Answered By: Amy Filiatreau
Last Updated: Jul 11, 2018     Views: 22904

Phone calls are considered "personal communication" in APA style.

Because they do not contain "recoverable data" - meaning, no one else could go 'look it up' after the phone conversation is over - these are not included in the reference list at the end of the paper. However you can include it as an in-text citation.

Personal Communication includes letters, phone calls, email messages, and interviews.

In-Text Citation:

(Interviewee First Initial. Second Initial. Surname, personal communication, Month Day,
Year)
Example: (A. Smith, personal communication, September 27, 2013)

References:
Do not include in your references list.

Comments (2)

  1. an example would help
    by ash on Oct 30, 2019
  2. There is an example in the FAQ: (A. Smith, personal communication, September 27, 2013). Is there some other thing you are looking for?
    by Amy Filiatreau on Oct 31, 2019

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