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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.

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
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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.”

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.

Caulfield, J. (2024, March 05). How to Cite a PowerPoint in MLA | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 3, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/mla/powerpoint/

Is this article helpful?

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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.

APA Citation Guide (7th edition) : Powerpoint Presentations

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On this Page

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 an apa reference list.

Your research paper ends with a list of all the sources cited in the text of the paper. Here are nine quick rules for this Reference list.

• Start a new page for your Reference list. Centre the title, References, at the top of the page.
• Double-space the list.
• Start the first line of each reference at the left margin; indent each subsequent line five spaces (a hanging indent).
• Put your list in alphabetical order. Alphabetize the list by the first word in the reference. 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 (and middle, if listed) initials followed by periods.
• Italicize the titles of these works: books, audiovisual material, internet documents and newspapers, and the title and volume number of journals and magazines.
• Do not italicize titles of most 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.
• In titles of non-periodicals (books, videotapes, websites, reports, poems, essays, chapters, etc), capitalize only the first letter of the first word of a title and subtitle, and all proper nouns (names of people, places, organizations, nationalities).
• If a web source (not from the library) is not a stable archived version, or you are unsure whether it is stable, include a statement of the accessed date before the link.

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.

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 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!

How to Cite a Website in a PowerPoint: A Step-by-Step Guide

Citing a website in a PowerPoint is a simple yet important task. It involves noting the source of the information you use in your presentation, ensuring you give credit where credit is due. After reading this brief explanation, you should be able to accomplish this task easily.

Step by Step Tutorial on How to Cite a Website in a PowerPoint

When you borrow information from a website for your PowerPoint presentation, it’s only fair to give credit to the author or organization responsible for the content. Citing a website also adds credibility to your presentation and allows your audience to refer to the original sources if they wish. Let’s break down the steps to do this properly.

Step 1: Identify the necessary information from the website

Gather the author’s name, the title of the page, the website name, the date it was published, and the URL.

When citing a website, it’s crucial to gather as much information as possible. Sometimes, finding the author’s name can be tricky—if it’s not listed, you can use the organization’s name instead. The publication date might also be difficult to locate; if it’s not available, use the date you accessed the website.

Step 2: Choose the citation style

Decide whether you’re using APA, MLA, or another citation style for your PowerPoint presentation.

Different institutions and disciplines prefer different citation styles. The APA style is commonly used in the social sciences, while MLA is often used in humanities. Your teacher or institution will usually tell you which style to use.

Step 3: Format the citation

Create the citation using the information collected and the rules of the chosen citation style.

Each citation style has specific rules about what information to include and how to format it. For instance, MLA format usually includes the author’s name, the title of the page, the name of the website, the publication date, and the URL.

Step 4: Add the citation to your PowerPoint slide

Include the formatted citation on the relevant slide, either at the bottom or in the "Notes" section.

You don’t want the citation to distract from the main content of your slide, so keep it small and out of the way. You can also compile all your citations on a separate "References" or "Works Cited" slide at the end of your presentation.

Step 5: Ensure consistency

Make sure that all the citations in your PowerPoint follow the same format and style.

Consistency is key in any academic work. If you’ve chosen MLA, all your citations should follow MLA guidelines. This consistency helps maintain a professional and credible appearance for your presentation.

After completing these steps, your PowerPoint presentation will have properly cited website sources, giving it a polished and trustworthy feel.

Tips for Citing a Website in a PowerPoint

• Always double-check the authorship of the website before citing it. If unsure, use the organization’s name.
• Keep the audience in mind; ensure the font size of the citations is readable, but not so large that it distracts from the main content.
• If you’re citing a lot of sources, consider creating a separate "References" slide at the end of your presentation to keep things tidy.
• Use citation generators to help format your citations correctly—they’re available online and can save you time.
• Keep a master list of all the sources you plan to use in your presentation. This makes it easier to compile your references slide and ensures you don’t miss any citations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if there is no author listed on the website.

If there is no author, use the name of the organization responsible for the website or the title of the web page in place of the author’s name.

Do I need to include the date I accessed the website?

In most citation styles, including the access date is not mandatory. However, if the website content is likely to change over time, including the date you accessed the information can be helpful.

Can I just put the URL on the slide instead of a full citation?

