Chicago Referencing Style Guide (17th ed.) - Author and Date
The Chicago referencing style 17th edition author-date system provides a clear framework for citing sources in scientific and social science research through parenthetical in-text citations and comprehensive reference lists. This guide covers essential formatting rules, from basic single-author citations to complex multi-source references, emphasizing the critical connection between in-text citations and reference entries. Understanding these fundamentals enables students and researchers to document sources accurately while maintaining academic integrity and helping readers locate cited works.
Chicago referencing style has shaped academic writing since 1906, when the University of Chicago Press first published what would become the definitive guide for scholars, researchers, and students across disciplines. The 17th edition brought significant updates that reflect how we write and cite in the digital age, making proper source documentation more accessible than ever.
Think of academic citations as breadcrumbs. They lead readers back to your sources while protecting your credibility. Without proper Chicago author-date citations, even brilliant research can crumble under plagiarism accusations. This guide walks you through everything you need to master the Chicago referencing style’s author-date system, from basic in-text citations to complex reference lists.
What Is Chicago Referencing Style 17th Edition?
The Chicago Manual of Style provides two distinct reference systems: Notes and Bibliography Style, and the Author-Date System. The author-date system works differently from its counterpart by placing brief parenthetical citations directly in your text. In this system, sources are briefly cited in the text, usually in parentheses, by author’s last name and year of publication.
The Chicago referencing style earned its reputation through rigorous development. Published since 1906 by the University of Chicago Press, the Chicago Manual of Style has prescribed writing and citation styles widely used in publishing. What started as a 203-page compilation has evolved into an comprehensive reference that guides writers worldwide.
The citation and referencing services available today make implementing Chicago style easier, but understanding the fundamentals remains crucial for academic success.
Why the Author-Date System Matters
The Author-Date System is preferred by those working in the social sciences, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, and economics. Unlike the Notes-Bibliography system favored in humanities, Chicago author-date emphasizes the publication year—critical information when research currency matters.
Scientists and social scientists need to quickly assess source relevance. When you see (Johnson 2024) versus (Johnson 1995), you immediately understand which research reflects current thinking. This temporal transparency makes Chicago author-date referencing invaluable in fields where knowledge evolves rapidly.
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Understanding the Core Components of Chicago Author-Date
The Chicago author-date system consists of two essential elements working in tandem: in-text citations and a reference list. Think of them as partners in a dance—each incomplete without the other.
In-Text Citations: Your Signposts to Sources
In author-date style, an in-text citation consists of the author’s name, the publication year, and (if relevant) a page number. These compact references appear parenthetically within your text, pointing readers toward full source details in your reference list.
The basic format follows this pattern: (Author Year). No comma separates the author’s name from the year. Add a comma before page numbers when citing specific passages: (Smith 2023, 45). This simplicity makes Chicago in-text citations straightforward once you grasp the pattern.
Students often confuse Chicago style with APA or Harvard formats. While similarities exist, Chicago referencing has distinct rules. Each in-text citation matches up with an entry in a reference list, where full bibliographic information is provided. This coordination between citation and reference ensures readers can locate every source you’ve consulted.
The research paper writing services frequently emphasize proper citation formatting because it forms the foundation of academic integrity. When working on complex projects, understanding these basics prevents costly revision cycles.
Reference Lists: Complete Source Information
Your reference list appears at the end of your document, providing comprehensive publication details for every source cited. Your Reference list must provide full and accurate details, as it is the means by which the reader can follow up your sources.
The Chicago reference list differs from bibliographies used in Notes-Bibliography style. The Reference List in Author-Date style should list all the sources cited in the work. Unlike a bibliography, it should not contain any sources NOT cited in the text. Every citation in your text must have a corresponding reference entry, and vice versa.
Students pursuing homework help advanced placement courses need to master this distinction. Reference lists document only cited sources, while bibliographies can include additional readings.
Mastering In-Text Citations in Chicago Author-Date
Basic Citation Formats
The foundation of Chicago author-date citations rests on simple patterns that scale up for complex situations. Understanding these core formats prepares you for any citation challenge.
