How do I cite an email in Chicago?

To cite an email in Chicago (17th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for an email in Chicago?

In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is (Sender, email message to author, April 20, 2024)

How to Cite an Email in Chicago (17th edition)

Learn how to cite emails, letters, and personal communications in Chicago format (17th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Chicago Bibliography Format

Here is the standard Chicago format for citing an email in your bibliography:

Cite in a note, not the bibliography: 1. Sender First Name Last Name, email message to author, Month Day, Year.

Chicago Example for an Email

Chicago does not give an email an entry in the bibliography — it is cited in a note only. Here is that note, formatted by the official Chicago CSL style definition:

(Henri Delacroix, “Re: Draft Chapter Feedback”)

Chicago In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(Sender, email message to author, April 20, 2024)

Narrative

Sender, in an email to the author, noted...

Key Chicago Formatting Rules

In Notes-Bibliography style, cite a personal email in a footnote or endnote only.
Personal communications are normally omitted from the bibliography.
Give the sender, the phrase “email message to author” (or to the named recipient), and the date.
Do not capitalize or hyphenate inconsistently — Chicago 17 uses “email message.”

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 Chicago (17th 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 bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Chicago requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: chicago.csl

Editorial sources

Chicago Manual of Style — citation quick guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite an email in Chicago?: To cite an email in Chicago (17th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Chicago format for an email citation?: The Chicago format for an email is: Cite in a note, not the bibliography: 1. Sender First Name Last Name, email message to author, Month Day, Year.
What does the in-text citation look like for an email in Chicago?: In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is (Sender, email message to author, April 20, 2024)