How to Cite a Speech in IEEE (standard)
Learn how to cite speeches, addresses, and sermons, live or recorded in IEEE format (standard). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
IEEE Reference List Format
Here is the standard IEEE format for citing a speech in your reference list:
[1] A. Speaker, “Title of speech,” speech, Event, City, Country, Mon. Day, Year. Accessed: Mon. Day, Year. [Online]. Available: URL
IEEE Example for a Speech
A complete IEEE reference for a speech, written by hand and checked against the official IEEE guidance for this source:
[1] M. L. King Jr., “I have a dream,” speech, March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Washington, DC, USA, Aug. 28, 1963. Accessed: Oct. 18, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm
Matching in-text citation: [1]
IEEE In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
[1]
Narrative
In his 1963 speech [1], King…
Key IEEE Formatting Rules
- The IEEE Reference Guide has no format for speeches; writers commonly adapt its conference-presentation or website format, as this entry does.
- Give the speaker’s initials and surname, the title in quotation marks, the event, place and date.
- For a recording or transcript online, add Accessed:, [Online] and Available: with the URL; for a video, the Online Video format is also acceptable.
- A speech you only heard live is usually mentioned in the text rather than listed, since the reader cannot retrieve it.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your speech.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the IEEE (standard) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match IEEE requirements.
Evidence and review notes
Worked examples on this page are written by hand from the style's own published guidance and checked against it, because the general CSL styles do not encode this source's rules. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.
Metadata to collect
- speaker's name
- title of the speech, or a short description
- date the speech was delivered
- event, venue and city
- whether you used a recording, a transcript or the live event
- URL or publication details of the version you used
Common metadata traps
- A transcript and a recording are different versions; name the one you actually used, and do not cite a recording if you only read the text.
- A speech reprinted in a book or anthology is cited as a part of that book, with the book’s date, not as a free-standing speech.
- A video of a speech on YouTube is credited to the account that uploaded it in APA, which may not be the speaker; check who posted it.
Editorial sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a speech in IEEE?
- To cite a speech in IEEE (standard), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the IEEE format for a speech citation?
- The IEEE format for a speech is: [1] A. Speaker, “Title of speech,” speech, Event, City, Country, Mon. Day, Year. Accessed: Mon. Day, Year. [Online]. Available: URL
- What does the in-text citation look like for a speech in IEEE?
- In IEEE, the in-text citation for the example above is [1]
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