Citing a speech
Published January 29, 2021. Updated November 20, 2021.
To create a reference or citation for a speech, you will need to know the speaker, date, title of the speech, and URL (uniform resource locator).
The templates and examples below will show you how to cite a speech in MLA, APA, Chicago style, and Harvard referencing.
Easily cite a speech in the style of your choice using the Chegg Writing citation generator.
Citing a speech in MLA style
In-text citation example:f
(Long)
Works cited entry example:
Long, Huey P. “Every Man a King.” Radio Speech to the Nation, 23 Apr. 1934.
For more examples and information, view our citing a speech in MLA guide.
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Citing a speech in APA style
In-text citation example:
(Long, 1934/2017)
Reference list entry example:
Long, H. P. (2017). Every man a king [Speech transcript]. American Rhetoric. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/PDFFiles/Huey%20P.%20Long%20-%20Every%20Man%20A%20King.pdf (Original work published 1934).
For more examples and information, view our citing a speech in APA guide.
Citing a speech in Chicago style, notes-bibliography
Footnote example:
Note
Huey P. Long, “Every Man a King” (speech, Radio Speech to the Nation, April 23, 1934), https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/PDFFiles/Huey%20P.%20Long%20-%20Every%20Man%20A%20King.pdf.
Bibliography entry example:
Long, Huey P. “Every Man a King.” Speech, Radio Speech to the Nation, April 23, 1934. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/PDFFiles/Huey%20P.%20Long%20-%20Every%20Man%20A%20King.pdf.
For more examples and information, view our citing a speech in Chicago Style guide.
Citing a speech in Chicago style, author-date
In-text citation example:
(Long 1934)
Reference list entry example:
Long, Huey P. 1934. “Every Man a King.” Speech, Radio Speech to the Nation. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/PDFFiles/Huey%20P.%20Long%20-%20Every%20Man%20A%20King.pdf.
For more examples and information, view our citing a speech in Chicago Style guide.
How to cite a speech in Harvard referencing style
In-text citation example:
(Long, 1934)
Reference list entry example:
Long, H. P. (1934) Every man a king [Speech transcript]. 23 April. Available at: https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/PDFFiles/Huey%20P.%20Long%20-%20Every%20Man%20A%20King.pdf (Accessed: 15 January 2021).
For more examples and information, view our citing a speech in Harvard Referencing Style guide.
Writing a paper? Don’t forget to include a bibliography.
Citation Examples
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Below are the guidelines, templates, and examples for citing a recorded taping of a speech in MLA and APA styles.
MLA
To cite a recording of a speech in MLA, use the speaker’s last name for in-text citations. For the works-cited-list entry, include the first and last name of the speaker, the title of the speech, the production company, the date, and the URL (if applicable).
In-text citation
Template
(Speaker’s Surname)
Example
(Clinton)
Works-cited list
Template
Speaker’s Surname, F. M. “Title of the Speech.” Production Company/Publisher, Day Month Year, URL.
Example
Clinton, William Jefferson. “Farewell Address to the Nation.” American Rhetoric, 18 Jan. 2001, www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/wjclintonfarewell.htm.
APA
To cite a recorded taping of a speech in APA, use the name of the speaker and the publication year for in-text citations. For the reference list entry, include the first and last name of the speaker, the publication date, the title of the speech, the format of the recording in brackets, the production company or publisher, and the URL (if available).
In-text citation
Template
(Speaker’s Surname, Year)
Example
(Clinton, 2001)
Reference list entry
Template
Speaker’s Surname, F. M. (Year, Month Day). Title of the speech [Format Description]. Production Company/Publisher. URL
Example
Clinton, W. J. (2001, January 18). Farewell address to the nation [Speech audio recording]. American Rhetoric. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/wjclintonfarewell.htm
Below are the guidelines, templates, and examples for citing “I Have a Dream” in MLA and APA styles.
MLA
To cite “I Have a Dream” in MLA, use the last name of the speaker in in-text citations. The works cited list entry includes the name of the speaker, title of the speech, title of the website where the speech was found, date of the speech and its publication online, and the URL.
In-text citation template & example:
(Speaker’s Surname)
(King)
Works cited list template & example:
Speaker’s Surname, First Name. “Title of the Speech.” Date given. Title of Website, Publisher of the Website (if different from website name), date transcript was published, URL.
King, Martin Luther, Jr. “I Have a Dream.” 28 Aug. 1963. American Rhetoric, 20 Aug. 2020, www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm.
Note
In MLA style, the date the speech was originally given can be included after the title, followed by a period.
APA
To cite “I Have a Dream” in APA, use the last name of the speaker and year of the speech in in-text citations. The reference list entry includes the name of the speaker, title of the speech, website where the speech was found, date of the speech, and URL.
In-text citation template & example:
(Speaker’s Last Name, year)
(King, 1963)
Reference list entry template & example:
Speaker’s Surname, F. M. (Date speech was given). Title of the speech [Description]. Website Name. URL
King, M. L., Jr. (1963, August 28). I have a dream [Speech audio recording]. American Rhetoric. https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm
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