Single Author Citations
When citing a source with one author, use the format: (Last Name Year). For example: (Morrison 2019). If you refer to a specific part of the text, you should also add a page number or page range to direct the reader to the relevant passage: (Morrison 2019, 23-25).
You can integrate citations into your prose naturally. If you name the author in your sentence, you only need to include the date and page number in parentheses. Consider these examples:
“Morrison (2019) argues that…” “Recent research supports this conclusion (Morrison 2019, 156).”
Multiple Authors
When a source has 3 or more authors, your in-text citation should give only the first author’s name followed by “et al.” This abbreviation, from the Latin “et alii” meaning “and others,” streamlines citations without sacrificing clarity.
Two or three authors: (Smith and Jones 2022) or (Smith, Jones, and Lee 2021) Four or more authors: (Smith et al. 2023)
Chicago author-date offers flexibility in citation placement. Narrative Citation is an author prominent citation format. Use this format when you want to emphasise the author. Conversely, Parenthetical Citation is an information prominent citation format. Use this format when you want to emphasise the information.
Narrative citations integrate the author into your sentence structure: “According to Williams (2022, 89), the methodology…” “Thompson (2023) challenges this assumption…”
Parenthetical citations appear at sentence end: “The methodology shows significant flaws (Williams 2022, 89).” “This assumption has been challenged (Thompson 2023).”
Strategic citation placement strengthens your writing. Emphasize authors when their credentials or perspective matters. Emphasize information when the finding itself carries more weight than its source.
Multiple Works and Special Situations
If multiple citations are needed at the same point, they should appear in the same set of parentheses separated by a semicolon: (Brown 2021; Davis 2022; Miller 2023). Alphabetize multiple citations just as they’d appear in your reference list.
Same Author, Different Years
When citing multiple works by one author published in different years, list them chronologically: (Garcia 2019, 2021, 2024). The reader can easily track the development of Garcia’s thinking over time.
Same Author, Same Year
If you are citing multiple sources by the same author that were also published in the same year, you must add an identifier next to the year so that the sources can be distinguished within the text. Add lowercase letters: (Chen 2022a, 2022b). These letters appear in both your citations and reference entries, maintaining the crucial connection between them.
Students tackling dissertation writing projects frequently encounter this situation when deeply researching an author’s work. The alphabetical designation follows title order in your reference list.
No Author Citations
If the source has no author, cite the work by its short title, but must include the first word (other than an initial article) of the title. Format depends on source type:
Journal articles or chapters: (“Short Title” 2023) Books or websites: (Short Title 2023)
Corporate or organizational authors replace individual names: (American Psychological Association 2021). If the abbreviation of the corporate author is familiar or readily understandable then it can be entered as the corporate author: first reference (APA 2021), subsequent references (APA).
Quotations vs. Paraphrasing
Direct quotations require page numbers in Chicago citations: “The results demonstrate clear patterns” (Anderson 2023, 142). Include page numbers in in-text citations when citing quoted material.
Paraphrased content generally doesn’t require page numbers unless you’re referencing a specific section. No page number is needed in an in-text citation when you are referring to the source as a whole. However, including page numbers for paraphrases shows thoroughness and helps readers locate your evidence.
The distinction matters greatly. The how to avoid plagiarism in homework guide emphasizes that paraphrasing without citation constitutes plagiarism just as surely as unattributed quotations do.
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Your reference list follows specific formatting rules that distinguish it from other parts of your document. Reference List / Bibliography entries are formatted with a hanging indent. This indentation style makes entries easily scannable—the author’s name juts out, catching the reader’s eye.
Basic formatting requirements:
Start on a new page with “References” or “Reference List” centered at the top
Single-space within entries, double-space between them (unless instructed otherwise)
Arrange entries alphabetically by author’s last name
Use hanging indents (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches)
Italicize book titles and journal names
Place article titles in quotation marks
Citation entries are alphabetized by the first letter of the author’s last name. Entries that have no author or title are alphabetized by title, excluding articles such as A, An, and The.
Author Name Formatting
First author is written as Surname, First Names, then all other authors are given as they appear in the item. This inversion helps with alphabetization while maintaining clarity.
Single author: Smith, John Andrew. 2023.
