How do I cite an email in IEEE?

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

What is the IEEE format for an email citation?

The IEEE format for an email is: [1] A. B. Sender, private communication, Mon. Year.

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How to Cite an Email in IEEE (standard)

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

IEEE Reference List Format

Here is the standard IEEE format for citing an email in your reference list:

[1] A. B. Sender, private communication, Mon. Year.

IEEE In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

[1]

Narrative

In [1], Sender notes...

Key IEEE Formatting Rules

IEEE cites an unpublished email as a “private communication.”
Give the sender's initials and surname followed by “private communication” and the month and year.
Number the reference in order of first appearance, like any other IEEE reference.
Use this only for messages your reader cannot access; cite retrievable content normally.

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 IEEE (standard) 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 IEEE requirements.

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Cite an Email in Other Styles

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Cite Other Sources in IEEE

Website in IEEE Book in IEEE Journal Article in IEEE YouTube Video in IEEE Podcast in IEEE Newspaper Article in IEEE Magazine Article in IEEE Blog Post in IEEE Wikipedia in IEEE PDF in IEEE Interview in IEEE Social Media Post in IEEE Government Document in IEEE Dissertation or Thesis in IEEE Conference Paper in IEEE Lecture or PowerPoint in IEEE Webinar in IEEE Image or Photograph in IEEE Movie or Film in IEEE Documentary in IEEE TV Show in IEEE Song or Music in IEEE Poem in IEEE Court Case in IEEE Patent in IEEE Encyclopedia Entry in IEEE Dictionary Entry in IEEE Dataset in IEEE Software or App in IEEE Video Game in IEEE Press Release in IEEE Report in IEEE Preprint in IEEE Book Chapter in IEEE ChatGPT in IEEE Bible in IEEE TED Talk in IEEE Reddit or Forum Post in IEEE Map in IEEE