how do you reference a powerpoint presentation

How to Cite Pictures in PowerPoint?

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Pictures can be a great addition to your presentations at work or school. They can help keep your audience interested and make your points clearer. But it’s also important to give credit to the people who created the pictures you use. Knowing how to cite images properly in PowerPoint is a valuable skill, no matter who you’re presenting to.

This article will explain how to add citations to images in PowerPoint, give you some helpful tips, and answer some common questions people have about this topic.

Step-by-Step Guide to Cite Pictures in PowerPoint

Step 1. find the source information.

Track down the details about using the image you picked. The way the image is licensed will likely tell you how to give credit to the owner if you use it in your presentation. See if you can find the license information and take a look at the terms. Some licenses will clearly say you don’t need to mention the source. If that’s the case, you can use the image without giving credit.

Other licenses might have instructions about how to credit the owner. If you can’t find any licensing information, it’s best to assume the image is protected by copyright and plan to credit it anyway.

Step 2. Create a Citation Slide

Set aside a slide at the end of your presentation to list all the sources of the images you used. You can title this slide “Image Credits” or “Sources.”

Inserting Your Image:

• Save the image: First, save the image you want to use to your computer’s desktop.
• Open your presentation: Then, open the PowerPoint presentation you’re working on.
• Find the “Insert” tab: Look for the “Insert” tab at the top of the PowerPoint window. This is where you’ll find tools for adding things to your slides.
• Add the image: Click the “Insert” tab, and then choose “Picture” from the options. This will open a file explorer window where you can find the image you saved earlier on your desktop.
• Place the image: Once you’ve found the image, double-click it to insert it into your slide. You can then drag and drop the image to position it where you want it.

Adding Text for the Citation:

• Insert a text box: Click the “Insert” tab again. This time, look for the option to “Text Box”. It might be in a drop-down menu or have an icon on the toolbar.
• Draw the text box: Click on “Text Box”, and then use your mouse to draw a text box on the slide. Drag it to a position just below the image. Try to line it up with the image as best you can.

Optional: Linking to the Source Directly

If you have the information, you can add a hyperlink to the original source of the image in the citation text box. This allows viewers of your presentation to click on the citation and go directly to the webpage where the image came from.

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Step 3. Write Your Citation Using the Proper Format for Your Style Guide

1. apa format.

Creating Your Citation:

• Italics and Figure Number: Start by writing “Figure 1” in italics.
• Image Description: Briefly describe the image content in a clear sentence.
• Adapting the Source: Use the phrase “Adapted from” followed by the image title in quotation marks.
• Source Information: Include the creator’s initials and last name, publication year, and the website title.
• Retrieval Details: Add “Retrieved from” followed by the full website URL and the date you accessed the image.
• Copyright: Include copyright information if it’s available.

Figure 1. A close-up photo of a sunflower in full bloom. Adapted from “Exploring Nature’s Beauty” by M. Jones, 2022. Nature Photography Blog. Retrieved from https://www.naturephotographyblog.com/ on June 20, 2024. Copyright 2022 by M. Jones Photography.

2. MLA Format

The way you cite an image in MLA format depends on how you use it in your presentation. If the image is just for decoration and you don’t talk about it, you’ll need a full citation. If you do discuss the image, include a caption with a shorter citation in your slides and a full citation on a separate “Works Cited” slide at the end. You must remember that MLA citations don’t use italics.

Here’s an example of a full citation for an image you don’t discuss:

Figure 1: Montez, Olivia. “Mountain Goat Herd Climbing Fence.” Arpeggio Newsroom, October 9, 2012, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=340ODYnfCJY . Accessed January 15, 2021.

Here’s an example for an image you do discuss:

Figure 2: Unstable wooden fence (A Herd of Goats Climbing Fence).

Remember to include the full citation (like the one above) on your “Works Cited” slide.

3. Chicago Manual of Style

Need to format your citation using the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS)?

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you out. First, start with the creator’s last name, followed by a comma and their first name. Then, add another comma and write the title of the image in italics. Include the year it was published after the title. Next, list the website name in italics. Finally, finish with the URL in parentheses, followed by the date you accessed the information.

For example, suppose you found a photo titled “Maine Marigolds” by Addison Douglas on a website called [xyz.com] in 1999. Here’s how your citation would look:

Douglas, Addison. Maine Marigolds , 1999. [xyz.com] (May 9, 2021).

Step 4: Group Your Image and Citation Together

If you want the citation to stay with your image whenever you move it around the slide, you can group them together. Here’s how:

• Click and drag your mouse to select both the image and the text box containing your citation.
• Right-click anywhere on the selected area.
• A menu will appear. Choose the option that says “Group”. You might need to click “Group” twice depending on your version of Google Slides.

This step is totally optional, but it can definitely make it easier to adjust your presentation later on.

If you have more images in your presentation that need citations, just follow the same steps we just went through. Remember to change the figure number for each new image citation to keep things clear. Feel free to refer back to these instructions and the examples throughout your work to make sure everything is accurate.

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Step 5: Review And Update

Before you present, it’s always a good idea to take a final look at your slides and make any necessary updates. Here are some things to consider:

• Proofreading: Give your slides a quick once-over for any spelling or punctuation mistakes. Double-check that author names are spelled correctly. If you’re using citations, compare them to an example to make sure they follow the right format.
• Style Guide: If you’re unsure about formatting or citations, refer to your style guide (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.). Many guides are available online or in libraries. Look for information from the style guide itself or a trusted source like an academic library or writing center.
• Image Sources: When using images, choose sources that clearly show licensing, copyright, and creator information. Stock photo libraries, library databases, and reputable news outlets are good options.

Closing Thoughts

Citing your images properly adds a touch of professionalism to your presentations and ensures you give credit where credit is due. By following the steps outlined in this guide and using the appropriate citation style for your project, you can easily acknowledge the creators of the visuals that enhance your presentations. Remember to double-check your citations for accuracy and choose high-quality images from reputable sources whenever possible. With a little extra effort, you can ensure your presentations are both informative and ethically sound.

Frequently Asked Questions

What information should i include in a citation.

A good citation should include details like the creator’s name, the title of the image (if it has one), the source where you found it (website name or publication title), the date it was published (if available), and any copyright information like a Creative Commons license.

Do I need to cite clip art?

Internal clip art from PowerPoint itself doesn’t require a full citation. However, APA style recommends mentioning the software (PowerPoint) in an in-text citation. If you use the web search option within PowerPoint and choose an image with an external creator, then a full citation is necessary.

How do I cite a scanned image from a book?

Treat scanned book images similar to digital images. Instead of website details, include the book’s title, edition, and page number where the image appears. Refer to your specific style guide for formatting instructions.

Can I use a general image credit slide for all sources?

While it saves space, it’s generally better to provide specific citations for each image. This ensures accuracy and makes it easier for others to find the original sources.

Do I need to cite free-to-use images?

Yes, even for free images, citing the source is good practice. This acknowledges the creator’s work and helps others locate the original source.

How do I cite a screenshot in PowerPoint?

Follow the same guidelines as above. Instead of an artist or title, you can mention “Screenshot” or “Screen capture” in the citation.

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Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / How to Cite Sources / How to Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA, MLA or Chicago

How to Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA, MLA or Chicago

Let’s be honest: Sometimes the best information for a paper comes straight from a professor’s PowerPoint presentation. But did you know that source needs to be cited?

Whether you’re making use of your instructor’s lecture materials or pulling information from a Powerpoint found online, you need to make sure to cite your sources if you use information from it in a project or paper.

Here’s a run -t hrough of everything this page includes:  

• Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in MLA format
• Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA format
• Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in Chicago Style

By now, you’re probably familiar with how to cite websites, books or journal articles, but not as knowledgeable about how to cite a Powerpoint presentation. In actuality, citing PowerPoint presentations aren’t all that different from citing written materials, so don’t let yourself be phased! It’s not too hard and compiling an MLA works cited or APA reference page doesn’t take too long—each one should take just a few minutes to create.

To help you with the process, we’ve put together a handy guide demonstrating how to cite a PowerPoint presentation in three commonly used citation styles: MLA, APA and Chicago.

