Chicago Style Overview

The Chicago Manual of Style, often abbreviated as CMS, is a highly respected style guide within academic and publishing circles. Its comprehensive approach covers a broad range of topics, making it an ideal tool for authors, editors, proofreaders, indexers, and more. Primarily used within the fields of history and the humanities, the Chicago Style is known for its flexibility, offering two distinct citation methods: the Notes-Bibliography System (NB) and the Author-Date System.

The NB system is generally preferred for humanities papers that require broad source material, while the Author-Date system is more common in the physical, natural, and social sciences.

In the Notes-Bibliography system, you cite sources in numbered footnotes or endnotes. Each note corresponds to a superscripted note number in the text. This system allows for a wide range of sources, and flexibility in terms of the types of information you can include.

The Author-Date system, on the other hand, involves in-text citations, featuring the author's last name, the year of publication, and page numbers if relevant. This is followed by a reference list, similar to the one in APA style.

The choice between the two systems often depends on the subject matter and the nature of sources cited, as both are equally recognized within the Chicago style.

Format Chicago Style Footnotes

What are footnotes?

Footnotes are notes placed at the bottom of a page in a document that comment on or cite a reference for a designated part of the text above it. In the Chicago Style, footnotes are used to cite sources and provide additional information.

Where should footnotes be placed?

Footnotes should be located at the bottom of the page where the reference occurs. They are typically separated from the main body of text by a line, beginning at the left margin of the paper.

Each footnote is indented and numbered consecutively throughout a piece of writing. The number appears after the relevant punctuation mark — for instance, at the end of a sentence following the period. If the reference applies to a sentence or a part of it, the footnote should come after the comma or the final punctuation.

How to insert footnotes?

Most word processing software like Microsoft Word and Google Docs have built-in features to add footnotes. In Word, you can add a footnote by clicking on the "References" tab and then selecting "Insert Footnote." In Google Docs, click on "Insert" then "Footnote."

How to format footnotes in the Chicago Style?

After inserting the footnote, you should write the citation. The first line of each footnote is indented five spaces, and the line is single-spaced with one line space between each note. The note number is followed by a period and a space.

Footnote numbers should be superscripted in the text, but the numbers in the footnote section at the bottom of the page should be full-sized, followed by a period.

Subsequent references to the same text can be shortened to the author's last name, the title (shortened if longer than four words), and the page number(s).

Consistency is key!

It's important to remain consistent in your use of footnotes throughout your document. Always use the same style and follow the same rules for every footnote.

Full or Shortened Footnote?

Footnotes in Chicago style can be presented in two forms: full and shortened. These two formats are used depending on whether a source is cited for the first time or in subsequent citations.

Full Footnotes

Full footnotes are used when a source is cited for the first time in a text. They include complete bibliographic information, such as the author's name, the title of the source, the publication date, and any other relevant details.

For example, the format for a full footnote for a book citation would be as follows:

Example:

Shortened Footnotes

Shortened footnotes are used for subsequent citations of a source already cited in a full footnote. They typically include only the author's last name, a shortened title (if the title is long), and the page number(s).

Shortened footnotes help maintain readability while still providing necessary information for readers to locate the original source.

A shortened footnote for a book citation:

Tips for Using Full and Shortened Footnotes

To effectively use full and shortened footnotes in Chicago style, keep the following tips in mind:

• Use a full footnote for the first citation of a source and shortened footnotes for subsequent citations.
• Ensure that your footnotes are numbered consecutively throughout your document.
• Use a consistent format for all full and shortened footnotes, adhering to the guidelines provided by the Chicago Manual of Style.
• Include a bibliography at the end of your document to provide a complete list of sources cited, further facilitating research for your readers.

Below you will find an example of how these two types of Chicago footnotes would look like in an actual paper:

Format Your Bibliography in Chicago Style

A bibliography is an essential part of any research paper, allowing readers to easily locate the sources you've cited. In the Chicago style, the bibliography is placed at the end of your work and provides full information about each source.