Just putting the URL is not a full citation and doesn’t provide enough information about the source. Always include a properly formatted citation.

Should I include a citation for images and videos from websites as well?

Yes, any content taken from a website, including images and videos, should be cited in your PowerPoint.

Can I use footnotes in PowerPoint for citations?

PowerPoint doesn’t have a footnote feature like Word, but you can include citations at the bottom of your slide in a smaller font or use the "Notes" section.

• Identify the necessary information from the website.
• Choose the citation style.
• Format the citation.
• Add the citation to your PowerPoint slide.
• Ensure consistency.

Citing a website in a PowerPoint presentation is more than a formality; it’s a gesture of academic honesty and integrity. It demonstrates respect for the original creator’s work and helps maintain your credibility as a presenter. Remember, whether you’re a student, a teacher, or a professional, properly citing your sources is essential in sharing knowledge responsibly. So next time you’re preparing a presentation, take a moment to ensure that every piece of information borrowed from a website is duly credited. It’s a small step that makes a significant impact on your audience and reinforces the value of ethical information sharing. Happy presenting!

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.

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APA Formatting and Style (7th ed.)

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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.
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Answered By: Paul Lai Last Updated: Sep 15, 2023     Views: 1279228

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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How to Cite a Website in a PowerPoint

Citing sources in any academic work is crucial in conveying credibility and the depth of research that has gone into the project. When creating PowerPoint presentations, accuracy in citing sources is equally important. Websites, in particular, are sources of valuable information that one is likely to use while creating a PowerPoint presentation. Therefore, it is essential to know how to cite a website in a PowerPoint presentation correctly. This article provides an in-depth guide on how to do just that.

Table of Contents

The Importance of Properly Citing Your Sources

Before delving into the specifics of citing websites in PowerPoint presentations, it is crucial to highlight the importance of citing sources. Every academic work, including PowerPoint presentations, should provide credit to the sources that the author has used to create it. Proper citations help to avoid plagiarism, demonstrate respect for other people’s work and can enhance the work’s credibility. Citing your sources sets a standard for ethical behavior in research and writing that makes the work more trustworthy and credible.

Understanding the Different Citation Styles

There are various citation styles that one can use when creating a PowerPoint presentation. These styles typically vary according to the academic discipline and preference of the instructor or author. Some of the most common citation styles include MLA (Modern Language Association), APA (American Psychological Association), and Chicago/Turabian citation style. Each style has its unique rules, formats, and guidelines. Thus it is crucial to have an understanding of the citation style requirements of the paper being written so that the citation is accurate.

One of the most significant differences between citation styles is the way in which they handle in-text citations. For example, APA style requires the author’s last name and the year of publication to be included in the citation, while MLA style requires only the author’s last name. Additionally, some citation styles require the use of footnotes or endnotes, while others do not.

It is also important to note that citation styles can change over time. For example, the APA style was updated in 2019 to include new guidelines for citing electronic sources. Therefore, it is essential to stay up-to-date with the latest citation style requirements to ensure that your citations are accurate and consistent.

Step-by-Step Guide to Citing a Website in a PowerPoint

The following are steps that one can follow when citing a website in a PowerPoint presentation. These steps apply to all citation styles:

• Begin with the author(s) name: List the name(s) of the author(s) of the website or the web page. In some cases, sources such as blogs or online forums may not have clearly-defined authors. In such instances, use the name of the organization or the title of the web-page.
• Include the Title of the website: List the title of the website and include it in italics.
• Specify the publication/Last Updated date: Include the date when the website was last updated or when the information was published.
• Provide the Website URL: Provide the URL address for the website.
• Optional: Add descriptive information: Depending on the citation style, you may need to provide additional descriptive information like the accessed date of the website and the pages used within the website.

It is important to note that when citing a website in a PowerPoint presentation, you should always double-check the accuracy of the information provided. Websites can be updated frequently, and the information you are citing may no longer be accurate or relevant.

Additionally, it is recommended that you use a citation management tool to help you keep track of your sources and ensure that your citations are formatted correctly. Some popular citation management tools include Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote.

