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How to Cite a YouTube Video in Council of Science Editors (CSE)

To cite a YouTube video in CSE name-year, treat the channel or uploader as the author, add the year, give the video title, name YouTube with a video medium designator, then the accessed date and URL. A timestamp in the text marks a specific moment.

Citation style Council of Science Editors (CSE)
Source type YouTube Video

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How to cite a youtube video in CSE step by step

  1. Use the uploader as author. Put the channel name or person who uploaded the video in the author position.
  2. Add the year. Give the year the video was uploaded right after the author.
  3. Give the video title. Enter the video title in sentence case as shown on its watch page.
  4. Name the platform and medium. Name YouTube and add a bracketed medium designator such as video to mark the format.
  5. Add the accessed date. Give the date you watched the video.
  6. Add URL and timestamp. Finish with the watch URL, and note the timestamp in the text for a specific moment.

CSE youtube video citation format

A CSE name-year video reference runs uploader, year, video title, YouTube with a video medium designator, accessed date, and URL. A timestamp in the text pinpoints the moment within the video.

Reference list entry
World Health Organization. 2020. WHO; [accessed 2026 June 21]. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet
In-text citation
(TED 2010)

Common youtube video citation variations

Who is the author for a YouTube video in CSE?

The channel or account that uploaded the video is treated as the author. Use the channel name exactly as it appears.

How do I cite a specific moment in a YouTube video in CSE?

Cite the whole video in the reference and give the timestamp, such as the minute and second, in your sentence.

How do I cite a YouTube video with no named author in CSE?

Use the channel name as the author. If that is missing, begin with the video title and keep the year and accessed date.

Does a CSE video citation need a medium designator?

Yes. CSE adds a bracketed designator such as video to mark the format of the source.

Cite any source in CSE

Cite journal article Cite a journal article with author, journal, volume and DOI. Cite book Cite a book with author, title, publisher and year. Cite website Cite a web page with author, site name, URL and access date. Cite image Cite an image, figure or photograph with creator, title and source. Cite pdf Cite a PDF report or document with author, title and source. Cite chatgpt Cite ChatGPT or another AI chatbot with model, owner, date and prompt.

See the full Council of Science Editors (CSE) citation generator and every source type →

YouTube Video citation FAQ

Is YouTube named as the publisher in CSE?

YouTube is named as the hosting platform, with the uploading channel treated as the author.

Do I include the video length in CSE?

The duration is optional. CSE focuses on uploader, year, title, platform, medium, accessed date, and URL.