIs from databases are treated as print works. For example:

6th edition:

%%Gänsicke, B. T., Schreiber, M. R., Toloza, O., Fusillo, N. P. G., Koester, D., & Manser, C. J. (2019). Accretion of a giant planet onto a white dwarf star. Nature, 576 (7785), 61–64. doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1789-8

7th edition:

%%Gänsicke, B. T., Schreiber, M. R., Toloza, O., Fusillo, N. P. G., Koester, D., & Manser, C. J. (2019). Accretion of a giant planet onto a white dwarf star. Nature, 576 (7785), 61–64. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1789-8

Citing Books

There are few new guidelines when you are citing a book. First, the publisher location no longer needs to be indicated.

%%Zack, P. O. (2001). The shoals of time. Bloomington, IN: First Books Library.

%%Zack, P. O. (2001). The shoals of time. First Books Library.

Second, the format of an ebook (e.g., Kindle, etc.) no longer needs to be indicated.

%%Niven, J. (2012). Ada Blackjack: A true story of survival in the Arctic [Kindle].

%%Niven, J. (2012). Ada Blackjack: A true story of survival in the Arctic .

Lastly, books from research databases without DOIs are treated the same as print works.

When using a URL in a citation, you no longer need to include the term “Retrieved from” before URLs (except with retrieval dates). The font should be blue and underlined, or black and not underlined.

6th Edition:

%%Flood, A. (2019, December 6). Britain has closed almost 800 libraries since 2010, figures show. The Guardian . Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/dec/06/britain-has-closed-almost-800-libraries-since-2010-figures-show

7th Edition:

%%Flood, A. (2019, December 6). Britain has closed almost 800 libraries since 2010, figures show. The Guardian . https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/dec/06/britain-has-closed-almost-800-libraries-since-2010-figures-show

Within a full APA citation, you may spell out up to 20 author names. For two to 20 authors, include an ampersand (&) before the name of the last author. For sources with 21 or more authors, structure it as follows:

Structure: First 19 authors’ names, . . . Last author’s name.

7th edition example: Washington, G., Adams, J., Jefferson, T., Madison, J., Monroe, J., Adams, J. Q., Jackson, A., Van Buren, M., Harrison, W. H., Tyler, J., Polk, J. K., Taylor, Z., Filmore, M., Pierce, F., Buchanan, J., Lincoln, A., Johnson, A., Grant, U. S., Hayes, R. B., Garfield, . . . Trump, D.

When creating an in-text citation for a source with 3 or more authors, use “et al.” after the first author’s name. This helps abbreviate the mention.

6th Edition: (Honda, Johnson, Prosser, Rossi, 2019)

7th Edition: (Honda et al., 2019)

Tables and Figures

Instead of having different formats for tables and figures, both use one standardized format. Now both tables and figures have a number, a title, name of the table/figure, and a note at the bottom.

If you’re still typing into Google “how to cite a website APA” among other related questions and keywords, click here for further reading on the style .

When you’re through with your writing, toss your entire paper into the Citation Machine Plus plagiarism checker , which will scan your paper for grammar edits and give you up to 5 suggestions cards for free! Worry less about a determiner , preposition , or adverb out of place and focus on your research!

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.) (2020). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

Updated March 3, 2020

Written and edited by Michele Kirschenbaum and Wendy Ikemoto. Michele Kirschenbaum has been an awesome school librarian since 2006 and is an expert in citing sources. Wendy Ikemoto has a master’s degree in library and information science and has been working for Citation Machine since 2012.

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