Tips for Finding Accurate and Reliable Sources

When citing websites in your PowerPoint presentations, finding accurate and reliable sources is very important. The following tips can offer guidance:

• Use trustworthy websites: Websites from academic institutions, government websites, or sites recommended by professors are more credible than personal blogs.
• Look for current sources: The most current and up-to-date research and information is usually the most reliable.
• Consider the publisher: Check the publisher to understand their reputation and the content produced on the website.
• Don’t rely on one source: Use at least two to three sources to back up your argument and to provide accurate data.

Another important factor to consider when finding accurate and reliable sources is the author of the content. It is important to research the author’s credentials and expertise in the subject matter to ensure that the information provided is trustworthy.

Additionally, it is important to be aware of any potential biases in the sources you are using. Some websites may have a specific agenda or bias, which can affect the accuracy and reliability of the information provided. It is important to consider multiple perspectives and sources to ensure a well-rounded and unbiased presentation of information.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Citing Websites in PowerPoint Presentations

Mistakes in citing sources could lead to plagiarism and lower academic grades. Here are common mistakes to avoid when citing websites in PowerPoint presentations:

• Failure to identify authors.
• Forgetting to include the website URL.
• Failure to specify the date of publication or last updating
• Incorrect citation style: Not following the correct citation style rules can lead to an inaccurate citation and affect the presentation’s overall credibility.

It is also important to ensure that the information cited from the website is accurate and reliable. Websites that are not credible or have biased information can negatively impact the credibility of the presentation. It is recommended to use reputable sources and fact-check the information before including it in the presentation.

Best Practices for Creating Effective Citations in PowerPoint

The following best practices can help ensure that the citation is accurate:

• Read the specific citation guidelines and requirements for the paper or course.
• Ensure the citation style is correct.
• Check for errors in the citation thoroughly.
• Use a citation generator tool when possible to ensure accuracy.

It is also important to include all necessary information in the citation, such as the author’s name, publication date, and title of the source. Additionally, make sure to properly format the citation according to the chosen citation style, including any necessary punctuation and capitalization. By following these best practices, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and properly formatted, which can help you avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original sources of your information.

How to Format In-Text Citations in Your PowerPoint Slides

In-text citations are used to back up a statement in the PowerPoint presentation. Depending on the citation style, in-text citations typically include the author’s last name and the year of publication. In MLA citation style, an in-text citation usually includes the author’s last name and the page number that the citation refers to.

It is important to note that in-text citations should be used sparingly in PowerPoint slides. Too many citations can clutter the slide and distract from the main message. It is best to only include citations for information that is not common knowledge or for direct quotes. Additionally, it is important to make sure that the in-text citations are formatted consistently throughout the presentation to maintain a professional and polished look.

Using Tools and Apps to Make Citing Websites in PowerPoint Easier

Various tools and apps can make the citation process much easier. A free citation generator tool like BibMe, EasyBib, or Citation Machine can help with citation formatting and citations. Microsoft Word also has a built-in citation generator tool to help format citations.

Another useful tool for citing websites in PowerPoint is the browser extension called Zotero. This tool allows you to save and organize your sources, and it can automatically generate citations in various formats, including APA, MLA, and Chicago style.

It’s important to note that while these tools can make the citation process easier, it’s still important to double-check the accuracy of your citations. Make sure to verify the information you’re citing, such as the author, publication date, and URL, to ensure that your sources are reliable and credible.

Resources and References for Further Learning on Proper Citation Techniques

Proper Citation Techniques are crucial to ensuring that presentations or academic work are correct and respected. Editors such as BookMyEditor can also offer guidance on the citation process, editing, and proofreading.

Other resources and reference guides to study or refer to for in-depth information on citation techniques include:

• The Purdue Online Writing Lab
• Cite This For Me

In Conclusion

While the citation process may, at times, feel burdensome, it is essential to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and overall credibility of all scholarly works, including PowerPoint presentations. By following the outlined steps and guidelines, creating citations for websites in PowerPoint presentations will become easier. Furthermore, following best practices and avoiding common mistakes will contribute to accurate and credible citations.

It is important to note that proper citation not only ensures the credibility of your work, but also gives credit to the original sources and authors. Failing to cite sources can result in accusations of plagiarism, which can have serious consequences. Therefore, taking the time to properly cite sources is a crucial aspect of academic and professional writing.

