how to write video titles in essays

How do I treat the title of a work uploaded to a video sharing site?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .

In general, copy the title of the work exactly as it appears on the site. For example, YouTube contains a video that an uploader has labeled “ Night of the Comet Widescreen Full Movie 1984.” In your works-cited-list entry, you would therefore provide the title of the work given by the uploader because you’re citing that version of the work, not the original version of the movie, Night of the Comet :

Night of the Comet Widescreen Full Movie 1984 .  YouTube , uploaded by Jen Dobbins, 20 Sept. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=me4pOQOt20s&t=10s.

It’s important to cite the publication details of the version you consult because parts of the original work could be cut off, distorted by poor recording quality, or even altered in invisible ways. Disambiguation is also important: the same work often appears in multiple versions on video sharing sites. For example, a commercial performed by the comedy team Elaine May and Mike Nichols is posted on YouTube with different titles, and the recordings vary in length by five seconds:

“G E Refrigerators Commercial with Mike Nichols and Elaine May.” YouTube , uploaded by recycledboy, 7 Nov. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPGHQYutitY.

“Elaine Maye and Mike Nicholes Freeze Each Other Out.” YouTube , uploaded by theatrecorner, 18 June 2008, www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DNoNj8JzX4.

Faithful presentation of the work in the list of works cited does not mean that you must refer to the official version of the work in your writing using the uploaded title. If you are writing generally about Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales , you would refer to it as such, even though you may be quoting from an edition titled The Canterbury Tales: Fifteen Tales and the General Prologue or Canterbury Marriage Tales . Similarly, you would refer to Night of the Comet when discussing the movie generally but Night of the Comet Widescreen Full Movie 1984  (where the name of the movie appears in roman font as a title within a title) when referring specifically to the YouTube version or citing from it:

In the movie Night of the Comet , two valley girls fend off zombies and evil scientists to survive the apocalypse. At the start of the film, the narrator says, “The citizens of Earth would get an extra Christmas present this year” (Night 1:09-12).

How to Write a Movie Title in an Essay or Article

When you're writing a paper or article in school or at work, you may be in a situation where you need to write a movie title in your writing. But how should you format them? Should you use italics? Or quotation marks? Or maybe both? Or neither…

The first thing to note is that the rules will be different depending on whether you’re writing an article or an essay. In this guide, we'll explain how to write one in an essay or article so that your writing looks professional and polished. Refer to the relevant section, depending on the piece you are creating. 

The main things to know are:

• If you are writing a movie title in an article, the format you use is up to you (or the company you work for). Pick a format and stick to it.
• If you are writing a movie title in an essay, then you should follow your university's or employer's referencing style guidelines. 

Read on for suggestions of different formats for articles, and more in-depth guidance around different university referencing styles.

How to Write a Movie Title in an Article 

Let's begin by exploring why you need a specific format, and examining some key principles and rules around writing a movie title in an article.

Why You Need a Specific Format 

So picture this. You’re writing an article and want to refer to a particular movie - perhaps to illustrate a point, or maybe you’re critiquing it. But you’re unsure how to format it. You don’t want to be marked down for formatting it incorrectly, so you consider leaving it out to avoid the trouble. Not on our watch!

But hold on a sec! Why should you even worry about this? Why do movie titles need to be formatted correctly anyway? Well, it’s simple really. If you don’t differentiate the title from the rest of the text, your readers might not understand you’re referring to a movie title. Imagine, for instance, that you wrote:

I finally got around to watching three billboards outside ebbing missouri.

Can we agree this sentence doesn’t make any sense? With this punctuation (i.e. none) your reader may well believe that you headed out into the night and found a couple of billboards to look at for some time. 

So do you see why it’s important to have some kind of format for writing movie titles? 

Key Principles and Rules

Now here’s the tricky bit: with articles, there’s no hard and fast rule on how to format a movie title in your writing. There are many different options and any of them would be acceptable to use in an article you’re going to publish online or physically. 

So what to do?

Our first advice is to check in with your editor/head of copywriting / your point of reference at the company you work at. They will most likely have a specific format they like to use and will be able to share that with you.

That’s if you are writing for a company.

If you’re self-publishing, say, for example, on your website or Medium.com, then you’re the boss, friend. The conventions you use are completely up to you. 

But here are a few key principles and rules:

• Common conventions are to use italics or quotations marks
• Choose one format and stick with it - not only throughout the article but in everything you write
• Keep an eye out for the correct spelling of the movie. For example, don’t forget the comma in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. 
• Title case is a great way to further demarcate the movie title from the rest of the text to make it abundantly clear that it’s a movie title.

How to Write a Movie Title in an Essay 

Now let's turn our attention towards writing a movie title in an essay.

New scenario. You’re writing an essay for your college or university course. Perhaps you’re using the movie as an example, or maybe you’re critiquing it.

But you don’t want to be marked down for getting it wrong, so you consider avoiding mentioning it altogether. But that would be a shame! Let us help you. 

Here are some general rules to get you started:

• Follow the rules of your school’s academic writing style (APA, MLA, AP, or Chicago.)
• Use title case
• Use italics or quotation marks (depending on the writing style)

Academic Referencing Styles

There are different academic referencing/writing styles in the English language, and these vary depending on the education establishment. Different styles have different rules that govern the way that you might write, punctuate and cite within your essay.

The four most common styles are Associated Press (AP), Chicago, American Psychological Association (APA), and Modern Language Association (MLA).

Of course, there are many more than just four in existence, but these are the prevalent ones. 

But why are there so many different writing styles, we hear you ask? Quite simply, this is to cater to different fields. For instance, the scientific sector places a lot of importance on using recent research, hence the APA style places the date before anything. Humanities tend to use the MLA style which places the author's name first. 

Write a Movie Title in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles

Luckily, the APA, MLA, and Chicago styles all use the same format for movie titles, so it’ll be easy to remember.

These styles all require that you place the movie title in italics. Here are some examples:

• Saving Private Ryan
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 

Do not use any quotation marks! This is not necessary and will be considered incorrect.

You’ll also notice that the title is written in the title case. This means you capitalize certain words in the title. More on that in the next section.

Write a Movie Title in AP style

The AP style is the exception here since it does not use italics to format movie titles. Instead, you’re required to use quotation marks. Let’s use the same examples as above, to make the difference clear:

• “Kill Bill”
• “Saving Private Ryan”
• “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”

Again, here, remember to use title case. 

Write a Movie Title in Title Case

Using title case means that you capitalize certain words in the title. But depending on the writing style you’re using, there are different rules on which words need capitalizing and which ones don't. Mostly, they disagree on whether or not to capitalize minor words.

Read on to find out the rules for each style, to ensure you’re writing it correctly. 

Note that if you’re writing an article, this will again depend on the rules that the company you work for is using, or if you’re writing for your own business, then you can make your own rules. Remember to pick a structure and stick to it. Consistency is key!

• Capitalize the major words.
• Lowercase the articles the, a, and an.
• Capitalize the ‘to’ in an infinitive (e.g., I Want To Eat Cake)
• Capitalize the first and last words (overrides other rules)
• Capitalize all words of four letters or more (overrides other rules)
• Lowercase the second word after a hyphenated prefix

Chicago Style

• Lowercase articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions
• Lowercase the second part of Latin species names.
• Lowercase articles, prepositions, and coordinating conjunctions.
• Do NOT capitalize ‘to’ in infinitives (e.g., I Want to Eat Cake).

As you can see, all four styles share some common rules but are different in certain small details. 

Incorrect ways to write a movie title

Here are some examples of incorrect ways to write a movie title:

• Saving private ryan
• Eternal SUNSHINE of a Spotless Mind
• “Shawshank Redemption”
• One Flew Over the cuckoo’s Nest

Can you figure out what is wrong with each of these examples? We’ll give you a clue! It has to do with incorrect usage of title cases, block capitals and quotation marks.

A note on reference lists

We just wanted to include a little note here to remind you that when citing a movie in your essay, you should include it in your reference list, or bibliography, depending on the academic writing style you are using. 

Again, the structure of your reference list will vary depending on whether you’re writing in APA, AP, MLA or Chicago, and you can find guidance on this in an official manual for the style (or online).

Other Points of Interest

There are some other things you might be interested in knowing that are related to the topic of how to write a movie title in an essay or article, so we’re detailing those below.

How to write a quote from a movie

So you’ve successfully referenced a movie using the rules outlined above. Now you’d like to quote a line from the movie. Which conventions should you use for this? 

For this, you would use quotation marks. For instance, if you want to quote this famous line from the movie Star Wars , you would write: “May the force be with you.”

Remember that if you’re writing an essay, you might need to also include the reference in your in-text citation. Let us show you a full example of what this would look like:

History was made when General Dodonna said “May the force be with you.” in the iconic movie Star Wars (Lucas, 1977).

How to write the name of an episode of a TV show 

If you wanted to cite a TV series, you would follow the same rules as those for citing a movie - as outlined above. But what if you also wanted to include the name of the episode you’re referring to? 

Similarly to inserting a direct quote from a movie, in this case, we recommend using quotation marks. For example:

Friends , “The One Where Everybody Finds Out.”

If writing an essay, please refer to your academic writing style’s guide to learn about conventions around formatting and using title case.

Where does the word ‘movie’ come from?

Dating back as far as the early 1900s, the word ‘movie’ stems from the term ‘moving picture’.

Before they could be projected onto a screen for wider viewing, the first movies could only be seen by one person at a time, using an Electrotachyscope, Kinetoscope, or Mutoscope.

And there we have it! We hope that this article has helped you better understand the conventions around writing a movie title in your essay or article, so you can feel confident about handing in your essay or turning in your article to your line manager.

To summarize, when you’re writing an article, the rules are pretty much up to you if writing for your own business, or your manager if writing for another company. Check-in with them to find out which conventions are already in place.

If writing an essay, then you should always use the structure set out in the academic writing style’s manual. Find out first of all which style you are expected to use. 

Now that that's done, it's time to get writing! 

Learn More:

• 'Dos and Don'ts': How to Write Them With Proper Grammar
• How to Write a List Correctly: Colons, Commas, and Semicolons
• ‘Right’ vs ‘Write’ vs ‘Rite’ vs ‘Wright’: What’s the Difference?
• How to Write Height Correctly - Writing Feet and Inches
• How to Write a Postcard (Tips and Examples)
• How to Write Comedy: Tips and Examples to Make People Laugh
• How to Write an Inequality: From Number Lines or Word Problems
• How to Write a Monologue: Tips and Examples
• How to Write a Letter to the President (With Example)
• How to Write Like Ernest Hemingway
• How to Write a Follow-Up Email After an Interview
• How to Write a Formal Email
• How to Write a 2-Week Notice Email
• How to Write an Out-of-Office (OOO) Email
• How to Write a Professional ‘Thank You’ Email

We encourage you to share this article on Twitter and Facebook . Just click those two links - you'll see why.

It's important to share the news to spread the truth. Most people won't.

Add new comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Post Comment

Generate accurate MLA citations for free

• Knowledge Base
• How to cite a YouTube video in MLA

How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA | Format & Examples

Published on April 18, 2019 by Courtney Gahan . Revised on March 5, 2024 by Shona McCombes.

The MLA Works Cited entry for an online video contains the video’s creator, the title, the website or platform in italics (e.g. YouTube ), the channel or user that uploaded the video, the upload date, and the URL.

If the video was uploaded by the same person or organization that created it, or if no clear creator can be identified, omit the author element and start with the video’s title instead.

The in-text citation should match the first element of the Works Cited (either the creator’s name, or a short version of the title). You can also include a timestamp in place of a page number.

Note that if you are citing a whole movie that has been uploaded to a video-sharing platform, you should use the format of an MLA movie citation instead. The same goes for a TV episode . For a TED Talk , you can follow the YouTube format if you cite it from YouTube.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

Finding information for an mla youtube citation, citing videos with the same creator and uploader, citing videos with a different creator and uploader, timestamps in youtube citations, frequently asked questions about mla style.

On YouTube, all the information you need can be found below the video.

The name of the channel that uploaded the video should be written the same as it is on YouTube, but the title of the video should follow standard MLA capitalization rules .

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

YouTube videos are often uploaded by the person or organization that created them. In this case, their name should only appear once. Start the citation with the title, and list the channel name in the other contributors  element.

