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The Ultimate 2025 Guide: 4 Major Styles For Citing X (Formerly Twitter) Posts And Threads

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Citing X (formerly Twitter) in academic papers and professional reports has become a critical skill for modern researchers, especially as the platform’s content is increasingly treated as a primary source. As of December 22, 2025, the official name change from "Twitter" to "X" and "tweet" to "post" has necessitated crucial updates across all major citation style guides, including APA, MLA, Chicago, and Bluebook, to maintain academic integrity and source credibility. This comprehensive, up-to-date guide provides the exact formats you need to correctly reference everything from a single X post to a lengthy thread, ensuring your digital scholarship meets the highest standards of academic rigor.

The challenge lies in the ephemeral nature of social media, which is why proper archival integrity and perma-linking are now essential components of a robust social media citation. Failing to adhere to the latest guidelines can lead to errors in your bibliography, compromising the perceived reliability of your research. This guide breaks down the most current rules to ensure your citations are flawless.

The Essential Elements of an X (Formerly Twitter) Citation

Regardless of the citation style—be it the Author-Date system favored by the American Psychological Association (APA) or the Notes-Bibliography system of the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS)—all citations of X content must contain several key entities to be considered complete and verifiable:

  • Author Name: The individual or organization responsible for the content.
  • Screen Name / Handle: The unique identifier (e.g., @elonmusk), which is crucial for locating the original source.
  • Date and Time: The specific date the post was published (and sometimes the time), establishing the chronological context.
  • Content Description: The text of the post itself, often truncated to the first 20 words or 160 characters.
  • Format/Type: A designation like "[Post]," "[Thread]," or "[Image attached]" to clarify the content type.
  • Platform Name: Officially "X" (no longer "Twitter" in current editions).
  • Direct URL: The permanent link to the specific post.

The transition from "Twitter" to "X" is the most significant recent change; even posts published before the rebrand should generally use "X" as the platform name in your reference list, though the content description might still use the word "Tweet" if it was part of the original source text.

APA 7th Edition: Citing X Posts and Media

The APA 7th Edition, widely used in social sciences and digital humanities, treats X posts as a form of online media. The focus is on the author, the date, the first 20 words of the content, and a clear description of the format.

Reference List Entry (Single Post)

The APA format is structured as follows: Author, A. A. [@ScreenName]. (Year, Month Day). First 20 words of the post text... [Type of post]. X. URL

  • Example: Musk, E. [@elonmusk]. (2025, January 15). Excited to announce a major new feature rolling out next week that will fundamentally change the way people interact with digital content... [Post]. X. https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1746850000000000000

Citing Posts with Attached Media

If the post includes an image, video, poll, or a thumbnail link, you must specify this in square brackets after the content description to maintain archival integrity.

  • Format: Author, A. A. [@ScreenName]. (Year, Month Day). Post text... [Image attached] or [Video attached]. X. URL
  • Example: NASA [@NASA]. (2025, February 28). The latest image from the James Webb Space Telescope reveals a stunning new star formation... [Image attached]. X. https://x.com/NASA/status/1763000000000000000

Citing an Entire X Profile

To cite the profile itself (e.g., for general information about the user's activity or biography), use "n.d." (no date) for the publication year and a retrieval date.

  • Format: Author, A. A. [@ScreenName]. (n.d.). Posts [X profile]. X. Retrieved Month Day, Year, from URL

MLA 9th Edition: Citing X Posts and Threads

The MLA 9th Edition, prevalent in the humanities and literature, emphasizes the author, the title (which is the post text), the container (X), and the access date. The MLA format is often the most straightforward for social media research.

Works Cited Entry (Single Post)

The MLA structure is: Author’s Last Name, First Name [@ScreenName]. “Full Text of Post (up to the first 20 words).” X, Day Month Year, URL.

  • Example: Smith, Jane [@JaneSmithWriter]. “Just finished the final edits on my new novel! The process of academic publishing is exhausting but rewarding. Look for the release next month.” X, 10 Mar. 2025, https://x.com/JaneSmithWriter/status/1766800000000000000.

