How do I cite an email in MLA?

To cite an email in MLA (9th 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 MLA?

In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Sender)

How to Cite an Email in MLA (9th edition)

Learn how to cite emails, letters, and personal communications in MLA format (9th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

MLA Works Cited Format

Here is the standard MLA format for citing an email in your Works Cited page:

Sender Last Name, First Name. "Subject Line of the Email." Received by Recipient Name, Day Month Year.

MLA Example for an Email

A complete MLA reference for an email, formatted by the official MLA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

Delacroix, Henri. “Re: Draft Chapter Feedback.” Email. 20 Apr. 2024.

Matching in-text citation: (Delacroix)

MLA In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

(Sender)

Narrative

Sender explained in an email that...

Key MLA Formatting Rules

MLA does provide a Works Cited entry for a personal email.
List the sender (Last, First), then the email's subject line in quotation marks as the title.
Use the description “Received by” followed by the recipient's name (write “the author” if that is you).
End with the date the message was sent in day-month-year order.

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 MLA (9th 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 Works Cited: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match MLA 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: mla.csl

Editorial sources

MLA Style Center — works cited →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite an email in MLA?: To cite an email in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the MLA format for an email citation?: The MLA format for an email is: Sender Last Name, First Name. "Subject Line of the Email." Received by Recipient Name, Day Month Year.
What does the in-text citation look like for an email in MLA?: In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Sender)