To cite a lecture in APA, first decide if it’s just something you heard in class (personal communication) or a recorded/posted lecture that others can access. The format changes slightly for each.

Basic APA rule for lectures

APA 7 says you only include a full reference entry if the lecture is recoverable (for example, slides or a video posted online). Personal, in‑class lectures are treated as personal communications and appear only in the text, not in the reference list.

1. In‑class lecture (not recorded)

In‑text only (personal communication)

Format:

  • Narrative:
    • Smith explained that memory is reconstructive (J. Smith, personal communication, October 10, 2025).
  • Parenthetical:
    • Memory is reconstructive (J. Smith, personal communication, October 10, 2025).

Key points:

  • Use initials and last name: J. Smith
  • Add the phrase personal communication
  • Give the exact date of the lecture
  • Do not include this in the reference list

2. Lecture slides or notes posted online (e.g., Canvas, Moodle)

If your professor uploads slides or notes that others in the course can access, you treat them like PowerPoint slides or lecture notes.

Reference list format

Common format:

Author Surname, Initials. (Year). Title of presentation: Subtitle if any [Format]. Site or platform name (if needed). URL Example (course platform):

Frank, B. (2015). Lecture 4: Psychophysiology [PowerPoint slides]. Ohio University, Basics of Psychophysiology. Canvas: https://canvas.ohio.edu Example (simple online slides):

Smith, J. A. (2019). Introduction to cognitive psychology [PowerPoint slides]. https://example.edu/psy101/slides

In‑text citation

  • Paraphrase: (Frank, 2015)
  • Narrative: Frank (2015) argued that …

If quoting a specific slide, you can add the slide number in the text, e.g., “on slide 10.”

3. Online or recorded lecture (video, streaming, etc.)

For a lecture video (e.g., recorded class, webinar, or talk posted on a website), you treat it similarly to a video or online lecture.

Reference list format

Author Surname, Initials. (Year). Title of lecture: Subtitle if any [Video]. Website or platform name. URL Example:

Cain, S. (2012). The power of introverts [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts Some guides drop “video” and simply use “[Video file]” or “[Online video],” but the key idea is to put the format in brackets and include the URL.

In‑text citation

  • Paraphrase: (Cain, 2012)
  • Narrative: Cain (2012) suggested that …

If you are quoting a specific moment, some instructors like you to add a timestamp in the text, e.g., “at 10:35,” though APA doesn’t strictly require it for references.

4. Conference or public lecture (live event, documented)

If it’s a talk at a conference or public event but not available as a recording, APA often treats it like a conference presentation in the reference list if it’s documented, or as personal communication if not readily accessible.

Example as a presented paper

Jang, S. (2019, August 8–11). Deconstructing the opposition of natural/arbitrary in Coleridge’s theory of language [Paper presentation]. NASSR 2019: Romantic Elements, Chicago, IL, United States.

In‑text: (Jang, 2019)

If the talk is not formally documented anywhere and can’t be accessed again, your instructor may prefer you treat it as personal communication, like the class lecture example.

5. Quick “recipe” for APA lecture citations

Use this as a shortcut:

  1. Ask: Can my reader find the lecture (slides, video, etc.)?
    • Yes → Make a full reference entry.
    • No → Treat as personal communication (in‑text only).
  1. If it’s personal communication :
    • In‑text: (Initial. Last name, personal communication, Month Day, Year)
  1. If it’s slides/notes online :
    • Author. (Year). Title [Format]. Site/platform. URL
  1. If it’s an online video lecture :
    • Author. (Year). Title [Video]. Platform. URL
  1. Follow your professor’s or journal’s tweaks if they give a specific template, since some departments have very strict house rules.

Example mini‑scenarios

  • You’re citing something your professor said in a face‑to‑face class, no recording:
    • Text: (L. Nguyen, personal communication, February 10, 2026)
    • No reference list entry.
  • You’re citing a PowerPoint posted in your LMS:
    • Reference:
      • Nguyen, L. (2026). Social cognition: Week 3 [PowerPoint slides]. Canvas: [https://canvas.university.edu3]
* In‑text: (Nguyen, 2026)
  • You’re citing a public YouTube lecture with the professor as the speaker:
    • Reference:
      • Nguyen, L. (2024). Social cognition in the digital age [Video]. YouTube. [https://youtube.com/xxxxx6]
* In‑text: (Nguyen, 2024)

TL;DR:

  • Only class notes or spoken lectures that no one else can access are cited in‑text as personal communications.
  • Anything posted (slides, notes, or videos) gets a full APA reference with author, year, italicized title, format in brackets, and a URL or site name.

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