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Harvard Referencing Guide: PowerPoint Presentations

• Introduction to the Guide
• The Harvard Referencing Method
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• Referencing Example
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• Reference List / Bibliography
• Introduction
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• PowerPoint Presentation

Audiovisual Media - Powerpoint Presentation

PowerPoint Pr esentation

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

Audiovisual Material

Film / movie

TV programme

PowerPoint presentation

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Harvard Referencing Guide: A - Z

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How to Cite Sources in a PowerPoint: A Comprehensive Guide

For students, researchers, professionals and all the users, citing PowerPoint presentations is critical. It exhibits and shows academic honesty and acknowledges the original sources of the information you use. This article includes simple guidelines for appropriately citing PowerPoint presentations in different styles such as APA, MLA, and Chicago. It also offers a hint on how to modify and update presentation citations.

Part 1: What Is In-Text Citation? (APA, MLA, Chicago Style)

Before going into how to cite sources in powerpoint, first we should know what it is citing all about.

Basics of In-Text Citation

Nowadays, people can now obtain information and data they need from a variety of sources. In-text citations are references to sources within the body of a document that are often used in academic or scholarly writing.

The three major and most used citation styles are APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), and Chicago. Each style has its own framework for citing sources. So it is critical to be familiar with the style that is required for your specific assignment or publication.

Here are some examples of in-text citations in each of the three major citation styles:

APA Style: APA style is the most commonly used citation style in the social sciences

MLA style is the most commonly used citation style in the humanities.

Chicago style:

Chicago style is the most commonly used citation style in history, literature, and the fine arts.

Importance of In-Text Citation

What are the benefits of citing and why is in-text citation important? In-text citation is important for several reasons:

Academic Integrity

Citation showing the principles of academic honesty and intellectual integrity by giving credit to the original authors or creators.

Credibility

It shows that your own work is credible by proving that it has been thoroughly researched and is supported by credible sources. They demonstrate how well-researched sources back up your claims and arguments.

Avoiding Plagiarism

In-text citations help in avoiding plagiarism, which is the unethical act of using someone else's work without acknowledgment.

Verifiability

In-text citations enable readers to trace back to the original sources, making it easier for them to verify the information you've presented. This will also increase the credibility of your work.

Part 2: How to Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA, MLA, or Chicago

Citing a PowerPoint presentation in academic or professional work is crucial to acknowledge the source of information. Follow these steps to ensure you do it correctly, and consider using reference management tools like EasyBib for assistance.

Step 1: Determine the Citation Style

Identify the citation style you need to use, whether it's APA, MLA, or Chicago. This choice will dictate how you format your citations.

Step 2: Gather general Presentation or sources information

Collect all the essential information about the PowerPoint presentation. The author's name, title of the presentation, date it was created, and the URL (if applicable).

Step 3: Cite in APA Style

For APA style, format your citation like this:

Author's Last Name, First Initial. (Year, Month Day). Title of Presentation [PowerPoint slides]. Name of Website. URL

Step 4: Cite in MLA Style

For MLA style, format your citation like this:

Author last name, first name. "Title of Presentation." Department Name, University Name, Location, Month Day, Year. Web.

Step 5: Cite in Chicago Style

For Chicago style, format your citation like this:

Author last name, first name. "Title of Presentation." Lecture, Department Name, University Name, Location, Month Day, Year.

How to Edit and Update Citations

Always remember to keep track of any changes to your sources so that you can update or edit the citations in your presentation. Make sure you update the citations in line with any changes you make to the content. With just a few clicks, reference management tools enable you to update your citations, which can help automate this process.

Why Choose WPS Office

WPS Office is an essential software tool for creating and checking PowerPoint presentations. WPS supports opening PowerPoint documents and offers a range of features and benefits for creating and editing presentations. Here are some of the features and benefits of using WPS Office Presentation:

Free download and free to use Word, Excel, and PPT: WPS Office is completely free to use, with no hidden fees or subscriptions.

● Powerful PDF toolkit: WPS Office includes a powerful PDF toolkit that allows users to create, edit, and convert PDF files.

● Rich template store: WPS Office has a rich template store with over 10,000 templates to choose from, including a variety of scheduling templates.

● Rich functions : WPS Office offers a wide range of features and functions, including the ability to collaborate with others online and to create and edit documents on the go.

