How to Cite a TED Talk in APA Format

Understanding TED Talk Citations in APA

TED Talks are influential presentations on diverse topics from technology and entertainment to design. These videos serve as valuable sources for research, inspiration, and expert commentary. Proper APA citations for TED Talks acknowledge speakers’ contributions and provide readers with access to the content.

Basic TED Talk Citation Format

The standard APA format for TED Talks is: Speaker Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Talk title [Video]. TED. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/

Include the speaker’s name, date of publication, talk title in italics, the video format designation in brackets, TED as the source, and the complete URL.

TED Talk Citation with Subtopic

When including the talk’s subtopic:

Smith, J. (2023, April 15). How to change your perspective on climate change [Video]. TED. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/john_smith_how_to_change_your_perspective

The subtopic is included as part of the talk title in italics.

TED Talk from YouTube

If citing a TED Talk from YouTube:

Johnson, M. (2023, June 20). The future of artificial intelligence [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example

Use YouTube as the source and provide the complete YouTube URL when the official TED.com link is unavailable.

TED-Ed Video Citation

For educational TED-Ed videos:

Williams, D. (2023, September 10). Why do we yawn? [Video]. TED-Ed. Retrieved from https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why_do_we_yawn

TED-Ed videos follow the same format with TED-Ed as the source.

In-Text Citations for TED Talks

For in-text citations, use the author-date format: (Smith, 2023) or (Johnson, 2023).

For direct quotes, include the time stamp: (Smith, 2023, 5:30) indicating minutes and seconds into the talk.

For longer quotes: (Smith, 2023, 5:30-7:45) showing the time range of the quotation.

Examples for Different TED Talk Categories

Technology TED Talk

Cook, T. (2022, March 8). Innovation in sustainability [Video]. TED. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/tim_cook_innovation

Science TED Talk

Sagan, C. (2000, February 12). The cosmos and human existence [Video]. TED. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/carl_sagan_cosmos

Social Impact TED Talk

Yunus, M. (2017, November 22). Social business and poverty reduction [Video]. TED. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/muhammad_yunus_social_business

Psychology TED Talk

Ariely, D. (2008, July 15). The predictably irrational human [Video]. TED. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_ariely_predictably_irrational

Citing Specific Moments in TED Talks

When referencing a specific part of a talk:

Smith argues that innovation requires “three key elements: curiosity, collaboration, and courage” (Smith, 2023, 8:45).

The timestamp helps readers locate the exact quotation in the video.

Using GenText for TED Talk Citations

GenText simplifies TED Talk citation by organizing speaker information, talk details, and publication dates. The tool automatically generates properly formatted APA citations and ensures consistency throughout your research document.

Reference List Formatting

In your reference list, arrange TED Talk citations alphabetically by speaker’s last name. Use hanging indent formatting with double spacing, consistent with other APA entries.

Common Citation Mistakes

• Incorrect title formatting: Talk titles should be italicized, not placed in quotation marks.
• Missing the video format designation: Always include [Video] in brackets to indicate the source format.
• Incomplete URLs: Verify that the URL is complete and functional on TED.com.
• Wrong date: Use the publication date on TED.com, not the date you accessed it.

When to Cite TED Talks

TED Talks are appropriate sources for:

• Expert commentary on emerging trends
• Thought leadership and innovative ideas
• Accessible explanations of complex topics
• Inspirational and motivational content
• Cross-disciplinary perspectives on global issues

Evaluating TED Talk Credibility

When using TED Talks as sources:

• Verify the speaker’s expertise and credentials
• Check if the talk content is peer-reviewed or expert-endorsed
• Consider the publication date for currency
• Look at the talk’s scope—is it research-based or opinion-based?
• Cross-reference claims with academic sources when necessary

By following APA guidelines for TED Talk citations, you properly acknowledge video content creators and maintain academic integrity in your research.