Vancouver Citation Style: Unpublished Materials

Emails are a type of personal communication that fall under "unpublished materials" - sources that have not been formally published and cannot typically be accessed by your reader. Citing Medicine notes that editors of some journals may not accept these types of unpublished materials in a reference list. 

Check with your instructor on whether emails and other personal communications require reference list entries. If so, follow this template. If not, follow the advice for sources not required in your reference list under "Interviews and Other Personal Communications" below.

• Emails are covered in Citing Medicine - Chapter 26: Electronic Mail and Discussion Forums.

Interviews are a type of personal communication that fall under "unpublished materials" - sources that have not been formally published and cannot typically be accessed by your reader. Citing Medicine notes that editors of some journals may not accept these types of unpublished materials in a reference list. 

If required in your reference list:

If not required in your reference list:

Make it clear in your writing that you are discussing a personal communication by placing details of the personal communication in brackets: Here's an example of a personal communication (2024 discussion with J Doe; unreferenced). 

• Unpublished materials are covered in Citing Medicine - Chapter 13: Letters and Other Personal Communication. 

PLEASE NOTE

• The use of generative AI (e.g. ChatGPT) in courses at SAIT is permitted only at the discretion of your course instructor. Permission in one course does not guarantee permission in another. Failure to obtain permission before using generative AI for any purpose in your coursework may result in a charge of academic misconduct.
• Generative AI might not always be accurate and may lack the most up-to-date information. It is essential to cross-check its outputs against credible sources.
• The citation format presented below is SAIT specific and is subject to change as SAIT's policies evolve. Citing Medicine/Vancouver Style does not provide guidance specific to generative AI.

If you are citing information from generative AI, it is recommended to treat it like an email. 

Always check with your instructor before using generative AI in your coursework.

Does your source look different than the above examples? Unpublished materials are covered in Citing Medicine - Chapters 11-14. You can also ask your librarian for help.