In the example below, the video was both created and uploaded by the organization BBC News, so the reference starts with the title. A shortened version of the title appears in the in-text citation.

Sometimes, you might want to cite a video that has been uploaded by someone other than the creator.

In this case, if you know who created the video, list them as author at the start of the Works Cited and in the in-text citation.

You should also use this format if you are citing an interview uploaded to YouTube, using the interviewee’s name as the author.

If you directly quote from a video, or you want to refer to a specific section, you can include a timestamp in your in-text citation.

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

You must include an MLA in-text citation every time you quote or paraphrase from a source (e.g. a book , movie , website , or article ).

If a source has no author, start the MLA Works Cited entry with the source title . Use a shortened version of the title in your MLA in-text citation .

If a source has no page numbers, you can use an alternative locator (e.g. a chapter number, or a timestamp for a video or audio source) to identify the relevant passage in your in-text citation. If the source has no numbered divisions, cite only the author’s name (or the title).

If you already named the author or title in your sentence, and there is no locator available, you don’t need a parenthetical citation:

• Rajaram  argues that representations of migration are shaped by “cultural, political, and ideological interests.”
• The homepage of The Correspondent describes it as “a movement for radically different news.”

Yes. MLA style uses title case, which means that all principal words (nouns, pronouns , verbs, adjectives , adverbs , and some conjunctions ) are capitalized.

This applies to titles of sources as well as the title of, and subheadings in, your paper. Use MLA capitalization style even when the original source title uses different capitalization .

The fastest and most accurate way to create MLA citations is by using Scribbr’s MLA Citation Generator .

Search by book title, page URL, or journal DOI to automatically generate flawless citations, or cite manually using the simple citation forms.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Gahan, C. (2024, March 05). How to Cite a YouTube Video in MLA | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/mla/youtube-citation/

Is this article helpful?

Courtney Gahan

Other students also liked, how to cite a movie in mla, how to cite an image in mla, how to cite a song in mla, what is your plagiarism score.

Thursday, February 23: The Clark Library is closed today.

APA Style (7th Edition) Citation Guide: Films/Videos/TV Shows

• Introduction
• Journal Articles
• Magazine/Newspaper Articles
• Books & Ebooks
• Government & Legal Documents
• Biblical Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Films/Videos/TV Shows
• How to Cite: Other
• Additional Help

Table of Contents

Film or Video

Streaming Video From a Website (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.)

Streaming video from a subscription media website (netflix, amazon prime, hulu, etc.), streaming video from a library database, television series episode.

Note: All citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent in a Reference List.

A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.

This Microsoft support page contains instructions about how to format a hanging indent in a paper.

Who to Credit - Film or Video

The director should be credited as the author of a film. If the director is unknown, someone in a similar role, such as a producer and/or writer, can be credited. To clarify what role the person has in the production, their job title such as Director is put after their name in round brackets if the job title is known.

Who to Credit - Streaming Video from a Website

For videos from websites such as YouTube or Vimeo, credit the person who posted the content. If a real name is provided, use that followed by the person's user name in square brackets. If the real name of the person who posted the content is not known, just use their user name without brackets.

Note : It is not necessary to specify how you watched a film or video (e.g. motion picture, DVD, streaming online). 

In the Body of a Paper

Books, Journals, Reports, Webpages, etc.: When you refer to titles of a “stand-alone work,” as the APA calls them on their APA Style website, such as books, journals, reports, and webpages, you should italicize them. Capitalize words as you would for an article title in a reference, e.g., In the book Crying in H Mart: A memoir , author Michelle Zauner (2021) describes her biracial origin and its impact on her identity.

Article or Chapter: When you refer to the title of a part of a work, such as an article or a chapter, put quotation marks around the title and capitalize it as you would for a journal title in a reference, e.g., In the chapter “Where’s the Wine,” Zauner (2021) describes how she decided to become a musician.

The APA Sample Paper below has more information about formatting your paper.

• APA 7th ed. Sample Paper

Film or Video

When the Director, Producer and/or Writer is known:

Director/Producer/Writer's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if given. (Job Title). (Year film was produced).  Title of film: Subtitle if any  [Film]. Production Company.

Note: For other countries, list the city name and the country.

Hallam, J. (Producer, Writer), & Lam, K. (Producer, Director). (2010).  Staff relations in healthcare: Working as a team  [Film]. Insight Media.

• When you have more than one producer, writer and/or writer to credit, separate the names with a comma and put an ampersand (&) before the last person's last name.
• Serling, R. (Executive Producer). (1959–1964). The twilight zone [TV series]. Cayuga Productions; CBS Productions.

In-Text Paraphrase:

(Producer/Director/Writer's Last Name, Year)

Example: (Hallam & Lam, 2010)

Note: This example has two people to credit, so both last names are given)

In-Text Quote:

(Producer/Director/Writer's Last Name, Year, Timestamp)

Example: (Hallam & Lam, 2010, 2:30)

Note: Because the timestamp serves the same purpose in a video as page numbers, paragraph numbers or section headings, you include it in the in-text citation. Include only the beginning timestamp.

When the Director, Producer and/or Writer is not known:  Start the citation with the film title.

Title of film: Subtitle if any  [Film]. (Year film was produced). Production Company if Known.

Era of viruses  [Film]. (2006). Films for the Humanities and Sciences.

( Title of Film , Year)

Example: ( Era of Viruses , 2006)

Note: Italicize the title of the film and capitalize the words for the in-text citation.

( Title of Film , Year, Timestamp)

Example: ( Era of Viruses , 2006, 40:00)

When the Poster's Name is known: 

Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. of person who posted the video if known. [User name that posted the video]. (Year video was posted, Month Day).  Title of video  [Video]. Website Name. URL

Note: According to APA, for citing purposes the person who posted the video is credited as the author.

Nye, B. [TheRealBillNye]. (2009, April 8).  Bill Nye the science guy on energy  [Video]. YouTube. http://youtu.be/0ASLLiuejAo

(Creator's Last Name, Year)

Example: (Nye, 2009)

(Creator's Last Name, Year, timestamp)

Example: (Nye, 2009, 0:55)

When the Poster's Name is not known: 

User name that posted the video. (Year video was posted, Month Day).  Title of video  [Video]. Website Name. URL

All Aces Media. (2012, January 19).  Often awesome the series  [Video]. Vimeo. http://vimeo.com/35311255

(User name, Year)

Example: (All Aces Media, 2012)

Example: (All Aces Media, 2012, timestamp)

Producer's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if Given. (Producer). (Year of Publication).  Title of Video  [Video]. Website Name. URL

Note:  When you have one producer (Producer) is used after the producer's name. If you have more than one producer use (Producers) instead.

Allen, T., et. al. (Producers). (2017). The story of Diana  [Video]. Netflix. http://www.netflix.com

(Producer Last name, Year)

Example: (Allen, et. al., 2017)

(Producer Last name, Year, Timestamp)

Example: (Allen, et. al., 2017, 6:45)

Name of Company/Organization that Provided Content or Creator's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. if known. (Year video was created, Month Day if known).  Title of video  [Video]. Database Name.

National Film Board of Canada. (2014).  Making movie history: The women  [Video]. NFB Campus. 

(Name of Company/Organization, Year)

Example: (National Film Board of Canada, 2014)

(Name of Company/Organization, Year, Timestamp)

Writer, Producer and/or Director's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if given. (Job Title) if known. (Year the episode was originally aired). Title of episode (Season No., Episode No.) [TV series episode]. In Executive Producer's First Initial. Last Name (Executive producer) if known,  Television series name . Production Company.

Young, R. (Writer, Producer, Director). (2010). Flying cheap (Season 2010, Episode 2) [TV series episode]. In  Frontline . American University School of Communication's Investigative Reporting Workshop.

(Writer, Producer and/or Director's Last Name, Year)

Example: (Young, 2010)

(Writer, Producer and/or Director's Last Name, Year, Timestamp)

Example: (Young, 2010, 15:38)

Television Series Episode Viewed on a Subscription Media Website 

Writer, Producer and/or Director's Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial if given. (Job Title) if known. (Year the episode was originally aired). Title of episode (Season No., Episode No.) [TV series episode]. In Executive Producer's First Initial. Last Name (Executive producer) if known,  Television series name . Streaming Video Site. URL

Attenborough, D. (Writer). (2001). Ocean world (Season 1, Episode 1) [TV series episode]. In A. Fothergill (Executive producer),  Blue planet: A natural history of the oceans . Netflix. http://www.netflix.com

Example: (Attenborough, 2001)

 (Writer, Producer and/or Director's Last Name, Year, Timestamp)

Example: (Attenborough, 2001, 10:12)

• << Previous: Secondary Sources
• Next: How to Cite: Other >>
• Last Updated: Mar 11, 2024 3:40 PM
• URL: https://libguides.up.edu/apa

How to Title an Essay, With Tips and Examples

If you read this blog regularly, you’ll notice something about our blog posts’ titles: They all summarize what their post is about. This is so you know exactly what you’ll find in the post, so if you’re looking for specific tips, you know exactly which post to read. 

An essay title does the same thing. There are a lot of similarities between essays and blog posts , and one of those similarities is that for the title to be effective, it needs to be concise and clear. It should also contain one or more keywords, which tells readers the essay’s main topic.  Write papers with confidence Grammarly helps you make the grade Write with Grammarly

What is the purpose of an essay title?

An essay title tells readers what your essay is about. This gives them a heads up on what to expect from the essay and, if they’re reading it to conduct their own research, whether it’s relevant to their area of study. 

Ideally, an essay title also catches readers’ attention and stokes their curiosity, prompting them to read your work. How important it is to achieve this depends on the kind of essay you’re writing—if it’s an assigned essay and your instructor has to read it, an engaging title isn’t your top priority. But if you’re submitting your essay to a contest, as part of an application to college or graduate school, or pitching it for publication, it needs a catchy, intriguing title because the title is the first part of your work the editor or admissions committee will see. And depending on the title’s catchiness and other circumstances of your submission, it could be the deciding factor in whether they read your essay. 

As we mentioned above, a strong essay title gives a clear preview of what the reader will find in your writing . You don’t have to give it all away, but it should act as a general briefing on what to expect from your work and make them want to continue reading it. 

>>Read more: How to Start an Essay: 7 Tips for a Knockout Introduction

What are the rules for essay titles?

Guidelines for essay titles in mla format.

In MLA format , your essay’s title should be in title case. That means every principle word— words that aren’t articles , prepositions , coordinating conjunctions , or the word “to” paired with an infinitive —is capitalized. The only exception to this is when one of these words is the first or last word in the essay’s title. Here’s a quick example: 

Looking Through the Rear Window: Perspective in Hitchcock’s Films

Guidelines for essay titles in APA format

Similarly to MLA format, APA format requires essay titles to be in title case. In addition to this formatting requirement, APA requires that essay titles be succinct and specifically not contain any abbreviations or unnecessary words. Here is an example of how an essay title looks in APA format:

Effects of Blue Light on Boston Lettuce Crops

See how straightforward this essay title is? You know exactly what the essay is going to be about: How exposure to blue light impacts growing Boston lettuce crops. Keep in mind that APA format is typically used for scientific and technical work, so it’s unlikely you’ll use figurative language in your title. 

Guidelines for essay titles in Chicago Manual of Style format

Chicago style also requires that essay titles be in title case. Other than that, Chicago style doesn’t have specific guidelines for what a title should or shouldn’t include. Here is an example of an essay title in Chicago style:

2021 Returns: What We Projected vs. Actual Returns

How to brainstorm your essay title

When you’re brainstorming for your essay, think about the potential titles you can choose. Jot down your keyword and the kind of essay you’re writing, such as an analytical or compare-and-contrast essay . This won’t only help you determine an effective title, but it can also help you determine the best way to structure your essay .

Stay away from punny or otherwise funny titles unless you’re writing a humorous or personal piece—your creative writing class is probably the only course where that kind of title is appropriate. 