• Placement: The bibliography should appear at the end of your paper, on its own new page(s). The word "Bibliography" should be centered at the top of the page.
• Order: Entries in the bibliography should be listed in alphabetical order by the last name of the first author. If there's no author, use the title of the work.
• Indentation: Use a hanging indent for each entry. This means the first line is aligned with the left margin, and any subsequent lines are indented by 0.5 inches.
• Line Spacing: Entries should be single-spaced, but there should be one blank line space between each entry.
• Capitalization: In titles and subtitles, capitalize the first word, the last word, and all principal words. This includes words that follow hyphens in compound terms.
• Punctuation: In a bibliography, all major elements are separated by periods.
• Titles: Book and periodical titles should be italicized. If the work is an article or a chapter from a larger work, the title should be in quotation marks, and the book or periodical title that follows should be italicized.

The exact format may vary depending on the source type (e.g., book with multiple authors, edited volumes, online sources, etc.). Always consult the Chicago Manual of Style or your professor/assignment guidelines for any specific formatting rules.

Cite Books in Chicago Style

The Chicago Style provides two primary citation styles: the Notes and Bibliography system, used mainly in the humanities, and the Author-Date system, typically used in the sciences. The format for citing books varies depending on the system used.

In the Notes and Bibliography system, the first note for each source provides full bibliographic information. For a book, this includes the author's name, the book's title (in italics), the city of publication, the publisher's name, and the year of publication.

Subsequent notes for the same source can be shortened to the author's last name, a shortened version of the title, and the page number. In the bibliography, the author's name is inverted (last name first), and the elements of the citation are separated by periods instead of commas.

Here's the general format for a book citation in Notes and Bibliography:

First note:

Chicago full note citation for a book:

Subsequent notes:

Example:

Below you will see the standard structure for a bibliography entry for a book citation in the Chicago Notes and Bibliography style:

For Example:

In the Author-Date system, a brief parenthetical citation, including the author's last name, the year of publication, and a page number, appears in the text. Full bibliographic details are provided in a reference list at the end of the document, arranged alphabetically by author's last name.

Here's the general format for a book citation in Author-Date:

In-text citation:

Example:

Reference list:

Example:

For books with multiple authors, editors, editions, volumes, or translated versions, the citation format can become more complex. Always consult the CMOS or a trusted citation guide for more specific instructions.

Cite Journal Articles in Chicago Style

Like with book citations, Chicago style provides two primary citation styles for journal articles: the Notes and Bibliography system and the Author-Date system.

Here's the general format for a journal article citation in Notes and Bibliography:

First note:

Chicago full note citation for a journal article:

Subsequent notes:

For example:

Below you will see the standard structure for a bibliography entry for a book citation in the Chicago Notes and Bibliography style:

For example:

In the Author-Date system, a brief parenthetical citation, including the author's last name, the year of publication, and a page number, appears in the text. Full bibliographic details are provided in a reference list at the end of the document, arranged alphabetically by author's last name.

Here's the general format for a journal article citation in Author-Date:

In-text citation for a journal article:

Example:

Reference list entry for a journal article:

For example:

Let's delve into some more complex scenarios for citing journal articles in Chicago.

If a journal article has more than one author, list the authors in the order they appear in the publication. Both in the notes and the bibliography, use "and" to separate the authors' names.

First note citation for a journal article with two authors in Notes and Bibliography:

Bibliography entry for a journal article with two authors:

If the article is from an online journal or a database, you should include a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or URL at the end of the citation.

A first note citation for a journal article found in an online journal or a database:

Remember, these are just a few of the possible variations you might encounter when citing journal articles in Chicago style. Always consult the CMOS or a reliable citation guide for more specific instructions if you encounter unusual citation scenarios.

Cite Websites in Chicago Style

The Chicago Manual of Style provides a comprehensive guide for citing various types of sources, including websites. The aim is to provide a consistent and clear method for acknowledging sources and avoiding plagiarism. With the proliferation of digital content, it's increasingly common to cite websites in academic work.

While citing a website in Chicago style generally follows a standard format, there are exceptions and different scenarios that can alter this format. The main components include the author's name, the title of the web page, the name of the website, the publishing organization, the publication or revision date, and the URL.

Here's the general format for a journal article citation in Notes and Bibliography:

First note citation for a website:

Example:

Subsequent notes:

Short note example:

Below you will see the standard structure for a bibliography entry for a website citation in the Chicago Notes and Bibliography style:

For example:

In the Author-Date system, a website is first cited briefly in the text, usually in parentheses, by author's last name and date of publication. The short citations are amplified in a list of references, where full bibliographic information is provided.

