Personal communications (interviews, letters, emails)
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Personal communication may include (but is not limited to) email, fax, interview, conversations, lectures, speeches, telephone conversations and letters.
Format for in-text citation
Name of the person interviewed or source of communication, year, communication type, day, month. Additional information may include details of the organisation that the person represents.
In-text citation example
In an email dated 6 May 2011, Ms C Jones wrote “the crime was committed during daylight hours.”
OR
It was confirmed recently that the crime was committed during daylight hours (C Jones, personal communication, 6 May 2011).
Style notes for this reference type
- Personal communication is not included in the bibliography – rather, the details are provided as an in-text citation. An exception to this is if the assignment is based mainly on personal communication.
- The initials of the person precede the family name in citations of personal communication.
- The Library recommends you check with your lecturer to ensure they allow you to use these types of sources in your assignments
- If there is any additional contextual information that is significant to this communication, please include it in the citation.
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