Let’s start by looking for basic information you’ll need for the citation.

Information you may need to cite a PowerPoint Presentation:

• Author or authors of the presentation
• Presentation title
• Date of publication/presentation
• Place of publication/where the presentation was given
• URL (if used to locate the presentation)

Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in MLA format:

MLA format citation structure:

Author Last Name, First Name. Presentation Title. Month Year, URL. PowerPoint Presentation.

Example citation :

Park, Lisa. Effective Working Teams . Jan. 2011, https://www.company.meetings/teams. PowerPoint Presentation.

In-text citation structure:

(Last Name)

Example in-text citation:

Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA format:  

APA reference structure:

Author or Presenter Last Name, Middle Initial. First Initial. (Date of publication). Title of presentation [PowerPoint presentation]. Conference Name, Location. URL

Example reference:

Park, L. (2011, March 24-28). Effective working teams [PowerPoint presentation]. Regional Dairy Workers National Conference, New York, NY, United States. https://www.company.meetings/teams

Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in Chicago Style:

Chicago citation structure:

Author Last Name, First Name. “Presentation Title.” Lecture, Location of Lecture, Month Day, Year.

Example citation:

Park, Lisa. “Effective Working Teams.” Lecture, The Plaza Hotel, New York, NY, January 11, 2011.

Troubleshooting

Solution #1: how to cite a powerpoint that has multiple authors..

For a presentation with multiple authors, list the authors alphabetically by last name for the full reference citation. The citation will list each author by Last Name, First Initial.

If the PowerPoint has just two authors, separate them with a comma and an ampersand (&). If the PowerPoint has more than two authors, list the authors separated by commas.

Reference examples:

Felner, D., & Nguy, A. (2021 April 10-12). The history of Claymation [Slideshow]. Animation Now, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

Felner, D., Nguy, A., Becham, G. (2021 April 10-12). The history of Claymation [Slideshow]. Animation Now, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

For an in-text citation for two authors, give both surnames separated by an ampersand (&) followed by a comma and the year of publication or presentation.

For an in-text citation for three or more authors, list the first author’s surname followed by “et al.” followed by a comma and the year of publication or presentation.

In-text citation examples:

(Felner & Nguy, 2021)

(Felner et al., 2021)

For a PowerPoint with two presenters or authors, include both names in the full works-cited citation. The names need to be written as follows: First presenter’s Last Name, First Name, and then the second presenter’s First Name and Last Name.

For an in-text citation, simply list the surnames of both presenters.

In-text citation example:

(Nguy and Felner)

Work-cited entry example:

Nguy, Anna and Dominic Felner. The History of Claymation. Apr. 2021. PowerPoint Presentation.

For a PowerPoint with three or more presenters, only list one presenter’s name followed by a comma and “et al.”

For an in-text citation for three or more authors or presenters , list the surname given in the full works-cited citation followed by “et al.”

(Nguy et al.)

Nguy, Anna et al. The History of Claymation. Apr. 2021. PowerPoint Presentation.

Solution #2 How to cite a slideshow that wasn’t made with PowerPoint

If making a full works-cited citation for a slideshow that was made with another program other than PowerPoint, include the medium in brackets instead of PowerPoint.

If the presentation is not in PowerPoint, and you can’t determine what software was used, include the word “slideshow” in brackets in place of PowerPoint.

Nguy, A. (2021 April 10-12). The history of Claymation [Prezi presentation]. Animation Now, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

Nguy, A. (2021 April 10-12). The history of Claymation [Slideshow]. Animation Now, Los Angeles, CA, United States.

The in-text citation will be formatted like any other APA in-text citation (author last name, year).

(Nguy, 2021)

At the end of your full works-cited citation, include the program the slideshow was made with, formatted as:  ______ Presentation.

If you are uncertain of the program used, end your citation with “slideshow” followed by a period. Nguy, Anna. The history of Claymation. Apr. 2021. Prezi Presentation. Nguy, Anna. The history of Claymation . Apr. 2021. Slideshow.

The in-text citation will be formatted like any other MLA in-text citation (author last name).

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Updated April 26, 2021.

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To cite PowerPoint presentation slides, include the author name, year/date of presentation, the title, the source description, the website and/or university name, and the URL where the source can be found.

If the PowerPoint presentation is not accessible to the reader, cite the slides as personal communication.

If you want to cite a PowerPoint in MLA or APA style, you need to have basic information including the name of the author(s), title of the presentation, date and place of publication, and URL. For in-text citations, you need to include only the author name(s) in MLA style and author name(s) and year in APA style.  

APA in-text citations

(Author Surname, publication year)

(Dhanalakshmi, 2004)

MLA in-text citations

(Author Surname)

(Dhanalakshmi)

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• How to cite a PowerPoint in MLA

How to Cite a PowerPoint in MLA | Format & Examples

Published on December 7, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on March 5, 2024.

To cite a PowerPoint or other slide-based presentation in MLA style , the format depends on how you viewed the presentation.

If the slides are available to view online, the format is similar to that for a website : provide the author and title of the presentation, the name of the site in italics, the date it was posted, and the URL.

Use a slide number to indicate the location of the relevant information in in-text citations.

You can also use our free MLA Citation Generator to help create MLA citations with ease.

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Table of contents

Citing a powerpoint you viewed in person, citing content reproduced in a powerpoint, frequently asked questions about mla citations.

If you viewed the PowerPoint in person and it isn’t available online, cite it using details of the context in which you viewed it: the name of the course, the date the lecture was given, and the name and location of your university.

You can also add the optional label “PowerPoint presentation” for clarity.

Note that citing an online version is the best option if possible, since it allows your reader to consult the presentation directly.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

If you want to cite content reproduced in a PowerPoint (like an image or quotation from someone other than the person who created the slides), it’s best to cite the original source if possible. Try looking for source information in the slides, or asking the lecturer.

However, if necessary, you can treat it as a source contained within a source. Cite details of the original source first, and then include details of the presentation as a container, including the slide where the relevant quote or image appears at the end.

For example, the following format shows how to cite an artwork from a presentation.

When you want to cite a PowerPoint or lecture notes from a lecture you viewed in person in MLA , check whether they can also be accessed online ; if so, this is the best version to cite, as it allows the reader to access the source.

If the material is not available online, use the details of where and when the presentation took place.

MLA recommends citing the original source wherever possible, rather than the source in which it is quoted or reproduced.

If this isn’t possible, cite the secondary source and use “qtd. in” (quoted in) in your MLA in-text citation . For example: (qtd. in Smith 233)

If a source is reproduced in full within another source (e.g. an image within a PowerPoint  or a poem in an article ), give details of the original source first, then include details of the secondary source as a container. For example:

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.”

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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.

Caulfield, J. (2024, March 05). How to Cite a PowerPoint in MLA | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/mla/powerpoint/

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Formatting a Powerpoint Presentation in APA 7th Style

The apa 7th manual and the apa website do not provide any specific rules about using apa format or citation in powerpoint slides. , here are some recommended guidelines:, 1. always follow any specific instructions given by your instructor., 2. you will need in-text citations on a powerpoint slide where you are quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing someone else's ideas. , 3. you also will include a reference list as your powerpoint's last slide (or slides). , this youtube video from smart student shows you how to create apa7th in-text citations and a reference list: .

• Citing and Referencing in Powerpoint Presentations | APA 7th Edition This video will show you how to create APA 7th in-text citations and a Reference page for your PowerPoint presentation.
• << Previous: Tables and Figures
• Next: Reference Page Examples >>
• Last Updated: May 3, 2024 2:22 PM
• URL: https://national.libguides.com/apa_7th

PowerPoint Slide or Lecture Note References

This page contains reference examples for PowerPoint slides or lecture notes, including the following:

• PowerPoint slides available online
• PowerPoint slides from a classroom website

Use these formats to cite information obtained directly from slides.

If the slides contain citations to information published elsewhere, and you want to cite that information as well, then it is best to find, read, and cite the original source yourself rather than citing the slides as a secondary source.