Here’s what your essay title should include

• One or more relevant keywords to your subject
• Any other necessary words or phrases that tell the reader what to expect from your essay
• When applicable, a catchy phrase or figurative language

Let’s take another look at the example essay titles from the section above. In the first example, Looking Through the Rear Window: Perspective in Hitchcock’s Films , we have the following elements:

• An attention-grabbing phrase that references one of Hitchcock’s most well-known films
• The keyword “perspective,” which tells us immediately what this essay is about
• Clarity around how the essay specifically explores perspective in Hitchcock’s films and instances where Hitchcock used perspective as a storytelling device

Now take a look at the example APA title essay, Effects of Blue Light on Boston Lettuce Crops. This one is more straightforward and technical. But still, it’s got the key elements that make up a strong essay title: 

• A clear preview of exactly what’s in the essay: data on how an environmental factor affects specific crops
• Clear keywords: “blue light” and “Boston lettuce crops”

Additionally, notice how the tone is different from the tone in the MLA essay title. This essay title feels more objective and detached from its subject, giving a preview of the tone the reader will find in the essay. 

What not to include in your essay title

It’s usually best to stay away from negative or controversial terms. Do this even if your essay is taking a stand against something or arguing that another position is harmful. Instead, reframe your position using neutral or positive words to avoid potentially offending a reader or undermining your own position by coming across as aggressive or bitter. Compare these two essay titles:

• Why Rerouting Campus Traffic Is a Terrible Idea
• Finding Solutions to Campus Traffic Challenges 

See how the second option, the one that avoids negative language, sounds more engaging and promises a more resolution-oriented read? Remember, your reader is supposed to draw their own conclusions from your essay—don’t attempt to do their work for them by telling them what to think in your title. 

As you brainstorm titles, write them down so you can revisit them after you complete your first draft. Once you have a finished draft , it can be a lot easier to determine the title that fits your essay best. 

Essay title examples

Take a look at these example essay titles and take note of how the tones and vocabulary vary between essay types. A title that’s perfect for a persuasive essay might not be right for a college application or expository essay . And similarly, a title that works for a comparative essay might be too lackluster for a personal or argumentative essay . 

Personal essays

Why I’ll Never Wear a Blue Baseball Cap Again

How 20 Years in Corporate America Made Me a Better Parent

Analytical essays

What is Love? How Romantic and Modern Artists’ Answers Differ

Three Reasons Why We Won’t See a Repeat of the 2008 Bubble

Argumentative essays

The Correlation between New School Buildings and Higher Test Scores—Three Stats You Can’t Ignore

Are We Using the Right Success Metrics for Students?

Persuasive essays

Four Ways Free Wi-Fi Will Boost the City’s Economy

Unless We Take Action, This Heat Wave Is Just the Beginning

Compare-and-contrast essays

Dynamite, Profit, and the Pursuit of Power: Chasing White Whales in Moby Dick and Jaws

Outdoor Growth Patterns of Shiitake and Lion’s Mane Mushrooms 

College application essays

What Scooping Ice Cream Taught Me about Human Nature

Dancing and Math Are More Similar than You Realize

Essay title FAQs

What is an essay title.

An essay title concisely states what an essay is about.

Why is an essay title important?

An essay title is important because it accomplishes a few things:

• Tells readers what the essay is about
• Catches potential readers’ attention
• Helps researchers sort essays and find the ones most relevant to their work

What should you consider when creating an essay title?

When creating an essay title, think about the essay’s purpose. Then, explain the essay’s subject and purpose in a brief clause or short sentence, making it appropriately intriguing to draw readers’ attention. 

What is a Video Essay? The Art of the Video Analysis Essay

I n the era of the internet and Youtube, the video essay has become an increasingly popular means of expressing ideas and concepts. However, there is a bit of an enigma behind the construction of the video essay largely due to the vagueness of the term.

What defines a video analysis essay? What is a video essay supposed to be about? In this article, we’ll take a look at the foundation of these videos and the various ways writers and editors use them creatively. Let’s dive in.

Watch: Our Best Film Video Essays of the Year

Subscribe for more filmmaking videos like this.

What is a video essay?

First, let’s define video essay.

There is narrative film, documentary film, short films, and then there is the video essay. What is its role within the realm of visual media? Let’s begin with the video essay definition. 

VIDEO ESSAY DEFINITION

A video essay is a video that analyzes a specific topic, theme, person or thesis. Because video essays are a rather new form, they can be difficult to define, but recognizable nonetheless. To put it simply, they are essays in video form that aim to persuade, educate, or critique. 

These essays have become increasingly popular within the era of Youtube and with many creatives writing video essays on topics such as politics, music, film, and pop culture. 

What is a video essay used for?

• To persuade an audience of a thesis
• To educate on a specific subject
• To analyze and/or critique 

What is a video essay based on?

Establish a thesis.

Video analysis essays lack distinguished boundaries since there are countless topics a video essayist can tackle. Most essays, however, begin with a thesis. 

How Christopher Nolan Elevates the Movie Montage  •  Video Analysis Essays

Good essays often have a point to make. This point, or thesis, should be at the heart of every video analysis essay and is what binds the video together. 

Related Posts

• Stanley Kubrick Directing Style Explained →
• A Filmmaker’s Guide to Nolan’s Directing Style →
• How to Write a Voice Over Montage in a Script →

interviews in video essay

Utilize interviews.

A key determinant for the structure of an essay is the source of the ideas. A common source for this are interviews from experts in the field. These interviews can be cut and rearranged to support a thesis. 

Roger Deakins on "Learning to Light"  •  Video Analysis Essays

Utilizing first hand interviews is a great way to utilize ethos into the rhetoric of a video. However, it can be limiting since you are given a limited amount to work with. Voice over scripts, however, can give you the room to say anything. 

How to create the best video essays on Youtube

Write voice over scripts.

Voice over (VO) scripts allow video essayists to write out exactly what they want to say. This is one of the most common ways to structure a video analysis essay since it gives more freedom to the writer. It is also a great technique to use when taking on large topics.

In this video, it would have been difficult to explain every type of camera lens by cutting sound bites from interviews of filmmakers. A voice over script, on the other hand, allowed us to communicate information directly when and where we wanted to.

Ultimate Guide to Camera Lenses  •  Video essay examples

Some of the most famous video essayists like Every Frame a Painting and Nerdwriter1 utilize voice over to capitalize on their strength in writing video analysis essays. However, if you’re more of an editor than a writer, the next type of essay will be more up your alley. 

Video analysis essay without a script

Edit a supercut.

Rather than leaning on interview sound bites or voice over, the supercut video depends more on editing. You might be thinking “What is a video essay without writing?” The beauty of the video essay is that the writing can be done throughout the editing. Supercuts create arguments or themes visually through specific sequences. 

Another one of the great video essay channels, Screen Junkies, put together a supercut of the last decade in cinema. The video could be called a portrait of the last decade in cinema.

2010 - 2019: A Decade In Film  •  Best videos on Youtube

This video is rather general as it visually establishes the theme of art during a general time period. Other essays can be much more specific. 

Critical essays

Video essays are a uniquely effective means of creating an argument. This is especially true in critical essays. This type of video critiques the facets of a specific topic. 

In this video, by one of the best video essay channels, Every Frame a Painting, the topic of the film score is analyzed and critiqued — specifically temp film score.

Every Frame a Painting Marvel Symphonic Universe  •  Essay examples

Of course, not all essays critique the work of artists. Persuasion of an opinion is only one way to use the video form. Another popular use is to educate. 

• The Different Types of Camera Lenses →
• Write and Create Professionally Formatted Screenplays →
• How to Create Unforgettable Film Moments with Music →

Video analysis essay

Visual analysis.

One of the biggest advantages that video analysis essays have over traditional, written essays is the use of visuals. The use of visuals has allowed video essayists to display the subject or work that they are analyzing. It has also allowed them to be more specific with what they are analyzing. Writing video essays entails structuring both words and visuals. 

Take this video on There Will Be Blood for example. In a traditional, written essay, the writer would have had to first explain what occurs in the film then make their analysis and repeat.

This can be extremely inefficient and redundant. By analyzing the scene through a video, the points and lessons are much more clear and efficient. 

There Will Be Blood  •   Subscribe on YouTube

Through these video analysis essays, the scene of a film becomes support for a claim rather than the topic of the essay. 

Dissect an artist

Essays that focus on analysis do not always focus on a work of art. Oftentimes, they focus on the artist themself. In this type of essay, a thesis is typically made about an artist’s style or approach. The work of that artist is then used to support this thesis.

Nerdwriter1, one of the best video essays on Youtube, creates this type to analyze filmmakers, actors, photographers or in this case, iconic painters. 

Caravaggio: Master Of Light  •  Best video essays on YouTube

In the world of film, the artist video analysis essay tends to cover auteur filmmakers. Auteur filmmakers tend to have distinct styles and repetitive techniques that many filmmakers learn from and use in their own work. 

Stanley Kubrick is perhaps the most notable example. In this video, we analyze Kubrick’s best films and the techniques he uses that make so many of us drawn to his films. 

Why We're Obsessed with Stanley Kubrick Movies  •  Video essay examples

Critical essays and analytical essays choose to focus on a piece of work or an artist. Essays that aim to educate, however, draw on various sources to teach technique and the purpose behind those techniques. 

What is a video essay written about?

Historical analysis.

Another popular type of essay is historical analysis. Video analysis essays are a great medium to analyze the history of a specific topic. They are an opportunity for essayists to share their research as well as their opinion on history. 

Our video on aspect ratio , for example, analyzes how aspect ratios began in cinema and how they continue to evolve. We also make and support the claim that the 2:1 aspect ratio is becoming increasingly popular among filmmakers. 

Why More Directors are Switching to 18:9  •  Video analysis essay

Analyzing the work of great artists inherently yields a lesson to be learned. Some essays teach more directly.

• Types of Camera Movements in Film Explained →
• What is Aspect Ratio? A Formula for Framing Success →
• Visualize your scenes with intuitive online shotlist software →

Writing video essays about technique

Teach technique.

Educational essays designed to teach are typically more direct. They tend to be more valuable for those looking to create art rather than solely analyze it.

In this video, we explain every type of camera movement and the storytelling value of each. Educational essays must be based on research, evidence, and facts rather than opinion.

Ultimate Guide to Camera Movement  •  Best video essays on YouTube

As you can see, there are many reasons why the video essay has become an increasingly popular means of communicating information. Its ability to use both sound and picture makes it efficient and effective. It also draws on the language of filmmaking to express ideas through editing. But it also gives writers the creative freedom they love. 

Writing video essays is a new art form that many channels have set high standards for. What is a video essay supposed to be about? That’s up to you. 

Organize Post Production Workflow

The quality of an essay largely depends on the quality of the edit. If editing is not your strong suit, check out our next article. We dive into tips and techniques that will help you organize your Post-Production workflow to edit like a pro. 

Up Next: Post Production →

Showcase your vision with elegant shot lists and storyboards..

Create robust and customizable shot lists. Upload images to make storyboards and slideshows.

Learn More ➜

• Pricing & Plans
• Product Updates
• Featured On
• StudioBinder Partners
• The Ultimate Guide to Call Sheets (with FREE Call Sheet Template)
• How to Break Down a Script (with FREE Script Breakdown Sheet)
• The Only Shot List Template You Need — with Free Download
• Managing Your Film Budget Cashflow & PO Log (Free Template)
• A Better Film Crew List Template Booking Sheet
• Best Storyboard Softwares (with free Storyboard Templates)
• Movie Magic Scheduling
• Gorilla Software
• Storyboard That

A visual medium requires visual methods. Master the art of visual storytelling with our FREE video series on directing and filmmaking techniques.

We’re in a golden age of TV writing and development. More and more people are flocking to the small screen to find daily entertainment. So how can you break put from the pack and get your idea onto the small screen? We’re here to help.

• Making It: From Pre-Production to Screen
• Is Film School Worth It — Why You Should or Shouldn’t Go
• How to Write a Poem — A Step-by-Step Guide
• What is a Character Flaw — And Why Writers Love Them
• How to Become a Movie Critic — Career Tips Explained
• What is an Indie Film — Definition & History Explained
• 100 Facebook
• 0 Pinterest

How to do a Video Essay: The Video Essay Process

• Plan, Prepare & Create

Storyboarding

• Finding, Filming & Editing
• References & Credits
• The Video Essay Process

This section will give an introductory overview of the stages required to create a video essay.  Video essayers advice is to start simple and work through each stage of the video production process. Visit the Resources page of this guide for more.

Identify what is your argument? What is it that you want to communicate to the viewer? Write this down in a few sentences, refer and modify it as required.

Watch Video Essays

Watch a selection of video essays, read blogs and web pages from video essayers and decide what type of video essay you would like to create. Start simple.