● Light weight: WPS Office is a lightweight application that takes up very little space on your computer.

● Support online documents : WPS Office allows users to save and access documents online, making it easy to collaborate with others and to access your files from anywhere.

● Safe and stable: WPS Office is a safe and stable application that has been used by millions of people around the world.

Steps to edit Powerpoint in WPS:

Step 1: Download and install WPS Office

Step 2: Open WPS Presentation (PowerPoint)

To edit a PowerPoint presentation: use the toolbar to add slides, text, images, and other objects.

Step 4:  Save Your Changes:

After making edits, click on "File" -> Choose "Save" to overwrite the existing file or "Save As" to create a new version.

Step 5: Close the Document:

When you're done editing, click on the "X" button in the top-right corner to close the document

Save your change

Step 6: Exit WPS Office:  

Click on "File." -> Select "Exit" to close the application.

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Q1: How do you write a reference list in PPT?

To create a reference list in PowerPoint:

a. Choose a citation style (e.g., APA, MLA).

b. Collect source information.

c. Create a new slide for your reference list.

d. Format it according to the chosen style.

e. List your sources with full details.

f. Ensure in-text citations match your reference list.

Q2: How do you in text cite a website in PowerPoint?

In-text citations for websites in a PowerPoint presentation:

a. Include the author's last name and publication date, e.g., (Smith, 2022).

b. If no author, use the title or organization name, e.g., ("Website Title," 2022).

c. If no publication date, use "n.d."

d. Add page numbers if quoting directly.

Q3: How do you format citations for books in PowerPoint?

To format citations for books in PowerPoint, follow these guidelines:

In-text citation: Include the author's last name and the publication year in parentheses, e.g., (Smith, 2022).

Reference list: List the book's citation details, including the author(s), book title in italics, publication date in parentheses, publisher, and page numbers (if applicable). Follow the specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA) for formatting details.

Q4: Can you use footnotes for citations in a PowerPoint presentation?

Yes, you can use footnotes for citations in a PowerPoint presentation. To do so:

Insert a footnote on the slide where you want to provide additional citation information.

Include the full citation details in the footnote, including the author, publication date, title, and any other relevant information.

Make sure to format the footnote according to the chosen citation style.

Q5: How can you avoid plagiarism in a PowerPoint presentation?

To avoid plagiarism in a PowerPoint presentation:

Properly cite all sources you use, including text, images, and data.

Use quotation marks for direct quotes and provide in-text citations.

Paraphrase information from sources while still citing them.

Create a thorough reference list at the end of your presentation.

Follow your institution's or publication's guidelines for proper citation.

This comprehensive guide covers citing sources in PowerPoint presentations, emphasizing the importance of proper citations and the use of in-text citations in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles. In-text citations are crucial for maintaining academic integrity, credibility, and avoiding plagiarism.

To cite a PowerPoint presentation correctly, select the appropriate citation style (APA, MLA, or Chicago), gather essential information like author, title, date, and URL, and apply the specific citation format. It's essential to update citations when source details change, and reference management tools can facilitate this process. WPS Office , a useful tool for creating and editing presentations, offers a range of features, including a powerful PDF toolkit, templates, collaboration options, and safety and stability.

• 1. How to Cite a PowerPoint in APA [A Complete Guide]
• 2. How to Cite in a PowerPoint (APA, MLA, Chicago Style) The Ultimate Guide
• 3. How to Cite a PowerPoint in MLA Style The Beginner’s Guide
• 4. How to Cite a PDF in MLA without an Author: A Comprehensive Guide
• 5. Do You Know How to Cite a PDF in APA 7th Edition?
• 6. How to Cite Sources in a PowerPoint_ A Comprehensive Guide

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APA 7th Edition Citation Examples

• Volume and Issue Numbers
• Page Numbers
• Undated Sources
• Citing a Source Within a Source
• In-Text Citations
• Academic Journals
• Encyclopedia Articles
• Book, Film, and Product Reviews
• Online Classroom Materials
• Conference Papers
• Technical + Research Reports
• Court Decisions
• Treaties and Other International Agreements
• Federal Regulations: I. The Code of Federal Regulations
• Federal Regulations: II. The Federal Register
• Executive Orders
• Charter of the United Nations
• Federal Statutes
• Dissertations and Theses
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How to format your powerpoint in apa style.

