How To Reference A Personal Interview Apa
You just had a fascinating chat with your aunt, the one who ran a food truck in the 90s. She told you everything about late-night prep and sticky floors. Now you want to use h...
You just had a fascinating chat with your aunt, the one who ran a food truck in the 90s. She told you everything about late-night prep and sticky floors. Now you want to use her story in your college paper or blog.
How do you give her credit without messing up the rules? It’s easier than untangling Christmas lights, I promise. Let’s talk about referencing a personal interview in APA style.
Wait, why should you care?
Because your aunt’s voice is gold. A personal interview adds real, human flavor to your work that no textbook can match.
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But here’s the deal: you can’t make stuff up. APA rules help you show readers exactly where your info came from. Think of it like telling a friend, “Hey, I heard this from my cousin’s neighbor.” It’s about trust.
The magic trick: no entry in the reference list
Surprise! Personal interviews are not listed in your APA reference list. Why? Because your reader can’t go find that chat with your aunt in a library.
Instead, you handle it inside your text. It’s like giving a shout-out to a friend at a party without printing a poster. Just mention it where you use the info.
How to format the in-text citation
You need three things: the person’s first initial and last name, the words “personal communication,” and the date. Like this: (T. Rogers, personal communication, March 12, 2024).
Let’s try a real-life example. Imagine you interviewed your neighbor, Maria, about her backyard chickens. In your paper, you’d write: Maria explained that her hens lay eggs best when they hear jazz music (M. Garcia, personal communication, April 7, 2024).
PPT - The Interview Paper PowerPoint Presentation, free download - ID
See? Clean, clear, and your reader knows exactly where the jazz-egg fact came from. It’s polite and professional, like saying “please” and “thank you” to your sources.
What if you quote them directly?
Even better! Just pop the exact quote inside quotation marks, then add the citation right after. Check this out:
“I never thought a rooster could be such a drama queen,” she confessed (M. Garcia, personal communication, April 7, 2024).
APA wants you to keep it short and sweet. No long speeches—just the juicy bits.
What if the interview was over email or Zoom?
That’s still a personal interview in APA’s eyes. It doesn’t matter if you talked face-to-face, on the phone, or via carrier pigeon. If it’s not published or recorded for public access, use the same format.
Just write the date you received their words. For an email, use the date in their message. Simple, right?
APA Guidelines & Formatting
A little secret about “personal communication”
Some people nervously whisper, “Is that really the official term?” Yes, it is. Don’t overthink it. Your professor or boss will see that phrase and nod approvingly.
It covers any private conversation: a chat with your grandpa about his childhood, a quick text from a colleague, or a long phone call with an expert.
What if you interviewed someone famous?
Even Beyoncé counts as “personal communication” if you talked to her directly (and you’re super lucky). Paula Abdul? Same deal. Use the same format.
The only exception is if the interview is published somewhere—like a podcast or YouTube video. Then it becomes a different beast with its own APA rules.
Now go cite like a champ
You’ve got the tools. Next time you quote your uncle’s wild fishing story, you’ll look like a pro. Just remember: no reference list, just a tidy in-text nod.
Your readers—and your aunt—will thank you. Happy writing!