A storyboard is a detailed outline (similar to an outline in a written essay) that helps you to organise and visualise the video essay as to what is on the screen, text, media, message and transitions between shots.

Storyboards assist in determining the length, message and meaning of the video essay and help save time with editing and post production processes.

• Free Storyboard Templates

Collect & Edit

Collect video material as downloads, ripping DVDs, screen grabs, mobile phone footage and create voice-overs. Use research skills to find information and statements to support your argument. Maintain a standard of quality and manage your videos by naming conventions and storage.

Use editing software and experiment with available functionality to enhance and support your argument. Add a voice-over, sound effects, music and other aspects of multimodality. Be sure to include references and credits to all sources used in creating the video essay.

Revisit elements of your video essay and modify as required.

Visit the Resources page of this guide for more.

• Where to find video and how to capture it
• Video Editing Basics - iMovie
• Software Guides

References & Credits

References to cite sources used in the Video Essay. Referencing is a formal, systematic way of acknowledging sources that you have used in your video essay. It is imperative that you reference all sources used (including videos, stills, music, sfx) and apply the correct formatting so that references cited can be easily traced. The referencing style used at ECU is the APA style, 6th ed. 2010. Refer to the ECU Referencing Library Guide for accurate citation in APA style.

Production credits Individuals: acknowledgement of individuals and their role in the production. Purpose: A statement for internal use, e.g. “This video was produced for [course name] at [institution’s name] in [semester, year]”

• Referencing Library Guide
• << Previous: What is a Video Essay?
• Next: Modes, MultiModality & Multiliteracies >>
• What is a Video Essay?
• Modes, MultiModality & Multiliteracies
• A Pedagogy of Multiliteracies
• Modes Of Multimodality
• Video Essay Journals
• Video Essay Channels
• Weblinks to Video Essay Resources
• Weblinks to Creative Commons Resources
• Titles in the Library
• Referencing & Copyright
• Marking Rubric
• Last Updated: Aug 28, 2023 2:57 PM
• URL: https://ecu.au.libguides.com/video-essay

Edith Cowan University acknowledges and respects the Noongar people, who are the traditional custodians of the land upon which its campuses stand and its programs operate. In particular ECU pays its respects to the Elders, past and present, of the Noongar people, and embrace their culture, wisdom and knowledge.

• Dissertation
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Book Report/Review
• Research Proposal
• Math Problems
• Proofreading
• Movie Review
• Cover Letter Writing
• Personal Statement
• Nursing Paper
• Argumentative Essay
• Research Paper

How to Write Movie Titles in Essays?

Table of Contents

Writing a movie title in essay projects may be necessary when handling different academic assignments. Thus, knowing how to write movie captions in the correct format is vital for composing successful papers. While mastering this art is necessary, many students face challenges doing it. 

This subject raises many questions regarding various components. For instance, italicizing, quoting, underlining, and punctuating are some of the challenges some students face. 

Fortunately, relevant guidance exists to address all these challenges and improve your writing skills. This post addresses these difficulties in all the major academic writing styles like APA , Chicago, and MLA. Keep reading to learn more and master this area of academic writing. 

How to Put a Movie Title in an Essay

Writing a movie title in essay has different components that have evolved through the ages. The rise of computer technology has drastically changed how learners handle this subject. It has changed some elements, like underlining movie titles. For instance, before personal computers became common, students used typewriters to write academic papers. This technology required them to underline movie titles. Also, underlining movie headlines was necessary because some scholars hand-wrote their assignments. The reason is that italicizing a title was difficult in a hand-written essay. 

Rules to Follow When Writing a Movie Title in Essay

Here are the main rules to follow to write movie titles correctly in your academic papers. 

Title Sources 

As a rule of thumb, you should list the full title as it appears in the source you are citing. However, few exceptions exist for this rule, particularly when punctuating subtitles and standardizing capitalization. 

• You must capitalize every principal word, like an adjective, noun, and verb. However, don’t capitalize articles, prepositions, or conjunctions in the title’s middle. However, capitalize them if they are long, such as additionally and furthermore, or if they are a title’s first word. 
• Always separate subtitles with colons and spaces.

Italicization 

Italicization is another vital component to pay attention to when including a movie title in essay .

You must italicize titles from self-contained and independent sources. Remember to italicize every book, play, film, periodical, database, and website title.

Quotation Marks 

Put a title in quotation marks if its source is a part of a larger work.

Titles with Other Titles  

Titles containing other titles occur commonly in academic writing. Also, if the title usually appears in double quotation marks, enclose the caption in single quotes. For instance, 

“Madness in David’s ‘Make Common Sense Common Again.'”

Capitalization 

Capitalization is another core component when drafting movie captions in essays. You should apply all the established capitalization rules when writing these titles. These laws require you to do the following: 

• Begin all movie captions start with capital letters. 
• Always capitalize all proper nouns.

However, you must pay special attention to some exceptions when applying these rules to place a movie title . The final rules will depend on the writing style you use. Please note that different academic formats disagree on minor matters that may complicate matters. So, use these rules, knowing they don’t apply universally across various educational writing styles. 

Movie Title in Writing

You will format your essays using APA, MLA, or Chicago styles. While these disagree on different issues, they agree on a few core components. For instance, these styles need you to capitalize all movie titles. They also require you to capitalize adverbs, nouns, verbs, and pronouns. These formatting styles also agree on capitalizing prepositions, articles, and conjunctions only if they are the first word in titles. 

APA requires capitalizing all words with more than three letters. It also capitalizes a caption’s first word and proper nouns. Here is an excellent example: When the bells ring .

When formatting your essay using AP style, place your movie titles in quotes. You still have to abide by all the rules of writing titles within quotes. For example:

• “The Passion of the Christ” shuttered records within its first year of release.
• “We are happy to work on any movie as popular as ‘The Lord of the Ring,'” John exclaimed. 

While you should always italicize all TV shows and movie titles, several exceptions occur; for instance, treat every heading of a specific scene or episode and a short film as a shorter work. Therefore, place such captions in quotations. 

Here are two main questions students ask about placing a movie title in essay s, plus their answers. 

How do you write a movie title in an essay?

Capitalize all the major words in the headline, such as pronouns, verbs, proper nouns, and adverbs. However, don’t capitalize short prepositions articles like a, an , and the . The only exception occurs when these words open movie headlines or are four letters long and more, for instance, beneath or about. However, the three main formatting styles disagree on this last rule. So, consult your essay’s style guide before applying this rule. 

How to draft a movie title in an essay MLA?

The MLA format for writing a movie title requires formatting all headlines uniformly in the entire essay. It has two major principles you must pay attention to.

• Capitalize all the first letters of the main words except minor ones, such as conjunctions, articles, and prepositions. The only exception here applies when they exist at a headline’s beginning.  
• Italicize every title in the essay’s body.

Anorexia Essay: How to Work with a Scary Topic and Do It Right

100 good research topics, compare and contrast essay outline example.

• About Our Blog
• Essay Writing Service

How to Format Movie Titles in Academic Writings

• by Lesley V.
• October 26, 2023

How to write a movie title in an essay?

Students, especially those in Arts, often refer to films or movie series in their papers. The formatting rules here are easy to remember. But:

They vary a bit, depending on the citation style you use.

In this post, I’ve gathered the guidelines for citing movie titles in five primary formats. Examples included, for you to compare and remember everything better.

How to Write Movie Titles in Essays

Are movie titles italicized?

It’s the most frequent question students ask when looking for this information online. Indeed, most citation formats prescribe italicizing. Other general rules include:

• Uppercase for subtitles
• Extra short movie names (like “It” ) may also go in quotations
• When using quotation marks (AP style), put punctuation inside them

Below are the details on how to format movie titles in essays and reference lists correctly.

Writing Film Titles in Different Citation Styles

For APA style (1):

• Uppercase all four-letter words and above
• Uppercase the first and the last word of a movie title, even if they are short articles (a, the) or pronouns (in, at, etc.)
• Italicize the entire name

For MLA format (2):

• Uppercase movie titles and subtitles
• Use capital letters for both parts of hyphenated words
• No uppercase for articles (a, the) and short conjunctions within the movie name
• Italicize the entire movie title

For Chicago style:

• Uppercase all main words
• Lowercase short conjunctions (below four letters) within the movie title
• Uppercase prepositions, regardless of their length

For AP citation style:

• Lowercase articles (a, the) and prepositions/conjunctions that are shorter than four letters
• Uppercase articles and prepositions/conjunctions in the beginning/end of the title
• No italics; put movie names in quotation marks

For Harvard style:

• Uppercase all primary words (nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.)
• Lowercase articles and prepositions/conjunctions (below four letters) within the movie title

How to Capitalize Movies in Papers

When writing a film name in a sentence, capitalize every word except for:

• Articles (a, an, the) within the movie title
• Short (below four letters) prepositions and conjunctions within the title

If a movie name begins with the above, use uppercase. Also, write long prepositions/conjunctions (moreover, although, etc.) with a capital letter. For example:

Italics vs. Quotations vs. Underlines

Most citation styles, except AP, prescribe italicization for movies and film series titles. When writing in AP, use quotation marks.

Quotes are also possible to use if you mention super short movie names like “It” or “M.” You italicize them in APA, MLA, or Chicago.

Underlines are for handwritten essays. When written by hand, you can’t italicize, huh? Use underlining instead to highlight a movie title somehow.

How to Format Punctuation in Movie Titles

If punctuation is a part of a film name, place it inside quotation marks or italicize it.

For example:

Writing Movie Titles in Reference Lists

Do you italicize movie titles.

Here they go, the rules on formatting movie titles in essays. Now that you know how to write a movie title in an essay properly, the only detail remains:

Check the formatting guidelines before writing. What citation style does an educator or editor ask you to follow? If none assigned, choose one and stick to it for consistency.

References:

• https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/index.html  
• https://lib.westfield.ma.edu/c.php?g=354010&p=2388441

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Learning Tips
• Exam Guides
• School Life

How to Write a Video Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide and Tips

• by Joseph Kenas
• January 5, 2024
• Writing Tips

The video essay has become an increasingly popular way of presenting ideas and concepts in the age of the internet and YouTube. In this guide, we present a step-by-step guide on how to write a video essay and tips on how to make it.

While it is easy to write a normal essay, the structure of the video essay is a bit of a mystery, owing to the newness of the term.

However, in this article, we are going to define what is a video essay, how to write a video essay, and also How to present a video essay well in class.

What is a Video Essay?

A video essay is a video that delves into a certain subject, concept, person, or thesis. Video essays are difficult to characterize because they are a relatively new form, yet they are recognized regardless. Simply, video essays are visual compilations that try to persuade, educate, or criticize.

These days, there are many creatives making video essays on topics like politics, music, movies, and pop culture.

With these, essays have become increasingly popular in the era of video media such as Youtube, Vimeo, and others.

Video essays, like photo and traditional essays, tell a story or make a point.

The distinction is that video essays provide information through visuals.

When creating a video essay, you can incorporate video, images, text, music, and/or narration to make it dynamic and successful.

When you consider it, many music videos are actually video essays. 

Since making videos for YouTube and other video sites has grown so popular, many professors are now assigning video essays instead of regular essays to their students. So the question is, how do you write a video essay script?

Steps on How to Write a Video Essay Script

Unscripted videos cost time, effort, and are unpleasant to watch. The first thing you should do before making a video writes a script, even if it’s only a few lines long. Don’t be intimidated by the prospect of writing a script. All you need is a starting point.

A video script is important for anyone who wants to film a video with more confidence and clarity. They all contain comparable forms of information, such as who is speaking, what is said, where, and other important details.

While there are no precise criteria that a video essay must follow, it appears that most renowned video essayists are adhering to some steps as the form gets more popular and acknowledged online. 

1. Write a Thesis

Because a video essayist can handle a wide range of themes, video analysis essays lack defined bounds. The majority of essays, on the other hand, begin with a thesis.

A thesis is a statement, claim, theme, or concept that the rest of the essay is built around. A thesis might be broad, including a variety of art forms. Other theses can be quite detailed.

A good essay will almost always have a point to express. Every video analysis essay should have a central idea, or thesis, that ties the film together.

2. Write a Summary

Starting with a brief allows you and your team to document the answers to the most pressing project concerns. It ensures that everyone participating in the video production is on the same page.

This will avoid problems of mixing ideas or getting stuck when you are almost completing the project.

