How to cite a TED Talk for academic discussions

Knowing how to cite a TED talk has become a vital asset for students working on college papers, preparing for academic discussions, or learning how to present their projects in class and sound professional while doing so. Citing a TED talk is no longer a skill reserved for celebrity speakers. It is an equally important resource for someone who aspires to become a paper writer or an accomplished researcher with the ability to win the audience over with an effortless turn of phrase or a credible reference.

When citing a TED talk, it is essential to keep in mind that the required format will mainly depend on the platform on which the talk can be accessed. The primary hubs for TED talks around the globe are TED.com and YouTube. Proper citations that accompany your presentation will ensure that your academic status is never challenged while eliminating any possible plagiarism accusations and providing credibility to your research. Learning how to cite a TED talk is an art that can be mastered through various formats, including APA, MLA, and Chicago styles.

How to cite a TED talk in APA

For TED talks from YouTube

Citing a TED talk from YouTube in APA requires the researcher to indicate the uploader of the video as the ultimate author. If the TED talk is authorized, it is uploaded by the TED channel and therefore will require the name of the channel to serve as the original author.

Format: TED. (year, month, day). Title of Ted Talk. [Video]. YouTube. URL

Example: TED. (2013, February 4). Your body language may shape who you are. Amy Cuddy [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-_Mh1QhMc

For TED talks from TED.com

If you are accessing the TED talk from the official website, the formatting standard is simple and straightforward, with the speaker’s name appointed as the author. The title of the uploaded video and the date of publication are also mentioned. How to cite a TED talk in APA? Let’s see below:

Format: Speaker’s Last Name, First Initial. (year, month, day). Title of TED Talk [Video]. TED Conferences. URL

Example: Brown, B. (2010, June). The power of vulnerability. [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability

In-text citation methods and timestamp usage

Citing a TED talk in APA is not complicated, but it requires you to follow an academic standard for credibility. The author’s last name or organization should be included as a formatting staple. If there is no way to avoid a direct quote, a timestamp should be indicated to guide the audience to the exact location of the quote.

Examples:

• Paraphrasing (TED, 2013)
• Quoting (TED, 2013, 03:15)

Writing tip from SpeedyPaper

How to cite a TED talk in MLA

For TED talks from YouTube

How to cite a TED talk in MLA? You can either ask for college paper help and let the professionals conduct research on your behalf or follow the standard guidelines that include the title staying italicized and the platform mentioned explicitly. For integrity, the researchers should always credit the original uploader and cross-check the publication date of the video on multiple platforms.

Format: "Title of TED Talk." TED, Date of Upload, YouTube, URL.

Example: “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are" TED, 4 Feb. 2013, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-_Mh1QhMc.

For TED talks from TED.com

MLA TED talk citation from TED.com is a TED talk that is normally borrowed from the official site. Here, the official website is referred to as the punisher of the video, with researchers including the speaker’s name for reference.

Format: Speaker’s Last Name, First Name. "Title of TED Talk." TED, Date of Talk, URL.

Example: Brown, Brene. “The Power of Vulnerability." TED, June 2010, https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability.

In-text citation methods and timestamp usage

Here, citing a TED talk will always require mentioning the author’s name. If the direct quotation needs to be used in the text, it can only be made possible with the timestamp.

Examples:

• Paraphrasing (Brown)
• Quoting (Brown, 03:15)

How to cite a TED talk in MLA if you never had experience with similar formats? MLA is a format that can simplify everything, from your content to your overall presentation. However, it also requires the researcher to be especially precise when naming the speaker and the punisher.

How to cite a TED talk Chicago

For TED talks from YouTube

How to cite a TED talk Chicago if you are new to the format? You can start by exploring the essence of the Chicago style. It is normally divided into two available formats, allowing citations using the author / date or notes and bibliography style.

Notes and bibliography: TED. “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are  | Amy Cuddy." YouTube, February 4, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-_Mh1QhMc.

