How do you cite a diary?

Citing a diary entry can be tricky because there's no standard format. Here's a breakdown of how to approach it, along with examples:

1. General Format:

* Author: The name of the diary writer, if known. If the diary is anonymous, use "Anonymous" or "Unknown."

* Title: "Diary of [Diary Writer's Name]" or "Personal Diary," if the title is unknown.

* Date: The date of the diary entry.

* Location: The place where the diary is housed (if applicable), such as an archive or library.

* Access Date: The date you accessed the diary.

2. Examples:

* Formal Citation (MLA):

```

Anonymous. "Diary Entry." Diary of [Diary Writer's Name], 1942,

[Library/Archive Name], [City, State]. Accessed 2023-02-23.

```

* Informal Citation:

```

Anonymous. Diary entry, May 12, 1942, from the "Diary of [Diary Writer's Name],"

[Library/Archive Name], [City, State].

```

* If the diary is published in a book:

```

[Diary writer's name]. "Diary entry, [date]." Title of Book.

Edited by [Editor's name], Publisher, [Year], pp. [page numbers].

```

3. Considerations:

* Unknown Author: If you don't know the diary author, you can use "Anonymous" or "Unknown" in the citation.

* Accessibility: If the diary is not publicly available, you may need to specify how you accessed it (e.g., "Private collection").

* Specific Entries: When citing a specific entry, include the date and any relevant information about the entry.

4. Additional Information:

* If the diary is part of a collection or archive, you should also include the collection name and its location.

* You can also include the type of media (e.g., handwritten, typed) in the citation if relevant.

Remember: Be as specific as possible when citing a diary entry. The more details you provide, the easier it will be for someone else to find the source.