3. Choose a Proper Environment and Appropriate Tools

When it comes to writing your script, use any tool you’re familiar with, such as pen and paper. Also, find a writing atmosphere that is relaxing for you, where you can concentrate and be creative.

Consider what you don’t have to express out loud when you’re writing. Visual elements will be used to communicate a large portion of your content.

4. Use a Template

When you don’t have to reinvent the process every time you sit down, you get speed and consistency.

It’s using your cumulative knowledge of what works and doing it over and over again. Don’t start with a blank page when I sit down to create a script- try to use an already made template. 

5. Be Conversational

You want scripts that use language that is specific and targeted. Always avoid buzzwords, cliches, and generalizations. You want your audience to comprehend you clearly without rolling their eyes.

6. Be Narrative

Make careful to use a strong story structure when you’re trying to explain anything clearly. Ensure your script has a beginning, middle, and end, no matter how short it is. This will provide a familiar path for the viewers of your video script.

7. Edit Your Script

Make each word work for a certain position on the page when you choose your words.

They must serve a purpose.

After you’ve completed your first draft, go over your script and review it.

Then begin editing, reordering, and trimming. Remove as much as possible.

Consider cutting it if it isn’t helping you achieve your goal.

 8. Read Your Script Loudly

Before recording or going on in your process, it’s recommended to read your script aloud at least once. Even if you won’t be the one reading it, this is a good method to ensure that your message is clear. It’s a good idea to be away from people so you may practice in peace.

Words that flow well on paper don’t always flow well when spoken aloud. You might need to make some adjustments based on how tough certain phrases are to pronounce- it’s a lot easier to change it now than when recording.

9. Get Feedback

Sometimes it is very difficult to point out your mistakes in any piece of writing. Therefore, if you want a perfect video essay script, it is advisable to seek feedback from people who are not involved in the project.

Keep in mind that many will try to tear your work apart and make you feel incompetent. However, it can also be an opportunity to make your video better.

The best way to gather feedback is to assemble a group of people and read your script to them. Watch their facial reaction and jot own comments as you read. Make sure not to defend your decisions. Only listen to comments and ask questions to clarify.

After gathering feedback, decide on what points to include in your video essay. Also, you can ask someone else to read it to you so that you can listen to its follow.

A video essay can be a good mode to present all types of essays, especially compare and contrast essays as you can visually contrast the two subjects of your content.

How to make a Good Video from your Essay Script

You can make a good video from your script if you ask yourself the following questions;

• What is the video’s purpose? What is the purpose of the video in the first place?
• Who is this video’s intended audience?
• What is the subject of our video? (The more precise you can be, the better.) 
• What are the most important points to remember from the video?- What should viewers take away from it?

If the context had multiple characters, present their dialogues well in the essay to bring originality. If there is a need to involve another person, feel free to incorporate them.

How to Present a Video Essay Well in Class

• Write down keywords or main ideas in a notecard; do not write details- writing main ideas will help you remember your points when presenting. This helps you scan through your notecard for information.
• Practice- in presentations it is easy to tell who has practiced and who hasn’t. For your video essay to grab your class and professor’s attention, practice is the key. Practice in front of your friends and family asking for feedback and try to improve.
• Smile at your audience- this is one of the most important points when presenting anything in front of an audience. A smiley face draws the attention of the audience making them smile in return thus giving you confidence.
• Walk to your seat with a smile- try not to be disappointed even if you are not applauded. Be confident that you have aced your video presentation.

Other video presentations tips include;

• Making eye contact
• Have a good posture
• Do not argue with the audience 
• Look at everyone around the room, not just one audience or one spot
• Rember to use your hand and facial expressions to make a point.

Joseph is a freelance journalist and a part-time writer with a particular interest in the gig economy. He writes about schooling, college life, and changing trends in education. When not writing, Joseph is hiking or playing chess.

How to Write a Movie Title in an Essay APA?

Ever struggled with adding a movie title to your APA style essay? No worries – it's simpler than you think! The American Psychological Association has a straightforward approach, and we're here to break it down for you. 

In this guide, our APA paper writing service will not only walk you through the process but also ensure that your references are presented uniformly across various papers and disciplines. By following APA guidelines, you not only adhere to academic standards but also facilitate clear communication in your writing. So, let's dive into the basics and make your APA formatting a breeze.

How to Write Movie Titles in APA: Consider the Following

When it comes to incorporating a film name into your APA style essay, precision is the name of the game. Here are some helpful steps for the process:

• Italicization : You may have been wondering whether or not should movie titles be italicized in APA. The answer is - always. This rule applies whether you are mentioning the heading in the text or including it in your references page. Example : In the film The Shawshank Redemption,...
• Capitalization: Capitalize all major terms in the heading, but avoid capitalizing articles (a, an, the), conjunctions (and, but), and prepositions (in, on, under). Example: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
• Punctuation: Place commas and periods inside the quotation marks. For example, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Casablanca, a timeless classic.
• Reference Page Entry: When listing the movie on your references page, follow this format: Last Name, First Initial. (Director), Title [italicized], Production Company. Example : Spielberg, S. (Director), Jurassic Park [italicized], Universal Pictures.
• In-Text Citations: For in-text citations include the last name of the director and the year of release in parentheses. Example: ( Spielberg, 1993)
• Multiple Directors: If a film has multiple directors, list them with an ampersand (&) between their names. Example: ( Coen & Coen, 1998)
• No Author: If there's no individual author or director, use the production company as the author in your reference. Example : Pixar. (2003). Finding Nemo [italicized].

Writing Movie Titles in APA-Style Essays in Upper Case 

When it comes to writing a movie title in essays, choosing the right style is crucial, and uppercase is a common choice that brings a touch of formality to your writing. APA style, a prevalent choice in scholarly articles and academia, particularly in the behavioral and social sciences, provides specific guidelines for this.

• Capitalize Major Words: Nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns—all fall under the category of major words and should be capitalized. Additionally, any term of four letters or longer should be capital letters.
• Minor Words in Lowercase: Conjunctions and prepositions of three letters or shorter, as well as articles, are in lowercase.
• Proper Names: Always capitalize proper names, regardless of their length.
• First Word in Title and Subtitle: Capitalize the first word in both the heading and subheading, even if it is an article like 'A' or 'The.'
• After Colon and Em Dash: The first term after a colon or em dash is capitalized.
• Words with Hyphens: If a major word is hyphenated, both parts are capitalized.
• Movie Titles in Quotes or Italics APA : When referencing a heading in the body of your paper, use either quotation marks or italics.

Final Thoughts

Formatting movie headings is a small but important part of your essay. Whether you go with APA style or any other, just be consistent. Keep it simple; keep it steady. Consistency is your best friend here. So, whether it's italics or capital letters, stick with it throughout. It's the little things that add that pro touch to your essay.

So, as you wrap up your writing, think of it as rolling the credits on your cinematic masterpiece. The consistency in formatting, like a great ending scene, leaves a lasting impression. It's these little things that turn your paper into a pro-level production!

Frequently asked questions

She was flawless! first time using a website like this, I've ordered article review and i totally adored it! grammar punctuation, content - everything was on point

This writer is my go to, because whenever I need someone who I can trust my task to - I hire Joy. She wrote almost every paper for me for the last 2 years

Term paper done up to a highest standard, no revisions, perfect communication. 10s across the board!!!!!!!

I send him instructions and that's it. my paper was done 10 hours later, no stupid questions, he nailed it.

Sometimes I wonder if Michael is secretly a professor because he literally knows everything. HE DID SO WELL THAT MY PROF SHOWED MY PAPER AS AN EXAMPLE. unbelievable, many thanks

You Might Also Like

New Posts to Your Inbox!

Stay in touch

• Online Degree Explore Bachelor’s & Master’s degrees
• MasterTrack™ Earn credit towards a Master’s degree
• University Certificates Advance your career with graduate-level learning
• Top Courses
• Join for Free

How to Create a Video Essay for Your College Application

Some colleges may accept a video essay in lieu of the traditional written essay as part of the college application process.

A video essay serves as a personal introduction on a college application. As a modern trend in the application process , some colleges and universities allow prospective students to submit a video essay, either in the place of the traditional written essay or, sometimes, as a separate element of the application packet.

With a video essay, you can naturally highlight your personality while providing the decision-makers with a glimpse into your world. You have the power to present yourself in your best light— literally —in a more personal medium than the regular written word.

What was once limited to art and design schools is now part of the normal process for schools like theUniversity of Chicago and Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. This modern twist on essays allows students to express themselves in a way that was once reserved for social media.

To impress the college admissions representatives of your chosen school, take the proper measures when planning. When preparing your video, give plenty of forethought to make your best first impression.

Learn more: How to Write a Personal Statement

How to make a video essay

Verify how long the video can run; this should be listed in each of your institutions’ requirements. For example, the University of Chicago allows videos of up to two minutes. Stay within the university’s range to be considered. The challenge is to focus on your presentation and choose your words wisely.

1. Choose a topic.

Next, decide on the topic of the video. Some schools may invite you to discuss a particular topic, and others will want the video essay to serve as a personal introduction in place of an interview.

If the video serves as an interview, include the answers to the following questions: 

Why do you wish to attend this specific school?

What will you bring to the college campus?

What will you do when you arrive?

Overall, you can use the video to show why you’ll be a natural fit at the school.

Read more: What Should I Major In? 5 Things to Evaluate

2. Create an outline and script.

Show off your production skills, but don’t overextend yourself. University representatives will focus on various aspects of your video in addition to its production. Plan your talking points, create a script, and practice by recording yourself multiple times before finally hitting the send button.

A video script is different from a written essay . Make a logically organized list of the topics you want to cover in a way that allows you to speak naturally and comfortably at the camera. Use the outline to guide you as you record in lieu of memorizing a script.

Record yourself with your phone’s camera, and practice the presentation repeatedly until you feel comfortable. Time yourself to stay within the time limit predefined by the college or university you're applying to. Once you feel satisfied with your script, you’ll be ready for the next step.

3. Use imagery and audio files.

Think about the scene you are depicting in the video. Verify your background. If you’re in your bedroom, for example, make sure it’s tidy and clean. Display things that visibly render your interests, such as a trophy from a swim meet or a stack of your favorite nonfiction books.

You can also film your video in a nearby park or landmark to represent your interests and make good use of the natural lighting. Use the setting to reveal a part of your personality and gain the interest of your college admissions representative. 

Along with video of you talking, you may wish to include additional images, video, and audio files that go along with your message. Collect all your content first before initiating the editing process.

4. Upload files into editing software.

Demonstrate your presentation skills by doing more than one take of your video and editing them to create a polished final cut. For this, you can use any of the trusted free editing software, including iMovie and Lightworks, which are typically user-friendly. You can drag and drop any file you upload and add sound and visual effects as you edit your content.

For tutorials on new software, look for relevant courses on Coursera like Mastering Final Cut Pro , where you’ll learn skills to make your video look professional.

Keep your post-production simple since you will principally be ranked on the content of your video rather than the graphics and transitions, that is unless you’re applying to become a videography student.

5. Share or submit your work.

Follow the submission guidelines described in the university’s application process to ensure you meet all requirements. You may only need to submit a link to your video upload from a commonly used video-sharing website.

If such is the case, upload your completed video essay for free on popular video-sharing platforms like Vimeo or YouTube. Once you’ve uploaded your video to your preferred site, you will have the option to copy a shareable link. Before you send the link, test it on your computer or phone to make sure it leads to your video.

Use the Common App to submit your essay.

Many high school juniors and seniors are familiar with the Common App , which is used by hundreds of colleges and universities to streamline the process of application. For the 2021-2022 school year, there were seven different essay prompts that you could choose from for the traditional written essay.

For some institutions, you may have the option to submit your essay through the Common App. You may also be able to submit a video essay in place of a written essay or as its complement. You’ll need to research and follow the directions of the institution you’re applying to.

Take note of these best practices of video production to make sure your video is both memorable and favorable.

Videography tips for success 

Apply your top-notch creativity in this nontraditional medium to produce your video essay. Discuss ideas for your video with a guidance counselor, parent, or trusted teacher. Ask them for feedback to make sure the message resonates properly.

Reach for success in these other ways:

Have good lighting and sound: Avoid distracting the viewer with shadows, cluttered backgrounds, or loud background noises. Sit near a window to use natural sunlight and prevent a washed-out appearance.

