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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 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

  1. Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your email.
  2. Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the MLA (9th edition) template shown above.
  3. Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
  4. Add to your Works Cited: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
  5. Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match MLA requirements.

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Cite an Email in Other Styles

Email in APAEmail in ChicagoEmail in HarvardEmail in VancouverEmail in IEEEEmail in AMAEmail in TurabianEmail in CSEEmail in BibTeXEmail in NatureEmail in ACSEmail in OSCOLAEmail in BluebookEmail in AGLCEmail in ASAEmail in APSAEmail in AAAEmail in NLMEmail in ACMEmail in APSEmail in AIPEmail in CellEmail in ScienceEmail in PLOSEmail in BMJEmail in LancetEmail in JAMAEmail in Elsevier HarvardEmail in Springer

Cite Other Sources in MLA

Website in MLABook in MLAJournal Article in MLAYouTube Video in MLAPodcast in MLANewspaper Article in MLAMagazine Article in MLABlog Post in MLAWikipedia in MLAPDF in MLAInterview in MLASocial Media Post in MLAGovernment Document in MLADissertation or Thesis in MLAConference Paper in MLALecture or PowerPoint in MLAWebinar in MLAImage or Photograph in MLAMovie or Film in MLADocumentary in MLATV Show in MLASong or Music in MLAPoem in MLACourt Case in MLAPatent in MLAEncyclopedia Entry in MLADictionary Entry in MLADataset in MLASoftware or App in MLAVideo Game in MLAPress Release in MLAReport in MLAPreprint in MLABook Chapter in MLAChatGPT in MLABible in MLATED Talk in MLAReddit or Forum Post in MLAMap in MLA

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