Here's the general format for various website citations in the Author-Date style:

In-text citation for a website:

Example:

Reference list entry for a website:

For example:

If there's no author, start with the title of the webpage. If there's no publication date, use the abbreviation "n.d" and then include the access date after the website name.

Some Exceptions and Notes:

• If the website name is essentially the same as the author, it can be omitted to avoid repetition.
• If you cannot find a publication date or if the webpage is continuously updated, use an access date instead.
• If the URL is excessively long or the result of a short-term search, provide the homepage or a more stable URL, if possible.
• For blog posts, treat the blog like a periodical, and include the post title in quotation marks and the blog name in italics.

Cite Book Chapters in Chicago Style

In the vast landscape of academic writing, it's common to find valuable insights in a single chapter of a book rather than the entire volume. Whenever this occurs, it's important to correctly cite the specific chapter you're referencing. The Chicago Manual of Style offers comprehensive guidelines for citing book chapters. Both systems provided by Chicago style, the notes-bibliography style and the author-date style, accommodate chapter-specific citations.

Here's how you can structure book chapter citations in Notes and Bibliography:

First note:

Example:

Below you will see the standard structure for a bibliography entry for a book chapter citation in the Chicago Notes and Bibliography style:

For example:

In the Author-Date style, sources are cited briefly in the text, usually in parentheses, by author's last name and date of publication. The short citations are amplified in a list of references, where full bibliographic information is provided.

In-text citation for a book chapter:

Example:

Reference list entry for a book chapter:

For example:

However, there are a few special situations you might encounter when citing book chapters in Chicago. Here are a few potential exceptions and how to handle them:

No author:

If the chapter does not have a specific author, start with the chapter title in your citation.

No editor:

If the book doesn't have an editor, simply omit the "ed. Editor's First name Last name" from your citation.

Chapter in a single-author book:

If you're citing multiple chapters from the same book, and the book is written entirely by one author (not edited), you don't need to cite each chapter individually. Instead, you can cite the entire book. But, if you specifically want to emphasize different chapters, it is permissible to cite each one separately.

Translated or revised editions:

If you're citing from a translated or revised edition of a book, you should include this information in your citation. For translated books, after the title, add "translated by Translator's First name Last name." For revised editions, after the title, add the edition number (e.g., "2nd ed.").

Cite Newspaper & Magazine Articles in Chicago

As with book chapters, the Chicago Manual of Style provides two basic citation systems: notes-bibliography style (or simply bibliography style) and author-date style (sometimes called reference list style).

How to structure newspaper and magazine citations in Notes and Bibliography:

First note citation for a newspaper or magazine article:

Example:

Below you will see the standard structure for a bibliography entry for magazine and newspaper citations in the Chicago Notes and Bibliography style:

For example:

In the Author-Date style, sources are cited briefly in the text, usually in parentheses, by author's last name and date of publication. The short citations are amplified in a list of references, where full bibliographic information is provided.

Here's the guide for citing newspaper and magazine articles in Author-Date:

In-text citation for a newspaper or magazine article:

Example:

Reference list entry for a newspaper or magazine article:

For example:

Exceptions and notes:

• For newspaper articles, you typically do not need to include the specific page numbers in your citation.
• If an article is unsigned, begin the citation with the title of the article.
• If the article is from a wire service (e.g., Associated Press), use the service as the author in your citation.
• When citing an online article, if a DOI is available, use it in place of a URL.
• If the article is printed, and you don't have the exact date of publication, but only the year or month, adjust the citation accordingly.
• If the article is from a daily newspaper or magazine, include the exact date of publication. If from a weekly or monthly publication, just the month and year are needed.
• If an online article has no publication date, use the access date in its place.

Remember, the goal of citation is to provide enough information for readers to find the source material themselves. If you're ever in doubt, it's better to provide a bit too much information than too little.

Cite Conference Papers in Chicago Style

Conference papers can be a bit tricky because they're often published in various forms — a print collection of a conference's proceedings, a journal issue dedicated to the conference, or even not at all.

