chicago style essay

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General Format

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Since The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) is primarily intended as a style guide for published works rather than class papers, these guidelines will be supplemented with information from, Kate L. Turabian’s Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (8th ed.), which is largely based on CMOS with some slight alterations.

To see a side-by-side comparison of the three most widely used citation styles, including a chart of all CMOS citation guidelines, see the Citation Style Chart.

Please use the example at the bottom of this page to cite the Purdue OWL in CMOS.

A Note on Citations

Unlike many citation styles, CMOS gives writers two different methods for documenting sources: the Author-Date System and the Notes-Bibliography (NB) System.  As its name suggests, Author-Date uses parenthetical citations in the text to reference the source's author's last name and the year of publication. Each parenthetical citation corresponds to an entry on a References page that concludes the document. In these regards, Author-Date is very similar to, for instance, APA style.

By contrast, NB uses numbered footnotes in the text to direct the reader to a shortened citation at the bottom of the page. This corresponds to a fuller citation on a Bibliography page that concludes the document. Though the general principles of citation are the same here, the citations themselves are formatted differently from the way they appear in Author-Date.

If you are using CMOS for school or work, don't forget to ensure that you're using your organization's preferred citation method. For examples of these two different styles in action, see our CMOS sample papers:

Author-Date Sample Paper

NB Sample Paper

General CMOS Guidelines

• Text should be consistently double-spaced, except for block quotations, notes, bibliography entries, table titles, and figure captions.
• A prose quotation of five or more lines, or more than 100 words, should be blocked.
• CMOS recommends blocking two or more lines of poetry.
• A blocked quotation does not get enclosed in quotation marks.
• A blocked quotation must always begin a new line.
• Blocked quotations should be indented with the word processor’s indention tool.
• Page numbers begin in the header of the first page of text with Arabic number 1.
• For CMOS and Turabian’s recommendations, see “Headings,” below.

Supplemental Turabian Style Guidelines

• Margins should be set at no less than 1”.
• Typeface should be something readable, such as Times New Roman or Courier.
• Font size should be no less than 10 pt. (preferably, 12 pt.).

Major Paper Sections

• The title should be centered a third of the way down the page.
• Your name, class information, and the date should follow several lines later.
• For subtitles, end the title line with a colon and place the subtitle on the line below the title.
• Double-space each line of the title page.

CMOS Title Page

• Different practices apply for theses and dissertations (see Kate L. Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, ad Dissertations [8 th ed.].
• Titles mentioned in the text, notes, or bibliography are capitalized “headline-style,” meaning first words of titles and subtitles and any important words thereafter should be capitalized.
• Book and periodical titles (titles of larger works) should be italicized.
• Article and chapter titles (titles of shorter works) should be enclosed in double quotation marks.
• The titles of most poems should be enclosed in double quotation marks, but the titles of very long poems should be italicized.
• Titles of plays should be italicized.
• For example, use lowercase terms to describe periods, except in the case of proper nouns (e.g., “the colonial period,” vs. “the Victorian era”).
• A prose quotation of five or more lines should be “blocked.” The block quotation should match the surrounding text, and it takes no quotation marks. To offset the block quote from surrounding text, indent the entire quotation using the word processor’s indentation tool. It is also possible to offset the block quotation by using a different or smaller font than the surrounding text.
• Label the first page of your back matter, your comprehensive list of sources, “Bibliography” (for Notes and Bibliography style) or “References” (for Author-Date style).
• Leave two blank lines between “Bibliography” or “References” and your first entry.
• Leave one blank line between remaining entries.
• List entries in letter-by-letter alphabetical order according to the first word in each entry, be that the author's name or the title of the piece..
• For two to three authors, write out all names.
• For four to ten authors, write out all names in the bibliography but only the first author’s name plus “et al.” in notes and parenthetical citations.
• When a source has no identifiable author, cite it by its title, both on the references page and in shortened form (up to four keywords from that title) in parenthetical citations throughout the text.
• Write out publishers’ names in full.
• Do not use access dates unless publication dates are unavailable.
• If you cannot ascertain the publication date of a printed work, use the abbreviation “n.d.”
• Provide DOIs instead of URLs whenever possible.
• If no DOI is available, provide a URL.
• If you cannot name a specific page number when called for, you have other options: section (sec.), equation (eq.), volume (vol.), or note (n.).

