How to Cite a Tweet in APA, MLA or Chicago
Published September 2, 2020. Updated March 17, 2022.
In an increasingly digital world, social media platforms have become one of the most popular sources students turn to when writing a research paper. Below are some examples of how to cite a tweet in 3 citation styles: MLA 9, APA 7, and Chicago/Turabian.
MLA 9th ed.
@TwitterHandle. “Content of Tweet.” Twitter, Date, Time, URL (omit https:// or https://).
@Britannica. “Nelson Mandela, who fought for racial equality and became South Africa’s 1st black president, was born #OTD in 1918.” Twitter, 18 Jul. 2017, 11:45 a.m.,twitter.com/Britannica/status/887382776747630594.
APA 7th ed.
Last name, F. [Twitter handle]. (Year, Month Day). Content of tweet [Tweet]. Retrieved from URL.
Encyclopedia Britannica. [Britannica]. (2017, July 18). Nelson Mandela, who fought for racial equality and became South Africa’s 1st black president, was born #OTD in 1918. [Tweet]. Retrieved from https://twitter.com/Britannica/status/887382776747630594.
Chicago 16th ed.
First name Last name, Twitter post, Month Day, Year, Time, URL.
Encyclopedia Britannica, Twitter post, July 18, 2017, 11:45 a.m.,https://twitter.com/Britannica/status/887382776747630594.