Citing an X Thread or Conversation

When citing a long thread, the MLA Handbook advises listing the author and, optionally, any participants in the thread if they are central to the conversation you are referencing.

  • Format: Author’s Last Name, First Name [@ScreenName]. “First Post of the Thread...” X, Day Month Year, URL.
  • In-Text: The discussion on digital ethics began with a post by Smith (@JaneSmithWriter).

It is important to remember that the MLA style uses the platform name "X" as the "Title of Container" element.

Chicago 17th Edition: Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) offers two systems: Notes-Bibliography (for humanities) and Author-Date (for social sciences). CMOS often suggests that a formal citation is unnecessary for a post, recommending a simple in-text mention unless the source is critical to the argument or is a lengthy, formal piece of social media research.

Notes-Bibliography (Footnote/Endnote)

The footnote is the primary method for referencing X content in this style.

  • Format: 1. First Name Last Name (@ScreenName), “Full text of post up to 160 characters,” X, Month Day, Year, Time, URL.
  • Example: 1. Dr. Alice Johnson (@DrAJohnson), “Our new study on source credibility in online media is officially published. The data is fascinating,” X, Feb 1, 2025, 10:30 a.m., https://x.com/DrAJohnson/status/1753000000000000000.

Reference List Entry (Bibliography)

The bibliography entry is similar to the footnote but omits the time and uses an inverted author name.

  • Format: Last Name, First Name (@ScreenName). “Full text of post up to 160 characters.” X, Month Day, Year. URL.

Bluebook 22nd Edition: Citing X for Legal Scholars

For those in law and public policy, the Bluebook citation style (specifically Rule 18) is the standard. Bluebook prioritizes the author, the platform name, the date/time, and a permanent, verifiable URL, often recommending the use of a digital archive service like Perma.cc to ensure the link remains live for future verification.

Citation Format (Post)

The Bluebook format is generally: Author’s Name (@handle), X (Date, at Time), URL [https://perma.cc/…].

  • Example: Senator Jones (@SenJones), X (Jan. 5, 2025, 2:45 PM), https://x.com/SenJones/status/1743000000000000000 [https://perma.cc/XYZ-1234].

The inclusion of the time is more common in Bluebook than in other styles, reflecting the legal need for precise chronological evidence, particularly for official statements or policy announcements made via the platform.

Advanced Citation Techniques and Topical Authority

As academic research increasingly relies on digital sources, mastering advanced citation techniques is vital for demonstrating topical authority in your field. The use of X content often touches upon complex topics like intellectual property, fair use, and the ethics of social media research.

The Importance of Archival Integrity

When citing social media, the risk of a post being deleted, or a profile being removed is high. This is why many institutions and style guides, especially Bluebook, advocate for Perma.cc or similar digital archive services. By creating a snapshot of the post, you ensure the source remains verifiable, upholding the principles of academic rigor and responsible scholarly communication.

LSI Keywords and Entities for Topical Authority

Integrating a range of related entities naturally enhances the depth of your article and improves its topical authority. Key concepts related to the citation of X content include:

  • Citation Management Tools: Software like Zotero, Mendeley, and EndNote, which often have built-in features for citing social media.
  • Digital Ethics: The moral principles governing the use of public social media content in academic work.
  • Source Credibility: Evaluating the reliability of the X user (e.g., is it a verified account, or an anonymous source?).
  • Social Media Research: The methodology of using platforms like X as a data source for qualitative or quantitative studies.
  • Academic Publishing: The standards set by journals and university presses for referencing non-traditional sources.
  • Plagiarism and Fair Use: Ensuring that the quotation of post text adheres to copyright and fair use guidelines.
  • Digital Scholarship: The broader field of research that utilizes digital tools and sources.
  • Primary Source / Secondary Source: Understanding when an X post is a direct piece of evidence (primary) versus a commentary on an event (secondary).

By consistently applying the correct citation format for the platform now known as X, you not only avoid common errors but also contribute to the ongoing development of best practices in digital scholarship.

The Ultimate 2025 Guide: 4 Major Styles for Citing X (Formerly Twitter) Posts and Threads
how to cite twitter
how to cite twitter

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