CMOS Bibliography Page

• Note numbers should begin with “1” and follow consecutively throughout a given paper.
• Note numbers are superscripted.
• Note numbers should be placed at the end of the clause or sentence to which they refer and should be placed after all punctuation, except for the dash.
• Note numbers are full-sized, not raised, and followed by a period (superscripting note numbers in the notes themselves is also acceptable).
• In parenthetical citation, separate documentation from brief commentary with a semicolon.
• Do not repeat the hundreds digit in a page range if it does not change from the beginning to the end of the range.

For more information on footnotes, please see CMOS NB Sample Paper .

While  The Chicago Manual of Style does not include a prescribed system for formatting headings and subheads, it makes several recommendations.

• Maintain consistency and parallel structure in headings and subheads.
• Use headline-style for purposes of capitalization.
• Subheadings should begin on a new line.
• Subheadings can be distinguished by font-size.
• Ensure that each level of hierarchy is clear and consistent.
• Levels of subheads can be differentiated by type style, use of boldface or italics, and placement on the page, usually either centered or flush left.
• Use no more than three levels of hierarchy.
• Avoid ending subheadings with periods.

Turabian has an optional system of five heading levels.

Turabian Subheading Plan

Here is an example of the five-level heading system:

CMOS Headings

Tables and Figures

• Position tables and figures as soon as possible after they are first referenced. If necessary, present them after the paragraph in which they are described.
• For figures, include a caption, or short explanation of the figure or illustration, directly after the figure number.
• Cite a source as you would for parenthetical citation, and include full information in an entry on your Bibliography or References page.
• Acknowledge reproduced or adapted sources appropriately (i.e., photo by; data adapted from; map by...).
• If a table includes data not acquired by the author of the text, include an unnumbered footnote. Introduce the note by the word Source(s) followed by a colon, then include the full source information, and end the note with a period.

How to Cite the Purdue OWL in CMOS

On the new OWL site, contributors’ names and the last edited date are no longer listed at the top of every page. This means that most citations will now begin with the title of the resource, rather than the contributors' names.

Footnote or Endnote (N):

Corresponding Bibliographical Entry (B):

“Title of Resource.” List the OWL as Publishing Organization/Web Site Name . http://Web address for OWL resource.

“General Format.” The Purdue OWL. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/717/02/.

Author Date In-text Citation:

("General Format" 2017).

Author Date References Page Citation:

Year of Publication. “Title of Resource.” List the OWL as Publishing Organization/Web Site Name . http://Web address for OWL resource.

2017. “General Format.” The Purdue OWL . https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/717/02.

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• Writing Tips

How to Write and Format a Chicago Style Paper [With Examples]

3-minute read

• 18th August 2023

Are you working on a Chicago style project but struggling with the question, “just what is it?!”

Fear not, this post will walk you through Chicago style basics.

What Is Chicago Style?

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMoS) is a comprehensive style guide primarily used by professional writers, publishers, and researchers. It covers various forms of writing, including books, journals, magazines, and other publications. It’s often the go-to style for publishers and editors. CMoS is also known for its emphasis on scholarly writing and is suitable for a wide range of disciplines, including history, literature, the arts, and social sciences.

However, there’s an important distinction between Chicago style and Turabian style , which is essentially a simplified version of CMoS used in scholarly writing. Turabian omits some of the complexities and focuses on the needs of academic writers, especially those in the humanities and social sciences.

With either style, it’s essential to consult the relevant edition of the style guide specified by your institution or publication: either The Chicago Manual of Style or A Manual for Writers by Kate L. Turabian (currently in its ninth edition).

How Are Chicago Style Citations Formatted?

CMoS emphasizes two primary documentation systems : the notes and bibliography system (often used in the humanities) and the author–date system (preferred in the sciences and social sciences). When formatting a CMoS/Turabian paper, you’ll need to adhere to the guidelines associated with your chosen documentation system.

Notes and Bibliography System:

●  In this system, you’ll use footnotes or endnotes to cite sources within the text.

●  A corresponding bibliography is included at the end of the paper, listing all sources in alphabetical order.

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●  Citations typically include author names, titles, publication details, and page numbers.

Author–Date System:

●  In the author–date system, you’ll incorporate in-text citations within parentheses.

●  A reference list is included at the end of the document, providing full details for each cited source.

●  Citations include author’s last names, publication year, and page numbers (if applicable).

What Does Turabian Style Formatting Look Like?