Writers creating PowerPoint presentations in APA Style should present information clearly and concisely. Many APA Style guidelines can be applied to presentations (e.g., the guidance for crediting sources, using bias-free language, and writing clearly and concisely).

However, decisions about font size, amount of text on a slide, color scheme, use of animations, and so on are up to writers; these details are not specified as part of APA Style.

1. PowerPoint slides available online

Jones, J. (2016, March 23). Guided reading: Making the most of it [PowerPoint slides]. SlideShare. https://www.slideshare.net/hellojenjones/guided-reading-making-the-most-of-it

• Parenthetical citation : (Jones, 2016)
• Narrative citation : Jones (2016)
• When the slides are available online to anyone, provide the site name on which they are hosted in the source element of the reference, followed by the URL of the slides.

2. PowerPoint slides from a classroom website

Mack, R., & Spake, G. (2018). Citing open source images and formatting references for presentations [PowerPoint slides]. Canvas@FNU. https://fnu.onelogin.com/login

• Parenthetical citation : (Mack & Spake, 2018)
• Narrative citation : Mack and Spake (2018)
• If the slides come from a classroom website, learning management system (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Sakai), or company intranet and you are writing for an audience with access to that resource, provide the name of the site and its URL (use the login page URL for sites requiring login).
• If the audience for which are you writing does not have access to the slides, cite them as a personal communication .

PowerPoint slide references are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Section 10.14 and the Concise Guide Section 10.12

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How to Cite a PowerPoint Presentation

Last Updated: January 16, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Gerald Posner and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Gerald Posner is an Author & Journalist based in Miami, Florida. With over 35 years of experience, he specializes in investigative journalism, nonfiction books, and editorials. He holds a law degree from UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and a BA in Political Science from the University of California-Berkeley. He’s the author of thirteen books, including several New York Times bestsellers, the winner of the Florida Book Award for General Nonfiction, and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. He was also shortlisted for the Best Business Book of 2020 by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 67,423 times.

PowerPoint presentations often convey a lot of information in a brief format that's easy to understand. For this reason, they also make excellent sources for a research paper — especially if you're writing on a complex, cutting-edge topic. But how should you cite your source? The elements included in your citation are generally the same as those you would use for any other lecture or presentation. Your specific format will vary, though, depending on whether you're using the Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), or Chicago citation style.

• Example: Kalyanaraman, Ananth.

• Example: Kalyanaraman, Ananth. "CPT S 317: Automata and Formal Languages."

• Example: Kalyanaraman, Ananth. "CPT S 317: Automata and Formal Languages." 2017. School of EECS, Washington State University, Pullman.

• Example: Kalyanaraman, Ananth. "CPT S 317: Automata and Formal Languages." 2017. School of EECS, Washington State University, Pullman. Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.

• Example: Kalyanaraman, Ananth. "CPT S 317: Automata and Formal Languages." 2017. School of EECS, Washington State University, Pullman. Microsoft PowerPoint presentation. eecs.wsu.edu/~ananth/CptS317/Lectures/Course.pdf.

• For example, you might write: One of the objectives of the course is to introduce automata theory and the theory of computation (Kalyanaraman slide 3).

• The basic format for a personal communication in-text citation is as follows: (A. Lastname, personal communication, Month day, year).

• Example: Braun, M.

• Example: Braun, M. (2020).

• Example: Braun, M. (2020). Diseases of the nervous system [PowerPoint slides].

• Example: Braun, M. (2020). Diseases of the nervous system [PowerPoint slides]. http://medsci.indiana.edu/c602web/602/c602web/opt/braun/Diseases_NervousSystem.pdf

• For example, you might write: A subdural hemorrhage is a rotational injury that causes slow bleeding (Braun, 2020).
• If you use the presenter's name in the text of your paper, add a parenthetical immediately after the name with the year for the presentation. For example, you might write: Braun (2020) differentiates between different types of brain hemorrhages, which require different treatment.
• If you quote directly from the presentation, add the slide number after the year. For example, you might write: According to Braun (2020, slide 3), the "accumulation of junk" in the central nervous system can lead to problems.

• Example: Damodaran, Aswath.

• Example: Damodaran, Aswath. "Intrinsic Valuation."

• Example: Damodaran, Aswath. "Intrinsic Valuation." PowerPoint presentation, Equity Instruments, NYU Stern School of Business, New York, NY, January 2020.

• Example: Damodaran, Aswath. "Intrinsic Valuation." PowerPoint presentation, Equity Instruments, NYU Stern School of Business, New York, NY, January 2020. http://people.stern.nyu.edu/adamodar/pdfiles/eqnotes/valpacket1spr20.pdf.

• Example: Aswath Damodaran, "Intrinsic Valuation," (PowerPoint presentation, Equity Instruments, NYU Stern School of Business, New York, NY, January 2020), http://people.stern.nyu.edu/adamodar/pdfiles/eqnotes/valpacket1spr20.pdf.
• After the first footnote, use a shortened format for subsequent footnotes with the last name of the presenter and the title of the presentation. For example:

Community Q&A

• If the slides come from a classroom website, company intranet, or learning management system (such as Canvas or Blackboard), use the URL only if you're writing for an audience that would have access to that system. [18] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• This article covers how to cite a PowerPoint presentation using the MLA 8th edition (2016), the APA 7th edition (2019), and the Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition (2017). Consult your instructor or editor to make sure you're using the right edition for your citations. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://style.mla.org/citing_slides/
• ↑ https://research.moreheadstate.edu/c.php?g=610039&p=4234940
• ↑ https://libguides.capilanou.ca/mla/classnotes
• ↑ https://writeanswers.royalroads.ca/faq/199089
• ↑ https://guides.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/APA/lecture
• ↑ https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/references/examples/powerpoint-references
• ↑ https://libguides.up.edu/chicago/other#s-lg-box-wrapper-28673142
• ↑ https://library.ulethbridge.ca/chicagostyle/other/lecture
• ↑ https://libguides.up.edu/chicago/other

About This Article

To cite a PowerPoint presentation in MLA, use footnotes or endnotes to cite your sources. Then in the footnote, list the author’s last name followed by a comma then their first name. Then write the title of the lecture in quotes followed by the venue, the city it was held in, and the abbreviated date you accessed the work. You should put a period after each item. For instance, you might write, “Smith, John. ‘Sensitivity and Social Media.’ Today's Social Networks. Thomson Auditorium. Hamilton. Jan. 23, 2016. Keynote address.” To learn how to cite PowerPoint presentations in APA style, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Harvard Referencing Guide: PowerPoint Presentations

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E xample -  Presentation available online and accessible by anyone

The full reference should generally include

• Year (in round brackets)
• Title of the presentation (in italics)
• [PowerPoint presentation] in square brackets
• Available at: URL
• (Accessed: date)

In-text citation

Full reference for the Reference List

Example: PowerPoint presentation from a learning management system such as the VLE

• Author or tutor
• Year of publication (in round brackets)
• Title of the presentation (in single quotation marks)
• Module code: module title (in italics)
• Available at: URL of the VLE

Example : Full reference for the Reference List

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How to put References or cite Sources in PowerPoint

Put references or cite sources in powerpoint, 1] in-text citation, 2] image citation, 3] create reference list, 4] use online citation generator, komalsrivastava@twc.

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Answered By: Paul Lai Last Updated: Sep 15, 2023     Views: 1269944

To cite your sources within a PowerPoint presentation, you can include your references or in-text citations on each slide. You can (a) provide the references verbally, (b) provide a reference list slide at the end of your presentation with corresponding in-text citations, or (c) combine these.

For any presentation, be sure your audience knows where the information, visuals, and other materials you use are from. Remember to double-check the assignment requirements and your instructor’s preferences.

Additional Resources:

• See  How do I cite in APA?  for more common reference list examples.
• View more  information on how to create an APA style reference list  that you can use both in your PowerPoint and in your paper.
• Need to cite someone else’s presentation? See  How do I cite a PowerPoint presentation as a reference?

