Since personal communications do not have a published source, they must be cited only in the text with details about the type of communication and the date.
In-text citations
When the name appears in the sentence:
When interviewed on 19 July 2013, Dr Smith D.V.M. stressed the importance of empathy when dealing with pain management in a patient.
When the name does not appear in the sentence:
Pain is extremely personal and should be approached as such within the veterinary practice (Dr John Smith D.V.M., personal interview, 19 July 2013).
Other forms of personal communication:
This was confirmed in an email from Dr John Smith on 19 July 2013 (Dr John Smith, email, 19 July 2013).
According to a phone conversation with Dr John Smith on 19 July 2013, pain management strategies should be individualised (Dr John Smith, telephone interview, 19 July 2013).
Reference list
Personal communications are not included in the reference list because they cannot be retrieved or accessed by the reader. Instead, they are cited in-text only.
✅ Correct Practice:
- Use in-text citations only for personal communications.
- Do not include them in the reference list.
🚫 Incorrect Practice:
- Do not attempt to format them like books, journal articles, or other sources.