A well-structured Turabian Style paper should adhere to the following formatting guidelines :

•   Title page : Include the title of your paper, your name, the course name/number, instructor’s name, and the date on a separate page, starting a third of the page down. Alternatively, write the title on the first page.
•   Margins : Apply one-inch margins on all sides.
• Indentation and spacing : Indent paragraphs and double-space the main text.
• Font : Use a legible 12-point font (e.g., Times New Roman).
• Page numbers : Number all pages consecutively in the top right corner, starting with the first page. Alternatively, page numbers may be placed at the bottom center of the page.
• Headings and subheadings : Use headline-style capitalization for headings and subheadings, with different levels distinguished.
• Footnotes or in-text citations: Implement your chosen citation system consistently throughout the paper.
• Bibliography or reference list : Include a comprehensive list of all sources used, following Chicago style citation guidelines for your chosen system.

How Should I Choose Which Chicago Style Documentation to Use?

It’s crucial to find out which specific CMoS system is preferred by your institution, publisher, or field of study. Always consult your assignment guidelines or style manual to determine whether you should use the notes and bibliography system or the author–date system. This choice will significantly impact how you format your citations and references.

Remember that mastering CMoS takes practice. By following these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to crafting polished, professionally formatted papers that meet the expectations of your academic or professional audience.

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Chicago Research Paper Formatting

Chicago manual of style (cmos - 17th edition).

• Finding Sources for Your Paper
• Additional Resources
• Sample Papers

You are going to love this! Save this template somewhere safe or e-mail it to yourself. Then resave it immediately with the name of your new document. This will keep your template safe and ready to reuse again for future assignments.

The templates provided will be sufficient for most student Chicago Style papers. For more information on formatting, please check out The Chicago Manual of Style Online Resources for Students page at  https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/help-tools/Resources-for-Students.html . 

• Purdue Owl Author Date Sample Paper Sample paper is downloadable.
• Purdue Owl Notes Bibliography Sample Paper Sample paper is downloadable.
• Turabian: Student Paper-Writing Tip Sheets Official Chicago style, in easy-to-use, printable PDF paper-writing tip sheets for students, teachers, and librarians. Guidelines are per Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (9th ed.) and are fully compatible with The Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed.).
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• Last Updated: Apr 17, 2024 11:25 AM
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Polk State College is committed to equal access/equal opportunity in its programs, activities, and employment. For additional information, visit polk.edu/compliance .

Chicago style sample papers 

Published March 8, 2021. Updated August 15, 2021.

In general, the following formatting guidelines apply for all Chicago/Turabian-style papers (based on Kate L. Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, which adapts The Chicago Manual of Style ’s guidelines for articles and papers):

• Paper size: The paper should be written on a standard 8.5” x 11” page.
• Margins : The margins should be set to at least 1” and no more than 1.5” on all sides for all pages including the title page.
• Font: The paper should be written in a readable font that is accessible to all readers, such as 12-point Times New Roman, Calibri, or Courier, or 11-point Arial. Use one font consistently throughout the entire text. The font size should be no smaller than 10-point.
• Line spacing: The title page, body, and headings should be double-spaced. Block quotations (with a blank line before and after the block), bibliographies, reference lists, endnotes, and footnotes should be single-spaced (with a blank line between notes and reference list entries).
• First page: Papers should either begin with a title page or include a title on the first page of text.
• Indentation : The first line of each new paragraph of the main text should be indented 0.5” from the left.
• Quotations: Quotations of five or more lines should be indented as a block. Block quotations should be indented 0.5” from the left margin and do not use beginning or ending quotation marks.
• Page numbers: Every page except the title page should include a page number in an Arabic numeral. If there is no title page, the paper’s first page of body text should begin with an Arabic numeral “1.” If there is a title page, the paper’s first page of main text should begin with an Arabic numeral “2.” Place the page number either at the bottom center in the footer or the top right in the header. (Though theses or dissertations once called for page numbers to be placed in the footer for front matter, main text, and back matter, and for page numbers to be placed in the header for all other text, most schools now require consistent page number placement throughout a paper.)

For help writing your essay, research paper , or other project, check out these writing tips .

Paper order

In general, your paper should be put together in this order:

• Table of Contents (optional)
• List of Tables and Figures (optional)
• Introduction (optional)
• Body (with footnotes or in-text citations)
• Conclusion (optional)
• Appendixes (optional)
• Endnotes (optional)
• Bibliography or Reference List

Formatting for the title page

• From the top of the page, find a line about 1/3 of the way down the page and set the title (and subtitle) of the paper in bold.
• Capitalize each significant word using headline-style capitalization.
• Use the same font as the main text.
• When using subtitles, end the main title with a colon and start the subtitle on the following line.
• Double-space all text on the title page.

