How to Cite Personal Communications in Harvard Style

What Are Personal Communications?

Personal communications are exactly what they sound like: informal, one-on-one exchanges. These include interviews, emails, phone conversations, letters, and even social media comments. 

The key here is that these conversations are not available to the public. Unlike an article you’d find in a journal, these communications are private, which is why they are handled differently in Harvard referencing.

For example, if you’re interviewing someone for your research, their responses are considered personal communication. The same goes for any emails or informal chats you have during the research process. 

Since these are not public, you don’t need to include them in your reference list like a book or article. Instead, you’ll just cite them in the text.

In-Text Citation for Personal Communications

In Harvard referencing, personal communications are cited in the text only. There’s no need to add them to your reference list since they’re not publicly accessible. The format is simple, but you must make sure to include all the right details.

Here’s the basic structure you’ll use for citing personal communications:

In-text citation format:
(First initial Surname, Year, pers. comm., Day Month)

For example:
(Smith, J. 2008, pers. comm., 2 July)
Or:
J. Smith (2008, pers. comm., 2 July) mentioned that…

You’re basically giving credit to the person who communicated with you, including when it happened, and specifying it as personal communication.

Examples of How to Cite Personal Communications

Let’s take a look at how this works with some real-life examples. 

• Interview Example:
  “During the interview, J. Smith (2008, pers. comm., 2 July) stated that the new approach would be groundbreaking.”
  Or:
  “J. Smith (2008, pers. comm., 2 July) explained that the project was a success.”

• Email Example:
  “In an email (L. Singh, 2020, pers. comm., 24 April), the researcher clarified that the project was still ongoing.”
  Or:
  “L. Singh (2020, pers. comm., 24 April) mentioned that data collection is continuing.”

• Research Participant Example:
  “One participant, David (Richards, D. 2019, pers. comm., 3 March), shared that he found the experience challenging.”
  Or:
  “David (2019, pers. comm., 3 March) mentioned that the process felt ‘overwhelming.’”

• Social Media Comment Example:
  “A user in a private Facebook group described the issue as a ‘media circus’ (G. Richards, 2018, comment in private Facebook group, 25 April).”

These are just a few examples, but as you can see, it’s pretty straightforward. If you’re referencing an interview, just mention the interviewee and the date. For emails or other forms of communication, it’s the same.

Descriptors and Additional Notes

Sometimes the type of personal communication needs a little extra description. If you’re citing something outside the usual formats (email, interview, etc.), you can add a brief description of the communication. For example, if it’s a private Facebook comment or a chat during a performance, you’ll note that.

For example:
“(G. Richards 2018, comment in private Facebook group, 25 April)”
Or:
“(J. Wilson 2018, performance, 13 March) mentioned the use of ‘Anthropocene’ during the show.”

These short descriptors help provide clarity on what kind of personal communication you’re citing. If in doubt, it’s best to include a simple description.

When to Ask for Permission

An important point to remember: always ask permission before citing someone’s personal communication. So, it does not matter, if it’s an interview, email, or any other private exchange, it’s essential to ensure that the person knows you’ll be quoting them. It helps avoid any potential ethical issues down the line.

Some institutions may have specific rules about how personal communications should be treated. For example, some may require you to italicise certain formats (like “email” or “interview”). So, always check with your university to make sure you’re following their preferences.

Why Can’t You Include Personal Communications in the Reference List?

Personal communications aren’t included in the reference list because they are not publicly accessible. They’re specific to your research and often confidential, so they can’t be found or reviewed by others. This is why Harvard style treats them differently. Instead of a reference entry, you only include the in-text citation.