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APA Style Formatting in PowerPoint

APA Style (7th Edition) Formatting in PowerPoint

In this video, Purdue Global Learning and Development Specialist, Chrissine Cairns, demonstrates how to format a PowerPoint applying APA Style (7th Edition) to a title slide; body slides using bullet points, figures, tables, and copyright statements; and a reference list with hanging indentations.

Presentation Times for Video Sections

• Title Slide 00:00:00 – 00:03:45
• Bulleted Points 00:04:16 – 00:07:13
• Figures and Tables and Copyrights 00:07:14 – 00:13:36
• Reference List 00:13:32 – 00:15:37

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How to Cite PowerPoint Presentations in APA Style

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PowerPoint presentations have become another source of information for various occasions, from student projects and slideshows to online courses. So, the question of the proper citation of PowerPoint presentations arises. At some point, you will need a hint on how to cite someone else’s presentation in your research paper or in your own slides. There are APA style guidelines that come in handy for such cases. 

What is APA style?

How to cite a PowerPoint presentation in APA Style your readers can access

How to cite a PowerPoint presentation in APA Style your readers can’t access

How to format a PowerPoint presentation in APA Style

How to cite pictures in PowerPoint

Tips for using APA Style citations in PowerPoint

What Is APA Style?

APA Style is a set of rules for academic writing and publishing scientific papers at the highest level of clarity and accessibility. Whereas Chicago style is mainly used for studies on business, history, and the fine arts, and MLS style is common for the humanities, journal articles on education, psychology, and sciences must adhere to APA style.

If you’re wondering how to format your APA PowerPoint citation, it may seem a little bit tricky. Based on the latest, 7th edition of the APA manual and samples, we derived a ‘formula’ to show you to how to cite a presentation properly.

Depending on whether the presentation to be cited is in the public domain or is not available for readers to access, the format of PowerPoint citation will be a little different. Also, you may need to do the opposite – namely, to cite elements on your PPT slides, like direct quotations, images, or tables – in APA format. Read this article to learn how to do both of these things correctly.

How to Cite PowerPoint Slides Your Readers Can Access

Published PowerPoint presentations are typically available on the net. When citing such presentations, be sure to include the term “PowerPoint slides” in brackets, and then embed a URL address that leads directly to the original source. Since a PowerPoint presentation is a standalone piece of content that is not archived, you need to include “Retrieved from” before the URL.

Author + date + title of the presentation + [PowerPoint slides] + “Retrieved from” + URL 

Jones, A. B. (2014). How to include APA citations in a PowerPoint presentation [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://jones.uvm.edu/ppt/40hrenv/index.html.

Citing a conference presentation in APA Style 

If the presentation you need to APA cite was delivered in a certain event and place, like a professional conference or a seminar, you need to mention this in the citation as well. 

Madison, J. (2016, April 11-14). Introduction to APA Citations [PowerPoint presentation]. 2nd Annual National Conference for Researchers, New York, NY, United States. Retrieved from http://researcherguide.com/archives 

If you want to refer to a specific slide in the body text of your paper, include the slide number in your in-text citation.

Format: (Author’s surname, year, slide 4)

Example: (Madison, 2016, slide 6)

How to Cite a PowerPoint Presentation Your Readers Can’t Access

If the presentation you wish to APA cite is not published anywhere and the reader won’t be able to access it (e.g., you viewed it at a meeting), you can still give it recognition. In this case, you need to cite it as personal communication. APA style doesn’t index personal communications in the reference lists, but it is necessary to include them as in-text citations. See how you can cite a meeting in your PowerPoint presentation below.

Example: In his speech, Madison stated that employee retention increased by 5% (personal communication, May 26, 2019).

Citing a lecture in APA format

If you wonder how to cite a lecture, you can do it nearly the same way. You will need to mention the lecturer, the date when the lecture was hold and frame it as personal communication as well. 

Example: (A. Collins, personal communication, October 28, 2021)

How to Format a PowerPoint Slideshow in APA Citation Style

If you present on a serious level and need to establish the credibility of the data you put into slides, it’s important to treat your PowerPoint presentation as a research paper in the first place. In this regard, educators and editors strongly recommend applying APA guidelines to the structure of PowerPoint presentations.

Thus, a PowerPoint presentation needs to meet certain criteria. It should include:

Title slide

• Thorough APA citations
• The References slide
• Fully cited slides for tables with figures and statistical data

Make your title slide similar to the title page of an APA research paper. Your first PowerPoint slide should include the same information as the cover sheet of an APA research paper. Include the title of the presentation, your name, organization, and an author’s note describing the purpose of the presentation.

[Source: http://libraryguides.bennett.edu/home/library-tutorials/apa-style-presentations]

Reference slide

A reference slide is the last slide of your presentation in which you cite the sources you used. It’s a list of every APA citation that appears elsewhere in the presentation.

Although it’s the final slide of your presentation, it is easier to compile it in advance. Do the following:

• Name the slide “Reference List” or “References.”
• List the references alphabetically by author (if there is no author, simply write the title). 
• Do not double space or indent your reference slide to save space.

For detailed guidance, check out examples in the APA Style handout that was carefully prepared by Idaho State University or the official APA Publication Manual 7th Edition available on the website of the American Psychological Association .

In-text citations for the body slides

Including citations in the main content of your PowerPoint presentation is necessary to avoid plagiarism. Universities, for example, insist that any academic PowerPoint presentation has appropriate citations for any outside sources. Those sources include:

• Any direct quotation
• Any paraphrase
• Tables and data
• Video and audio files

APA citations in the body refer only to the author (or an item in quotations without an author) followed by a comma, the date of publication, and a page number, if applicable. These will be used throughout the presentation. When needed, hyperlink all your citations as well as images (not clip art) to their sources. Remember to attribute all quotes and paraphrases to their sources.

How to Cite Pictures in PowerPoint 

When it comes to citation, any kind of image, such as photographs, illustrations, or a vendor’s clip art and stock art are commonly referred to as figures. Citing figures is worthy of special mention. This is the table that encompasses all three ‘levels’ of how you can cite a picture in APA format: reference list entry, in-text citation, and copyright attribution. 

When citing visuals in PowerPoint, you need to enumerate and annotate any figure. It’s easy to start by placing an image on the slide and adding a text box below it. Then, write a figure number, add a description/note for the figure, and a parenthetical citation from your reference slide. 

Example: 

Figure 3. Pedestrians walking by street graffiti of the word “Love.” Adapted from “Pedestrian Street Art Protest” by J. Actrinson, 2013, ArtsPhotosArchive. Retrieved from http://www.artsphotoarchive.com/pedestrian-art-protest. Copyright 2020 by Actrinson Photos.

Tips for Using APA Style Citations in PowerPoint slides

1. integrate your tables, but include full attributions.

In APA citation, tables are any kinds of visual representation of data like graphs, charts, pie charts, etc. Tables can be incorporated as slides throughout the presentation, rather than grouped at the end. You need to include a complete citation of a table’s source on individual table slides. This is in addition to listing the source on your reference slide.

2. Check with samples of formatting

It’s a good idea to look for samples and illustrations of how to format citations in each case. For example, the Thomas F. Holgate Library at Bennett College, Greensboro, NC has posted an excellent slide presentation, APA Style PowerPoint Presentations . Also, you can visit Purdue University’s incomparable Online Writing Lab which has a complete reference list guide for electronic sources (web publications).

3. Follow the guidelines of your institution 

Some APA formatting advice can be ambiguous. So, if you’re submitting to a conference, make a safe choice and comply with the guidelines that your institution or an event committee might suggest following. Even if there is a variance between APA style and this suggested formatting style, it’s better to prepare your presentation according to the requirements of that particular event. 

Frequently Asked Questions about APA Style Citation

While preparing the Reference list for your presentation or putting in-text citations on PowerPoint slides, you may have questions about adding specific information. Here are a couple of such tricky questions and answers to them. Feel free to jump to the question that interests you most. 

How do I cite a source with no author in APA Style?

If you don’t know the name of the author, you may use the first words of your source’s title and include the year of publication. If it’s a book, magazine, or report, italicize it. And if it’s an article, use question marks.