For student papers ONLY:

• Include course information several lines after the title and subtitle.
• course name and number
• due date of the assignment

For more information, visit this page on Chicago title pages.

Formatting for the abstract

Chicago rarely requires abstracts, which generally appear in scientific papers and journals.

For more information, visit this page on Chicago abstracts .

Formatting for the body of the paper

• When a title page is not required, write the title at the top of your first page of main text.
• Begin every new paragraph in the body of the paper on its own line with a 0.5” indentation; do this by pressing the Tab key once.
• Double-space the main text (except when using block quotations).
• Use only one space after a period, not two spaces.
• Start page numbering with the first page of body text, not the title page, and use Arabic numerals (1, 2, etc.). When there is a title page, start the first page of body text with page “2.” When there is no separate title page, start the first page of body text with page “1.”

Notes-Bibliography vs. Author-Date format

To cite references in the body of the paper, Chicago style follows either the author-date format (preferred for science and social science) or the notes-bibliography format (preferred for humanities) . Choose one format and use it consistently throughout the paper.

Author-Date

When using the author-date format, use in-text citations. To create an in-text citation, place the author’s last name and the publication year of the cited work in parentheses at the end of the quote or paraphrase. Do not separate the author’s last name and the publication year with a comma.

(Sato 2020)

If you quote a specific part of a text, you’ll also provide a specific page number or another location identifier in the in-text citation.

(Sato 2020, 203)

For author-date citations, include a reference list at the end of the paper with full source information.

For more author-date information, visit these pages on Chicago style in-text citations and Chicago style reference lists.

When using the notes-bibliography format, add a note (endnote or footnote) after each quotation, paraphrase, or summary. To create a note, insert a superscript number after any punctuation marks except the dash. Use the same number in the endnote or footnote providing full source information. The first note provides all source information while any subsequent notes may use a shortened citation with the author’s name, a shortened form of the title (if more than four words), and the page number(s).

For notes-bibliography citations, include a bibliography at the end of the paper with full source information.

For more information, visit these pages on Chicago style footnotes and Chicago style bibliographies .

Bibliography or reference list formatting

Both Chicago formats include a full list of sources at the end of a paper. Author-date format requires a reference list while notes-bibliography encourages (but does not require) a bibliography.

Here are formatting guidelines that apply to both lists:

• Begin the bibliography (Notes-Bib) or reference list (Author-Date) on a new page immediately following the last page of main text.
• Center the word “Bibliography” or “References” on the first line of the page. Add two blank lines after the title.
• Single-space each entry and add a blank line between entries.
• Begin each reference entry with a hanging indentation so that the first line of the reference touches the left margin while all subsequent lines have a 0.5” indent.
• Order reference list entries alphabetically by the author’s last name, followed by the first name(s) (last name, first name).

Apart from the guidelines above, there are some differences between creating a Chicago bibliography and reference list. For more information, visit these pages on styling a Chicago bibliography and Chicago reference list.

Notes-Bib example paper

Download the example paper here .

Author-Date example paper

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Chicago Style Guide

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Chicago Manual of Style Online

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How to Format a Chicago-style Paper

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Attribution

This guide was adapted from the Chicago Style Guide by Cathy Rettberg at Menlo School Library.

• Chicago Manual of Style This link opens in a new window The time-tested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format.

Your professors expect to receive papers that are properly formatted and laid out. Use the following guidelines when setting up your paper. It is easiest if you use the correct settings from the beginning; otherwise you will have to go back and reformat your paper.

Overall page layout

• One inch margins on sides, top and bottom.
• Use Times or Times New Roman 12 pt font.
• Double-space the text of the paper.
• Use left-justified text, which will have a ragged right edge. Do not use fully (newspaper-style) justified text.
• Use a 1/2" indent for paragraph beginnings, block quotes and hanging (bibliography) indents.
• Number the pages in the top right corner of the paper, beginning with the first page of text. It's a good idea to include your last name as well, in case pages become separated. Number straight through from the first text page to the final bibliography page but do not count any pages after the end of the text as part of your page count. (A five-page paper may also have a cover page, two pages of notes and one page of bibliography which is nine pieces of paper.)
• Center the title of your paper in the middle of the page, halfway down.
• Center your name directly under the title.
• Your professor's name, course title, and date should be written in three lines and centered at the bottom of the page.
• Use Times or Times New Roman 12 pt font for the title page. Do not try to make your cover page decorative by using bold , underline , or creative fonts.
• Do not put a page number on the cover page, and do not count it as part of the total page count.

