How to Cite an X (Twitter) Post in APA (7th edition)
Learn how to cite tweets and posts on X (formerly Twitter) in APA format (7th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
APA Reference List Format
Here is the standard APA format for citing an X post in your reference list:
Author, A. A. [@username]. (Year, Month Day). Content of the post up to the first 20 words [Post]. X. https://x.com/username/status/xxxxx
APA Example for an X (Twitter) Post
A complete APA reference for an X post, formatted by the official APA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Petrov, I. (2024, March 2). New preprint out today - reference accuracy in LLM output. X. https://x.com/ipetrov/status/1234567890
Matching in-text citation: (Petrov, 2024)
APA In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Author or @username, 2024)
Narrative
Author (2024) posted...
Key APA Formatting Rules
- Give the author's real name (if known) followed by their handle in brackets, e.g. "[@username]"; use the handle alone if no real name is available.
- Reproduce the post's full text (up to the first 20 words) as the title and keep emojis, hashtags, and links as written.
- Add the bracketed descriptor [Post] after the text and name the source "X".
- Give the date as (Year, Month Day) and end with the direct URL of the post.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your X post.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the APA (7th 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 reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match APA requirements.
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