How to Cite an Email in ACS (4th edition)
Learn how to cite emails, letters, and personal communications in ACS format (4th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
ACS Reference List Format
Here is the standard ACS format for citing an email in your reference list:
ACS Example for an Email
A complete ACS reference for an email, formatted by the official ACS CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
(1) Delacroix, H. Re: Draft Chapter Feedback, 2024.
Matching in-text citation: 1
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your email.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the ACS (4th edition) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match ACS requirements.
Evidence and review notes
Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model.
CSL style record: acs.csl
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite an email in ACS?
- To cite an email in ACS (4th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the ACS format for an email citation?
- The ACS format for an email is: (1) Delacroix, H. Re: Draft Chapter Feedback, 2024.
- What does the in-text citation look like for an email in ACS?
- In ACS, the in-text citation for the example above is 1
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