Assemble your paper in the following order

• Cover/title page
• Body of the paper
• Appendix (if needed)

Bibliography

Names and numbers.

• Use full names of people and agencies/legislation the first time you use them. For agencies, include the acronym in parentheses after the full name when first used, e.g. Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA).
• After the first time you can refer to people by their last name or agencies/bills by their acronyms for the rest of the paper.
• Write out numbers lower than 100. (“All nine members of the Supreme Court...”)

Footnotes and endnotes

• Footnotes go at the bottom of the page where the reference occurs; endnotes go on a separate page after the body of the paper. Both use the same formatting guidelines.
• Within the essay text: put the note number at the end of the sentence where the reference occurs, even if the cited material is mentioned at the beginning of the sentence.
• The note number goes after all other punctuation.
• Be sure to use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) nor Roman (i, ii, iii).
• Put the word Notes (not Endnotes) at the top of the page with your endnotes. Use Times/Times New Roman 10 pt font.
• Single space each entry; double space between entries.
• Indent the first line of each note.
• Never reuse a number - use a new number for each reference, even if you have used that reference previously.
• Be sure to look at shortened form examples for sources you refer to more than once.
• To cite multiple sources in a single note, separate the two citations with a semicolon. Never use two note numbers at the end of a sentence.
• Your bibliography should go on a separate page, with the word Bibliography centered at the top of the page in Times/Times New Roman 12 pt font. Do not use bold or large size font for the heading.
• Be sure to use proper formatting - note and bibliography styles are different.
• Use a "hanging indent" - the first line of the citation begins at the margin, subsequent lines are indented.
• If your source has no author, alphabetize by title within the authors - don't make a separate list.
• Don't separate primary and secondary sources unless your professor requests it.

Watch out for these common errors:

• Note format uses first name last name, bibliography uses last name, first name.
• In your notes, do not reuse numbers! Each citation gets a new number.
• Pay attention to indents. Notes use a first line indent, a bibliography uses a hanging indent.
• A bibliography goes in alphabetical order by author (or title if there is no author). Notes are numbered and are listed in the order the sources are used.
• Don't put Works Cited at the top of your bibliography - that is MLA style.
• Next: Sample Pages >>
• Last Updated: Dec 12, 2023 2:19 PM
• URL: https://guide.unwsp.edu/chicago_style

Chicago Style (17th ed.): Citation Guide

• Getting Started with Chicago

Formatting a Paper in Chicago Style

Chicago paper visual guide.

• Citing Sources in Chicago Style
• Chicago Style Citation Examples
• Additional Chicago Style Resources
• Citation Guides Homepage

Sample Student Paper

• Sample Chicago Paper

Ask A Librarian

• Paper Formatting
• Bibliography

Chicago Basic Formatting Rules

The following guidelines are the basic formatting rules outlined in the  Chicago Manual of Style  17th edition. If your instructor sets different requirements, always use your instructor's guidelines first.

• readable serif font, regular-sized
• example: 12pt Times New Roman
• double space the body of the paper
• 1-inch margins on all sides
• indent the first line of each paragraph by 1/2-inch (tab)
• left-justified for the body of the paper

Page Numbers:

• count the title page as page one, but don't include a page number
• include the page number in the top right corner of all pages except the title page

Formatting Notes:

• Format note numbers as superscripts in the text of your paper
• single space each note (footnote or endnote) but double space between notes

Chicago Title Page

The following guidelines are the basic formatting rules outlined in the Chicago Manual of Style  17th edition. If your instructor sets different requirements, always use your instructor's guidelines first.

Page Number:

• do not include the page number on the title page (but it counts as page 1)

Title Page Heading:

• Paper Title
• Date (Month Day, Year)

Bibliography Formatting

The following guidelines are the basic formatting rules outlined in the Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition. If your instructor sets different requirements, always use your instructor's guidelines first.

• needs to start on a new page following the end of your paper
• include the title Bibliography  centered on the first line of the page
• everything after the title is left-justified
• listed in alphabetical order by the first part of the citation (usually the author)
• each entry is single spaced with a double space between each entry
• Each entry should have a hanging indent- or it should start at the left margin and then have all lines after it indented by 1/2-inch

Click on the information circles for tips on how to use Microsoft Word to format your paper in Chicago Style.

