Printed books and journal articles are fine. But what if you’ve contacted someone to ask a question and you want to include the answer in your work? How do you cite a letter or email? In APA referencing (7th edition), the answer is to cite it as personal correspondence.
First, we should clarify what we mean by “personal correspondence” (or “personal communications,” to use the term favored by the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association).
The key here is that personal correspondence is not publicly available. This contrasts with published sources, such as a book. For example, even if a book is out of print, it was available to the public at some point. But a personal letter may only be seen by its recipient, so it is personal.
Common examples of personal communications include:
On that final point, social media is only personal correspondence if it is private (e.g., a direct message on Twitter or a post in a private, closed group on Facebook). If a social media post is available to the public, you can reference it as social media in citations and the reference list.
To cite personal correspondence in APA referencing, give the communicator’s initial and surname, the phrase “personal communication,” and the date of the correspondence in brackets like this:
He has since claimed to regret his tone during the phone call (B. Smith, personal communication, December 4, 2019).
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
Here, for instance, we’ve cited a personal communication from B. Smith that was sent on December 4, 2019. If we named the sender in the text, though, we’d omit this from the brackets to prevent repetition:
Brian Smith has since claimed to regret his tone during the phone call (personal communication, December 4, 2019).
You will need to do this each time you cite a personal communication.
Since personal correspondence is not publicly available, you will not need a reference list entry. This makes it especially important to cite personal communications clearly in the main text.
Finally, don’t forget to have your work proofread! We have people ready to help with your academic writing, so why not submit a document today?
Δ
5-minute read
Promoting a brand means sharing valuable insights to connect more deeply with your audience, and...
6-minute read
If you’re seeking funding to support your charitable endeavors as a nonprofit organization, you’ll need...
9-minute read
Is your content getting noticed? Capturing and maintaining an audience’s attention is a challenge when...
8-minute read
Are you looking to enhance engagement and captivate your audience through your professional documents? Interactive...
7-minute read
Voice search optimization is rapidly shaping the digital landscape, requiring content professionals to adapt their...
4-minute read
Are you a creative freelancer looking to make a lasting impression on potential clients or...