Dress for success: Wear a presentable outfit like you would for an in-person interview. Aim for business or business casual attire, tidy hair, and positive body language. This will improve your confidence as well as send the message that you’re serious about this application.

Answer questions directly: If the school asks specific questions on their application process or has prompts that need to be included in your video essay, make sure to directly provide the answers to each of them. Avoid getting carried away during the creative process.Write the questions and timestamp of the video where they’re answered.

Be yourself : Perhaps one of the most important video tips is to be authentic and relaxed. Review your script and practice repeatedly so you can naturally express yourself without reading it. Give yourself plenty of time to complete the project, and remember to meet the submission deadline.

Express yourself: Interviewing Skills to Benefit Your Career

Practice your presentation skills and increase your confidence before working on your video essay with the following courses from top universities, available on Coursera: 

Effective Communication: Writing, Design, and Presentation Specialization

Storytelling and influencing: Communicate with impact

Speaking Skills for University Success

Speak English Professionally: In Person, Online & On the Phone

Keep reading

Coursera staff.

Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

How to Punctuate Movie Titles in Writing: Get it Right!

My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

Understanding the importance of proper punctuation in movie titles

Why punctuation plays a vital role in movie titles, a guide to punctuating movie titles in writing, differentiating between italicization and quotation marks for movie titles, exceptions to the traditional punctuation rules for movie titles, tips for punctuating movie titles in essays and articles, avoiding common mistakes when punctuating movie titles, a comprehensive list of correctly punctuated movie titles in writing, frequently asked questions, to conclude.

When it comes to movie titles, one might argue that punctuation is just a trivial aspect. However, its importance cannot be underestimated, as it can significantly impact the way a movie is perceived and understood. Proper punctuation in movie titles serves multiple purposes, from clarifying the meaning to enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal. Let’s delve into why mastering the art of punctuation in movie titles is essential for filmmakers and audiences alike.

1. Providing clarity: Punctuation marks such as commas, colons, and question marks help convey the intended message more effectively. They assist in breaking down complex ideas, clarifying relationships between elements, and avoiding ambiguity that might arise in titles.

2. Reflecting artistic choices: The strategic use of punctuation can add depth and intrigue to movie titles, reflecting the tone, mood, or theme of the film. Whether it’s an ellipsis creating anticipation or an exclamation mark eliciting excitement, punctuation styles can convey emotions that words alone may struggle to express.

Movie titles can be a bit tricky to punctuate correctly in writing, but fear not! We’ve got you covered with this handy guide to help you navigate the ins and outs of punctuating movie titles like a pro. Here are a few key tips to keep in mind:

1. Formatting: When writing a movie title in your text, it should be italicized or underlined to indicate that it is a title. For example, you would write “I can’t wait to watch the *Titanic* tonight!” or “I loved the movie *The Lion King*.”

2. Commas: If you are referring to a movie title in a sentence, you should use commas to separate it from the rest of the sentence. For instance, you would write “One of my favorite movies of all time is *Gone with the Wind*, which was released in 1939.” or “The film *Jurassic Park*, directed by Steven Spielberg, became a box office hit.”

When it comes to referencing movie titles, it can be confusing to determine whether to use italicization or quotation marks. Understanding the difference between the two can help you correctly format movie titles in your writing. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

1. **Italicization**: Movie titles are typically italicized when mentioned in text. Here’s how you should format them: – The *Shawshank Redemption* is considered a classic in the film industry. – I watched *The Godfather* last night and was captivated by its storyline. – *Titanic* won numerous awards, including Best Picture.

2. **Quotation Marks**: Quotation marks are used for shorter works within larger works, such as a movie scene or an episode title within a TV series. This distinction is important: – In the movie *Forrest Gump*, the iconic line “Life is like a box of chocolates” is uttered by the protagonist. – The episode “The One with the Prom Video” in the TV show *Friends* is regarded as one of the most memorable. – “I’ll be back,” a famous quote from the movie *The Terminator*, has become a popular catchphrase.

In the vast world of movie titles, we often come across unique expressions that challenge our traditional understanding of punctuation. While most titles follow the standard punctuation rules, there are exceptions that add an extra layer of creativity. These exceptions allow filmmakers to evoke different emotions or add a touch of quirkiness to their works. Here are a few instances where the punctuation rules take a delightful twist:

1. *No Country for Old Men*: This Academy Award-winning film directed by the Coen brothers boldly rejects the use of punctuation in its title. By omitting the apostrophe in “Men,” the title implies a sense of ambiguity, leaving viewers to ponder the deeper meaning behind the absence.

2. *3 Idiots*: This Bollywood blockbuster follows the trend of numerals in its title, but surprises us by excluding the commas, which are usually used to separate the numerals. This choice reflects the youthful and carefree nature of the film, maintaining a casual and playful tone throughout the narrative.

3. *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind*: Here we witness a title adorned with multiple prepositions, connecting words, and even an adjective. This non-conventional approach invites the audience to explore the philosophical and complex themes of memory and love that the movie delves into.

Whether it’s deliberately breaking punctuation rules to catch our attention or adding an unconventional charm, these exceptions remind us of the boundless creativity within the realm of movie titles. So, the next time you come across a film with a uniquely punctuated title, embrace the deviations and enjoy the wonderful journey it promises to deliver.

When including movie titles in your essays or articles, it is important to properly punctuate them to ensure clarity and accuracy. Here are some valuable tips to help you navigate the world of punctuating movie titles:

1. Use quotation marks: When referring to a specific movie title, enclose it in quotation marks. For example, “Inception” is an intricate and mind-boggling film that explores the depths of dreams and reality.

2. Capitalize important words: When writing a movie title, capitalize the first and last words, along with all principal words in between. However, minor words such as articles and prepositions should not be capitalized, unless they are the first word of the title. For instance, “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” is a captivating adventure filled with mythical creatures and epic battles.

3. Italics for emphasis: You can also use italics to emphasize movie titles instead of quotation marks. This is a common practice in academic writing. For example, the movie Matrix provides a unique and thought-provoking exploration of simulated reality.

By following these simple tips, you can effectively punctuate movie titles in your essays and articles, enabling your readers to better comprehend your content while showcasing your attention to detail. Remember to consistently apply these rules throughout your work, ensuring consistency and professionalism. Now go forth and create well-punctuated masterpieces!

Properly punctuating movie titles might seem like a trivial matter, but it can significantly impact the overall presentation and professionalism of your writing. To ensure that you always get it right, here are some common mistakes to avoid:

• Mixing capitalization: It’s essential to use proper capitalization when punctuating movie titles. Unless they are articles, prepositions, or coordinating conjunctions, capitalize all major words. For instance, in the title “Gone with the Wind,” the word “with” should remain lowercase.
• Omitting italics or quotation marks: Movie titles should always be italicized or enclosed in quotation marks to distinguish them from the rest of the text. For example, you should write “Casablanca” or Casablanca instead of just Casablanca.
• Using the wrong punctuation marks: Always be cautious about which punctuation marks to use when punctuating movie titles. Commas and periods go inside quotation marks, while colons and exclamation points go outside. For instance, “The Shawshank Redemption,” not “The Shawshank Redemption”.

By remembering to avoid these common mistakes, you can ensure your writing reflects attention to detail and precision. Properly punctuating movie titles not only enhances readability but also demonstrates a mastery of grammar and style.

Proper punctuation is crucial when writing movie titles as it helps convey the intended meaning and captures the essence of the film. Below, you will find a comprehensive list of correctly punctuated movie titles that will add finesse to your written work:

• The Shawshank Redemption: A gripping tale of hope and friendship set within the confines of Shawshank State Penitentiary.
• Gone with the Wind: A timeless classic showcasing the tumultuous romance between Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler during the Civil War.
• Casablanca: An unforgettable love story set against the backdrop of World War II in the city of Casablanca.
• The Dark Knight: Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece, where Batman takes on the iconic Joker in a battle for Gotham City’s soul.

Remember to italicize the titles of movies when writing them within a text and to place them inside quotation marks when referring to them in an essay or article. These simple yet essential formatting rules can elevate your writing and give your readers a clear indication of the movie titles you are referencing.

Q: Why is it important to punctuate movie titles correctly in writing? A: Correct punctuation of movie titles is essential in writing to ensure clarity, adhere to grammar rules, and give proper credit to the creative work you are referencing.

Q: How do I punctuate a movie title in a sentence? A: When including a movie title in a sentence, you should capitalize all the major words. For example: “I absolutely loved the movie ‘Inception’!”

Q: Which words in a movie title should be capitalized? A: In general, capitalize all significant words in a movie title. This includes nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and subordinate conjunctions. However, prepositions and articles (e.g., “and”, “for”, “the”) should remain lowercase unless they are the first or last word of the movie title.

Q: Are there any exceptions to capitalizing in movie titles? A: Yes, when dealing with short words, you may follow your preferred style guide. Some guides suggest ignoring short words (less than four letters), such as “the”, “and”, “or”, while others advise capitalizing them regardless. Consistency is key, so choose a preferred style and stick to it.

Q: How should I punctuate movie titles that are in italics or underlined? A: If the movie title is printed in italics or underlined, you should still follow the same capitalization rules mentioned earlier. For example: “I can’t wait to see ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ again!”

Q: What if I need to mention multiple movie titles in the same sentence? A: If you discuss multiple movie titles in the same sentence, capitalize the major words in each title, and separate them using commas. For instance: “Several great movies, including ‘Gone with the Wind,’ ‘The Godfather,’ and ‘Casablanca,’ were screened at the film festival.”

Q: How do I punctuate movie titles in headlines or titles of articles? A: In most cases, you should capitalize the first and last words of a movie title and all significant words in between. Prepositions and articles should remain lowercase unless they are the first or last word. For example: “Discover the Secrets Behind ‘The Matrix’ Trilogy.”

Q: Can I use quotation marks to punctuate movie titles? A: Yes, quotation marks are commonly used to indicate movie titles, especially in informal writing or when referring to specific scenes or lines. For example: “Remember when Jack said, ‘I’m the king of the world!’ in ‘Titanic’?”

Q: What if the movie title contains a punctuation mark itself? A: If the movie title includes a punctuation mark, such as an exclamation point or question mark, it should be retained as part of the title and treated like any other word. Capitalize the first and last words as well as any other significant words.

Q: Are there any references or resources available to ensure proper punctuation of movie titles? A: Yes, there are various style guides such as the APA Style Guide, The Chicago Manual of Style, and the Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook that provide detailed rules and examples for punctuating movie titles, among various other writing guidelines.

In conclusion, properly punctuating movie titles in writing is essential for clear and professional communication. Don’t forget those rules!

Dissertation Writing App: Simplify Your Research Writing

Native American Writing Prompts: Explore Indigenous Perspectives

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Reach out to us for sponsorship opportunities.

Welcome to Creative Writing Prompts

At Creative Writing Prompts, we believe in the power of words to shape worlds. Our platform is a sanctuary for aspiring writers, seasoned wordsmiths, and everyone. Here, storytelling finds its home, and your creative journey begins its captivating voyage.

© 2024 Creativewriting-prompts.com

404 Not found

15 Tips for Writing YouTube Video Titles That Drive Views

Table of contents

Did you know there are  more than 500 hours of videos uploaded to YouTube every minute?  

With so much new content on the platform, getting your video to stand out is no easy feat. 

And if you want to grow your YouTube channel and get more video views, one of the best ways to do that is by optimizing your video titles .

You can’t settle for scrollable titles that are easily ignored… you need forehead slappers.

Fortunately, you can use many tactics to transform your video title and make your audience go from “Meh, I might get back to that later” to “Oh, I just have to see this!”

We also asked 40 YouTubers to share some of their best tips for crafting an irresistible video title and shortlisted 15 expert strategies you can steal.

Let’s get into it.

What is a Good YouTube Title?

How many views does a youtube video get, 15 tips for writing engaging youtube video titles, stay on top of your youtube performance with databox.

Let’s be clear – the most important thing you need to succeed on YouTube is to create quality videos that are actually worth watching.

Even if you have the most persuasive video title that gets people to click, it won’t mean much if your content is not as impressive.

But assuming you are producing quality content, a compelling title is essential to getting more clicks and views.

Once you start putting out quality content, the first step to creating a great YouTube title to accompany it is to pinpoint the exact type of content you’re creating.

• Is it designed to be inspirational? 
• To entertain your audience?
• To educate and teach people something new?
• Or, maybe it is a sales video designed for conversions? 

