# Cite a Quote

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cite-a-quote/642170>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 26, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cite-a-quote/642170 "2012-11-26T16:59:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![IceQube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@IceQube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IceQube)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cite-a-quote/642170/1 "2012-11-26T16:59:06Z")

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How does one cite a quote which does not have any apparent source other than the speaker’s mouth?

Like the quote wasn’t from a speech or a book … it was just something the speaker said and someone happened to note?

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cite-a-quote/642170/2 "2012-11-26T17:03:39Z")

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In a scientific paper? It would be cited as a “personal communication,” often abbreviated “pers. comm.”.

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**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cite-a-quote/642170/3 "2012-11-26T17:40:09Z")

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Well, it will depend on the style guide for the particular publication. I think “personal communication” usually means, and is usually taken to mean, something written in a personal letter or an email. I think I have seen “in conversation” used to mean something that one just heard someone say.

Also, if you heard it in a formal speech, like a conference presentation, you can cite the speech as a “paper” something like this:  
Adams, C. (2012). Is a “chicken gun” used to test jet engines? Paper delivered at the 10th Annual Conference on Dopology, 1st May 2012 Chicago, Il,.

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**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cite-a-quote/642170/4 "2012-11-27T20:07:14Z")

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IceQube,  
We need more information to correctly answer your question.  
(I’m assuming) The top two styles are APA and MLA. Depending upon whom you’re writing for; they likely have style that you’re supposed to use.

APA: ([Taken from here](http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/03/))

> [@](#):
>
> Personal Communication: For interviews, letters, e-mails, and other person-to-person communication, cite the communicator’s name, the fact that it was personal communication, and the date of the communication. Do not include personal communication in the reference list.  
> (E. Robbins, personal communication, January 4, 2001).  
> A. P. Smith also claimed that many of her students had difficulties with APA style (personal communication, November 3, 2002).

MLA ([Taken from here)](http://libguides.dixie.edu/content.php?pid=5025&sid=31250)

> [@](#):
>
> If you did the interview, list who you interviewed and how the interview was done.
> 
> Last Name, First Name. Type of Interview. Date of Interview.
> 
> Example:
> 
> Bush, George. Telephone interview. 15 Apr. 2008.  
> Fried, Jolene. Personal interview. 20 June 2009.