How do I cite an X post in MLA?

To cite an X post 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 an X post in MLA?

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

How to Cite an X (Twitter) Post in MLA (9th edition)

Learn how to cite tweets and posts on X (formerly Twitter) 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 an X post in your Works Cited page:

@username. "Full text of the post." X, Day Month Year, Time, x.com/username/status/xxxxx.

MLA Example for an X (Twitter) Post

A complete MLA reference for an X post, formatted by the official MLA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

Petrov, Ivan. “New preprint out today - reference accuracy in LLM output.” X, 2 Mar. 2024, https://x.com/ipetrov/status/1234567890.

Matching in-text citation: (Petrov)

MLA In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

(@username)

Narrative

In the post, @username writes...

Key MLA Formatting Rules

Use the account handle as the author (e.g. "@username"); add the real name in parentheses only if it aids identification.
Quote the full text of the post as the title; reproduce it exactly, including spelling and punctuation.
Italicize X as the container, then give the day-month-year date and the time of posting.
End with the URL (omit the https:// scheme).

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 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 an X post in MLA?: To cite an X post 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 an X post citation?: The MLA format for an X post is: @username. "Full text of the post." X, Day Month Year, Time, x.com/username/status/xxxxx.
What does the in-text citation look like for an X post in MLA?: In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (@username)