Then, you can follow some of the proven frameworks to match the video style and format.  (We’ll share more on that a little later in this post). For example, this video from Ahrefs is an educational, how-to style video designed to teach people how to get backlinks on a new website.

They do a great job of making sure both the video title and thumbnail are aligned and descriptive. You know exactly what to expect.

In addition, this video from Pleasant Green is both entertaining and educational. This title does a great job of evoking curiosity without resorting to outright clickbait. 

Looking for additional tips to grow your Youtube channel and video views? Then, make sure you are keeping an eye on  these 17 Youtube KPIs .

There are several factors that impact how many views your YouTube video will receive, with some of the main ones being:

• Content quality : Engaging, informative, and entertaining content tends to attract more views. If your video resonates with your target audience and provides value, viewers are more likely to watch and share.
• Promotion and marketing : Sharing your video across social media platforms, embedding it on websites, collaborating with other creators, and utilizing SEO techniques can all help increase visibility and reach a larger audience.
• Audience engagement: Are your viewers liking, commenting, and sharing your videos? Higher engagement signals to YouTube’s algorithm that the content is valuable, which leads to better visibility in both search results and recommendations.
• Thumbnail: An eye-catching thumbnail is another big piece of the puzzle. Use it to complement the title with interesting visuals and build even more intrigue among viewers.
• YouTube algorithm: You can’t ignore the importance of YouTube’s recommendation algorithm. Factors such as watch time, viewer behavior, and relevancy to the viewer’s interests influence whether your video will be suggested to a broader audience.
• Timing and trends : Capitalizing on current trends or timely topics can attract more views. Creating content around popular subjects or leveraging events and trends that are capturing attention is a great way to boost view count.

That said, we also pulled out some benchmark data from our product that you might find interesting.

According to Databox’s own Benchmark data, the median number of views a YouTube video gets is  4.58k .

This benchmark was calculated from anonymized data from close to 200 companies. Do you have a YouTube channel and want to benchmark your video marketing performance, including watch time, average view duration, subscribers gained, and more, against other companies like yours?  Join the Benchmark Group for free .

*Important note : Databox Benchmark Groups show median values. The median is calculated by taking the “middle” value, the value for which half of the observations are larger, and half are smaller. The average is calculated by adding up all of the individual values and dividing this total by the number of observations. While both are measures of central tendency, the median is generally the better measure to use when there is a possibility of extreme values.

Benchmark Your Performance Against Hundreds of Companies Just Like Yours

Viewing benchmark data can be enlightening, but seeing where your company’s efforts rank against those benchmarks can be game-changing. 

Browse Databox’s open Benchmark Groups and join ones relevant to your business to get free and instant performance benchmarks. 

Time to check out the expert tips we got from our 40 YouTube respondents and see how they approach writing engaging video titles.

• Make sure your title matches your video content
• Know who you are producing content for
• Conduct keyword research
• Use brackets in your title
• Create a sense of urgency
• Resist the temptation to use clickbait headlines
• Provide a compelling hook
• Keep your title under 60 characters
• Provide clear value
• Use proven headline frameworks
• Stick to how-to titles for educational content
• Create listicle-style titles
• Make sure your video title and thumbnail work well together
• Study your competitors’ videos
• Talk to Your Audience Using Their Language

PRO TIP: Analyze Your YouTube Channel Performance Like a Pro

To find out what types of video content perform best with your audience, you may track video engagement metrics such as watch time, number of views, likes and dislikes of each video individually using a variety of tools, including YouTube itself.

Now you can quickly monitor your video content performance in a single dashboard that monitors fundamental metrics, such as:

• Average watch time. How much time do viewers spend watching your video content?
• Watch time by video. Which videos drive most of your audience watch time each month?
• Subscribers gained vs lost. How quickly are you gaining or losing subscribers?
• Number of likes, comments and shares. How engaged is your audience?

Now you can benefit from the experience of our video marketing experts, who have put together a plug-and-play Databox template showing the most important metrics for measuring your YouTube channel performance. It’s simple to implement and start using as a standalone dashboard or in marketing reports, and best of all, it’s free!

You can easily set it up in just a few clicks – no coding required.

To set up the dashboard, follow these 3 simple steps:

Step 1: Get the template 

Step 2: Connect your YouTube account with Databox. 

Step 3: Watch your dashboard populate in seconds.

1. Make sure your title matches your video content 

This sounds simple and obvious, but too many marketers try to get cutesy with their titles and bury the lead. 

If someone clicks on your video only to find that your content has nothing to do with the title, they probably won’t interact with your channel again.

Charlie Worrall of  Imaginaire Digital  says that “a simple, descriptive title is one of the best ways to get clicks on a YouTube video. Many people instantly flood towards clickbait and mystery, and while this is a great way to get clicks, it doesn’t always fit the purpose of the video.” 

2. Know who you are producing content for  

You are going to drive a lot more clicks on your videos if you know the ins and outs of your target audience.

Better yet, if you have the voice of customer data and you did proper research, you can simply phrase their issues as a question and use their own voice to write the title.

Jonathan Aufray of Growth Hackers also highlights the importance of this and says that the key to engaging YouTube video titles is “putting yourself in your audience’s shoes.”

“What kind of question are they asking themselves, and is your video answering that question? Once you find the question your audience is facing, put that problem in the form of a question and use that as your Youtube video title.”

3. Conduct keyword research 

Keyword research  isn’t reserved only for writing blog posts, and the same approach works for Youtube as well.

Even if your video title is persuasive, it still needs to be in line with what people are searching for in the first place.

Once you’ve done the keyword research, Ted Liu of Just SEO suggests that the “best approach is to always put the exact keyword as close as you can at the beginning of your video title.’”

“This way, viewers won’t have to look for it anymore. What they’re looking for is right there, very obvious. For me, the number one rule is not to bury the keyword.” 

The one caveat of this approach is to make sure you are writing your titles for humans and not robots. 

“It’s all about using your SEO in a way that is natural,” says Brian Turner of  ConvertBinary .

“When you find your target keywords, put them in the title in a way that sounds natural and without odd or forced syntax. Spammy SEO-riddled titles are a turnoff to users and may negatively impact your optimization. And remember to optimize your descriptions!”

Editor’s Note:  Want a simple way to visualize which videos are performing the best? Then, use this  Youtube Channel Performance Dashboard  to track subscriber rates, likes, comments, shares, and more video engagement metrics.

4. Use brackets in your title 

Sometimes, it’s the little things that can make a big difference. And this is especially true in video titles where every word matters.

While it might seem insignificant, we had respondents talk about how these slight changes – like using brackets – brought some great results.

For example, Scott Nelson of MoneyNerd  says that “using brackets in the title boosts my click-through rate and I couldn’t believe the results when I first used it.

It’s absolutely essential that my title ties in with my thumbnail for the click-through rate to be high. I tend to put a few key buzzwords from the title in the thumbnail.

Weirdly, having odd numbers in the YouTube title makes my click-through rate skyrocket. Numbers, in general, yield a higher click-through rate, but odd numbers are more effective than even numbers.

I like to address my audience in my title. I’ve seen this yield impressive click-through rates in the past. Using imperative commands or addressing people as ‘you’ works wonders.” 

Here’s an example of how Alex Hormozi uses brackets to further build intrigue in his title.

Related:  10 Tips for Improving Your YouTube Click-Through Rate (CTR)

5. Create a sense of urgency 

At the same time, sticking to  tried and true copywriting techniques , such as adding a sense of urgency, is another great view booster.

Urgency is one of the oldest marketing strategies and why it still works wonders today – but make sure you’re not creating it just for the sake of the video. If there’s one thing that will repel viewers, it’s fake urgency.

Elizabeth Hicks of  Ryan Houghton  says that, based on his years of experience with digital marketing and YouTube, a title that delivers both clicks and engagement comes down to “urgency, topical keywords, and the wow factor.”

“Urgency would be something such as, ‘You don’t want to miss XXX.’ Along with topic keywords, for example, a gaming video would be “Fortnite Update.” This, again, is a trending topic and something that people want to click on anyway.

Finally, the WOW factor is one additional word that will attract attention. For example, words like amazing, incredible, fantastic, new, etc. All these will attract some additional attention.

Once you have added the three factors together, you get a title such as. ‘You DO NOT want to miss this Incredible Fortnite Update!’” 

Here’s one example from Semiconductor Investing and Moore.

6. Resist the temptation to use clickbait headlines 

If there’s one fool-proof way to fail on YouTube and never build a real bond with your viewers, it’s by using clickbait headlines.

Sure, you may get a solid number of views the first few times, but it ends up damaging your reputation in the long run.

Deepak Shukla of Pearl Lemon says that when viewers find out they’ve been misled, “they will immediately click off the video, resulting in decreased watch time statistics.

The YouTube algorithm then detects you are releasing videos with the view to solely generate views, not provide a solution. If you have any clickbait titles, you should definitely consider changing it.” 

And if you have a hard time defining what falls under clickbait, Puja Kotecha of Contrast explains that the title “needs to tread the fine line between factual and clickbait. You want to grab the audience’s interest but not miss-sell them on your content.

A good way to increase clicks is by using lists, such as ‘10 easy ways to increase your YouTube engagement. The viewer then expects the content to be easy to understand and easy to consume with it being split into sections.” 

Related:   25 Blog Title Examples That Get High Organic Search CTRs

7. Provide a compelling hook 

How compelling are your hooks?

Or, as Clayton Makepeace, one of the best-ever copywriters, would say, “Does it pass the forehead slap test?”

Compelling hooks are everything in video titles. They should make your audience wake up from the zombified scrolling state of mind and get them to stop and think about what they just read.

Michael Rounds of  PlayPlay  also talks about this and adds that “an effective Youtube title grabs the audience’s attention, summarizes the content, and draws the click.

Your title has to stand out from all the millions of other videos you compete against without falling into the ‘click-bait trap’.

Here are some quick tips to get more views and engagement.

• Keep it short:  Long titles get cut off in search results. Make it snappy and readable.
• Use action verbs:  Action verbs trigger emotions, and emotions trigger clicks. Read, watch, act!
• Ask a question:  Address the audience directly with a question that tickles their curiosity.
• Be explicit:  Summarize what your video is about with descriptive keywords. And be honest! Don’t disappoint your audience and lose their trust.”

Here’s how Copy Squad’s Kyle Milligan does it:

Related : From Boring to Captivating: Strategies for Improving Your Average View Duration on YouTube

8. Keep your title under 60 characters 

YouTube’s search algorithm typically displays only the first 60 characters of a video title in search results.

By keeping your title concise, you ensure that the most important information and keywords are visible, increasing the chances of getting a click.

What’s more, shorter titles are easier to read and comprehend at a glance. Viewers scanning through search results or browsing through recommended videos often make quick decisions based on the title.

Alex Thompson of Festoon House adds that while it is good to include as much information as you can to better describe what the video is about, “the best titles are short and to the point”.

“Google omits page titles longer than 60 characters, so anything else is cut off in search results. 

I use tools like Google AdWords Keyword Planner to find one or two relevant keywords to include in my title. This helps my videos to rank higher in search results.

As a headline in a blog post, I make sure that the title of my Youtube videos looks promising to the viewer because titles tell them how they will benefit by taking the time to view the content.” 

9. Provide clear value 

Does your video pass the “Who cares” test?

A value-driven YouTube video title is essential for capturing viewers’ attention and driving engagement.

It serves as the first impression, and it should clearly communicate the value and benefits your video offers.

Jenna Carson of  Music Grotto  says that “YouTube users have small attention spans.”

“For every search someone makes, there will be lots of videos available. So to ensure you grab someone’s attention, make sure your YouTube title offers value in just a few words – you need to answer why a user should click on your video and what the benefits will be.

For example, if you are creating a video about a CMS, don’t call it ‘Here’s the top guide to managing CMS,’ show value with something along the lines of, ‘Transform your business and save time, become a CMS expert in 10 minutes.’”

10. Use proven headline frameworks 

There are some frameworks that have been working in the copywriting industry for over a century, and you can apply them to your YouTube title as well to see better results.

However, you need to be able to differentiate the approaches and know which one will work with your specific content.

Jack Gallagher of JGDigital has shared his framework advice for three popular content types.