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• Last Updated: Jun 10, 2024 3:32 PM
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Writing Styles: Basic Chicago Style

• APA: References
• APA on YouTube
• APA: Formatting in Word
• Chicago: Bibliography
• Video: Chicago Manual of Style
• MLA: Works Cited Page
• MLA: In-text Citations
• Video: MLA style essay format
• Comparing MLA and APA

Format, Sections and Title Page: Chicago Style

• Compose using Times New Roman, 10-12 point font
• Double spaced text
• One inch margins on all sides
• One space after each end punctuation
• Page numbers: Start with first page of text, add page numbers at the top center or bottom center of the page.
• Text Pages -- the body of your paper
• Footnotes -- citations for sources that contain information about the author, content, copyright permissions, or tables.
• Bibliography -- list of sources used in your paper.
• Appendices -- materials relevant to your paper's topic that would be too distracting if presented within the paper (ex. charts, tests, questionnaires, interviews).
• The title of the paper is centered a third of the way down the page.
• Two thirds of the page down, type your name, class information, and date due, each on a separate line.
• No header on the title page.

Footnotes    Chicago Style uses numerical footnotes within the text. See next section for more information.

Bibliography    In addition to the footnote citation, Chicago style requires a separate bibliography page. Entries in the bibliography contain the same information in the footnotes with the exception of page numbers.

A Note About Titles

• T itles   of articles, chapters, essays, short stories, poems, songs, and photographs should be in  quotation marks (ex. "The Rhodora").
• Titles of books, pamphlets, periodicals, newspapers, plays, works of art, albums, movies, television programs, and catalog titles should be italicized (ex. Classical Philology).
• Titles of websites, book series, editions, broadcast networks and channels, artistic works of antiquity with unknown creators are only capitalized (ex. The History Channel).
• Titles of parts of a book (foreword, preface, appendix) are only lowercased (ex. foreword)

Footnotes: Chicago Style

Footnotes Chicago Style uses numerical footnotes within the text. The footnote should be added after the end punctuation and should include:

• Title of cited work
• Publishing city and the publisher
• Year of publication
• Page range used

Throughout a paper, even when starting a new paragraph or page, the footnotes should be in numerical order (1,2,3, etc.).

When a source is used more than once in a paper, the author(s) and title of the work may be shortened.

Example of footnote for direct quote:

Susan G. Cole explains, "The Greek word grammatikos ('literate') originally meant 'knowing the alphabet' and the word first appeared in Xenophon." 1  [Note: Footnote numbers should be elevated as superscript, or on the same level as the text.]

1 Susan G. Cole, "Could Greek Women Read and Write?." Women's Studies 8(1981): 129, Accessed February 18, 2013, doi:10.1080/00497878.1981.9978534

Example of footnote for a paraphrased text:

Schliemann and Calvert first suggested that the ancient city of Troy could be found on a site now known in Turkey as Hisarlik. 2

2 Heinrich Schliemann, Troja (New York: Benjamin Bloom Inc.,1884), 277.    [ Note: Footnote numbers should be elevated as superscript, or on the same level as the text.]

Ibid. is used when a source is cited consecutively. The source is cited fully once, and when it is used again for the next footnote, it may be cited as Ibid. If it is the same source, but the infomation used is found on a different page, add the page number after Ibid .

Example of Ibid.:

Schliemann and Calvert first suggested that the ancient city of Troy could be found on a site now known in Turkey as Hisarlik. 2 It is on this site that Schliemann claimed to have found "Priam's Treasure." 3

2 Heinrich Schliemann, Troja  (New York:  Benjamin Bloom Inc., 1884), 277.

3 Ibid., 279.

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Chicago Style Citation Examples | Website, Book, Article, Video

Published on July 25, 2018 by Courtney Gahan . Revised on April 9, 2024.

The Chicago Manual of Style provides guidelines for two styles of citation: author-date and notes and bibliography:

• In notes and bibliography style (mostly used in the humanities), you use footnotes or endnotes to cite sources.
• In author-date style (mostly used in the sciences), you use brief parenthetical references to cite sources in the text.

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In both styles, full source citations are listed in an alphabetized Chicago style bibliography or reference list . Make sure to pay attention to punctuation (e.g., commas , parentheses , and quotation marks ) in your notes and citations.

The Chicago Manual of Style is regularly updated. Our examples are all based on the 17th edition, which is the most recent (published in 2017).

