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I need to reference something in APA 6: Personal communication

I need to reference something in APA 6: Check which referencing style you should use before following advice on this page.

Personal communication

Personal communication

Ethical considerations

If you wish to use information in your work which has not been published  you should always ask for permission. You should make clear how you will use information when seeking permission from the sender of personal communications (letters, emails, text messages, etc.). This also applies to information found on a social network site or a discussion list open to friends or invited members only. 

Note

Responses to surveys and interviews are your own research and not personal communications.  You should describe your methods but you do not need citations and references when writing up this kind of research.  

Personal communication

Citation

  • Give enough detail so your reader can understand where information comes from.
  • Use initials in individual names.  If your communication is from someone representing an organisation you can ask if it is appropriate to use the organisation name.  
  • Give an exact date if possible.

Examples: 

An engineer from Dronfield Robotics described the manufacturing process... (I. Patel, personal communication, Jan 5, 2018).
An engineer from the company described the manufacturing process... (Dronfield Robotics, personal communication, Jan 5, 2018).

Personal communication

Reference list

Personal communications are not available to your reader so there is no need to include them in your reference list.

See also