How do I cite a TED Talk in MLA?

To cite a TED Talk in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for a TED Talk in MLA?

In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Speaker)

How to Cite a TED Talk in MLA (9th edition)

Learn how to cite TED Talks and recorded conference talks in MLA format (9th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

MLA Works Cited Format

Here is the standard MLA format for citing a TED Talk in your Works Cited page:

Speaker Last Name, First Name. "Title of Talk." TED, Month Year, www.ted.com/talks/xxxxx.

MLA Example for a TED Talk

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

Byrne, Aoife. “What Citations Really Tell Us.” Conference presentation. TED, TED Conferences, https://www.ted.com/talks/example.

Matching in-text citation: (Byrne)

MLA In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(Speaker)

Narrative

In the talk, Speaker explains...

Key MLA Formatting Rules

Put the talk title in quotation marks; italicize the container ("TED" for ted.com, "YouTube" for YouTube).
List the speaker first when you are emphasizing the speaker's ideas.
Give the month and year of the talk and end with the URL (omit the http:// scheme).
Add an access date after the URL if no upload date is shown.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your TED Talk.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the MLA (9th edition) 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 Works Cited: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match MLA requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: mla.csl

Editorial sources

MLA Style Center — works cited →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a TED Talk in MLA?: To cite a TED Talk in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the MLA format for a TED Talk citation?: The MLA format for a TED Talk is: Speaker Last Name, First Name. "Title of Talk." TED, Month Year, www.ted.com/talks/xxxxx.
What does the in-text citation look like for a TED Talk in MLA?: In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Speaker)