Note: Interviews and e-mail are considered personal communications in APA style. They are cited within the text of your assignment, but do not get an entry on the References list. Put the in-text citation right after a quote or paraphrased content from the interview or e-mail.
(First Initial of Person Who Was Interviewed or sent the e-mail. Second Initial if known. Last Name, personal communication, Month Day, Year interview took place or e-mail was received).
| Citation Element | Example |
|---|---|
| In-Text Quote |
"Infections are often contracted while patients are recovering in the hospital" (J. D. Black, personal communication, May 30, 2013).
Note: If the name of the person who was interviewed is mentioned in the sentence leading into the quote or paraphrased content, you do not need to repeat it in the in-text citation: J.D. Black explained that "infections are often contracted while patients are recovering in the hospital" (personal communication, May 30, 2013). |
For cases where privacy of interviewees must be maintained, use initials or pseudonyms
| Citation Element | Example |
|---|---|
| In-Text Quote |
"I felt anxious when the doctor used big medical words that she did not explain to me" (T.R., personal communication, October 13, 2024).
Note: If the name of the person who was interviewed is mentioned in the sentence leading into the quote or paraphrased content, you do not need to repeat it in the in-text citation. T.R. explained that "I felt anxious when the doctor used big medical words that she did not explain to me" (personal communication, October 13, 2024). |
Note: Published interviews can appear in many types of sources (magazines, newspapers etc.). When citing published interviews, follow the guidelines for the type of source it was published in.
Note: Official APA Style does not provide a format for citing oral teachings of Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers. These formats are offered following the recommendation from:
Last name, First Initial. Nation/Community. Treaty Territory if applicable. Where they live, if applicable. Topic/subject of communication if applicable. personal communication. Month Date, Year.
| Citation Element | Example |
|---|---|
| Standard Reference Example |
Cardinal, D. Goodfish Cree Nation. Treaty 6. Lives in Edmonton. Oral teaching. personal communication. April 4, 2004. |
| In-Text Paraphrase |
(Last Name, Year) Example: (Cardinal, 2004) |
| In-Text Quote |
(Last Name, Year) Example: (Cardinal, 2004) Note: This APA template does not provide specific rules for direct quoting indigenous elders, so this is a recommendation. |