Regardless, below you will find a detailed guide on how to cite conference papers in both the Notes-Bibliography style and the Author-Date style according to the Chicago Manual of Style.

Here's how to structure conference paper citations in Notes and Bibliography:

First note citation for a conference paper:

Example:

Below you will see the standard structure for a bibliography entry for a conference paper citation in the Chicago Notes and Bibliography style:

For example:

In the Author-Date style, sources are cited briefly in the text, usually in parentheses, by author's last name and date of publication. The short citations are amplified in a list of references, where full bibliographic information is provided.

Here's the guide for citing conference papers in the Author-Date style:

In-text citation for a conference paper:

Example:

Reference list entry for a conference paper:

For example:

Exceptions and notes:

• If the conference paper is published in a journal or in conference proceedings, it should be cited according to the rules of that specific source type.
• If you accessed the conference paper online, include the URL at the end of your citation.
• If the conference paper is not formally published, the title should be capitalized sentence-style and not in italics or quotation marks.
• If the conference name includes significant information about the conference's number, location or date, or the sponsoring institution, include it as part of the title in the citation.

Remember, the aim of citation is to provide enough information for your readers to be able to find the source material themselves. When in doubt, it's better to err on the side of providing more information.

Cite Films in Chicago Style

In academic and professional writing, sources of information and inspiration are often not limited to traditional print materials. Audio and visual sources, such as films, television episodes, podcasts, and music tracks, often provide rich insights and perspectives.

Citing these non-textual sources, however, can be a bit tricky. This guide aims to demystify the process by providing clear guidelines for citing audio and visual materials in both the Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date styles of the Chicago Manual of Style.

Here's how to structure audio and visual media citations in Notes and Bibliography:

Footnote for a film citation:

Example:

Below you will see the standard structure for a bibliography entry for film sources in the Chicago Notes and Bibliography style:

For example:

In the Author-Date style, sources are cited briefly in the text, usually in parentheses, by author's last name and date of publication. The short citations are amplified in a list of references, where full bibliographic information is provided.

Here's the guide for citing audio and video sources in the Author-Date style:

In-text citation for a film:

Example:

Reference list entry for a film:

For example:

If the audio or visual material is part of a larger work (like a television episode in a series), the title of the larger work should be included in the citation.

Let's take an episode from the TV series "Stranger Things." Here's how you'd cite it:

Chicago full note citation for a TV show episode:

Chicago bibliography entry for a TV show episode:

Exceptions and notes:

• For online audio or video files, include the URL at the end of your citation. If a DOI is available, use it in place of a URL.
• If there are significant contributors besides the director or performer (like producers or screenplay writers), they can be included after the title.

As with other citation types, the goal is to provide enough information for your readers to be able to locate the source material themselves. When in doubt, include more information rather than less.

Cite Social Media Posts in Chicago Style

In today's digital age, social media platforms have become crucial sources of information, ideas, and discourse. From Twitter threads exploring the latest scientific discoveries to Instagram posts showcasing new artistic trends, these platforms are shaping the way we learn, communicate, and create. Now it's common to cite social media posts in academic and professional writing.

However, citing such sources can be challenging, given their unique structure and the often informal nature of the content. This guide aims to simplify the process by providing clear guidelines for citing social media posts in both the Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date styles of the Chicago Manual of Style.

When referencing brief social media content like tweets within your paper, it's enough to merely provide an in-text citation or footnote. However, if you're performing a detailed analysis or extensive discussion about such tweets, it would be appropriate to include them in the bibliography or references section.

Here's how to structure citations for social media posts in Notes and Bibliography:

Footnote for a social media post:

Footnote citation for a Twitter post:

Below you will see the standard structure for a bibliography entry for social media posts in the Chicago Notes and Bibliography style:

For example:

In the Author-Date style, sources are cited briefly in the text, usually in parentheses, by author's last name and date of publication. The short citations are amplified in a list of references, where full bibliographic information is provided.

Here's the guide for citing social media posts in the Author-Date style:

In-text citation for a social media post:

Example:

Reference list entry for a social media post:

Exceptions and notes:

• If the post is long, it is acceptable to use a shortened form of the post in the citation, followed by an ellipsis (...).
• If the author's real name is not available, the username alone is sufficient.
• When citing a post with a hashtag, include the hashtag in the citation.
• Include the URL of the specific post when available, not just the URL of the platform or the user's profile.

