How To Cite A Speech In-text

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How to Cite a Speech In-Text: A Complete Guide for APA, MLA, and Chicago Styles

If you're incorporate a speech, lecture, or public address into your own writing, you must give proper credit to the speaker. Correctly citing a speech in-text is essential for academic integrity, avoiding plagiarism, and allowing your readers to locate the original source. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to in-text citations for speeches, covering the three most common formatting styles: APA, MLA, and Chicago. Whether the speech was delivered live, broadcast on television, posted online, or recorded for a podcast, we will break down the rules to ensure your citations are accurate and professional.

Understanding the Core Principle: The Two-Part Citation System

Before diving into specific styles, it's crucial to understand that most citation systems rely on a two-part method:

1. In-Text Citation: A brief reference within the body of your paper that points your reader to the full entry in the "References" or "Works Cited" list at the end. This is what we will focus on.
2. Full Reference List Entry: A detailed entry at the end of your document that provides all the necessary information to identify and find the source.

The in-text citation is almost always a combination of the speaker's last name and the year of the speech (for APA and Chicago) or the speaker's last name and the page number (for MLA) No workaround needed..

APA Style (7th Edition) In-Text Citations for Speeches

APA style is widely used in the social sciences. Its in-text citations typically include the author's last name and the year of publication Most people skip this — try not to. No workaround needed..

Basic Format: (Speaker's Last Name, Year)

Example:

As Jane Goodall noted in her 2023 address, "The greatest danger to our future is apathy" (Goodall, 2023) Took long enough..

Variations for APA In-Text Citations:

1. Speech with a Known Date: This is the most straightforward scenario Easy to understand, harder to ignore..

• Format: (Speaker's Last Name, Year)
• Example: (Smith, 2022)

2. Speech with an Unknown or Multiple Speakers (Group Author): If the speech is given by an organization or a group (e.g., the United Nations, a corporate board), use the group's name.

• Format: (Group Name, Year)
• Example: The committee's final report emphasized the need for immediate action (World Health Organization, 2021).

3. Speech with No Date: Use "n.d." (for no date) in place of the year.

• Format: (Speaker's Last Name, n.d.)
• Example: In his famous inaugural address, the president promised a "new era of unity" (Kennedy, n.d.).

4. Speech with No Speaker or Date: If you cannot identify the speaker or the date, use the title of the speech in your citation. Shorten the title if necessary.

• Format: ("Shortened Title of Speech", Year) or ("Shortened Title", n.d.)
• Example: The documentary highlighted the themes presented in the lecture "The Future of Renewable Energy" ("The Future of Renewable Energy", 2020).

5. Direct Quotations: Always include the page number for direct quotes.

• Format: (Speaker's Last Name, Year, p. XX)
• Example: He argued that "education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" (Mandela, 1990, p. 15).

6. Citing a Specific Part of a Speech (e.g., a Timestamp): If you are referring to a specific moment in a recorded speech (like a video or podcast), you can use a timestamp instead of a page number. This is especially helpful for online content.

• Format: (Speaker's Last Name, Year, HH:MM:SS)
• Example: The speaker became emotional when discussing climate change (Greta Thunberg, 2019, 02:45).

MLA Style (9th Edition) In-Text Citations for Speechs

MLA style is common in the humanities. Its in-text citations typically use the author's last name and the page number.

Basic Format: (Speaker's Last Name Page Number)

Example:

As Maya Angelou proclaimed, "We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike" (Angelou 42) Took long enough..

Variations for MLA In-Text Citations:

1. Speech with a Known Page Number: This is standard for printed transcripts of speeches.

• Format: (Speaker's Last Name Page Number)
• Example: (Thoreau 105)

2. Speech with No Page Number: If the speech is from an audio or video recording with no page numbers, you can use a timestamp (HH:MM:SS) or simply omit the number if the location is clear.

• Format: (Speaker's Last Name) or (Speaker's Last Name, HH:MM:SS)
• Example: The concept of "the panopticon" was discussed extensively throughout the lecture (Foucault). Or, for a specific point: (Foucault, 1:22:30).

3. Speech with an Unknown Author: Use a shortened version of the title of the speech That's the part that actually makes a difference. But it adds up..

• Format: ("Shortened Title" Page Number)
• Example: The speech titled "The Ballot or the Bullet" was a powerful call for self-defense ("Ballot" 8).

4. Citing a Speech by a Well-Known Figure: If the speaker is extremely famous (e.g., Martin Luther King Jr.), you may sometimes omit the in-text citation if the reference is clear from the context, but it is always safer and more correct to include it.

Chicago Style (17th Edition) In-Text Citations for Speeches

Chicago style offers two systems: Notes-Bibliography (using footnotes/endnotes) and Author-Date. The Author-Date system is similar to APA Worth keeping that in mind. And it works..

Author-Date System:

• Basic Format: (Speaker's Last Name, Year)
• Example: (Obama, 2006)

Notes-Bibliography System: This system uses numbered footnotes or endnotes. The first citation is a full note, and subsequent citations are shortened.

• First Citation (Full Note):

  1. Barack Obama, speech at the Democratic National Convention, Chicago, IL, July 27, 2006.

• Subsequent Citations (Shortened Note):

  2. Obama, speech at DNC, 2006.

Putting It All Together: The Full Reference List Entry

The in-text citation is only half the battle. In real terms, you must also create a correct entry in your reference list. Here are examples for each style for a famous speech.

APA Style Reference List:

Goodall, J. (2023). The future of our planet [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example

MLA Style Works Cited List:

Angelou, Maya. "Commencement Address at Wellesley College." Wellesley College, 1989, pp. 1-