I was on here and was reading through the free adventures created by others. I saw an encounter I would like to use in an adventure I'm writing. I can't find that thread but I don't want to use it: 1. Without getting permission from the author or 2: giving proper credit in my writing. I would 100% prefer option 1. 

Update. I found the file I downloaded of the story in my recycling bin. Had the author his reddit and twitter handles. I am reaching out. 

Are you wanting to sell that adventure?  If so, I strongly suspect it ain’t gonna happen so move along.  If not, go for it.

Quote from TheyCallMeLump >>

I was on here and was reading through the free adventures created by others. I saw an encounter I would like to use in an adventure I'm writing. I can't find that thread but I don't want to use it: 1. Without getting permission from the author or 2: giving proper credit in my writing. I would 100% prefer option 1. 

 Are you actually asking a question/making a request? If you want help finding the author of this adventure, you're going to need to provide some information.

For what reason do you want/need to credit the author? If this is for personal use, that's not really necessary (unless you roll credits at the end of your campaign)

No not selling at all. If I made it public at the end of said quest, I would 100% make it free for use. 

It will 100% be for my groups personal use. If I ever made the adventure public it would be free. I would never charge for it. 

I would not include someone else's work in something I was going to publish, free or not, without express consent from the original author.

Private use is perfectly fine.

you're fine. I'd review this though. https://company.wizards.com/en/legal/fancontentpolicy

Quote from HeathSmith >>

you're fine. I'd review this though. https://company.wizards.com/en/legal/fancontentpolicy

 They're not referring to anything made by Wizards so this doesn't apply

Quote from Davyd >>

 They're not referring to anything made by Wizards so this doesn't apply

 the free adventures 'on here' (which is what the OP stated) are created by wotc

• https://www.dndbeyond.com/tag/free-adventure
• https://www.dndbeyond.com/tag/encounter-of-the-week

Quote from HeathSmith >>

Quote from Davyd >>

 They're not referring to anything made by Wizards so this doesn't apply

 the free adventures 'on here' (which is what the OP stated) are created by wotc

• https://www.dndbeyond.com/tag/free-adventure
• https://www.dndbeyond.com/tag/encounter-of-the-week

They said "free adventures created on here by others" which would suggest other forum users. They also say they "can't find the thread", against suggesting it was made by a forum user

Also all of those adventures very clearly list the author, either James Haeck or Michael Galvis.

However, given that there's some degree of ambiguity, I would very strongly recommend not telling someone "you're fine" and gesturing at the fan content policy when it might not apply. Don't want to stray into anything that might be considered legal advice, as that's prohibited by the site rules & guidelines.

Quote from TheyCallMeLump >>

I was on here and was reading through the free adventures created by others. I saw an encounter I would like to use in an adventure I'm writing. I can't find that thread but I don't want to use it: 1. Without getting permission from the author or 2: giving proper credit in my writing. I would 100% prefer option 1. 

Well, first off, you have to find the thread, lol.

That will help guide you to the folks who made it.

There are a LOT of threads with folks tossing out quickie adventures here, lol. Fortunately, in your case it is likely more recent.