As always, the main goal of citation is to provide enough information for readers to find the source material themselves. If you're ever in doubt, it's better to include more information rather than less.

Cite Images & Artwork in Chicago Style

Artwork and images often serve as powerful tools of communication, offering perspectives and insights that words alone may not fully capture. Whether it's a historical photograph, an avant-garde painting, or a poignant digital illustration, these visual forms of expression are increasingly being incorporated into academic and professional writing.

Citing these sources correctly, however, can be somewhat complex due to factors such as the medium, dimensions, location, and availability of the work. This guide aims to simplify this process, providing comprehensive instructions for citing images and artwork in both the Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date styles of the Chicago Manual of Style.

Here's how to structure citations for images and artwork in Notes and Bibliography:

Footnote for an image:

Example:

Below you will see the standard structure for a bibliography entry for images and artworks in the Chicago Notes and Bibliography style:

For example:

In the Author-Date style, sources are cited briefly in the text, usually in parentheses, by author's last name and date of publication. The short citations are amplified in a list of references, where full bibliographic information is provided.

Here's the guide for citing images and artwork in the Author-Date style:

In-text citation for an image:

Example:

Reference list entry for an image:

For example:

Exceptions and notes:

• If the artwork is viewed in person, omit the URL.
• If the artwork is part of a larger publication and not viewed directly, cite it as you would any part of a book.
• If there is no title, provide a brief description of the work instead of a title. Here's an example of how this would look like in a footnote citation:

  Unknown artist, Untitled (portrait of a woman in a red dress), 1805, oil on canvas, Private Collection.

• The dimensions of the artwork do not need to be included, but it can be helpful in some disciplines.
• If the year of creation is unknown, use "n.d." for "no date."

Cite Theses & Dissertations in Chicago Style

Theses and dissertations represent the culmination of a significant body of work, often serving as an essential resource in their respective fields. Whether you are citing a master's thesis in history, a doctoral dissertation in psychology, or a similar work in any other discipline, it's important to credit this rigorous scholarly effort accurately. This guide provides detailed instructions for citing theses and dissertations in both the Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date Chicago Styles.

Below is the basic citation structure for theses and dissertations in the Notes and Bibliography format:

Footnote citation for a thesis or dissertation:

Example:

Below you will see the standard structure for a bibliography entry for theses and dissertations in the Chicago Notes and Bibliography style:

For example:

In the Author-Date style, sources are cited briefly in the text, usually in parentheses, by author's last name and date of publication. The short citations are amplified in a list of references, where full bibliographic information is provided.

Here's the guide for citing theses and dissertations in the Author-Date style:

In-text citation for a thesis or dissertation:

Example:

Reference list entry for a thesis or dissertation:

For example:

If the thesis or dissertation was found in a public database, include the URL of the thesis. If the thesis or dissertation is not publicly accessible, or was read in print, omit the URL.

As with other citation types, the main goal is to provide enough information for your readers to be able to locate the source material themselves. When in doubt, include more information rather than less.

Cite Legal Documents in Chicago Style

Government and state documents serve as vital resources in a variety of academic fields, offering authoritative data, policy analysis, legislative history, and more. Given their diversity and the specific manner in which they are organized and referenced, citing these materials appropriately can be complex. This guide provides detailed instructions on citing legal and state documents in both the Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date styles of the Chicago Manual of Style.

Below is the basic citation structure for government documents in the Notes and Bibliography format:

Footnote citation for a government document:

Example:

Below you will see the standard structure for a bibliography entry for government and state documents in the Chicago Notes and Bibliography style:

For example:

For specific Federal or State Statutes or US Supreme Court Cases, the citations will follow a slightly different format, which you can see below.

Footnote structure for a Federal or State Statute:

Example:

Footnote structure for a US Supreme Court Case:

Example:

The Chicago Manual of Style doesn't provide many specific examples for citing legal materials in the Author-Date style, as this style is more common in physical, natural, and social sciences. However, it recommends referring to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation.