Author / date format: TED, Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are | Amy Cuddy, YouTube, February 4, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-_Mh1QhMc.

For TED talks from TED.com

Just like with the TED talk APA citation, the researcher is required to give proper credit to the author (uploader) of the published video. 

Notes and bibliography: Brown, Brene. “The Power of Vulnerability.” TED, June 2010. https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability.

Author / date format: Brene Brown, The Power of Vulnerability, TED, June 2010, https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability.

In-text citation methods and timestamp usage

Is TED talk capitalized? If you need to include the author / date citations made in Chicago style, you have to adhere to a standard mainly dictated by the formatting requirements that include the name of the speaker, publication, and a timestamp.

Examples:

• Paraphrasing (Brown 2010)
• Quoting (Brown 2010, 03:15)

Similar to the APA citation for TED talk, Chicago citations guarantee that the references mentioned in the text are cross-checked, accurate, and precise.

Tips for accurate citations

How to cite a TED talk and maintain your academic integrity? Here are some of the most vital tips that can be applied to various citation styles:

• Confirm speaker details. If you want to maintain a reputation as a reliable online researcher, do not hesitate to learn more about the speaker you are referencing. Knowing how to cite a TED talk in MLA format with the name of the speaker included will help you structure your project according to the academic requirements. If the name of the speaker is spelled incorrectly, this can cause serious confusion among the audience. 
• Include the talk date. The content creators and researchers should reference the talk date correctly when citing a TED talk online. If the talk gained massive popularity and was published on multiple platforms at the same time, your reference point should be the platform that you are citing.
• Ensure your URL is accurate. How to cite a TED talk like an expert? You need to ensure that the URL provided to people reading your content is always functional. A broken URL renders the entire project meaningless and ruins your credibility as a researcher. 
• Use timestamps for quotes. If you are using citations for professional purposes and not for personal use, you should always be mindful of the timestamps that are required for direct quotes. These will help you redirect your audience toward the precise location of the quote without putting additional pressure on them. 
• Check the source platform. The researchers working on a project that requires them to cite a TED talk need to be aware of the platform’s requirements before they make a publication or credit the official source. Verify your adherence to the formatting standards. Are TED talks italicized? Is the name of the author included? Answering these will help you stay on track when citing.
• Include the channel name. You should always provide a mention of the publisher to make sure your audience knows you have been borrowing information from the official website / TED channel. 

If you check out our TED talk analysis essay sample, you will see that relevant citations that have been utilized in the proper format strengthen the project’s content and your academic standing.

Common citation mistakes you need to avoid

How to cite a TED talk without succumbing to the most common mistakes in the citation process? Here are the pitfalls that may undermine your work:

• Ignoring the key information. Missing or deliberately ignoring essential information like the speaker’s full name or the publication date can make the entire project sound amateurish. 
• Forgetting about the timestamps. This is one of the most common blunders a beginner researcher may encounter when citing a TED talk. Without a proper timestamp included, the readers will find it incredibly hard to locate a quote and will be forced to watch the entire video to grasp the essence of what you are referring to.
• Using a URL that is no longer operational. Using URLs that are clickable and can easily navigate the readers to the intended video is crucial for citing a TED talk. How to cite a TED talk in MLA or APA without repeating the mistakes of previous researchers? Make sure your links are still valid at the time of the publication.
• Using citation tools sparingly. There is no doubt that citation tools like Citation Machine are incredibly helpful when it comes to locating a quote or streamlining the process. However, this does not eliminate the need for additional verification of your sources.

Conclusion

How to cite a TED talk on a professional level? Regardless of your status - a student, an accomplished researcher, or an academic professional - citing a TED talk with precision is what makes a difference in defining your credibility as an online scholar. While giving credit to speakers from the TED channel, you need to consider a series of factors that impact your citation style, such as the explicit mention of the speaker’s name, the publication date, URLs, and timestamps. Attention to detail signals that you can be trusted as a reputable researcher, demonstrating respect and admiration for the speaker’s intellectual property.