How-to · Step-by-step
How to cite a speech
Citing a speech means recording the speaker, the title of the address, the event or occasion, the location, and the date it was delivered.
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Step by step
How to do it
1.Identify the speaker
Note who delivered the speech. The speaker takes the author position in all three styles.
2.Record the title or a description
Copy the title of the address. If it is untitled, supply a brief description — for example "Commencement address" — in its place.
3.Note the event and venue
Record the occasion (a conference, ceremony or meeting), the venue and the city where the speech was given.
4.Note the date and form
Record the date of delivery, and note whether you heard it live, read a transcript or watched a recording — this changes how you cite it.
5.Find the source for a transcript or recording
If you used a transcript or recording, record the website, archive or platform that carries it, plus the URL.
6.Assemble the entry
Apply the live-speech template (speaker, title, event, location, date) or, for a transcript or recording, the template for that carrying source.
APA 7th edition
Format: Speaker, S. S. (Year, Month Day). Title of speech [Speech]. Event Name, Location. URL — Worked example: Smith, J. (2021, March 14). The future of open research [Speech audio recording]. Annual Research Forum, London, England. https://www.example.org/speech In-text: (Smith, 2021). The title takes a bracketed descriptor such as "[Speech]" or "[Speech audio recording]"; name the event and location, and add a URL when a recording or transcript is online.
MLA 9th edition
Format: Speaker. "Title of Speech." Event, Day Month Year, Venue, City. Address. — Worked example: Smith, Jane. "The Future of Open Research." Annual Research Forum, 14 Mar. 2021, Example Hall, London. Address. In-text: (Smith). The speech title is in quotation marks; name the event, date and venue, and end with a descriptive label such as "Address", "Keynote speech" or "Lecture". For a recording, add the platform as a container.
Chicago 17th edition (notes–bibliography)
Bibliography: Smith, Jane. "The Future of Open Research." Speech presented at the Annual Research Forum, London, March 14, 2021. — First footnote: 1. Jane Smith, "The Future of Open Research" (speech, Annual Research Forum, London, March 14, 2021). Give the speaker, the title in quotation marks, the type of address, the event and location, and the date; add a URL when a recording or transcript is available online.
Common questions
FAQ
How do I cite a speech I heard live?+
Cite it by the event. Give the speaker, the title (or a description if untitled), the occasion, the venue and city, the date, and a label such as "Address" (MLA) or "[Speech]" (APA). A live speech with no recording cannot be retrieved, so name the event precisely so a reader can identify it.
How do I cite a transcript of a speech?+
Cite it like the source that carries the transcript — a website, a book of collected speeches, or a newspaper. Name the speaker, the title, the carrying source and the date, and add the URL or page range so a reader can reach the exact text you used.
How do I cite a recorded speech I watched online?+
Treat the hosting platform as the container or site. Give the speaker, the title, the platform, the date and the URL, much as you would for an online video — APA adds a "[Speech audio recording]" or "[Video]" descriptor as appropriate.
Going deeper