 (Power of eLearning, 2020)(“eLearning Insights for 2022,” 2021)

In the Reference list, format such citations according to the common formula, only dropping the author portion at the beginning. If you want to cite a website article without an author in the Reference list, use the article’s title as well, and add the name of the website and its URL.

What is eLearning? (2019, July 28). iSpring Solutions. /elearning

How do I cite a source with no page numbers in APA Style?

As you need to guide your viewers/learners to the source of your data, if that source doesn’t have pages, you still can position the needed piece of data precisely. Insert a paragraph’s title or number, or a section’s name in the citation to locate the quoted passage.

(2021 Training Industry Report, Training Delivery section) 

How do I cite an online lecture in APA ? 

Since online lectures can be in various forms and formats, e.g., video recordings or lecture notes, you need to specify their format in the citation. This can be done by including [file format] in the formula:

Author surname, initial of first name. (Year). Title of lecture : Subtitle if applicable [file format]. Retrieved from URL. 

Example:  

Oakley, B. (2015). Learning to Unlearn . Retrieved from   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd2dtkMINIw. 

How do I cite a professor’s PowerPoint presentation in APA style?

Just as with any other PowerPoint presentation that your readers/viewers access online, you can follow this formula:

Author Surname, initial of first name (year, month date). presentation title [PowerPoint slides]. the document’s location

Collins, A. (2016, March 23). Making the most of online education [PowerPoint slides]. SlideShare: https://www.slideshare.net/collinsadrianne/making-the-most-of-online-education

If the presentation you need to cite is placed on an intranet portal, an LMS, or some other source or platform with limited access, you still can credit the author. Just use the log-in page URL to enable viewers who can access the platform to find the source you’re citing.

Example: Keller, G., & Spake, R. (2018). Urbanization and its effect on society [PowerPoint slides]. Moodle@FNU. https://fnu.onelogin.com/login.

In case you’re wondering how to cite a training program in APA style, you can do this in exactly the same way. 

As PowerPoint presentations have become one of the major sources of information and means of knowledge delivery, they need to be treated seriously and formatted according to certain standards. In this article, we covered the main ways to cite a PowerPoint presentation in APA style in your papers, or align your presentation with APA Style guidelines. If you need to enhance your presentation further and transform it into an effective online course, get this free trial of iSpring Suite !

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Chicago Citation Guide (17th Edition): Powerpoint Presentations

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Powerpoint presentations - what do i need to cite, powerpoint presentations - where do my citations go, other digital assignments - where do my citations go, quick rules for a chicago bibliography.

Your research paper ends with a list of all the sources cited in the text of the paper. This is called a bibliography.

See an example in the "Sample Paper with Bibliography" box on this page.

Here are nine quick rules for this list:

• Start a new page for your bibliography (e.g. If your paper is 4 pages long, start your bibliography on page 5).
• Centre the title, Bibliography, at the top of the page and do not bold or underline it. Look for the alignment option in Word. 
• Leave two blank lines between the title and the first entry on your list.
• Single-space the list, but leave one blank line between entries.
• Start the first line of each citation at the left margin; each subsequent line should be indented (also known as a "hanging indent").
• Put your list in alphabetical order. Alphabetize the list by the first word in the citation. In most cases, the first word will be the author’s last name. Where the author is unknown, alphabetize by the first word in the title, ignoring the words a, an, the.
• For each author, give the last name followed by a comma and the first name followed by a period.
• Italicize the titles of full works , such as: books, videos (films and television shows), artwork, images, maps, journals, newspapers, magazines.
• Do not italicize titles of parts of works , such as: articles from newspapers, magazines, or journals / essays, poems, short stories or chapter titles from a book / chapters or sections of an Internet document. Instead, use quotation marks.

What am I legally required to cite in my digital assignment?

According to the Copyright Act, you must cite the sources (images, videos, books, websites, etc.) that you used in your digital assignment ( 29.21(1)(b) ). You must cite the source (where you got the information from) and the creator of the content (if available). You must also make sure that any copyrighted materials you used in your assignment meet the conditions set out in section  29.21  of the Copyright Act. For a list of conditions and more information, please visit:  http://studentcopyright.wordpress.com/mashups/

What citation style do I use for the sources in my digital assignment?

There is no one required citation style, so please defer to your instructor's directions and citation style preference.

List your sources in a slide at the end of the Powerpoint presentation, with footnotes throughout your presentation as applicable.

You could also provide a print copy of the sources you used to those attending your presentation.

Chicago Powerpoint Example by Haidee Kowal

Seneca Libraries has the following recommendations for how to organize your list of sources for digital assignments. Please check with your instructor first:

Videos you create: 

List your sources in a credits screen at the end of the video.

Websites you create:

• For images, include a citation under each image using this format “From: XXXX” and then make the image a link back to the original image ( example  - picture of little girl). Or list the citation at the bottom of the web page.
• For quotes or material from other sources, include an in-text citation that links back to the original material ( example  – second paragraph).

Images you create: 

If possible list your sources at the bottom or side of the image ( example ). Otherwise, include a list of citations alongside the image wherever it’s uploaded (e.g. Flickr, Blackboard).

**Please note that the above are recommendations only and your instructor may have a preference and directions for how and where you list your sources for your assignment.**

If you don't receive specific instructions from your instructor, try to include your citations in a way that doesn't impact the design of your digital assignment.

For more information please contact Seneca Libraries copyright team at  [email protected]

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How to Cite a PowerPoint in APA Style

PowerPoint presentations are frequently used as sources in academic and professional contexts. Citing PowerPoints in APA style requires specific elements: author’s name, presentation date, slide title, [PowerPoint slides], and source URL (if available). These details apply to both in-text citations and reference list entries. Proper citation ensures credit to creators and allows readers to locate the source.

Elements of a PowerPoint Citation in APA  

Author’s name: getting it right  .

The author’s name is the starting point for any citation. In APA style, the author’s last name is followed by their initials. For a PowerPoint presentation, the author is typically the person who created or delivered the presentation. For example:

Smith, J.  

Date of Presentation: Finding the Correct Date  

The date of the presentation is just as important as the author’s name. It gives context to the currency and relevance of the information presented. For instance:

(2023, April 15).  

Title of the PowerPoint

The title of the PowerPoint should be italicized and use sentence-case capitalization. This means only the first word and any proper nouns are capitalized. For example:

The impact of climate change on Arctic wildlife.

Description of the Format: Indicating it’s a PowerPoint  

To indicate that the source is a PowerPoint presentation, you need to include a description in square brackets right after the title. For example:

[PowerPoint slides].  

URL or Location: Providing Access Information  

If the PowerPoint is accessible online, include the URL. If it was part of a class or conference and is not available online, provide the name of the institution or event. For example:

Retrieved from https://www.example.com/presentation  

Citing a PowerPoint from an Online Source  

Identifying online powerpoints  .

When citing a PowerPoint from an online source, ensure that the presentation is publicly accessible and verify the accuracy of the URL. This helps readers locate the original source easily.  

How to Format the URL  

The URL should be complete and lead directly to the PowerPoint. If the URL is long, you can use a URL shortener, but ensure it remains reliable. For example:

Retrieved from https://short.url/presentation  

Examples of Online PowerPoint Citations  

Here’s how a complete citation might look:

Smith, J. (2023, April 15). The impact of climate change on Arctic wildlife [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/presentation

Citing a PowerPoint from a Class Lecture  

Differences from online sources  .

Citing a PowerPoint from a class lecture involves some different elements since these presentations are often not accessible to the general public. The citation needs to reflect this restricted access.  

Tips for Getting Accurate Information  

Ensure you have the correct name of the presenter, the exact date of the presentation, and the institution where it was delivered. For example:

Jones, L. (2023, March 10). The future of renewable energy [PowerPoint slides]. Lecture presented at the University of Green Energy, Solar City, CA.

Sample Citations for Class Lecture PowerPoints  

In-text citations for powerpoint presentations  , basic format for in-text citations  .

In-text citations for PowerPoint presentations follow the author-date format. For example:

(Smith, 2023).  