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Table of contents

Chicago book citation, chicago journal article citation, chicago website citation (no author or date), chicago newspaper citation, chicago youtube citation.

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Linking to online journal articles

When citing online journal articles, use the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or a stable URL, not the URL that appears in the address bar.

Authors and dates in website citations

If the web page has a named author, use this at the start of the citation as you would for any other source. If there is a date of publication or last revision, include this instead of the access date.

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Go to Index

Author-Date: Sample Citations

Go to Notes and Bibliography: Sample Citations

The following examples illustrate the author-date system. Each example of a reference list entry is accompanied by an example of a corresponding in-text citation. For more details and many more examples, see chapter 15 of The Chicago Manual of Style . For examples of the same citations using the notes and bibliography system, follow the Notes and Bibliography link above.

Reference list entries (in alphabetical order)

Grazer, Brian, and Charles Fishman. 2015. A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life . New York: Simon & Schuster.

Smith, Zadie. 2016. Swing Time . New York: Penguin Press.

In-text citations

(Grazer and Fishman 2015, 12)

(Smith 2016, 315–16)

For more examples, see 1 5 . 40 – 45 in The Chicago Manual of Style .

Chapter or other part of an edited book

In the reference list, include the page range for the chapter or part. In the text, cite specific pages.

Reference list entry

Thoreau, Henry David. 2016. “Walking.” In The Making of the American Essay , edited by John D’Agata, 167–95. Minneapolis: Graywolf Press.

In-text citation

(Thoreau 2016, 177–78)

In some cases, you may want to cite the collection as a whole instead.

D’Agata, John, ed. 2016. The Making of the American Essay . Minneapolis: Graywolf Press.

(D’Agata 2016, 177–78)

For more details, see 15.36 and 15.42 in The Chicago Manual of Style .

Translated book

Lahiri, Jhumpa. 2016.  In Other Words . Translated by Ann Goldstein. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

(Lahiri 2016, 146)

For books consulted online, include a URL or the name of the database in the reference list entry. For other types of e-books, name the format. If no fixed page numbers are available, cite a section title or a chapter or other number in the text, if any (or simply omit).

Austen, Jane. 2007. Pride and Prejudice . New York: Penguin Classics. Kindle.

Borel, Brooke. 2016. The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking . Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ProQuest Ebrary.

Kurland, Philip B., and Ralph Lerner, eds. 1987. The Founders’ Constitution . Chicago: University of Chicago Press. http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/.

Melville, Herman. 1851. Moby-Dick; or, The Whale . New York: Harper & Brothers. http://mel.hofstra.edu/moby-dick-the-whale-proofs.html.

(Austen 2007, chap. 3)

(Borel 2016, 92)

(Kurland and Lerner 1987, chap. 10, doc. 19)

(Melville 1851, 627)

Journal article

In the reference list, include the page range for the whole article. In the text, cite specific page numbers. For articles consulted online, include a URL or the name of the database in the reference list entry. Many journal articles list a DOI (Digital Object Identifier). A DOI forms a permanent URL that begins https://doi.org/. This URL is preferable to the URL that appears in your browser’s address bar.

Keng, Shao-Hsun, Chun-Hung Lin, and Peter F. Orazem. 2017. “Expanding College Access in Taiwan, 1978–2014: Effects on Graduate Quality and Income Inequality.” Journal of Human Capital 11, no. 1 (Spring): 1–34. https://doi.org/10.1086/690235.

LaSalle, Peter. 2017. “Conundrum: A Story about Reading.” New England Review 38 (1): 95–109. Project MUSE.

Satterfield, Susan. 2016. “Livy and the Pax Deum .” Classical Philology 111, no. 2 (April): 165–76.

(Keng, Lin, and Orazem 2017, 9–10)

(LaSalle 2017, 95)

(Satterfield 2016, 170)

Journal articles often list many authors, especially in the sciences. If there are four or more authors, list up to ten in the reference list; in the text, list only the first, followed by et al . (“and others”). For more than ten authors (not shown here), list the first seven in the reference list, followed by et al.

Bay, Rachael A., Noah Rose, Rowan Barrett, Louis Bernatchez, Cameron K. Ghalambor, Jesse R. Lasky, Rachel B. Brem, Stephen R. Palumbi, and Peter Ralph. 2017. “Predicting Responses to Contemporary Environmental Change Using Evolutionary Response Architectures.” American Naturalist 189, no. 5 (May): 463–73. https://doi.org/10.1086/691233.

