The Modern Language Association is favored by humanities and cultural studies academics. How to Cite a Letterīelow, we’ve laid out style guides, examples, and writing tips to help you properly cite a letter in APA, MLA, and Chicago style formats. Letters are valuable sources of information in research, but just like any other reference text, it is crucial to provide proper citations, in both your bibliography and in the body of your writing. While there are countless instances of personal letters lost to time, those found are often stored in digital archives, granting scholars and researchers a glimpse into the past that is crucial to their work.Īs with all sources in academia, proper attribution is required in the form of an entry on the paper’s works cited page, reference list, or bibliography. Often sent over vast distances, these historical documents provide invaluable insight and a wealth of information about past events. How to Cite a Letter: APA, MLA, and Chicago Styleīefore the advent of digital technology and instant access to information, personal communication occurred in the context of letters.

Apa footnote format