Special Cases: Multiple Authors, No Date  

If the PowerPoint has multiple authors, cite them as follows:

(Smith & Jones, 2023).

If no date is available, use “n.d.” to indicate no date:

(Smith, n.d.).  

Practical Examples of In-Text Citations  

Here’s how you might cite a slide in the body of your text:

According to Smith (2023), the impact of climate change on Arctic wildlife is significant.  

Real-World Examples and Corrections  

Smith, J. (2023). Impact of climate change [PowerPoint].  

FAQs  

How do i cite a powerpoint presentation in apa style  .

To cite a PowerPoint presentation in APA style, include the author’s name, date of presentation, title of the presentation in italics, a description of the format in square brackets, and the URL or location of the presentation. For example: Smith, J. (2023, April 15). The impact of climate change on Arctic wildlife [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/presentation.  

What if the PowerPoint presentation doesn’t have a date?  

If the PowerPoint presentation doesn’t have a date, use “n.d.” (no date) in the citation. For example: Smith, J. (n.d.). The impact of climate change on Arctic wildlife [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from https://www.example.com/presentation.  

How do I cite a PowerPoint from a class lecture in APA style?  

To cite a PowerPoint from a class lecture, include the presenter’s name, date of the presentation, title of the presentation in italics, a description of the format in square brackets, and the name of the institution or event. For example: Jones, L. (2023, March 10). The future of renewable energy [PowerPoint slides]. Lecture presented at the University of Green Energy, Solar City, CA.  

Can I use shortened URLs for citing PowerPoints in APA style?  

Yes, you can use shortened URLs as long as they are reliable and direct readers to the correct presentation. Ensure the shortened URL is still accessible and accurate.

Conclusion  

APA citations for PowerPoints include the author’s name, presentation date, slide title, [PowerPoint slides], and source URL (if online). Use the author’s last name and year for in-text citations. Create a full entry in your reference list. For presentations you’ve attended, include the event name and location. Always consult the current APA manual for the most up-to-date rules. Accurate PowerPoint citations support your arguments and maintain academic integrity.

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How to Cite PowerPoint Presentations in APA & MLA Formats

Whether you're a student or teacher, you rely on sources to do your research. You probably already know that it's important to also cite your sources. But you might not know how to cite certain types of sources, for example, PowerPoint presentations.

There are more types of resources available to students than ever before and the proper way to cite those resources isn't always clear. For example, with SlideShare (link to our tutorial) you've got access to hundreds of PowerPoint presentations. 

If you're wondering "how do you cite a PowerPoint" when you use one of those presentations in a paper, this tutorial is for you. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to cite a PowerPoint in APA format. We'll also cover citing a PowerPoint in MLA format. Once you've discovered how to properly cite presentations, we'll share some additional presentation resources in case you've got to create your own presentation.

How to Cite a PowerPoint Presentation Properly 

When you're writing an academic paper, you typically need to cite your sources at the end in a bibliography. You may also need to cite a source in the body of your paper. Let's take a closer look at how two of the most common style guides handle citing PowerPoint presentations.

Note :  If you're using the PowerPoint presentation for an academic assignment, be sure to check your own school's style guidelines to determine which format they require. You may also find that your school has additional requirements for citations .

How to Cite a Presentation in APA Format

APA format provides guidelines for consistently writing in a clear format. It includes standards for citing references in PowerPoint presentations as well as standards for citing images in PowerPoint, citing tables or figures, and citing many other types of information.  Although it was originally created for written documents, the citation guidelines have been expanded to take into consideration websites and other digital publications.

If your lesson requires you to use APA format to cite your sources and you're using a PowerPoint presentation as a source, you'll be expected to treat the PowerPoint presentation very much like you would another source with a few differences. Start with the author's last name and first initial. Add the middle initial if given. This is followed by the year the presentation was published and the title of the presentation.

The two differences between citing a PowerPoint presentation in APA format and another work is that you'll put the phrase " PowerPoint slides " in brackets after the title of the presentations followed by the phrase " Retrieved from " and the URL where you found the presentation.

Here's an example of a properly formatted PowerPoint citation for a bibliography in APA format ( based on a fictitious source ):

Perez, J. (February 2018). How to Design Graphics That Sell With Examples  [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved August 1, 2018, from https://anytownconsulting.com/ppt/graphics-sell.html

For a citation in the body of the paper use the author's last name and the date the speech was published:

(Perez, 2018)

If you've got other types of sources you need to cite in APA Style or if you've got questions about APA style, you can find answers on the  APA Style site .

How to Cite a Presentation in MLA Format

Another popular format required by many educational institutions is the MLA format. This style guide is from the Modern Language Association, which is a scholarly association that supports the study of languages and literature. MLA format is commonly used for assignments in the Humanities or Liberal Arts academic areas.

If you're required to use MLA format to cite your sources and one of those sources is a PowerPoint presentation, the format is very similar to the APA format for citing a PowerPoint source with a few important differences. Start with the author's last name, first name and middle name (if given). That's followed by the title of the presentation and the year it was published. If you've got the tile of the website where the presentation is published, list that. Next comes the URL where you found the PowerPoint presentation. If you're referencing a specific slide in the presentation list that slide number.

Here's an example of a properly formatted PowerPoint citation in MLA format (based on a fictitious source):

Perez, Juan. "How to Design Graphics That Sell With Examples."  AnyTown Consulting Website, Jan. 2018,  http://anytownconsulting.com/ppt/graphics-sell.html. Slide 10.

If you're citing a slideshow you attended in person as a source, provide the date and location of the presentation. If the presentation is part of a course, include the name of the course as well:

Perez, Juan. "How to Design Graphics That Sell With Examples." Web Design 101: Introduction to Web Design, April 10, 2018, Anytown Community College. Slide 10.

If you've got other types of sources you need to cite in APA Style or if you've got questions about MLA style, you can find answers on the MLA Style site . You can learn more about the Modern Language Association their site.

Helpful Presentation Templates for Students and Educators

Whether you're a student, college professor, or primary school teacher (or other type of educational professional) — your job probably involves giving a lot of presentations. If you're looking for a presentation PowerPoint template you should consider getting a premium template. Premium templates can save you a lot of time because they come prebuilt with professional design elements already in place. All you need to do is paste your own images and information into the handy placeholders. And, they're really easy to use.

Of course, you could create your own PowerPoint slide designs from scratch. But that can be time-consuming—especially if you're not a professional graphic designer. You're much better off using a premade template to get a head start on the way your presentation looks. That way, you can spend the bulk of your project time on research and writing.

If you're a professor, teacher, or even a student who creates a lot of PowerPoint presentations, you'll want to consider investing in an Envato Elements  subscription. For one low monthly price you'll get unlimited access to our entire library of easy-to-use PowerPoint templates, WordPress themes, video tutorials, and more. It's an investment you'll use again and again.

Even if you just have an occasional need for a PowerPoint presentation template, you can still access a library of professionally designed templates through GraphicRiver for a one-time fee.

Let's take a look at some of the best PowerPoint presentation templates for educators and students from Envato Elements and GraphicRiver :

1. Creativa Education PowerPoint

The Creativa Education PowerPoint template works well for any educational purpose. This attractive theme includes templates for 30 unique slides. Plus, there are three premade color themes. Both widescreen and standard format templates are included. If you're a university student, you may want to take a closer look at this one.

2. Fresh Creative Chalkboard Presentation  

This fun PowerPoint template is perfect for teachers and other educators. Simulate a chalkboard with either the classic green or a stylish gray background. Great for the classroom or even a learning-themed presentation. The template includes the Scratch kit font. There's also a PSD file with a smart object layer.

3. Education& Science Infographic PowerPoint

Here's the perfect theme with great editable infographics! This colorful science-themed template is full of education-friendly features:

• Easy-to-edit
• Documentation

If you're a science teacher, be sure to explore this kid-friendly PowerPoint template.

4. Campuz- University PowerPoint Template

Whether you're a teacher, a professor, or a student—you'll love the Campuz - University PowerPoint Template. It's chock full of useful features. For example, it 25 map slides that would be just perfect for a geography or history lesson. It also includes 24/7 support.