(Bay et al. 2017, 465)

For more examples, see 1 5 . 46–49 in The Chicago Manual of Style .

News or magazine article

Articles from newspapers or news sites, magazines, blogs, and the like are cited similarly. In the reference list, it can be helpful to repeat the year with sources that are cited also by month and day. Page numbers, if any, can be cited in the text but are omitted from a reference list entry. If you consulted the article online, include a URL or the name of the database.

Manjoo, Farhad. 2017. “Snap Makes a Bet on the Cultural Supremacy of the Camera.” New York Times , March 8, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/08/technology/snap-makes-a-bet-on-the-cultural-supremacy-of-the-camera.html.

Mead, Rebecca. 2017. “The Prophet of Dystopia.” New Yorker , April 17, 2017.

Pai, Tanya. 2017. “The Squishy, Sugary History of Peeps.” Vox , April 11, 2017. http://www.vox.com/culture/2017/4/11/15209084/peeps-easter.

Pegoraro, Rob. 2007. “Apple’s iPhone Is Sleek, Smart and Simple.” Washington Post , July 5, 2007. LexisNexis Academic.

(Manjoo 2017)

(Mead 2017, 43)

(Pegoraro 2007)

Readers’ comments are cited in the text but omitted from a reference list.

(Eduardo B [Los Angeles], March 9, 2017, comment on Manjoo 2017)

For more examples, see 15 . 49 (newspapers and magazines) and 1 5 . 51 (blogs) in The Chicago Manual of Style .

Book review

Kakutani, Michiko. 2016. “Friendship Takes a Path That Diverges.” Review of Swing Time , by Zadie Smith. New York Times , November 7, 2016.

(Kakutani 2016)

Stamper, Kory. 2017. “From ‘F-Bomb’ to ‘Photobomb,’ How the Dictionary Keeps Up with English.” Interview by Terry Gross. Fresh Air , NPR, April 19, 2017. Audio, 35:25. http://www.npr.org/2017/04/19/524618639/from-f-bomb-to-photobomb-how-the-dictionary-keeps-up-with-english.

(Stamper 2017)

Thesis or dissertation

Rutz, Cynthia Lillian. 2013. “ King Lear and Its Folktale Analogues.” PhD diss., University of Chicago.

(Rutz 2013, 99–100)

Website content

It is often sufficient simply to describe web pages and other website content in the text (“As of May 1, 2017, Yale’s home page listed . . .”). If a more formal citation is needed, it may be styled like the examples below. For a source that does not list a date of publication or revision, use n.d. (for “no date”) in place of the year and include an access date.

Bouman, Katie. 2016. “How to Take a Picture of a Black Hole.” Filmed November 2016 at TEDxBeaconStreet, Brookline, MA. Video, 12:51. https://www.ted.com/talks/katie_bouman_what_does_a_black_hole_look_like.

Google. 2017. “Privacy Policy.” Privacy & Terms. Last modified April 17, 2017. https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

Yale University. n.d. “About Yale: Yale Facts.” Accessed May 1, 2017. https://www.yale.edu/about-yale/yale-facts.

(Bouman 2016)

(Google 2017)

(Yale University, n.d.)

For more examples, see 1 5 . 50–52 in The Chicago Manual of Style . For multimedia, including live performances, see 1 5 . 57 .

Social media content

Citations of content shared through social media can usually be limited to the text (as in the first example below). If a more formal citation is needed, a reference list entry may be appropriate. In place of a title, quote up to the first 160 characters of the post. Comments are cited in reference to the original post.

Conan O’Brien’s tweet was characteristically deadpan: “In honor of Earth Day, I’m recycling my tweets” (@ConanOBrien, April 22, 2015).

Chicago Manual of Style. 2015. “Is the world ready for singular they? We thought so back in 1993.” Facebook, April 17, 2015. https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoManual/posts/10152906193679151.

Souza, Pete (@petesouza). 2016. “President Obama bids farewell to President Xi of China at the conclusion of the Nuclear Security Summit.” Instagram photo, April 1, 2016. https://www.instagram.com/p/BDrmfXTtNCt/.

(Chicago Manual of Style 2015)

(Souza 2016)

(Michele Truty, April 17, 2015, 1:09 p.m., comment on Chicago Manual of Style 2015)

Personal communication

Personal communications, including email and text messages and direct messages sent through social media, are usually cited in the text only; they are rarely included in a reference list.

(Sam Gomez, Facebook message to author, August 1, 2017)