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How to Cite a Documentary in ACS (4th edition)

Learn how to cite documentary films and non-fiction films in ACS format (4th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

ACS Reference List Format

Here is the standard ACS format for citing a documentary in your reference list:

ACS Example for a Documentary

A complete ACS reference for a documentary, formatted by the official ACS CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

(1) Paper Trails; Northlight Films, 2021.

Matching in-text citation: 1

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your documentary.
  2. Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the ACS (4th edition) template shown above.
  3. Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
  4. Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
  5. Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match ACS requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model.

CSL style record: acs.csl

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a documentary in ACS?
To cite a documentary in ACS (4th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the ACS format for a documentary citation?
The ACS format for a documentary is: (1) Paper Trails; Northlight Films, 2021.
What does the in-text citation look like for a documentary in ACS?
In ACS, the in-text citation for the example above is 1

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Cite a Documentary in Other Styles

Documentary in APADocumentary in MLADocumentary in ChicagoDocumentary in HarvardDocumentary in VancouverDocumentary in IEEEDocumentary in AMADocumentary in TurabianDocumentary in CSEDocumentary in BibTeXDocumentary in NatureDocumentary in OSCOLADocumentary in BluebookDocumentary in AGLCDocumentary in ASADocumentary in APSADocumentary in AAADocumentary in NLMDocumentary in ACMDocumentary in APSDocumentary in AIPDocumentary in CellDocumentary in ScienceDocumentary in PLOSDocumentary in BMJDocumentary in LancetDocumentary in JAMADocumentary in Elsevier HarvardDocumentary in Springer

Cite Other Sources in ACS

Website in ACSBook in ACSJournal Article in ACSYouTube Video in ACSPodcast in ACSNewspaper Article in ACSMagazine Article in ACSBlog Post in ACSWikipedia in ACSPDF in ACSInterview in ACSSocial Media Post in ACSGovernment Document in ACSDissertation or Thesis in ACSConference Paper in ACSLecture or PowerPoint in ACSWebinar in ACSOnline Course in ACSPowerPoint Presentation in ACSImage or Photograph in ACSMovie or Film in ACSTV Show in ACSSong or Music in ACSPoem in ACSCourt Case in ACSPatent in ACSEncyclopedia Entry in ACSDictionary Entry in ACSDataset in ACSSoftware or App in ACSVideo Game in ACSPress Release in ACSReport in ACSPreprint in ACSBook Chapter in ACSChatGPT in ACSBible in ACSTED Talk in ACSEmail in ACSReddit or Forum Post in ACSX (Twitter) Post in ACSMap in ACS

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