5. Puzzle- Education PowerPoint Template

Make learning fun with this puzzle-themed template. And who doesn't love a good puzzle? This great template includes 30 unique slides (including an infographic). Plus, there are three different premade color themes. And there are templates for both wide screen and standard formats. Just replace the image placeholders with your own pictures and add your own text.

6. Education PowerPoint Presentation Template

This popular education template provides plenty of options. And it comes with free support. Here's just some of what it includes:

• 54 unique slides
• 90 color themes
• 3 aspect rations
• Light and dark backgrounds

Don't overlook this one!

7. Solar System Education Presentation

Whether you're a student with a science presentation or an someone who teaches science you'll love this unique presentation template on the solar system. And it comes with 34 custom slides. It's based on free fonts. This would be especially good for teachers of the primary grades.

8. Education Template

The Education template works well for both educational and business presentations. With over 2700 vector icons and 5 pre-made color schemes, this is a very flexible template. It includes map infographics. All the graphics are editable.

9. Armeni: PowerPoint Presentation

Here's a great business PowerPoint presentation template that can be used for professional presentations as well as educational presentations. This attractive minimalist design will help your slideshow to capture your audience's attention. Choose from 54 different unique slides. It's built with the PowerPoint slide master tool so your presentation stays consistent.

10. Kids Presentation Template

The Kids Presentation Template features bright, cheerful designs and primary colors. This would be great for a primary school teacher or even a principal! There are more than 30 unique slides. Choose between 17 color schemes. And it works with three different aspect rations (16:9, 4:3, and A4). Plus it's easy to customize by adding your own images and text.

Learn Even More About Using PowerPoint

In this tutorial, you learned how to cite PowerPoint presentations using two popular style guides: APA format and MLA format. Whether you're a teacher or a student, citing your references properly is important for academic projects.

If you want to learn all about how to use PowerPoint, study one   of our  PowerPoint learning guides .  Here are some of our most popular PowerPoint tutorials to get you started:

If you'd like to explore more great premium PowerPoint templates to get a head start on your next presentation slideshow, this article features some great templates for inspiration:

For more details on how to use a PowerPoint presentation, study this tutorial:

Get This New eBook on Making Great Presentations ( Free Download )

We have just the right complement to an educational PowerPoint template, that'll help you learn the complete process of how to write, design, and deliver great presentations.

Download  The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations   now for FREE with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter. Get your ideas formed into a powerful presentation that will move your audience.

Use the Proper Style to Cite Presentations for Your Next Academic Project

Citing sources in PowerPoint for academic projects can be tricky. You just learned the right way to cite a PowerPoint in APA format or MLA format. We've also explored the benefits of using templates as a head start when you create your own presentation. Plus, you've seen some of our best education-themed templates from  Envato Elements  and GraphicRiver.

Good luck on your next academic project!

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How to Cite a Website, Book, YouTube Video, etc. in PowerPoint

• PowerPoint Tutorials
• Miscellaneous
• Presentation Design
• August 16, 2019

Citing a source in a report or paper is pretty easy – you just give the source details according to a particular style of citation.

But, when it comes to presentations and speeches, do you know how to correctly cite your sources?

It seems like quite a basic question at first, but when it comes to the practicalities and technicalities, the answers aren’t so easy to come by.

Sure, quotes may be simple enough to introduce, but what about all the other information, data, facts, figures, and images you use? Do you know how to present that information and give proper legal credit without disrupting the flow of your presentation?

No? Then read on!

Important Legal Note:  This is not legal advice. For full details on copyright laws and Fair Use licenses, please check the  US Copyright Office .

Table of Contents

Why citing your sources is important.

Your audience needs to know where the information, visuals, or any other materials you use in your presentation come from.

Very often our presentations and speeches are informed by or based on the work of others and this needs to be acknowledged. Likewise, audio, visual, or video is copyright protected.

Citing sources and creative owners can also help keep you on the right side of copyright law and fair use licenses….more on this below.

Make your work more credible

Citing gives your audience a good impression by proving how well you know your stuff. By attributing work to the rightful owners, you also show integrity.

A well-cited presentation appears well-researched and properly developed; and hence, it’s often better delivered, and better received.

Give the audience access to information

The whole point of a presentation or speech is to share knowledge. By citing your sources, you give your audience the opportunity to learn more about your subject and do their own research if they so wish.

Citations and Copyright

If you use someone else’s copyrighted material in your presentation without citing the creator – or if you cite them incorrectly – you may likely be guilty of copyright infringement.

Copyright infringement is only 100% avoided by getting the copyright owner’s explicit permission.

You can, however, use copyrighted material without permission if you can show that it doesn’t infringe on Fair Use.

To learn more about Fair Use, see this article  here  on the U.S. Copyright Office website.

This can be a rather gray area, as what is considered to be ‘fair use’ can be open to interpretation. Generally speaking, Fair Use takes into consideration the following:

• the purpose and character of the use
• the profit or nonprofit cause
• the nature of the protected work
• how much of the work is used
• how the use affects the value or future demand of the work

For example, if you use a copyrighted photograph just because it looks cool, use it as your background image on a PowerPoint slide, or repeatedly use it so that it becomes associated with your brand, then this is not Fair Use.

If you use the photograph to make a point, illustrate an idea, or for educational purposes, and also give proper accreditation to the copyright owner even if you don’t have permission, then that might be considered Fair Use and would probably be fine.

How to do in-text citations in PowerPoint

In-text citations are citations you see on the screen, and are often in the same format you’d see in a written report.

If your slide refers to a study, for example, you will need to add the copyright details. To do that, simply add the name of the author, the work and the publication in parentheses after the reference.

For example, in parenthesis: (Author, Date).

This is particularly useful when presenting quotes or insightful facts and figures that support your message.

Note: This type of citation sometimes doesn’t leave enough room for all the information you need to provide. In this case, you can add a Sources slide at the very end of your presentation

Adding footnote citations

You can also use footnotes on your PowerPoint slides to give citations.

Next to the text you would like to reference, add the number ‘ 1 ’ for your first citation. Highlight it, and then from the ‘Home’ option, open the Font box and select ‘ Subscript ’ and click on ‘ OK ’.

Then, click on ‘ Insert ,’ select a text box and then draw it onto your slide. Enter the same number as you used in the text, and type your source details. You will likely want to reduce the size of the text.

Note: When I talk about footnotes here, I don’t mean the Header & Footer feature in PowerPoint. You can write your citations inside the Footer placeholder, but keep in mind that the text you type in here will display on every slide that has the Footer enabled.

Verbal citation during a presentation

For some material, you may choose not to give an in-text citation, but rather give credit verbally. Be sure to introduce the source before you present the information and keep it brief so that it doesn’t slow down the flow of your presentation.

Here are some example phrases:

• According to Dr. Richards, professor of Such and Such at This University,…
• John Dean, author of the 2015 study, A Study of Something, argues that…
• Jane Gordons, a journalist writing for the New York Times, offers this example….

Use speaker notes to help you cite verbally

It is a good idea to add the full citation details in the speaker notes so that you make sure you relay the correct details.

Also it ensures that the full citations will be seen should you share your slides with audience or team members after the presentation, or print them.

How to cite a website

If you are wondering how to cite websites, that’s probably because not all websites provide the authors name for you to cite (making it a bit more difficult).

If you can’t find the website authors name you can instead cite the website’s address. And you don’t have to copy and paste the whole URL when citing websites either.

When citing a website, you just need to give enough information so that your audience knows where the information came from and how to get more details if they want to check it out.

Here are the common elements you’ll need to properly cite a website in your presentation:

• Website or author name
• Page name or article title
• Exact URL of website
• Page date of publication

See the cited website example in the picture below.

How to cite a picture or image

There are countless places for pictures that are available for free and public use according to Creative Commons licensing. You can search  Flickr  and  Google Advanced Image Search  by filtering the results by ‘Creative Commons’.

There are also sites providing stock images which are royalty free and can be used without attribution, such as  Pixabay  or  Pexels .

