How to Cite a TED Talk in MLA

• Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)
• Published on 11/08/2024

When citing TED Talks in MLA, the citation style varies depending on the source of the TED Talk (TED website, YouTube, or the TED Talk transcript). Each type of source requires slight variations in formatting, though each citation must contain essential information such as the speaker’s name, talk title, date, source, and URL.

Below is a comprehensive guide on how to properly cite a TED Talk in MLA for different formats, including detailed examples for clarity.

CITING A TED TALK FROM THE TED WEBSITE

When citing a TED Talk directly from the TED website, MLA format requires including the speaker’s name, the title of the TED Talk, the platform (TED), the date the talk was published, and the URL. The talk title should be in quotation marks, and the platform name (TED) is italicized. If available, the citation should use the publication date of the talk rather than the date accessed.

TED TALK FROM THE TED WEBSITE CITATION EXAMPLE

Citation	Brown, Brené. “The Power of Vulnerability.” TED, June 2010, www.ted.com/talks/brown_the_power_of_vul.
Structure	Speaker Surname, First Name. “Talk Title.” TED, Month Year, URL.

This format highlights the speaker as the primary creator, followed by the talk title in quotation marks, the platform name italicized, the month and year of publication, and the URL. Including the URL is essential for online sources in MLA to allow readers to locate the talk easily.

Important Details

• The speaker’s full name is listed first, beginning with the last name, followed by a comma, and then the first name.
• The title of the TED Talk should be in title case, where major words are capitalized, and placed in quotation marks.
• The platform name, “TED,” is italicized.
• The publication date should be formatted with the month first, followed by the year.
• This approach ensures that the citation is comprehensive and follows the standard MLA format for online sources.

IN-TEXT CITATION EXAMPLE

Example	(Brown 10:25)
Structure	(Surname Timestamp)

Speaker Surname (Brown), followed by the timestamp in parenthesis indicating the precise moment in the TED Talk where the referenced content is located.

CITING A TED TALK FROM YOUTUBE

When a TED Talk is viewed on YouTube, the citation format changes slightly to include the name of the YouTube uploader. If the uploader is TED or TEDx Talks, the upload details must also be included. The name of the uploader, which is typically “TED” or “TEDx Talks,” follows the title and is noted as “uploaded by.” The date listed should be the upload date rather than the date of the original TED event.

TED TALK FROM YOUTUBE CITATION EXAMPLE

Citation	Mack, Alicia. “How Art Can Transform a Community | Alicia Mack | TEDxPhoenix.” YouTube, uploaded by TEDx Talks, 12 Oct. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyYhE5kCZg8.
Structure	Speaker Surname, First Name. “Video Title.” YouTube, uploaded by TED or TEDx Talks, Day Month Year, URL.

This citation includes the speaker’s full name, the talk title in quotation marks, the platform name italicized (YouTube), the uploader noted as “uploaded by TEDx Talks,” the upload date in day-month-year format, and the full URL. This format follows MLA guidelines for citing a TEDx Talk viewed on YouTube.

Important Details

• The phrase “uploaded by” precedes the name of the uploader. This detail clarifies the source’s origin, particularly when TED Talks are uploaded to other platforms such as YouTube.
• The date format differs slightly from the TED website citation, with the day placed before the month, which is typical for MLA citations of YouTube content.
• Including the full URL ensures readers can access the correct version of the video on YouTube.
• This approach is particularly useful for those viewing TED Talks on YouTube rather than directly on the TED website.

IN-TEXT CITATION EXAMPLE

Example	(Mack 4:50)
Structure	(Surname Timestamp)

Speaker Surname (Mack), followed by the timestamp in minutes and seconds (4:50) in parenthesis.

CITING THE TRANSCRIPT OF A TED TALK

If citing the transcript of a TED Talk, the format closely resembles citing a TED Talk from the TED website, with the addition of “/transcript” in the URL to direct readers to the specific transcript page. This method is used when a transcript provides the primary source for referencing a TED Talk, and it follows the same general MLA citation rules for online sources.

TRANSCRIPT OF A TED TALK CITATION EXAMPLE

Citation	Robinson, Ken. “Do Schools Kill Creativity?” TED, Feb. 2006, www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson/transcript.
Structure	Speaker Surname, First Name. “Talk Title.” TED, Month Year, URL.

The citation for a TED Talk transcript is nearly identical to the TED website citation, except for the added “/transcript” at the end of the URL to specify that it is the transcript version.

Important Details:

• Adding “/transcript” at the end of the URL is essential to direct readers to the transcript page rather than the video.
• The format remains consistent with other TED website citations, highlighting the speaker, title, platform, and publication date.
• Maintaining a uniform style across TED citations ensures clarity and consistency within an MLA-style works cited list.

IN-TEXT CITATION EXAMPLE

Example	(Robinson 15:10)
Structure	(Surname Timestamp)

Speaker Surname (Robinson), followed by the timestamp in minutes and seconds (15:10) from the transcript in parenthesis.

Use Timestamps for Specific References: When quoting or referencing specific points in a TED Talk, include timestamps in your in-text citation. Timestamps direct readers to the exact moment in the talk where the information appears. For example, if you quote a line that occurs two minutes and thirty seconds into the talk, the in-text citation would look like this: (Brown 2:30). Clarify TEDx vs. TED: TEDx events are independently organized TED-style conferences that differ from official TED conferences. If the talk is from a TEDx event, make sure to include “TEDx” as part of the video title in your citation, just as it appears on the platform. This distinction provides additional context for readers and ensures accuracy in your works cited entry. Check for Updated URLs: URLs on platforms like TED and YouTube may occasionally change. Before submitting your work, verify that the URLs for TED Talks are still active and lead to the intended content. Updating your citations ensures that readers can access the correct source and reflects diligence in sourcing. Include the Full Speaker Name: When available, use the speaker’s full name in the citation, including any middle initials, professional titles, or suffixes, as listed on the TED website or in the video description. Full names, when provided, add professionalism and specificity to your citation, particularly for well-known speakers or experts.