How to Cite Sources Correctly — Every Style, Every Source Type
Textbooks and journal articles are easy to cite. The tricky ones — podcasts, tweets, AI outputs, personal interviews — are where students slip and lose marks. Here is how each style handles them.
YouTube video (APA 7)
Uploader. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. YouTube. URL. Use the uploader as the author — even if they are not the speaker.
Podcast episode (APA 7)
Host, A. (Host). (Year, Month Day). Title of episode (No. XX) [Audio podcast episode]. In Podcast Name. Producer. URL.
Tweet / X post (APA 7)
Author, A. [@username]. (Year, Month Day). Text of the post up to first 20 words [Post]. X. URL.
Personal interview (APA 7)
Not included in the reference list. Cite in-text only: (J. Smith, personal communication, November 5, 2024).
AI-generated content (APA 7)
OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (Nov 5 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com. Include the prompt in text or appendix.
When in doubt
Match to the closest source type your style guide covers, keep the same order of information, and be consistent.
FAQ
Do I cite Wikipedia?
Cite only if the assignment allows it (many do not). If yes, use the article title, revision date, and stable URL.
How do I cite an image?
Photographer/Artist. (Year). Title [Medium]. Repository or website. URL.
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