Multiple authors: Wilson, John Andrew, Debbie M. Smith, and Patricia Jones. 2022.
If you have two or more sources by the same author, but each source is published in a different year, use the “3-em dash” for the second and subsequent entries for the same author:
Morrison, Toni. 2019. The Source of Self-Regard. —. 2021. The Origin of Others.
The three-em dash (—) replaces the author’s name in subsequent entries, signaling continuation while reducing visual clutter.
Date and Title Elements
The date’s placement distinguishes Chicago author-date from Notes-Bibliography style. In the Author-Date system sources are cited in the text, in parentheses, and full details appear in the reference list at the end, with date of publication appears after the details of the authors/editors.
Title capitalization follows headline style for books and journals. Capitalise the first letter of all significant words. Only capitalize major words, not articles, prepositions, or conjunctions (unless they’re the first word).
This Is My Life: Collection of Photos by Andrew Snowden ✓ This is my Life: collection of photos by Andrew Snowden ✗
Article titles are not italicised, are enclosed in double quotation marks, and all significant words are capitalised. “The Impact of Climate Change on Marine Ecosystems.”
Students working with term paper writing assignments must pay close attention to these capitalization rules, as inconsistency undermines professionalism.
Publisher Information
Note that a place of publication is no longer required in book citations in the 17th edition. This change streamlined citations, recognizing that publication location matters less in the digital age. Simply list the publisher name after the title.
Old format (16th edition): Smith, John. 2018. Research Methods. New York: Academic Press.
New format (17th edition): Smith, John. 2018. Research Methods. Academic Press.
This simplification reduces citation length without sacrificing essential information. The publisher’s identity matters; their location doesn’t.
Citing Books in Chicago Author-Date Format
Basic Book Citations
The standard book citation includes author, year, title, and publisher. Author. Year. Title. Publisher.
Single author book: Morrison, Toni. 2012. Home. Alfred A. Knopf.
In-text: (Morrison 2012) or Morrison (2012) argues…
The format scales consistently. Once you master the basic structure, more complex citations follow logically.
Multiple Authors and Editors
If the book has two or three authors or editors, list all names in the order that they appear on the title page. Separate the names with commas and write “and” before the last name.
Two authors: Sadker, Myra, and David Sadker. 1995. Failing at Fairness: How America’s Schools Cheat Girls. Touchstone.
Three authors: Boyer, Paul, Clifford Clark, and Joseph Kett. 2019. The Enduring Vision. Cengage.
In the in-text citation, list only the first author followed by “et al.” In the reference list, you should list all of the authors. If a source has six or more authors, the reference list should only list three authors and then “et al.”
Edited books: Marks, P. J. M., and Stephen Parkin, eds. 2023. The Book by Design: The Remarkable Story of the World’s Greatest Invention. University of Chicago Press.
The “eds.” abbreviation immediately following the names signals editorial rather than authorial roles.
Translated Works
In the following example, note the absence of a comma after “Liu” in the author’s name, which follows Eastern order (family name first) rather than Western order (family name last): Liu Xinwu. 2021. The Wedding Party. Translated by Jeremy Tiang. Amazon Crossing.
Cultural sensitivity matters in citations. Respect naming conventions from different cultures rather than forcing Western standards. When uncertain, research the author’s preferred name order.
E-books and Online Books
To cite a book consulted online, include either a URL or the name of the database in the reference list entry. Digital formats require slight modifications:
E-book with DOI: Thompson, Sarah. 2022. Digital Humanities Research. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316987654.
E-book from database: Williams, Robert. 2021. Statistical Methods in Psychology. Sage Publications. ProQuest Ebook Central.
For downloadable ebook formats, name the format; if no fixed page numbers are available, cite a section title or a chapter or other number in the text. Kindle editions and similar formats lack standard pagination, so reference chapter numbers or section headings when citing specific passages.
Book Chapters and Anthology Entries
The page range for a chapter in a book is no longer required in reference list entries, though you may include it for reader convenience.
Chapter in edited book: Doyle, Kathleen. 2023. “The Queen Mary Psalter.” In The Book by Design: The Remarkable Story of the World’s Greatest Invention, edited by P. J. M. Marks and Stephen Parkin. University of Chicago Press.
