How to Cite Reddit in MLA

• Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)
• Published on 02/16/2024

When citing Reddit in academic writing, it’s essential to adhere to the MLA style guidelines to ensure accuracy and credibility. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to cite Reddit posts and comments in MLA format.

HOW TO CITE REDDIT POST

To cite a Reddit post in MLA format, follow this structure:

• Author’s Username: The username of the individual who posted on Reddit, preceded by “U/” for posts.
• Title Element: Enclose the title of the post within quotation marks.
• Social Media Platform: Include the name of the social media platform in italics (e.g., Reddit).
• Date: The date when the post was published. It should be in the format: Day Month Year (e.g., 31 Oct. 2020).
• URL: This refers to the web address (URL) of the specific Reddit post, excluding the ‘http://’ or ‘https://’ prefixes.”

CITATION EXAMPLE FOR REDDIT POST

Verify Information Across Multiple Sources: Reddit is a platform where users can freely contribute content, but the accuracy of information can vary. Before citing information from Reddit in your research, cross-check it with other reputable sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. This practice helps maintain the credibility of your work and avoids potential misinformation. Importance of Accuracy and Consistency: Maintaining accuracy and consistency in citing Reddit sources is paramount in academic writing. Ensure that you accurately transcribe the username, post or comment title, date, and URL. Additionally, be consistent in formatting all citations throughout your paper. Formatting Dates: When citing dates in MLA format, abbreviate months longer than four letters. Use the first three letters of the month followed by a period (e.g., Jan. for January, Feb. for February). Title Formatting: When citing Reddit posts, comments, or any other sources in MLA format, ensure consistency by formatting all titles in title case. Title case means capitalizing the first letter of each major word in the title, including nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and some conjunctions and prepositions. This consistent formatting not only enhances the readability of your citations but also adheres to standard conventions in academic writing.

HOW TO CITE REDDIT COMMENT

When citing a Reddit comment, use the following format:

• Username: The username of the individual who made the comment on Reddit is provided.
• Comment on: This indicates that the text following it is the title of the post or the original content that the comment is responding to, specifically mentioning the username of the user who published the post. The title of the post or original content should be enclosed within quotation marks.
• Social Media Platform: Include the name of the social media platform in italics (e.g., Reddit).
• Date: The date when the comment was made is provided. Here, it’s “10 Feb. 2024.”
• URL: The web address (URL) of the specific Reddit post without http:// or https://.

CITATION EXAMPLE FOR REDDIT COMMENT