Please note:
The citation formats and examples here may be based on examples from the web sites of the most commonly used style guides or may be best guesses using available citation recommendations for online media. If you're not sure how to cite something, check the official web site for your citation style or ask a librarian.
Major Style Guides
MLA Handbook (9th Editon) by Call Number: Ref LB2369 .M52 2021ISBN: 1603293515Publication Date: 2021-04-06Availability and more information from Catalyst...
Chicago Manual of Style (17th Edition)Call Number: Ready Ref Z253 .U69 2017ISBN: 9780226287058Availability and more information from Catalyst...
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th Edition by Call Number: Ready Reference BF76.7 .P83 2020ISBN: 9781433832178Publication Date: 2019Availability and more information from Catalyst...
The official APA citation style guide. Good online help can also be found at the Purdue OWL site and at APAstyle.org.
Research and Documentation in the Electronic Age by Call Number: ZA4375 .H327 2010ISBN: 9780312566722Publication Date: 2010-04-26Availability and more information from Catalyst...
Twitter/X, Bluesky, Threads, Mastodon, or Sina Weibo post
MLA 8th ed.
@Username. "Full text of tweet." Twitter, Day month year posted, time posted, URL.
@libechillbro. "Root beer floats are in honor of National Library Week, and we'll be handing them out from 2:30-4:30 this afternoon." Twitter, 18 June 2016, 4:39 PM, twitter.com/libechillbro/status/2651151366.
APA 7th ed.
Lastname, Firstname [@handle]. (Year, month day posted). Full text of tweet including hashtags. [Tweet]. Twitter. URL
Penguin, Oscar @libechillbro. (2016, April 18). Root beer floats are in honor of National Library Week, and we'll be handing them out from 2:30-4:30 this afternoon. [Tweet]. Twitter. http://twitter.com/libechillbro/status/2651151366
Chicago 17th ed.
Lastname, Firstname (@handle). Year. "Full text of the tweet." Twitter, Month day, year, time posted. URL.
Penguin, Oscar (@libechillbro). 2016. "Root beer floats are in honor of National Library Week, and we'll be handing them out from 2:30-4:30 this afternoon." Twitter, April 18, 2016, 1:28 p.m. http://twitter.com/libechillbro/status/2651151366.
Tik Tok (or Douyin) - video
MLA 9th ed.
Lastname, Firstname [@username]. "Full text of caption including hastags." TikTok, year posted, URL.
Penguin, Oscar [@libechillbro]. "Root beer floats are in honor of National Library Week! #rootbeerfloats #NLW." TikTok, 2021, https://vm.tiktok.com/x2sKUu.
APA 7th ed.
Lastname, Firstname. [@handle]. (Year, month day posted). Full text of caption including hashtags. [Video]. TikTok. URL
Penguin, Oscar. [@libechillbro]. (2021, April 18). Root beer floats are in honor of National Library Week! #rootbeerfloats #NLW. [Video]. TikTok. https://vm.tiktok.com/x2sKUu
Chicago 17th ed.
Lastname, Firstname (@username). Year. "Full text of caption including hashtags." TikTok, Month day, year. URL.
Penguin, Oscar (@libechillbro). 2021. "Root beer floats are in honor of National Library Week! #rootbeerfloats #NLW." TikTok, April 18, 2021. https://vm.tiktok.com/x2sKUu.
Tik Tok (or Douyin) - profile
MLA 9th ed.
Lastname, Firstname or @handle. "Videos." TikTok, current year, URL.
@libechillbro. "Videos." TikTok, 2021, www.tiktok.com/@libechillbro?lang=en.
APA 7th ed.
Lastname, Firstname. [@handle]. (n.d.). Full text of profile bio. [TikTok profile]. TikTok. Retrieved month day, year, from URL
Penguin, Oscar [@libechillbro]. (n.d.). Just a chill dude hanging out in the Libe. [TikTok profile]. TikTok. Retrieved September 9, 2021, from www.tiktok.com/@libechillbro?lang=en
Chicago 17th ed.
Lastname, Firstname and/or (@username). Year. "Full text of profile bio." TikTok, Month day, year, time accessed. URL.
Penguin, Oscar (@libechillbro). 2021. "Just a chill dude hanging out in the Libe." TikTok, September 9, 2021, www.tiktok.com/@libechillbro?lang=en.
Facebook post (or Moodle or WeChat post)
MLA 8th ed.
Lastname, Firstname [or username or page name]. "first several words of a facebook post..." Facebook, Day month year posted, time posted [if available], URL.
Penguin, Oscar. "Root beer floats are in honor of National Library Week..." Facebook, 18 Apr 2016, facebook.com/openguin/posts/10154065808067067.
APA 7th ed.
Lastname, Firstname. (Year, month day posted). First several words of Facebook post... [Status update]. Facebook. URL
Penguin, Oscar (2016, April 18). Root beer floats are in honor of National Library Week... [Status update]. Facebook. http://facebook.com/openguin/posts/10154065808067067
Chicago 17th ed.
Lastname, Firstname. Year. "Full text (or first several words...) of Facebook post." Facebook, Month day, year posted. URL
Penguin, Oscar. 2016. "Root beer floats are in honor of National Library Week, and we'll be handing them out from 2:30-4:30 this afternoon." Facebook, April 18, 2016. http://facebook.com/openguin/posts/10154065808067067
YouTube video (or other online video)
MLA 8th ed.
Lastname, Firstname [or single username]. "Title of YouTube Video." Publishing Website, Day month year posted, URL.
Penguin, Oscar. "Root Beer Floats." YouTube, 18 Apr 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ICGujpcO28.
APA 7th ed.
