Personal communication


You may need to consult more than one section of Re:cite to accurately represent the source used. Your citation may look different depending on the number of authors it has. Check the About Chicago A page for further advice.


Personal communication may include (but is not limited to) email, fax, interview, conversations, direct or private messages via social media, telephone conversations and letters.

Elements, punctuation & capitalisation

Footnote number. Name of the person or source of communication, type of communication, recipient of communication, date of communication.

Footnote example

First entry:

4. Jasper Jones, in conversation with author, September 15, 2011.

Second and subsequent entries:

17. Jones, conversation.  

OR

First entry:

12. Charlotte Smith, email correspondence, July 23, 2010.

13. Sam Gomez, Facebook direct message to author, August 1, 2024.

Second and subsequent entries:

14. Smith, email.

15. Gomez, direct message.

Format for bibliography

Personal communications are not usually referred to in the bibliography, however can be included if they are critical to your argument or are cited frequently. Check with your lecturer if you are unsure.

Tips for this reference type

  • See Manual 14.111
  • References to conversation, letters, email, text messages, direct messages sent through social media, or AI are usually cited in the text (i.e 'In a conversation with the author on September 15, 2011, Jasper Jones stated that...') or given in a footnote.
  • It is usually sufficient to simply refer to a conversation or message, but you may include the medium of communication if relevant (i.e. Facebook message; email).
  • Personal communication is not usually referred to the bibliography as it is unpublished.
  • Occasionally conversations do appear in bibliographies. They also could be seen as an interview.
  • Email addresses should not be published unless necessary for the argument and express permission is granted by the owner.
  • It is recommended you obtain the permission of the person who is communicating the information.
  • You may chooce to include additional contextual information about the communication in your footnote.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)