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Author last name, first initial. (Date). Title of the PowerPoint  [PowerPoint slides]. Host site. URL

Thomes, C. (n.d.). UMGC Library APA citation basics [PowerPoint slides]. University of Maryland Global Campus. https://libguides.umgc.edu/ld.php?content_id=68264148

In-text citation:

(Thomes, n.d.)

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How to Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in APA 7?

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💡 Before we show you how to cite a PowerPoint in APA, we would like to tell you that all examples and explanations are about APA 7th edition .

In your PowerPoint presentation, you’re going to use a combination of texts and images to present information. You’ll need to cite the sources for these documents and media so your audience knows where to find out more about the topic.

This way, you will both adhere to the rules of using copyrighted information and show that your knowledge on the topic is well researched and you have spent time finding the resources.

What we will discuss in this article is the APA standard and how to make a proper PowerPoint citation in APA standard. Let’s dig deep.

Article Overview: 1. What is Apa? 2. Why do people use APA as a standard? 3. How to cite a PowerPoint presentation in APA? 4. How to Cite a Picture in PowerPoint?

1. What is APA?

APA is one of the most popular and widely used styles for writing research papers. This style of writing citations and citing sources is used in most social sciences – mainly psychology, sociology, and education. The acronym comes from A merican P sychological A ssociation. You can check APA’s website for more information .

2. Why do people use APA as a standard?

Before we tell you how to cite a PowerPoint presentation in APA style, we need to clarify the main reason why people use this style. As the most common standard, it is widely accepted around the world, and the manuals have been sold millions of times.

What makes the APA citation style so popular among educational institutions is that it gives “weight” to the documents that are being examined. Adding the sources and using the right way to present the sources could greatly influence the credibility of any thesis or PowerPoint presentation.

3. How to cite a PowerPoint presentation in APA?

There aren’t one or two ways to cite a Powerpoint presentation in APA. Why? Because there are different conditions that can affect the accessibility of the original source. Let’s see some of the most common occasions in citing PowerPoint presentations in APA style.

3.1. Citing a PowerPoint in APA – Accessible Documents

This is probably the best-case scenario for citations, as your readers will have access to the information, thus they can easily find the original source. Bear in mind you should not include PowerPoint presentations in the reference list if your audience cannot access them.

3.1.1. Citing in PowerPoint from public sites

When you have the source and it is an available webpage, you will have to link directly to the original source.

N.B.  You should always  cite the original source. If you have found a piece of statistics somewhere – let’s say a WeForum article , it is not the original source, thus you cannot refer to information that has not been published by the author.

3.1.2. Citing PowerPoints on password-protected portals

When it comes to citing from a university or other password-protected website, you should refer to the login page, as a direct link will lead to it. Let’s see an example I’ve made up myself.

N.B.  Sometimes, there is no author mentioned. In such cases, we proceed in two ways:

• If there is no author, but an organization that is behind the source:

What we have done is we have replaced the author’s name with the name of the organization that has published the report.

• If there is an unknown author.

In case there’s an unknown author, we replace their name with the title.

3.2. Citing a PowerPoint in APA – Inaccessible Documents

In case your PowerPoint slide is inaccessible to readers, then you have the option to cite the source as personal communication. Let’s see how this happens.

During the presentation, Peterson made a prediction that low-fare airlines will become dominant by 2030 (personal communication, June 3, 2022).

You can add personal communication citations in parentheses somewhere in the text but not in the reference list, as the original source cannot be directly tracked.

3.3. Citing a PowerPoint Slide

Sometimes, a slide during a presentation makes a great impression and you want to add it to your sources. When this happens, it’s better to cite the original source, rather than the PowerPoint slide itself, because of the requirements we discussed in 3.1.1.

4. How to Cite a Picture in PowerPoint?

If you want to learn how to cite a picture in PowerPoint in APA format, then you should apply some different techniques. What you need to do first is to have a very detailed look at the terms and conditions of the original image. Some images require attribution while others don’t.

Once you insert the image, you need to then create a new text box, align it at the center and write the following:

Figure 1. Image Description. Adapted from SOURCE . Retrieved from  SOURCE LINK.  Copyright by  COMPANY NAME COPYRIGHTS  (located at the bottom).