Exceptions and notes:

• For cases or laws that have a well-known popular name, you may include that in your citation.
• If the document is available online, include the URL and the date of access.
• If you're citing the U.S. Constitution, abbreviate it as "U.S. Const."

Cite Classical Works in Chicago Style

Citations of ancient texts are typically confined to footnotes or endnotes, and only included in a bibliography when referencing commentary or annotations from a modern editor. The unique identifiers that mark distinct parts of classical pieces, including books, sections, and lines, remain consistent across all versions, whether they are in the original language or translated.

Example:

Below is the basic structure for citing classical works in Notes and Bibliography:

Footnote for a classical work translated and edited by a modern author:

Example:

Below you will see the standard structure for a bibliography entry for classical works in the Chicago Notes and Bibliography style:

For example:

In the Author-Date style, sources are cited briefly in the text, usually in parentheses, by author's last name and date of publication. The short citations are amplified in a list of references, where full bibliographic information is provided.

Here's the guide for citing classical works in the Author-Date style:

In-text citation for a classical work:

Example:

Reference list entry for a classical work:

For example:

Exceptions and notes:

• If citing from an anthology or collection, include the editor's name in the citation.
• When citing ancient texts, it is common to cite by book/section/line numbers rather than page numbers, since they will be the same across different editions.
• For ancient works, the year of the translation or version you used is what should be included in the citation, not the original publication year.

Cite Course Materials & Lectures in Chicago

Course materials and lectures, whether they are from your own classes or an online course, are vital sources of information. These can include lecture notes, slides, study guides, or other instructional materials provided by professors or instructors. This guide will outline how to cite course materials and lectures using both the Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date styles of the Chicago Manual of Style.

Below is the basic structure for citing course materials in Notes and Bibliography:

Footnote for a class lecture:

Example:

Below you will see the standard structure for a bibliography entry for course materials and lectures in the Chicago Notes and Bibliography style:

For example:

In the Author-Date style, sources are cited briefly in the text, usually in parentheses, by authors last name and date of publication. The short citations are amplified in a list of references, where full bibliographic information is provided.

Heres the guide for citing classical works in the Author-Date style:

In-text citation for a course material:

Example:

Reference list entry for a course material:

For example:

Exceptions and notes:

• Course materials such as lecture notes/slides that are available online can also include a URL.
• If the material is not titled, describe it in square brackets after the author's name (e.g., [lecture notes]).
• For guest lectures, include the lecturer's name, not the course instructor's.

Cite Personal Communications in Chicago

Personal communications encompass a wide range of materials including letters, emails, text messages, social media posts, and even private conversations. Unlike most published sources, these forms of communication often can't be retrieved by readers. Hence, they should be used sparingly in academic writing, and always with the explicit consent of the sender or speaker.

This guide will outline how to cite personal communications using both the Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date styles in the Chicago Manual of Style.

Below is the format for citing personal communications in Notes and Bibliography:

Footnote for a personal communication:

Footnote example for an email:

Example:

Foornote example for an interview:

The Notes and Bibliography style uses footnotes or endnotes in the text, but personal communications are typically not included in the bibliography because they cannot be retrieved by readers.

In the Author-Date style, personal communications are cited briefly in the text or in parentheses, but not included in the reference list as it is non-recoverable data.

In-text citation for a personal communication:

Example:

Exceptions and notes:

• Personal communications, including email and text messages, are usually cited in the text or in a note only; they're rarely included in a bibliography or reference list.
• It is crucial to obtain permission from the person involved before citing personal communication.
• If a recorded, publicly available interview was conducted with the person, this should be cited as a separate type of source rather than personal communication.

Remember, while personal communications can sometimes provide valuable insights or context, they should be used sparingly in academic writing due to their inherently unverifiable and non-recoverable nature. Always strive to use the most authoritative and accessible sources possible in your work.

Chicago Style: Final Notes

The Chicago citation format offers a consistent and comprehensive method for citing a variety of sources in your academic work. By becoming adept at the Chicago citation style, you enhance the professionalism of your work and aid your readers in easily tracking down the sources you've referenced.

This detailed guide on the Chicago citation style is intended to provide you with a strong basis for accurately citing sources in your research. Always remember that Bibcitation is always here to assist you in your academic journey, offering a precise and user-friendly citation generator for your writing.