The in-text citation references the chapter author: (Doyle 2023, 45).
Students completing case study writing projects often need to cite individual chapters from methods books or case collections. This format ensures proper credit to both chapter authors and book editors.
When Should You Include Page Numbers in Citations?
You’re quoting from the text. You’re paraphrasing a particular passage. You’re referring to information from a specific section—these situations require page numbers. When you’re referring to the overall argument or general content of a source, it’s unnecessary to include page numbers.
Context determines necessity. Broad statements about an author’s thesis don’t need pinpoint precision. Specific claims or direct quotes demand exact locations.
What’s the Difference Between a Reference List and a Bibliography?
A reference list is used with Chicago author-date citations. A bibliography is used with Chicago footnote citations. Both present the exact same information; the only difference is the placement of the year in source citations: In a reference list entry, the publication year appears directly after the author’s name. In a bibliography entry, the year appears near the end of the entry.
This distinction confuses students because the terms seem interchangeable. In Chicago referencing, they’re functionally different but informationally identical. Your citation style determines which term and format you use.
How Do I Handle Sources Without Publication Dates?
If a source 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. The format becomes: (Author n.d.).
The access date proves you viewed the source at a specific time, important for web content that may change or disappear.
Can I Mix Parenthetical and Narrative Citations?
Absolutely. The author-date style gives you some flexibility in where you place your citations in the text. Vary your citation style to improve readability and maintain natural prose flow. Dense paragraphs full of (Author Year) become tedious. Strategically integrating author names into sentences creates more engaging academic writing.
Citing Journal Articles in Chicago Author-Date
Journal articles form the backbone of academic research in most disciplines. The Chicago author-date system handles them with specific formatting that highlights crucial information: author, year, article title, journal name, volume, issue, page range, and DOI.
Print and Online Journal Format
The basic format follows: Author. Year. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal Volume (Issue): Page range. DOI, permalink, or library database.
The pattern remains consistent whether you’re citing print or digital articles. Include the date that you accessed the materials if it is a time sensitive issue or you are advised to do so by your professor.
Print journal article: Anderson, Rebecca. 2022. “Digital Transformation in Higher Education.” Journal of Educational Technology 45, no. 3: 234-256.
In-text citation: (Anderson 2022, 240)
Online journal with DOI: Cuman, Giulia, and Chris Gastmans. 2017. “Minors and Euthanasia: A Systematic Review of Argument-Based Ethics Literature.” European Journal of Pediatrics 176, no. 7: 837–847. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-017-2934-8.
There are three variations in how a journal’s volume and issue number can be arranged: Article has a volume and issue number or season: 114 (5): 165. Article has a volume but no issue number or season: 114:165. Article has an issue number but no volume number: no. 5, 165.
This flexibility accommodates different journal publishing practices. Some journals organize by volume alone, others add issue numbers, and some use seasonal designations like “Spring” or “Fall.”
Students pursuing homework help international students usa often struggle with these variations because international journals follow different conventions than American publications.
Multiple Authors in Journal Citations
For works by two authors, list both in the reference list and the text. For three or more authors, list up to six in the reference list; for more than six authors, list the first three, followed by “et al.”
In the text, list only the first, followed by “et al.” This distinction matters—your reference list provides complete author information while in-text citations remain concise.
Reference list (six authors): Smith, John, Maria Garcia, David Chen, Sarah Williams, Robert Lee, and Patricia Brown. 2023. “Collaborative Research Methods.” Social Science Review 34, no. 1: 12-45.
In-text: (Smith et al. 2023)
Reference list (eight authors): Anderson, Kate, James Wilson, Laura Martinez, et al. 2022. “Large-Scale Climate Data.” Environmental Research 67, no. 4: 456-489.
Article Numbers and Special Formats
Dror example includes an article ID in place of a page range. Some journals, particularly open-access publications, use article identifiers instead of page numbers.
Dror, Amiel A., Nicole Morozov, Amani Daoud, et al. 2022. “Pre-Infection 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Levels and Association with Severity of COVID-19 Illness.” PLOS ONE 17, no. 2: e0263069. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263069.
