You've Got Mail (But How Do You Cite It?) - A Chicago Manual of Style Adventure
Ah, email. The bane of our inboxes and the hero of instant communication. But what happens when you need to reference that brilliant point your coworker made in an email thread about, well, the history of staplers (don't judge, it's a fascinating topic)? That's where the wonderful world of citation styles comes in, and today we're diving into the deep end of the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) for emails.
Panic Not, Fellow Wordsmiths!
Yes, CMOS can seem imposing at first, like a stern librarian shushing your enthusiasm for purple prose. But fear not! Here's the skinny on citing emails in Chicago style:
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Forget the Bibliography: Emails, along with interviews and other personal communications, are considered unpublished sources. So, they don't get the red-carpet treatment of a full bibliography listing.
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Here Comes the Footnote Party: This is where the magic happens. When you reference the email in your text, whack a superscript number (like this: ¹) next to it. Then, at the bottom of the page, whip out a footnote that looks something like this:
¹ John Smith, email message to the author, March 14, 2024.
Bold for the sender's name, then "email message to the author," and the date. Easy peasy, right?
But Wait, There's More (Because Life Isn't Always Simple)
- What if You Didn't Receive the Email Directly? Fret not, my friend! If you're referencing something you found forwarded in a thread, just include the name of the person who sent it to you in the footnote, like this:
² Jane Doe (forwarding email from John Smith), email message to author, March 14, 2024.
- Subject Line Shenanigans: If the email has a super helpful subject line that perfectly captures the content, you can add it in brackets after the date:
³ Sarah Jones, email message to the author, April 1, 2024 ("[The Importance of Proper Stapler Etiquette]").
Remember: Keep it concise and clear. You're not writing a novel about the email, just referencing it.
Now Go Forth and Cite with Confidence!
So there you have it, folks! With this newfound knowledge, you can confidently navigate the wild world of email citations in Chicago style. No more furrowed brows or frantic Googling. You've got this! And hey, if you ever need a reminder, this post will always be here (with a snazzy footnote, of course).
P.S. If you're feeling fancy, you can use "electronic mail" instead of "email message" in your footnote. It adds a touch of formality, but who are we kidding? We're all about keeping things chill here. Happy citing!
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