How to Cite a Lecture in APA

• Hannah Berry (Ph.D.)
• Published on 11/15/2024

In academic writing, citing sources accurately is essential to maintain credibility and acknowledge the intellectual contributions of others. APA (American Psychological Association) style provides specific guidelines for citing various sources, including lectures and recorded speeches.

This article presents a structured guide on how to format lecture citations in APA style, covering both in-person lectures or presentations and recorded lectures available online.

CITING A TALK AT A LECTURE OR CONFERENCE 

When citing a talk at a conference or lecture, APA style requires the inclusion of specific details such as the presenter’s name, the date and title of the presentation, and the conference information. Below are the core components necessary for a complete citation in this format.

KEY CITATION ELEMENTS FOR A LECTURE OR CONFERENCE 

• Author: Start with the presenter’s surname followed by initials. In APA style, only the initials of the first and middle names (if applicable) are included.
• Date of the Lecture: Specify the year, followed by the month and day(s). If the presentation spans multiple days, list both start and end dates (e.g., August 8–11).
• Title of Presentation: Include the full title of the presentation in sentence case and italics, capitalizing only the first word and any proper nouns.
• Description in Brackets: Use square brackets to specify that this source is a “[Paper presentation].” This label clarifies that the source is an oral presentation given at a conference.
• Conference Details: Provide the full name of the conference followed by the location, including the city, state, and country.
• URL (if available): If the presentation is available online, include a URL at the end of the citation. This step is optional if no URL exists.

CITATION EXAMPLE FOR A LECTURE OR CONFERENCE 

CITING A RECORDED LECTURE OR SPEECH 

When citing a recorded lecture or speech that is publicly available online, the APA format differs slightly. In addition to the speaker’s name and the date, you will include the format of the recording and the website on which the recording is available.

KEY CITATION ELEMENTS FOR A RECORDED LECTURE OR SPEECH

• Author: Begin with the speaker’s last name, followed by their initials. Just as with other formats, only the initials of the speaker’s first and middle names should be included.
• Date of Speech: Mention the year, followed by the month and day of the recorded lecture or speech.
• Title of Speech: Write the full title of the speech in sentence case and italics, capitalizing only the first word and any proper nouns.
• Description in Brackets: Use square brackets to specify the type of recording, such as “[Speech audio recording].” This description clarifies that the source is an audio recording of a speech.
• Website Name: Include the name of the website where the recording is hosted.
• URL: Provide a direct URL to the speech or lecture recording.

CITATION EXAMPLE FOR A RECORDED LECTURE OR SPEECH

Sentence Case for Titles: When writing titles in APA style, use sentence case, meaning only the first word of the title and any proper nouns are capitalized.  Availability of URLs: While a URL is required for online lectures or recordings, it is optional for in-person lectures. Only include a URL if it provides access to the cited presentation. Date Range: For multi-day conferences, list the date range in full, even if only one day of the presentation is known. This demonstrates accuracy and helps readers locate the event. Type of Presentation: Always clarify the format of the lecture or presentation in square brackets, whether it is a “[Paper presentation]” for a live talk or a “[Speech audio recording]” for a recorded lecture. This step aids in differentiating between in-person presentations and recorded content. Website Name for Recorded Lectures: When citing recorded lectures, include the name of the website where the recording is found. This detail helps provide context and makes the citation complete.