For educational content:

If you’re looking to educate your audience, Jack says that it’s important you “start the title of your video with ‘How’, ‘Why’, or ‘What as this will help push your video to a whole heap of Google search related queries of people wanting to find out the answer to a particular question or topic.”

When you want to tell a story:

If you’re telling a story to the audience – whether it’s a personal experience or reporting on something that happened recently – Jack says that you should “build the title as a cliffhanger.”

“This way, the audience gets a brief insight into what is being discussed but is prepared for the story to unravel and potentially something important/crazy to happen.

Using keywords around the event, a controversial question that engages both sides of supporters, and even a time/location stamp can help increase clicks and quality of engagement. ”

Here’s an example from the dating niche:

For video promotions:

Want to promote other creators with your video?

Jack suggests “making sure that the creators/influencers/artists’ names are in the video’s title as that is primarily the biggest indicator of what will be in the video.

With YouTube being a very personal platform, you want to use people’s aliases/names in the title to draw attention straight away as those names may be recognizable and impactful.”

Related : How to Make a YouTube Video Go Viral (with 8 Easy Tips)

11. Stick to how-to titles for educational content 

While it’s certainly beneficial to constantly test new hooks and angles with your titles, sometimes the good old strategies are good for a reason.

For educational videos, how-to titles have been the most popular type for years now, and they’re not going away any time soon.

Janice Wald of  Mostly Blogging  says how-to titles “immediately let people know you’re solving a problem for them.”

“YouTube is a major search engine, and a huge portion of the audience uses it to see how to solve certain problems.

For example, I titled a video, ‘How to Escape from Facebook Jail,’ and I received 200 more views than my next popular video. Important note: Make sure you keep the promise mentioned in your title.” 

12. Create listicle-style titles 

Buzzfeed originally made this style of headline famous, and it can still work well today.  

Listicles are still “in,” and they give viewers a sense of structure. They know exactly what they will get the video and in which format.

Viewers are naturally drawn to the idea of receiving a specific number of tips as it promises condensed content that they can quickly consume.

There’s also the psychological appeal – listicle titles tap into the psychological principle of chunking, which suggests that the human brain finds it easier to process information when it is organized into smaller, distinct units.

Here’s a classic example from BRIGHT SIDE.

13. Make sure your video title and thumbnail work well together 

The two most prominent aspects of your Youtube video are the title and the thumbnail. These two elements need to work together if you want to increase your number of views. 

When the title and thumbnail align, they create a consistent and compelling message that does justice to your content.

Sandra Craft of Think Impact adds that the combo is critical because these are “the first elements a viewer sees. If the title is decent, but the thumbnail isn’t, you minimize the chances of them clicking.”

The best approach for writing a YouTube title is to check what kind of titles popular YouTubers use. Youtubers with over 1 million subscribers usually know which titles convert the best. They’ve already tested all variations and found the winning formula.” 

School of Life is a channel that does this extremely well.

PRO TIP: Using  reporting software  can help track the performance of your YouTube video’s title and thumbnail, allowing you to make data-driven decisions about what works best for your audience.

14. Study your competitors’ videos  

Creating videos in a silo is silly.

There is a good chance that someone has created a video similar to the one you are about to create. So, why not learn from it? 

Rohan Kadam of  Vital Feedz  is one of our respondents that do this, and he shares his approach: 

“While creating a YouTube title for my video, I start out by browsing YouTube and checking out what titles my competitors have used for videos that are similar to the one that I am about to publish. 

Once I find the relevant video titles on YouTube, I narrow them down to the top 5 videos and mainly look at how many video views they have and also what’s the lifetime of the video (When was the video published). 

Once I do this, I just choose the best video title from the narrowed list and I create a slight variation of the title. 

For example, if I want to rank on YouTube for the keyword How to Cook Ribs in a Crock-Pot , I would generally frame my title in two ways:

‘How To Cook Ribs in a Crock-Pot (Easy Way To Do IT)’ or ‘How To Cook Ribs in a Crock-Pot (Top 3 Ways).’” 

15. Talk to Your Audience Using Their Language

Pretty much every viewer cohort in the world has its own slang and specific phrases that they use regularly.

Words that you might need to explain to an “outsider,” but viewers who share the same interest will immediately recognize it and consider you as one of their own.

For example, if you’re posting content in the cryptocurrency space, words like mooning, bagholder, FUD, and HODL would instantly position you as someone who’s knowledgeable on the topic and is in the “inner circle”.

So why not use that to your advantage when writing video titles?

Engage a conversation with relatable words and phrases, and make them feel like they’re about to listen to one of their own.

Coming up with compelling video titles that will persuade viewers to click and engage with your content is a crucial part of a good YouTube strategy.

But it’s just one of the necessary components.

To truly stand out on YouTube and build a loyal following, you need to keep an eye on several more key metrics alongside video views.

However, YouTube’s interface doesn’t really make tracking key metrics easy for the users.

Finding your way around the different reports can take up hours off your schedule, and you’ll probably need to create separate spreadsheets to compile all of your most important data for analysis.  

Why do that when you can simplify the entire process with Databox?

Databox makes sure you can have professional and understandable dashboards at your fingertips in a matter of minutes.

All it takes is three steps:

• Pick one of our 100+ integrations and connect your data source
• Choose which metrics you want to track and drag and drop them to the screen
• Watch as your metrics transform into stunning visuals with just a few mouse clicks

We have 400+ templates you can choose from if you want to instantly get the dashboard up-and-running and just customize it with your own data.

But you can also build it from scratch in case that’s what you need, and you don’t need any coding or design knowledge.

Once the dashboard is ready, you’ll be able to get real-time insights into everything that’s going on with your YouTube performance in one place.

And not only will your reporting process be cut down to just a few minutes, but you’ll also get a more understandable view of your performance (which shareholders and executives will appreciate).

One more thing…

You also get access to our Benchmark Groups product, where you can look up data on how your competitors are doing in terms of YouTube metrics (or any other platform you’re interested).

Sign up for a free trial and put your YouTube performance tracking on autopilot.

Get practical strategies that drive consistent growth

The 23 Best Keyword Tracking Tools (According to 107 SEOs)

SEO for Startups: Tips and Warnings from 100+ Experts

25 Blog Title Examples That Get High Organic Search CTRs in 2023

Build your first dashboard in 5 minutes or less

Latest from our blog

• Playmaker Spotlight: Tory Ferrall, Director of Revenue Operations March 27, 2024
• New in Databox: Safeguard Your Data With Advanced Security Settings March 18, 2024
• Metrics & KPIs
• vs. Tableau
• vs. Looker Studio
• vs. Klipfolio
• vs. Power BI
• vs. Whatagraph
• vs. AgencyAnalytics
• Product & Engineering
• Inside Databox
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Talent Resources
• We're Hiring!
• Help Center
• API Documentation

Are Video Game Titles Italicized? (APA, AP, and Chicago)

The laws of when to use italics and when not to can be very confusing for learners of English. This article looks at how to cite a video game in formal writing and breaks down how they vary depending on the style.

Are Video Game Titles Italicized?

Most of the time, for MLA, APA, and Chicago styles, the title of the game is in italics. In MLA, it is sometimes in quotation marks too. In AP Style, you should not use italics. Furthermore, board games are also in italics in APA, Chicago, and MLA.

When referring to video games in an essay or any type of formal writing, it is essential to know how to cite them correctly. The rules vary depending on whether you cite in-text or at the end of the document on a reference list.

For MLA Style, if you mention the video game as a stand-alone program in the text, you should use italics without mentioning the developer or year.

However, if you mention it on a reference list, you should use italics and include the developer, year, and format, as shown below. Also, some institutions demand that the game title is in quotation marks.

This is the format for a reference at the end of a text in MLA:

• Developer, title (in italics), distributor, year, platform

Here is an MLA reference for a video game:

• Pac-Man was one of the most popular video games of its generation. (in-text)
• Pac Man . Atari, 1982. (Reference list)
• Firaxis Games, Sid Meier’s Civilization III, Take-two interactive, 2001, PC. (Reference list)
• Firaxis Games, “ Sid Meier’s Civilization III ” Take-two interactive, 2001, PC. (Reference list)

For APA Style, the guide states that “stand-alone” works such as books, films, and games should be in italics.

APA Format – Developer, (Year Released). Title of Game [Video game]. Location: Publisher.

Which looks something like this:

• Players reported not enjoying Sid Meier’s Civilization III (2001) as much as the previous version. (In-text)
• Firaxis Games, (2001). Sid Meier’s Civilization III {Video game}. France, Atari Europe. (Referencing list)

Are Video Game Titles Quoted?

In APA Style, video games will never appear in quotation marks. However, in MLA Style, you may see video game titles with quotation marks at the end of a text on the reference list.

The 8 th Edition of the MLA Style guide says that in-text references of video games should just be in italics, whereas when listing them on the final reference page, they should also have quotation marks.

Are Video Game Titles Italicized in APA Style?

In APA Style, you should use italics for the titles of video games in-text and on the reference list. On the reference list, you must also add {computer software} or {video game} after the title to indicate that it is a video game.

Furthermore, when writing the title of the game, unless they are proper nouns, only the first word of the title should use capital letters.

The APA format should be as follows :

• Developer , (Year Released). Title of Game [Video game]. Location: Publisher.

Therefore, a citation would look like this:

• Players said that Call of duty (2003) was the most realistic game ever. (In-text)
• Infinity Ward , (2003). Call of duty {video game}. USA: Activision. (Reference list)

Are Video Game Titles Italicized in AP Style?

Media and news organizations mainly use AP Style to report the news. Therefore, it is not usual to have a reference list at the end of a text; instead, people use in-text citations to reference sources.

In AP Style, it is not necessary to use italics in any part of a video game; however, it is needed to put the video game title in quotation marks.

• The video game “Grand Theft Auto” has caused a great deal of controversy.
• In the 1980s, “Donkey Kong” was one of the first worldwide video game hits.

Are Video Game Titles Italicized in Chicago Style?

When referencing a video game in the Chicago Style, it is necessary to put the title in italics for both the in-text citation and the reference list.

The format for listing the game in Chicago Style is as follows:

• Production company. Game title. Version. Production company, release year. Platform.

Therefore a reference for a video game in Chicago Style would look something like this:

• Super Mario Bros (1983) , which was released by Nintendo, was one of the most successful platform games of its time. – (In-text)
• Nintendo.  Super Mario Bros . Nintendo. 1983. Nintendo. – (Reference list)

Are Video Game Titles Italicized in MLA Style?

In the MLA Style, it is necessary to use italics for the names of video games for both in-text citations and on the reference list.

Here is the format that a video game should follow in MLA Style:

• Developer, title (in italics), distributor, year, platform.

This is how video games would look referenced in MLA Style:

• The popular video game Settlers IV was a successful role-playing game. – (in-text)
• Blue Byte, Settlers VI, Ubi Soft, 2001, USA, PC. –  (Reference list)
• Blue Byte, “ Settlers VI”, Ubi Soft, 2001, USA, PC. – (Reference list)

Are Board Game Titles Italicized?

The rules concerning board games being in italics vary according to the style you are using. Here is a brief description of the rules for each style: Please note that some individual institutions or professors may vary the rules slightly for board games or websites; however, the descriptions below are a general guide:

APA – Board game titles should use italics for both in-text citations and on the reference list. They should follow the same format as a stand-alone work such as a film or video game.

• Darrow, C, D, (1980) Monopoly: the board game. Hasbro, USA

Chicago – Board games should follow the same rules as films and books, so they would be in italics.

• Darrow, C, D, Monopoly: the board game. Hasbro, USA, (1980).

MLA – This style uses the same rules for board games as for video games. Therefore, the title of board games should be in italics.

AP – You do not need to use italics to refer to a board game in AP style. Considering that there is not usually a comprehensive reference list for many AP articles, here is an example of an in-text citation.

• The game of Monopoly has been enjoyed across the world for almost a hundred years.

Final Thoughts

For APA, Chicago, and MLA styles, you should use italics for video game and board game titles in both in-text citations and on the reference list. However, for AP Style, it is unnecessary to put video or board game titles in italics.

Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

• Are Magazine Titles Italicized? (APA, AP, and Chicago)
• Are Podcast Titles Italicized? (APA, AP, MLA, and Chicago)
• Are Movie Titles Italicized? (APA, AP, MLA, and Chicago)
• Are TV Shows Italicized? (APA, AP, MLA, and Chicago)