Emails are increasingly important sources of information in academic and professional contexts. Citing emails in MLA style requires specific elements: sender’s name, subject line, recipient’s name, and date. These details are necessary for both in-text citations and Works Cited entries. Proper citation of emails ensures credit to correspondents and maintains academic integrity when using personal communications in research.
When to Cite an Email
Identifying Situations that Require Email Citation
Emails should be cited when they provide unique information that supports your argument or when they are referenced directly in your work. For example, if you quote or paraphrase an email in your paper, you must provide a proper citation.
Academic vs. Professional Contexts
In academic contexts, emails from professors, researchers, or experts may be cited to support your thesis or research. In professional contexts, emails from colleagues, supervisors, or clients can be cited to provide evidence or clarify points in reports or presentations.
Components of an Email Citation in MLA Style
Sender’s Name
The sender’s name is the first component of an email citation. Use the sender’s full name as it appears in the email. For example:
Smith, John.
Subject Line
Include the subject line of the email in quotation marks. This helps the reader identify the specific email being cited. For example:
“Project Update.”
Email Recipient
Indicate the recipient of the email by writing “Received by” followed by the recipient’s name. This provides context for the email’s content. For example:
Received by Jane Doe,
Date of the Email
The date the email was sent is crucial for accurate citation. Format the date in day-month-year order. For example:
25 June 2024.
Formatting the Email Citation
General Formatting Rules
When citing an email in MLA style, use the following format:
Smith, John. “Project Update.” Received by Jane Doe, 25 June 2024.
Examples of Properly Formatted Citations
Here are a few examples of properly formatted email citations:
Doe, Jane. “Re: Meeting Agenda.” Received by John Smith, 15 May 2023.
Brown, Michael. “Budget Proposal.” Received by Emily White, 10 April 2022.
Special Cases in Email Citation
Citing Emails from Groups or Organizations
When citing an email sent by a group or organization, use the group’s name as the author. For example:
Marketing Team. “Campaign Results.” Received by Sales Department, 30 March 2023.
Handling Confidential or Private Emails
For confidential or private emails, consider obtaining permission from the sender before citing. If permission is granted, cite the email normally but be mindful of sensitive information.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Misidentifying the Sender
Ensure the correct sender’s name is used. Double-check the email header to avoid mistakes.
Incorrect Formatting
Follow MLA guidelines strictly to avoid formatting errors. Refer to MLA resources or tools for accurate formatting.
Omitting Necessary Details
Include all required components: sender’s name, subject line, recipient, and date. Missing any detail can make your citation incomplete.
Practical Examples and Templates
Sample Citations for Different Scenarios
Smith, John. “Re: Budget Report.” Received by Emily Brown, 12 February 2024.
Davis, Anna. “Meeting Minutes.” Received by Board Members, 20 January 2023.
Templates for Easy Citation
To simplify the process, use this template:
[Sender’s Name]. “[Subject Line].” Received by [Recipient’s Name], [Date].
For example:
Lee, Sarah. “Team Updates.” Received by Marketing Department, 5 March 2024.
Useful Tools and Resources for Accurate Citations
Accurate citations can be challenging, but WriterBuddy can help. It provides comprehensive assistance for MLA Email Citation and other citation styles. Using WriterBuddy ensures your citations are precise and formatted correctly, saving you time and effort.
FAQs
Why is it important to cite emails in MLA style?
Citing emails in MLA style ensures you give proper credit to the original author, maintain the credibility of your work, and help readers locate the source if needed.
What details are required to cite an email in MLA style?
To cite an email in MLA style, you need the sender’s name, the subject line in quotation marks, the recipient’s name, and the date the email was sent.
How do you format an email citation from an organization or group?
When citing an email from an organization or group, use the group’s name as the author and follow the same format as you would for an individual sender.
Conclusion
The MLA Email Citation process involves including sender and recipient information, subject line, and date. Following these guidelines helps properly attribute information from personal communications and provides readers with necessary context. Remember that emails are typically cited as personal communications and are not included in the Works Cited list unless publically accessible.
Related Citation Tools
| Citation Generator | Chicago Citation |
| Easily generate accurate citations across various styles, saving time and avoiding formatting errors. | Produce consistent Chicago-style citations, suitable for history, literature, and the arts. |
| APA Citation | Harvard Citation |
| Create precise APA citations effortlessly, ideal for students and researchers following APA guidelines. | Generate Harvard-style citations with ease, commonly used in the humanities and social sciences. |
| MLA Citation | AMA Citation |
| Generate accurate MLA citations quickly, perfect for academic papers that require MLA formatting. | Quickly create citations following the AMA style, ideal for medical and health-related academic writing. |
| ABNT Citation | IEEE Citation |
| Automatically generate citations in accordance with ABNT standards, essential for academic writing in Brazil. | Generate accurate IEEE citations, perfect for engineering, computer science, and other technical fields. |
| Vancouver Citation | ACS Citation |
| Create accurate citations using the Vancouver system, widely used in medical and scientific research papers. | Produce citations in the ACS style, tailored for chemistry and related scientific disciplines. |
| Turabian Citation | CSE Citation |
| Easily create citations in Turabian style, a simplified version of Chicago, ideal for students and researchers. | Generate citations in the CSE style, commonly used in the natural sciences, including biology and environmental studies. |
