Begin your in-text citation with the first initial and last name of the person sharing his account. For example:
B. White
Follow the person's name with a comma and the phrase "personal communication" in lowercase letters. For example:
B. White, personal communication
Conclude your citation with the month, date and year on which the account was communicated. For example:
B. White, personal communication, June 5, 2011
Enclose the citation in parentheses:
(B. White, personal communication, June 5, 2011)
Position the citation so that it comes directly after you quote or paraphrase from the personal account. For example:
One survivor spoke of witnessing a "great white light, then a blinding orange, and then nothing" (B. White, personal communication, June 5, 2011).
Begin your works-cited entry with the last and first name of the person who told you his account. For example:
White, Brian.
Follow the person's name with a description of the type of communication. Common examples include "personal interview," "telephone interview," "letter to the author" or "message to the author." For example:
White, Brian. Personal Interview.
List the date in the following format: day month year. For example:
White, Brian. Personal interview. 5 June 2011.
List the medium of delivery if you are citing a personal account based on a letter or e-mail. This step is not necessary when citing personal interviews or telephone interviews. Use the abbreviation TS for typed correspondence, and the abbreviation MS for handwritten correspondence. For example:
White, Brian. Letter to the author. 5 June 2011. TS.
White, Brian. Letter to the author. 5 June 2011. MS.
White, Brian. Message to the author. 5 June 2011. E-mail.