Providing attribution for electronic correspondence within academic writing requires adherence to established guidelines. Such references typically include the sender’s name, the subject line of the message, and the specific date the communication was transmitted. For example: (A. Smith, personal communication, October 26, 2023).
Proper acknowledgment of sources, regardless of medium, maintains academic integrity and gives credit to the originators of ideas. This practice ensures transparency in scholarship, allowing readers to trace the development of concepts and verify the information presented. Furthermore, it avoids accusations of plagiarism by clearly delineating borrowed content.