Who is the author of a Reddit post?

The username (keep the u/ prefix). Reddit is pseudonymous, so the handle is the author. Don't try to find a real name.

How do I cite a Reddit comment?

The commenter's username is the author; the comment text (up to ~20 words) is the title, noted as a comment on the original post, with the comment's permalink as the URL.

Do I include the subreddit?

Yes — name the subreddit (r/...). It provides community context and, in MLA, is part of the location element.

Should I cite Reddit or the source it links to?

If a post points to a study or article, cite that source directly. Cite the Reddit post itself only when the post or discussion is your actual subject.

How to Cite a Reddit Post

Updated July 2026

A Reddit post cites like other social media: the username (u/handle) is the author, the post title is the title, and you include the subreddit, platform, date, and URL. Comments work the same way, with the comment text standing in for a title.

Here's the format in each style, plus the comment and anonymity rules.

Cite a Reddit post — free

The format

APA: u/username. (Year, Month Day). Title of the post [Online forum post]. Reddit. https://url MLA: u/username. “Title of the Post.” Reddit, r/subreddit, Day Mon. Year, https://url.

The username (keep the u/ prefix) is the author. APA adds an [Online forum post] descriptor; MLA names the subreddit (r/...) as part of the location. Use the post's permalink as the URL.

Citing a comment (not the post)

For a comment, the commenter's username is the author and the comment text (up to ~20 words) stands in for the title, noted as a comment on the original post. APA: u/username. (Year, Month Day). First words of the comment [Comment on the online forum post "Post title"]. Reddit. URL. Link the comment's own permalink (Reddit gives each comment a direct link).

Usernames, anonymity, and the pieces

Username — use the u/ handle as shown; Reddit users are pseudonymous, so the handle is the author.
Subreddit — name it (r/AskHistorians, etc.); it adds important context about the community.
Date — the post/comment date.
URL — the permalink to the specific post or comment, not the subreddit's front page.
[deleted] content — if a post is removed, cite what you accessed with the date; consider an archived link.

Is Reddit a credible source?

Reddit is usually discovery or primary-evidence-of-discourse, not authority. Cite a post when the post is your subject (studying a community, a viral claim, public opinion); when a redditor points to a study or article, cite that source directly. In-text is author–date in APA — (u/username, 2024). Official guidance: the APA Style Blog and the MLA Style Center.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the author of a Reddit post?: The username (keep the u/ prefix). Reddit is pseudonymous, so the handle is the author. Don't try to find a real name.
How do I cite a Reddit comment?: The commenter's username is the author; the comment text (up to ~20 words) is the title, noted as a comment on the original post, with the comment's permalink as the URL.
Do I include the subreddit?: Yes — name the subreddit (r/...). It provides community context and, in MLA, is part of the location element.
Should I cite Reddit or the source it links to?: If a post points to a study or article, cite that source directly. Cite the Reddit post itself only when the post or discussion is your actual subject.

Generate a citation now — free