Mastering APA Style 7th Edition: Citing Personal Communication like a Pro
Personal communication is a vital aspect of research and academic writing, and citing it correctly according to APA style is integral. The seventh edition of the APA manual provides precise guidelines on citing personal communication, ensuring that your work is professional, accurate, and follows established standards.
What is personal communication? Personal communication refers to any communication that takes place directly between two individuals. This communication can be through various means like emails, letters, text messages, social media, phone calls, in-person conversations, etc.
What Are The Standards For Citing Personal Communication?
When citing personal communication in your written work, some standards must be followed to make it accurate:
In-Text Citations: In APA style, personal communication sources are cited in-text, but they are not included in the reference list. In-text citations are enclosed in parentheses and include the speaker’s name, the date of communication or a range of dates, the phrase “personal communication,” and the specific medium of communication.
Example: According to Smith (personal communication, March 25, 2021), the research results were significant.
If the name of the communicator is not mentioned in the text, include it in the parentheses.
Example: The findings were significant (John Doe, personal communication, January 2-5, 2021).
Note: In some cases, if someone else has made substantial use of personal communication, you’ll have to cite that individual’s work in your reference list. For example, citing an interview transcript if you used the information shared in the interview for your paper.
Types of Personal Communication Sources:
Personal communication sources include interviews, emails, phone calls, letters, conversations, social media, and text messages. While citing personal communication sources, it is crucial to identify the medium used to communicate the information, as the citation will differ depending on the medium.
Example:
1. In the case of a personal conversation:
According to John Doe (personal communication, December 14, 2021), the research findings were significant.
2. In the case of an Email:
A test run was conducted, as confirmed by John Doe (personal communication, email, September 4, 2021).
3. In the case of a phone call:
The findings of the research were significant (L. Smith, personal communication, telephone conversation, February 15, 2021).
Conclusion
In conclusion, citing personal communication in APA style is essential when writing research and academic papers. Personal communication such as interviews, conversations, emails and phone calls are an effective way to gather information for your research, but it’s essential to cite these sources correctly. Following the guidelines presented in this article, you can master citing personal communication in APA style like a pro. Keep your writing professional, accurate, and follow established standards. Always remember to identify the medium used to communicate the information, and if the name of the communicator is not mentioned in the text, include it in the parentheses.
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