Let’s see how it’s done in practice.

Figure 1. Carbon Footprint and Renewable Energy. Adapted from GraphicMama. Retrieved from https://graphicmama.com/design-bundle/infographic-template-collection#flat-tree-vector-ecology-infographic-template. Copyright by © 2022 GraphicMama.com

Learning how to cite a PowerPoint presentation correctly is crucial if you are submitting your thesis or working on a serious project. The APA style has specific rules that should be followed for your presentations or paper dissertations to look formatted and credible.

If you found our content useful, why don’t you check some of our other tutorials related to PowerPoint and presentations in general:

• 10 Practical Tips to Grab Attention and Make an Impact in Your PowerPoint Presentation
• How to Add Audio to PowerPoint: The Quick Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Get Started with PowerPoint + Guide and Resources

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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 67,934 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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How to Cite PowerPoint Presentations in APA Style

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Sofia Green See full bio →

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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Clip Art or Stock Image References

There are special requirements for using clip art and stock images in APA Style papers.

Common sources for stock images and clip art are iStock, Getty Images, Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, Pixabay, and Flickr. Common sources for clip art are Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint.

The license associated with the clip art or stock image determines how it should be credited.

• Sometimes the license indicates no reference or attribution is needed, in which case writers can reproduce the image without any reference, citation, or attribution in an APA Style paper.
• Other times, the license indicates that credit is required to reproduce the image, in which case writers should write an APA Style copyright attribution and reference list entry.

Follow the terms of the license associated with the image you want to reproduce. The guidelines apply regardless of whether the image costs money to purchase or is available for free. The guidelines also apply to both students and professionals and to both papers and PowerPoint presentations.

Although for most images you must look at the license on a case-by-case basis, images and clip art from programs such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint can be used without attribution. By purchasing the program, you have purchased a license to use the clip art and images that come with the program without attribution.

This page contains examples for clip art or stock images, including the following:

• Image with no attribution required
• Image that requires an attribution

1. Image with no attribution required

If the license associated with clip art or a stock image states “no attribution required,” then do not provide an APA Style reference, in-text citation, or copyright attribution.

For example, this image of a cat comes from Pixabay and has a license that says the image is free to reproduce with no attribution required. To use the image as a figure in an APA Style paper, provide a figure number and title and then the image. If desired, describe the image in a figure note. In a presentation (such as a PowerPoint presentation), the figure number, title, and note are optional.

Figure 1 A Striped Cat Sits With Paws Crossed

Note. Participants assigned to the cute pets condition saw this image of a cat.

2. Image that requires an attribution

If the license associated with clip art or a stock image says that attribution is required, then provide a copyright attribution in the figure note and a reference list entry for the image in the reference list. Many (but not all) images with Creative Commons licenses require attribution.

For example, this image of a sled dog comes from Flickr and has a Creative Commons license (specifically, CC BY 2.0). The license states that the image is free to use but attribution is required.

To use the image as a figure in an APA Style paper, provide a figure number and title and then the image. Below the image, provide a copyright attribution in the figure note. In a presentation, the figure number and title are optional but the note containing the copyright attribution is required.

The copyright attribution is used instead of an in-text citation. The copyright attribution consists of the same elements as the reference list entry, but in a different order (title, author, date, site name, URL), followed by the name of the Creative Commons License.

Figure 1 Lava the Sled Dog

Note . From Lava [Photograph], by Denali National Park and Preserve, 2013, Flickr

( https://www.flickr.com/photos/denalinps/8639280606/ ). CC BY 2.0.

Also provide a reference list entry for the image. The reference list entry for the image consists of its author, year of publication, title, description in brackets, and source (usually the name of the website and the URL).

Denali National Park and Preserve. (2013). Lava [Photograph]. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/denalinps/8639280606/

To cite clip art or a stock image without reproducing it, provide an in-text citation for the image instead of a copyright attribution. Also provide a reference list entry.

• Parenthetical citation : (Denali National Park and Preserve, 2013)
• Narrative citation : Denali National Park and Preserve (2013)

Clip art or stock images are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Sections 12.14 to 12.18 and the Concise Guide Section 10.12

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