How to Cite a YouTube Short
Updated August 2026 · Reviewed June 2026
Citing a YouTube Short? Here's the format in APA, MLA, and Chicago — it's cited just like a regular YouTube video.
Use the channel as author, the title, the date, YouTube as the platform, and the Shorts URL.
The format
Channel → date → title → [Video] (APA) → YouTube → URL. Build it in the generator under Manual Entry → Video / YouTube.
Veritasium. (2026, September 24). What happens to these balloons when you open the valve? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VKlulHwMxgU
In-text(Veritasium, 2026)
Veritasium. "What Happens to These Balloons When You Open the Valve?" YouTube, 24 Sept. 2026, https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VKlulHwMxgU. Accessed 24 Sept. 2026.
In-text(Veritasium)
Veritasium. "What Happens to These Balloons When You Open the Valve?" YouTube. September 24, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VKlulHwMxgU.
In-text(Veritasium 2026)
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Citation style
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition (2020). The 7th dropped the publisher location and the "Retrieved from" prefix that the 6th required.
What a YouTube Short is — and why it's a separate search
A YouTube Short is a vertical, under-60-second video on a dedicated /shorts/ URL. It's cited exactly like a standard YouTube video — same author, same [Video] label — but students search specifically for "how to cite a YouTube Short," and the only real difference is the URL form.
Because Shorts often lack descriptive titles, a clear description and a timestamp (if you're citing a moment) help your reader.
Shorts-specific tips
- Same as a YouTube video — channel as author, [Video] label, YouTube as the platform.
- Use the /shorts/ URL exactly as it appears.
- Thin titles — if the Short has a vague title, describe it briefly so the citation is meaningful.
- Author = the channel that posted it, not the person who appears in it.
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Go Premium — $5/monthFrequently asked questions
- Is a YouTube Short cited differently from a normal YouTube video?
- No — same format (channel as author, [Video] label, YouTube as platform). The only difference is the /shorts/ URL.
- Who is the author of a YouTube Short?
- The channel that uploaded it, just as with a regular YouTube video.
- What if the Short has no real title?
- Add a short description in place of (or alongside) the title so your reader knows what it is.