I’m fascinated by novelty product ads that make me want to buy something I don’t need and car commercials that hit me right in the feels. Given my interest in these ads and my love of writing, it only makes sense that I would need to know how to cite an advertisement for my marketing case studies.

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The Different Ways To Cite an Advertisement in MLA

There are plenty of other reasons why you should know how to cite an advertisement in MLA, including:

• Academic analysis of the impact of advertising on consumer behavior
• Ethical discussions related to false advertising or intellectual property
• Critiques comparing advertising approaches

You can find ads that support your claims from a number of different sources, and the Modern Language Association has special formatting guidelines for each one. Some rules are the same for all types of ads:

• Always double-space and indent the second line
• Use three-letter abbreviations for months except for May, June, and July
• In-text citations always follow this format:
  • ([Company That Owns the Product])

👉BUY – MLA Handbook (Official)

The only exception for in-text formatting is for a YouTube video uploaded by a third party:

• Place the title or an abbreviated version in quotation marks and parentheses.

Print Advertisement

When citing an ad from a newspaper, magazine, or other printed publication, use the following format in MLA:

• [Company That Owns the Product] advertisement. [Name of Publication], [Date Mon. Year], p. [page number]

Here’s what an ad for my fictitious college bookstore would look like:

• University Bookstore advertisement. University Newspaper, 23 Aug. 2024, p. 2
• University Bookstore advertisement. University Literary Magazine, Aug. 2024, p. 18

Digital Advertisement

Citations for digital ads found on the internet follow this format:

• [Company That Owns the Product] advertisement. [Date Mon. Year of advertisement]. [Name of Website That Ran the Ad], [Date Mon. Year of webpage], url. Accessed [Date Mon. Year]

For example:

• University Bookstore advertisement. Aug. 2024. Education University, www.educationuniversity.edu/. Accessed 23 Aug. 2024

However, if the digital advert is on an Instagram post, you’d cite it like this:

• Account holder’s Last name, First name [@Username]. “Full text of post” or “Media Title.” Instagram, other contributors, photo or video publishing date [Date Mon. year], URL

For example:

• Boggs, Cynthia [@pandaparadisepals]. “Pandas Enjoying a Bamboo Picnic.” Instagram, video taken by BambooFan88, 15 Nov. 2024, www.instagram.com/78xyz9jk10pq5

Commercial From TV

The MLA format for citing a commercial from television is as follows:

• [Company That Owns the Product] advertisement. [Network], [Date Mon. Year, hour:minute a.m./p.m.]

For example:

• University Bookstore advertisement. University TV Live, 23 Aug. 2024, 11:51 a.m.

Commercial From YouTube

If you need to cite an ad from YouTube, use the first format if it’s run by a third party and the second if it’s run by the owner:

• “[Video Title].” YouTube, [uploaded by Name or username], [Date Mon. Year of upload], url.
• [Company That Owns the Product]. “[Video Title].” YouTube, [Date Mon. Year of upload], url.

For example:

• “University Back-To-School Book Sale.” YouTube, Jenny Bloggerston, 23 Aug. 2024, www.universityhappenings.com/blog/.
• University Bookstore advertisement. “University Back-To-School Book Sale.” YouTube, 23 Aug. 2024, www.educationuniversity.edu/bookstore/

Citing Advertisements in MLA Is Easy

Do you know any MLA citation formats for advertisements that are not listed here? Let us know in the comments! And if you’re looking to improve your content, check out our writing blogs, which are full of expert tips and practical advice to help you write more effectively and confidently.

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Cara Secrist

Cara Linda Secrist is a dedicated Managing Editor with over 15 years of experience in the SEO content industry. Cara’s passion for language and writing was nurtured by her English professor father from a young age, leading her to earn a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature.

Cara developed her writing and editing expertise by working as a teaching assistant at the college Writing Lab and assisting English as a Second Language students to improve their language skills.

Beyond her professional achievements, Cara loves reading, traveling, and directing and acting in local theatrical productions.

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