Always check the licensing agreements, as some images may have ‘some rights reserved’ or specific requirements for citations.

The common elements you’ll need when citing a picture are:

• Creator’s name
• Title of the picture
• Date and location of publication
• Publisher or website
• Picture URL

To create the citation in PowerPoint, you can insert a small text box and add the details in a readable way, as you can see in the example below.

To learn how to crop a picture in PowerPoint into different shapes as pictured above,  read our guide here .

How to cite a YouTube video

While YouTube is a free online streaming service, you shouldn’t assume that you can use anyone’s video without properly citing it.

Here are the common elements you’ll need to create a YouTube video citation:

• Creator’s name or screen name
• Video title
• Website name
• Publication date

Whichever citation method you use, should at a minimum credit the creator of the video (real name if possible, but their username will suffice), and the year the video was posted. For example: (Nuts & Bolts Speed Training, 2014).

In the notes for full referencing, you’ll need more details:

Author/Username. (month, day, year). Title of video (Video file). Retrieved from  http://URL.com .

Nuts & Bolts Speed Training. (June 25, 2014). 4 PowerPoint Tricks You Don’t Know (Video File). Retrieved from  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05OW0Ce8rT8 .

How to cite a book

Books are another common reference material you’ll want to properly cite in your presentations.

Here are the common elements you’ll need when citing a book (same-same for a magazine):

• Author name
• Publication date and location
• Publisher name

If you are paraphrasing from a book, include an in-text citation of the author and the year (Brown, 2005) or the author, year and the page number (Brown, 2005, p.13), immediately following the text.

Another option for your citation, is to include them in Speaker Notes so that if you print your notes as handouts, the speaker notes will appear there.

NOTE: For help printing your speaker notes, see our guide on Printing PowerPoint with speaker notes .

How to cite a lecture (talk or speech)

Like for books and quotes, the in-text citation will need the author’s last name and the year the speech or talk was presented, written in parenthesis: (Gordon, 2017).

In your PowerPoint notes, it should be fully cited with the name, year, title of the talk and the format, and where it took place. For example:

Gordon, B. (2017). The Theory Behind Big Business. Presentation, Atlanta.

How to cite a song

When it comes to using a song in your presentation, there are a many variables as to whether it’s an infringement of copyright laws. Unauthorized use of a song can be allowed under the concept of ‘fair use’ as detailed above.

If you are in any doubt, obtain the license or get permission. The process is relatively straightforward and doesn’t always mean a hefty fee. Sometimes, it’s as simple as asking and getting permission or making sure you acknowledge the copyright owner.

You can give acknowledgment on the PowerPoint Slide with in-text citation on the appropriate slide or as a ‘sources slide’ at the end of your presentation:

To get permission, here are three main licensing companies that you can contact for further info: 

• ASCAP ( American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers )
• BMI ( Broadcast Music Incorporated )
• SOCAN ( Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada )

How to cite a presentation

If you want to include a slide or information gained from another PowerPoint presentation that has been published, you can use an in-text citation just as if you were citing a book.

To cite a presentation, simply cite the author’s name and the year the presentation was produced, (Dean, 2007).

In the notes you’ll add the details of “PowerPoint slides”, when it was “Retrieved from” and the URL. It should look something like this:

How to cite a quote

In the same way as you would quote from a book, an in-text citation with the author of the quote is fine.

Some quotes from historical source won’t have a book, page number or publisher to cite. In these cases, the author name (and year if possible) is sufficient.

Note:  Make sure that you thoroughly check the quote’s source if you find the quote online.

There are far too many misquoted and misattributed sayings out there and there’s nothing more embarrassing than citing the wrong person in your presentation.

So that’s how to cite a variety of different sources in your PowerPoint presentations including:

• How to cite books
• How to cite websites
• How to cite YouTube videos
• And a bunch of other sources

While in-text citation may take a little more work, it is better than keeping all of your sources in the conclusion. That’s because the end of your presentation should be punchy, memorable, and leave your audience with a good impression (see our tips for how to end a presentation  here ).

This is particularly true as, your audience isn’t able to flip back to see which citation goes with which image, quote, video, website, etc. Giving them the details at the same time as the material allows them to take note of it there and then.

It’s a small detail but makes a huge difference when it comes to delivering a seamless and informative presentation.

If you enjoyed this ultimate guide to citing sources in PowerPoint, you’ll love our other PowerPoint training course and resources that you can  check out here .

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APA Citation Guide (7th Edition)

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• Formating a PowerPoint presentation in APA Style
• Academic Integrity & Plagiarism
• Academic Writer This link opens in a new window

How to format a PowerPoint presentation in APA Style:

The APA manual does not have a section on how to format a PowerPoint presentation, but y ou can follow APA style guidelines within your PowerPoint . For example:

• Include the same information on your title slide that you would have on a title page. 
• Include in-text citations for any quote, paraphrase, image, graph, table, data, audio or video file that you use within your presentation. Please note that photographs are considered figures in APA style. See section 7.30 of the APA manual for more information about this.
• The last slide will be your References List. 
• “No citation, permission, or copyright attribution is necessary for clip art from programs like Microsoft Word or PowerPoint” (American Psychological Association [APA], 2020, p. 346).
• Do not reproduce images without permission from the creator or owner of the image. See section 12.15 of the APA manual for more information about this.

How to cite PowerPoint slides in your References List

You will use the following format to cite PowerPoint slides:

Author, A. A. (year).  Title of presentation  [PowerPoint slides]. Website Name. https://xxxxx

Please note that “if the slides come from a classroom website, learning management system [e.g., Blackboard], or company intranet and you are writing for an audience with access to that resource, provide the name of the site and its URL (use the login page URL for sites requiring login)” (APA, 2020, p. 347). Don't forget to indent the second and subsequent lines.

Goodwin University. (n.d.).  Social media and marketing communications: Written/Oral project outline . [PowerPoint slides]. Blackboard. https://goodwin.blackboard.com

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APA Style, 7th Edition

• Sample Papers & How to Videos
• Reference Components
• Evaluating a Website
• Journal Articles
• Newspaper Articles
• Magazine Articles
• Reviews (Book, Film, Video)
• Films (DVD / Blu-Ray / Streaming)
• Online Videos (e.g. YouTube, TED)
• Films on Demand
• Television Episodes
• Music Recordings
• Webpages / Web Documents
• Entire Websites
• Entries in Online Encyclopedias
• Government Reports
• Online Maps
• Online Lecture Notes or PowerPoint Slides
• Press Releases
• Film or Video Review
• eBooks (Electronic Book)
• Book with and Editor
• Edition of Books Other than First Edition
• Chapter in an Edited Book
• Anthologies
• Entries in a Reference Book
• Entries in an Online Encyclopedia
• Foreign Language Books
• Illustrated Book
• Sacred Text
• The Generic Reference
• Personal Communication
• Class Materials
• Poster Sessions
• Theses & Dissertations
• Court Decision
• Executive Orders
• Charter of the United Nations
• In-Text Citations Components
• Parenthetical Citations
• Narrative Citations
• Combining Citations
• Annotated Bibliography
• Additional APA Resources

APA for PowerPoint Presentations

Using powerpoint for beginners.

The APA manual does not have a section on how to format a PowerPoint presentation, but y ou can follow APA style guidelines within your PowerPoint . For example:

• Include the same information on your title slide that you would have on a title page. 
• Include in-text citations for any quote, paraphrase, image, graph, table, data, audio or video file that you use within your presentation. Please note that photographs are considered figures in APA style. 
• The last slide will be your References List. 
• “No citation, permission, or copyright attribution is necessary for clip art from programs like Microsoft Word or PowerPoint” (American Psychological Association [APA], 2020, p. 346).
• Do not reproduce images without permission from the creator or owner of the image. See section 12.15 of the APA manual for more information about this.

Resource: Goodwin University Library. 2019. How to format a PowerPoint presentation in APA Style. Goodwin University.   https://goodwin.libguides.com/apastyle   

• Citing Business Sources in APA Style Brock University's guide to citing business information sources according the the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th edition. Includes citing sources in presentations

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