How to Cite a Discord Message
Updated August 2026
Citing a message from Discord? Here's the format in APA, MLA, and Chicago — with one important fork: whether the message is publicly retrievable or private.
For a citable message: use the author/username, the message text, the date, Discord as the platform, and the link.
The format
Author/username → date → message text → Discord → link. Build it in the generator under Manual Entry → Social media post.
Prof. Martinez. (2026, March 10). Reminder: the problem set is due Friday at midnight. Discord. https://discord.com/channels/112233/445566/778899
In-text(Prof. Martinez, 2026)
Prof. Martinez. "Reminder: the problem set is due Friday at midnight." Discord, 10 Mar. 2026, https://discord.com/channels/112233/445566/778899. Accessed 1 June 2026.
In-text(Prof. Martinez)
Prof. Martinez. "Reminder: the problem set is due Friday at midnight." Discord. March 10, 2026. https://discord.com/channels/112233/445566/778899.
In-text(Prof. Martinez 2026)
What Discord is — and the retrievability catch
Discord is a chat platform built around private servers and channels. That's the catch: most Discord messages live in servers your reader can't access, which matters because citations are supposed to be retrievable.
So there are two cases. A message in a public, linkable server is cited like a social-media post. A message in a private server or DM is treated as personal communication — cited in-text only (e.g., "A. Rivera, personal communication, March 10, 2026") and usually left out of the reference list.
Discord-specific tips
- Public vs. private decides everything — retrievable message → full citation; private/DM → personal communication, in-text only.
- Author = the display name or username of the person who posted.
- Get the message link (right-click → Copy Message Link) for retrievable messages.
- Quote the message as the title; include the date and access date.
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Go Premium — $5/monthFrequently asked questions
- Can I cite a Discord message?
- Yes if it's in a public, linkable server — cite it like a social-media post. If it's in a private server or DM, treat it as personal communication (in-text only).
- What is personal communication in citation?
- A source your reader can't retrieve (private messages, emails, DMs). In APA it's cited in-text only — author, 'personal communication,' and the date — and omitted from the reference list.
- How do I get a Discord message link?
- Right-click (or tap-and-hold) the message and choose 'Copy Message Link.' That permalink is your URL for a retrievable message.