Lastname, Firstname [or single username]. (Year, month day posted). Title of YouTube Video. [Video]. YouTube. URL
Penguin, Oscar. (2013, April 18). Root Beer Floats. [Video]. YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ICGujpcO28
Chicago 17th ed.
Lastname, Firstname [or single username]. "Title of YouTube Video." YouTube, Month day, year posted. Video, length of video. URL.
Penguin, Oscar. "Root Beer Floats." YouTube, April 18, 2013. Video, 0:35. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ICGujpcO28.
Instagram (or Meitu or other photo-sharing app) post
MLA 8th ed.
Lastname, Firstname [or single username]. (handle). "First several words of Instagram post (if any)..." Instagram, Day month year posted, URL.
libechillbro. "Root beer floats are in honor of National Library Week…" Instagram, 18 Apr 2016, instagram.com/p/5pjGjvjTH6/.
APA 7th ed.
Lastname, Firstname [@handle]. (Year, month day posted). First several words of Instagram post (if any)... [Photograph or Video]. Instagram. URL
Penguin, Oscar [libechillbro]. (2016, April 18). Root beer floats are in honor of National Library Week… [Video]. Instagram. https://instagram.com/p/5pjGjvjTH6/
Chicago 17th ed.
Lastname, Firstname (@username). Year. "Full text of Instagram post." Instagram photo, Month day, year posted. URL.
Penguin, Oscar (@libechillbro). 2016. "Root beer floats are in honor of National Library Week, and we'll be handing them out from 2:30-4:30 this afternoon." Instagram photo, April 18, 2016. https://instagram.com/p/5pjGjvjTH6/
Podcast episode
MLA 8th ed.
Lastname, Firstname, narrator. "Title of podcast episode." Title of podcast series. Season #, episode # or day month, year of posting date, Producer or Publisher, year posted if not already stated previously, URL.
Penguin, Oscar, narrator. "Root Beer Floats" News from the Libe, 18 Apr 2013, Carleton College, http://podcasts.apple.com/oscarthepenguin/root-beer-floats.
APA 7th ed.
Lastname, Firstname (Host). (Year, month day posted). Title of podcast episode. [Audio podcast]. In Title of podcast series. Producer or Publisher. URL
Penguin, Oscar (Host). (2013, April 18). Root Beer Floats. [Audio podcast]. In News from the Libe. Carleton College. http://podcasts.apple.com/oscarthepenguin/root-beer-floats
Chicago 17th ed.
Lastname, Firstname. "Title of podcast episode." Title of podcast series, podcast audio, Month day, year posted. URL.
Penguin, Oscar. "Root Beer Floats." News from the Libe, podcast audio, April 18, 2013. http://podcasts.apple.com/oscarthepenguin/root-beer-floats.
Tumblr (or Reddit or other blog or forum post)
MLA 8th ed.
Lastname, Firstname or username. "Title or first several words of post (if any, otherwise omit)..." Title of blog or platform, Day month year posted, URL.
libechillbro. "Root beer floats are in honor of National Library Week..." Tumblr, 18 Apr 2013, libechillbro.tumblr.com/post/125058827619/root-beer-floats-are-in-honor-of-national-library-week
APA 7th ed.
Lastname, Firstname or username. (Year, month day posted). Title or first several words of post (if any, otherwise omit)… Title of blog or platform. URL
libechillbro. (2013, April 18). Root beer floats are in honor of National Library Week… Tumblr. http://libechillbro.tumblr.com/post/125058827619/root-beer-floats-are-in-honor-of-national-library-week
Chicago 17th ed.
Username. Tumblr, "Full text or first several words of post (if any, otherwise omit)…" Month day, year, time posted (if available). URL.
libechillbro. Tumblr, April 18, 2013 (1:28 PM). http://libechillbro.tumblr.com/post/125058827619/root-beer-floats-are-in-honor-of-national-library-week
SoundCloud (or other online audio)
MLA 8th ed.
Lastname, Firstname [or single username]. "Title of audio track." Publishing Website, Day month year posted, URL.
Penguin, Oscar. "Root Beer Floats" SoundCloud, 18 Apr 2013 www.soundcloud.com/oscarthepenguin/root-beer-floats.
APA 7th ed.
Lastname, Firstname [or single username]. (Year, month day posted). Title of audio track. [Audio file]. Platform. URL
Penguin, Oscar. (2013, April 18). Root Beer Floats. [Audio file]. Soundcloud. http://www.soundcloud.com/oscarthepenguin/root-beer-floats
Chicago 17th ed.
Lastname, Firstname [or single username]. "Title of audio track." SoundCloud audio, length of audio track, Month day, year posted. URL.
Penguin, Oscar. "Root Beer Floats." SoundCloud audio, 2:35, April 18, 2013. http://www.soundcloud.com/oscarthepenguin/root-beer-floats
Comment (on Reddit, Facebook, blog post, online video, etc.)
MLA 8th ed.
Lastname, Firstname [or single username]. [Brief description of the comment without quotation marks] Title of site, day month year of publication, time of publication if known, URL.
Penguin, Oscar. Comment on the post "Root beer floats are delicious." The Root Beer Float Blog, 14 April 2013, 1:34 PM, www.rootbeerfloats.wordpress.com/2015/08/14/whats-your-take/#comment-1339
APA 7th ed.
Lastname, Firstname [or single username] (Year, month day posted). Title of comment [if given]. [Comment posted to Title of original post, video, or other item]. Title of blog or subreddit [if available]. Platform or Publisher. URL
Penguin, Oscar. (2013, April 18). Re: Root beer floats are delicious! [Comment posted to What's Your Take on Root Beer Floats?]. /r/rootbeerfloats. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/rootbearfloats/comments/pkxgc7
Chicago 17th ed.
Chicago recommends that comments only be cited in the text in reference to the original, related post. This means you would create a bibliographic entry for the original post, not for the comment.
