by TeachThought Workers
How do you cite a tweet MLA Model?
First, let’s make clear that whereas it’s not precisely an Oxford library and due to this fact might not be the primary place you go to for scholarly analysis, opposite to common perception there are issues on twitter value citing.
Lengthy an oblique however potent instrument of torture in English lecture rooms and College campuses in all places, the MLA (and different cohorts, together with APA and Chicago) launched a format for quoting tweets in formal writing. We’ve excerpted a number of the most typical questions for citing tweets in MLA type, however you’ll be able to try their suggestions for added steerage and associated studying on analysis, quotation, and citing tweets for analysis functions.
The Trendy Language Affiliation (MLA) pointers for citing content material from X (previously often known as Twitter) deal with utilizing the put up’s textual content because the title, figuring out the creator by their deal with, and guaranteeing the URL is accessible.
The Fundamentals: MLA ninth Version Format
As a result of the platform has rebranded, the container title is now X, although Twitter is suitable if referring to a historic put up or if the URL nonetheless reads ‘twitter.com’.
The Customary System: @deal with (Actual Title). “The total textual content of the tweet goes right here.” X, Day Month 12 months, URL.
1. Creator and Deal with
- Deal with First: Start the quotation with the person’s deal with (together with the @ image).
- Actual Title: If the person’s actual title (or show title) is understood and totally different from the deal with, embrace it in parentheses instantly after the deal with.
- Instance:
@neiltyson (Neil deGrasse Tyson).
2. The “Title” (Tweet Textual content)
- Full Textual content: Not like articles with formal headlines, the “title” of a put up on X is the textual content of the put up itself. Enclose the textual content in citation marks.
- Capitalization: Don’t alter the capitalization of the unique put up; reproduce it precisely as written.
- Hashtags: Embrace hashtags as they seem within the textual content.
3. Dealing with Lengthy Posts
Whereas the character restrict on X has expanded, MLA suggests truncating the textual content for the quotation title if the put up is excessively lengthy.
- Ellipsis: Use the primary sentence or a significant phrase, adopted by an ellipsis (
...) on the finish of the quote. - Hashtags in Lengthy Posts: In case you truncate the textual content, you don’t want to incorporate the hashtags except they’re a part of the section you preserved.
4. Date and URL
- Date: Record the day, month (abbreviated), and 12 months.
- Time: MLA ninth version typically doesn’t require the timestamp for social media except the put up is a part of a fast sequence (like a reside thread) the place distinction is critical.
- URL: Copy the direct hyperlink to the put up. You could normally omit the
https://prefix.
Quotation Examples
Customary Put up (Quick)
@NASA. “It’s a busy week for the station! The crew is getting ready for a spacewalk and a cargo mission.” X, 12 Nov. 2024,x.com/NASA/standing/example123.
Truncated Put up (Lengthy)
@teachthought. “Vital pondering is not only a ability, it’s a behavior of thoughts that requires fixed cultivation. . . .” X, 24 Might 2025,x.com/teachthought/standing/example456.
Put up with a Identified Creator Title
@StephenKing (Stephen King). “I’ve seen the way forward for horror, and it’s named. . . .” X, 10 Oct. 2023,twitter.com/StephenKing/standing/example789.
Citing a Thread (A number of Authors) If a thread includes a number of contributors related to your work, cite the particular put up you might be quoting. If referencing the dialog typically, listing the first creator adopted by et al.
@edutopia et al. “How do you deal with classroom administration in a BYOD surroundings?” X, 15 Aug. 2024,x.com/edutopia/standing/example321.
So, there you have got it–now you understand how to quote tweet in MLA type/format. We’ve additionally received scores and scores of assets for utilizing social media within the classroom to discover as effectively.
