Online Communications

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1. Email Sources

Here's the APA's official stance on email, as taken from their page of Recommeded Electronic Reference Formats:

First, a cautionary note: It is possible to send an email note disguised as someone else. Authors-not journal editors or copy editors-are responsible for the accuracy of all references, which includes verifying the source of email communications before citing them as personal communications in manuscripts.

Email communications from individuals should be cited as personal communications, as noted in APA's Publication Manual (5th ed., p. 214). The format in text (personal communications are not cited in the reference list) is as follows: L. A. Chafez (personal communication, March 28, 1997).

The APA doesn't address the issue of archived email discussion lists, bulletin boards, and USENET groups. But based on their concern with authenticity and their fears that messages can be forged and masqueraded, strictly speaking, if you follow APA guidelines, any messages from such sources will need to be described as a personal communication. As a researcher and writer, however, you should download and save all such messages.

Example:

According to Eric Crump, Web designer for the National Council of Teachers of English, "there are people at schools without writing centers who need help with academic papers" (personal communication, March 5, 2000).

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    • 2. Postings to News, Forum or Discussion Groups

    Format:
    Last Name or Screen Name of Author, Initials of Author, followed by last names and initials of other authors if any. (Year, Month and Day of Publication). Subject of message. Message posted to Name of list or forum, archived at URL

    Example:

    Hyde, L. (2004, June 11). Re: Congress - an affont to our democracy. Message posted to Google Newsgroup: soc.politics: alt.history.future, archived at http://groups.google.com/groups?dq=&hl=en&lr=&ie= UTF-8&threadm=f925918f.0406110232.1d59a039%40 posting.google.com&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3 DUTF-8%26group%3Dsoc.politics

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    • 3. Discussion List Messages

    Format:
    Last Name or Screen Name of Author, Initials of Author, followed by last names and initials of other authors if any. (Year, Month and Day of Publication). Subject of message. Message posted to Name of list or forum, archived at URL

    Example:

    RROYAR. (1998, February 28). Internet linked courses. Message posted to Alliance for computers and writing, archived at http://groups.yahoo.com/computersandwriting/message/42

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