How to Cite a Email or Personal Communication in MLA 9th Edition

This guide explains how to format a email or personal communication citation in MLA 9th Edition. Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a email or personal communication in MLA 9th Edition:

Template

Author Last, First. "Subject Line." Received by Recipient First Last, Day Month Year.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(Doe)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your Works Cited:

Works Cited entry

Doe, Jane. "Re: Research Collaboration Proposal." Received by John Smith, 8 Jan. 2024.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Name the author
List the email author in Last, First format.
2
Add the subject line
Place the email subject line in quotation marks using title case. End with a period inside the closing quotation mark.
3
Include the recipient
Write "Received by" followed by the recipient's full name (First Last).
4
Add the date
Include the date the email was sent in Day Month Year format. End with a period.
5
Omit private details
Do not include email addresses. The citation provides enough information to identify the communication.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting to place the subject line in quotation marks.
Omitting "Received by" before the recipient's name.
Using the wrong date format instead of Day Month Year.
Including the email address in the citation (it should be omitted for privacy).
Not capitalizing the subject line in title case.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite an email sent to me personally?

You are the recipient, so use your own name after "Received by": Doe, Jane. "Re: Research Collaboration Proposal." Received by John Smith, 8 Jan. 2024.

What if the email has no subject line?

Use a brief description without quotation marks in place of the subject: Doe, Jane. Email to the author. 8 Jan. 2024.

Should emails appear on the Works Cited page?

Yes. MLA 9th edition treats emails as citable sources that belong on the Works Cited page, unlike some older style guides that treated them as personal communications only mentioned in the text.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your email or personal communication:

Sender
Recipient
Subject
Date

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Step-by-Step Guide

Name the author

List the email author in Last, First format.

Add the subject line

Place the email subject line in quotation marks using title case. End with a period inside the closing quotation mark.

Include the recipient

Write "Received by" followed by the recipient's full name (First Last).

Add the date

Include the date the email was sent in Day Month Year format. End with a period.

Omit private details

Do not include email addresses. The citation provides enough information to identify the communication.