Personal communication

Personal Communications

Note that personal communications are not included in the reference list.

  • Personal communication (e.g. emails, lecturer information, unpublished lecture notes) to support arguments is generally not included in academic writing. However, sometimes, for example in reflective writing, you may be required to do so.  
  • Statements made in video recordings (DVDs, YouTube, etc...) should also be referenced as Audio Visual Media.
  • Page numbers may not be required for direct quotes from web references, lectures or recordings, as there may be no (official) pages. 
  • Check with your lecturer before referencing personal communications.

Paraphrase:

When JNI lecturer D. Dobbs (personal communication, February 2, 2013) highlighted the issues on human development, it became clear that not only ….

Direct quotation:

(D. Dobbs, personal communication, February 2, 2013) stated: “Gestalt is a form of therapy that…”

In text example

 Reference list example
 In-Text Citation (Paraphrase): 
 
(Interviewee First Initial. Second Initial. Surname,  personal communication, Month Day, Year)
     
 In-Text Citation (Quotation):
 
(Interviewee First Initial. Second Initial. Surname,  personal communication, Month Day, Year)
 
 

 

Note that personal communications are not included in the reference list.

 

Email

  • Personal communications such as email are not included in the reference list because they do not provide recoverable data.  

In text example

 Reference list example
 In-Text Citation (Paraphrase): 
 
(Sender First Initial. Second Initial. Surname, personal communication, Month Day, Year)
     
 In-Text Citation (Quotation):
 
(Sender First Initial. Second Initial. Surname, personal communication, Month Day, Year)

 

Note that personal communications are not included in the reference list.

 
 

Interview

  • Personal interviews are not included in the reference list because they do not provide recoverable data. Cite them in text only. 

In text example

 Reference list example
 In-Text Citation (Paraphrase): 
 
(Interviewee First Initial. Second Initial. Surname,  personal communication, Month Day, Year)
     
     
 In-Text Citation (Quotation):
 
(Interviewee First Initial. Second Initial. Surname,  personal communication, Month Day, Year)
 

 

Note that personal communications are not included in the reference list.