MLA – Citing Events & Interactions

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Citing events and personal interactions and communications in MLA format requires providing enought information that the context and specifics of the interaction are clear. For events, the citation should include the speaker’s name, the title of the talk or event in quotation marks, the name of the event or conference in italics, the sponsoring organization, the venue, the city, and the date. For personal communications, such as letters, emails, or interviews, the citation should include the name of the person communicated with, a description of the communication (e.g., “Personal interview” or “Email to the author”), and the date of the communication. This format acknowledges the personal nature of the interaction while providing enough detail for readers to understand the source’s context. Unlike other sources, these citations do not require a URL or publisher because they are not publicly accessible.

Citing a Conference Presentation

Format:
Last Name, First Name. “Title of Presentation.” Title of Conference, Date, Location.

Examples:

  1. Doe, John. “The Future of Renewable Energy.” Sustainability Conference 2021, 15 Mar. 2021, San Francisco, CA.
  2. Smith, Jane. “Advancements in AI Technology.” Tech Innovations Expo, 10 June 2020, New York, NY.
  3. Johnson, Emily. “Mental Health Awareness.” Health and Wellness Fair, 22 Sept. 2019, Los Angeles, CA.

Citing a Conversation with Somone

Format:
Last Name, First Name. Description of Conversation. Date.

Examples:

  1. Doe, John. Personal conversation. 12 May 2021.
  2. Smith, Jane. Informal discussion. 3 Mar. 2020.
  3. Johnson, Emily. In-person conversation. 18 Nov. 2019.

Citing an Email

Format:
Last Name, First Name. “Subject of Email.” Received by Recipient’s First Name Last Name, Date of Email.

Examples:

  1. Doe, John. “Project Update.” Received by Alice Smith, 15 June 2020.
  2. Smith, Jane. “Meeting Rescheduled.” Received by Michael Brown, 10 Apr. 2019.
  3. Johnson, Emily. “Research Inquiry.” Received by Kevin Lee, 5 Nov. 2021.

Citing an Interview

Format:
Last Name, First Name. Description of Interview. Date of Interview.

Examples:

  1. Doe, John. Personal interview. 12 May 2021.
  2. Smith, Jane. Telephone interview. 3 Mar. 2020.
  3. Johnson, Emily. Zoom interview. 18 Nov. 2019.

Citing a Letter

Format:
Last Name, First Name. “Subject of Letter.” Received by Recipient’s First Name Last Name, Date of Letter.

Examples:

  1. Doe, John. “Thank You for Your Support.” Received by Alice Smith, 15 June 2020.
  2. Smith, Jane. “Regarding Your Inquiry.” Received by Michael Brown, 10 Apr. 2019.
  3. Johnson, Emily. “Follow-Up on Meeting.” Received by Kevin Lee, 5 Nov. 2021.

Citing a Webinar or Online Training

Format:
Last Name, First Name. “Title of Webinar.” Title of Webinar Series, Date, URL.

Examples:

  1. Doe, John. “Innovations in Renewable Energy.” Green Tech Webinar Series, 15 Mar. 2021, www.greentechwebinars.com/innovations.
  2. Smith, Jane. “AI in Modern Medicine.” Tech Health Webinar Series, 10 June 2020, www.techhealthwebinars.com/ai-medicine.
  3. Johnson, Emily. “Promoting Mental Health in the Workplace.” Wellness Webinar Series, 22 Sept. 2019, www.wellnesswebinars.com/mental-health.

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