How to Cite a TED Talk

Why Proper Citation Matters for TED Talks

TED Talks have become a ubiquitous source of information, inspiration, and expert opinion. From groundbreaking scientific discoveries to compelling personal stories, these short, powerful presentations often find their way into research papers, essays, and professional presentations. When you incorporate ideas, quotes, or data from a TED Talk into your own work, it's not just good practice; it's a requirement for academic honesty and intellectual integrity. Properly citing a TED Talk gives credit to the speaker and the organization, allows your readers to locate the original source for verification or further exploration, and demonstrates your commitment to scholarly rigor. Overlooking this step can lead to accusations of plagiarism, even if unintentional.

Essential Information for Citing a TED Talk

Before you can begin constructing your citation, you'll need to gather a few key pieces of information. Think of these as the building blocks of your reference entry. The specific details required might vary slightly depending on the citation style you're using, but the core elements remain consistent. You'll almost always need:

• Speaker's Full Name: The individual who delivered the talk.
• Title of the Talk: The official title as presented by TED.
• Name of the Organization: Typically 'TED' or 'TEDx' followed by the location (e.g., TEDxLondon).
• Date of Publication/Presentation: This is often the date the talk was uploaded to the TED website or the date it was originally given, if readily available. The upload date is usually preferred for online sources.
• URL: The direct web address where the TED Talk can be accessed.

Finding this information is usually straightforward. The speaker's name and the talk's title are prominently displayed on the TED website. The organization name is also clear. For the date and URL, you'll typically find these details on the talk's individual page on TED.com or TEDx.com. Sometimes, the date listed might be the original event date, but the date it became available online is often more relevant for citation purposes. Always check the specific requirements of your chosen citation style.

Citing TED Talks in MLA Style

The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is commonly used in the humanities. When citing a TED Talk, you'll treat it much like a video or a web page. The general format focuses on the speaker, the title of the talk, the website name, the publisher (if different from the website), the date, and the URL.

Remember to italicize the title of the website (TED) and use quotation marks around the title of the specific talk. The date of access is particularly useful for online content as URLs can sometimes change or videos can be removed.

Citing TED Talks in APA Style

The American Psychological Association (APA) style is prevalent in social sciences and education. APA citations for online videos, including TED Talks, emphasize the speaker, the date, the title of the video, and the source. The source typically includes the website name and the URL.

The format generally follows this structure: Speaker, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of video [Video]. TED Conferences. URL

APA style requires the date to be as specific as possible. If only the month or year is available, use what you have. The inclusion of '[Video]' clarifies the media type. The publisher is generally TED Conferences, but for TEDx talks, it might be the specific TEDx organization.

Citing TED Talks in Chicago Style

The Chicago Manual of Style offers two systems: notes-bibliography and author-date. We'll focus on the notes-bibliography system, which is common in history and the arts. This system uses footnotes or endnotes for in-text citations and a bibliography at the end of the paper.

For a footnote or endnote, the format typically includes the speaker's name, the title of the talk, the name of the website, the publication date, and the URL. For the bibliography, the structure is similar but may have slight variations in punctuation and order.

Chicago style is quite flexible, but consistency is key. Pay attention to the punctuation – commas and periods are used differently between the note and the bibliography entry. The date format might also vary slightly, but using the full date is generally preferred if available.

Citing TEDx Talks

TEDx talks, which are independently organized but follow the TED format, are cited similarly to regular TED Talks. The main difference is that you'll often include the specific location of the TEDx event. For example, instead of just 'TED,' you might see 'TEDxLondon' or 'TEDxUniversityName'.

• Identify the speaker's full name.
• Find the exact title of the TED Talk.
• Note the organization (TED or TEDx + location).
• Determine the publication or upload date.
• Locate the direct URL for the talk.
• Consult your style guide for specific formatting rules.
• Double-check all punctuation and capitalization.

When citing a TEDx talk, ensure you include the 'x' and the associated location in the organization field. For instance, if a talk was given at TEDxParis, your citation should reflect that. This adds specificity and helps your reader find the exact source, especially since TEDx events are numerous and diverse.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Even with clear guidelines, it's easy to make small errors. One common mistake is using an incorrect date. Always try to find the date the talk was uploaded to the TED platform, as this is usually the most relevant date for online content. Another pitfall is misinterpreting the 'publisher' or 'website name.' For TED, it's generally 'TED Conferences' or simply 'TED.' For TEDx, it might be the specific TEDx event name. Ensure your URLs are active and direct links to the talk itself, not just the TED homepage. Finally, always refer back to your specific citation style guide (MLA Handbook, APA Publication Manual, Chicago Manual of Style) for the most up-to-date and precise formatting requirements, as these guides are periodically updated.