Advance online publications (also known as “ahead of print”) are articles that have been accepted and edited by a journal but the print issue has not yet been released. These usually will not have volume, issue, or page numbers. Use the posted publication date.
Use this template for preprint articles, usually found on preprint servers: Author. Year. “Title of Article.” Preprint, Preprint Server, Month/Day. DOI or permalink.
Preprint example: Planer, Ronald J., Elisa Bandini, and Claudio Tennie. 2023. “Hominin Tool Evolution and Its (Surprising) Relation to Language Origins.” Preprint, SocArXiv, October 17. https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/rztx7.
Forthcoming article: Smith, John. Forthcoming. “Quantum Pizza: A Study on the Dual Nature of Toppings in Alternate Realities.” Journal of Improbable Gastronomy, accepted October 16, 2024. https://doi.org/10.9999/improb.gastron.2024.0420.
Students working on thesis writing projects frequently need to cite forthcoming works, especially when their research builds on cutting-edge scholarship.
Citing Digital Sources in Chicago Author-Date
Digital sources have become primary research materials. The 17th edition updated website citation practices to reflect contemporary online publishing.
Website Citations
If the source you are citing has a clear publication date, use that as the source’s date. Otherwise, look for a revision date; many websites will make note of when they were last modified, edited, or revised.
Use n.d. as the date if there is no publication date. When no date exists, add an access date.
Basic website format: Author/Organization. Year. “Title of Page.” Website Name. Last modified Date. URL.
Website with author and date: Johnson, Sarah. 2023. “Understanding Climate Models.” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Last modified January 15, 2023. https://www.noaa.gov/climate-models.
Website without date: Los Angeles County Museum of Art. n.d. “Conversation.” Accessed March 10, 2020. https://www.lacma.org/learn/conservation.
The treatment of titles of websites has changed slightly. If the website has a print counterpart, such as the website for a newspaper, the title should be in italics. If it does not, it should not be in italics.
Websites with print equivalents (italicized):New York TimesThe Washington Post
Websites without print equivalents (not italicized): Wikipedia Citation Machine
Sections of a website, such as a specific header, an individual page, a single blog entry, etc. should be written in roman with quotation marks. The distinction helps readers understand content hierarchy.
Social Media Citations
Citations of content posted to social media can usually be limited to the text. If a more formal citation is needed, a reference list entry may be appropriate. In place of a title, quote up to the first 280 characters of the post.
Informal (in-text only): The Instagram post included a photo of the president delivering a eulogy at the National Cathedral and referred to O’Connor as “gracious and principled” (@potus, December 19, 2023).
Formal reference: 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.
Twitter/X citation: NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb). 2022. “👀 Sneak a peek at the deepest & sharpest infrared image of the early universe ever taken—all in a day’s work for the Webb telescope.” Twitter, July 11, 2022. https://twitter.com/NASAWebb/status/1546494371846234112.
Blogs are not typically cited in bibliographies. They are generally cited in the footnotes/endnotes section. Of course, if the writer or professor prefers a full bibliographic reference, one can be created.
When formal citation is needed, treat blogs like online magazines with italicized titles and (blog) designation.
Blog post: Williams, Robert. 2023. “Machine Learning Fundamentals.” Data Science Today (blog), March 15, 2023. https://datasciencetoday.com/ml-fundamentals.
Online multimedia should be cited using the general format. Note that whether the title of the work should be set in italics or in roman with quotation marks will vary from one medium to another.
Video citation: Harris, Taylor. 2023. “Introduction to Quantum Computing.” YouTube video, 15:42. Posted August 10, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abc123.
Podcast episode: Martinez, Elena, host. 2024. “The Future of Renewable Energy.” Science Today Podcast, January 20, 2024. MP3 audio, 42:15. https://sciencepodcast.com/renewable-energy.
For newspapers and magazines, page numbers are only included in the note not the bibliography section. This convention recognizes that newspaper pagination varies by edition.
Newspaper article: Thompson, Maria. 2024. “Rising Sea Levels Threaten Coastal Communities.” Washington Post, January 25, 2024. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate/sea-levels.
In-text: (Thompson 2024)
Magazine article: Chen, David. 2023. “The Future of Electric Vehicles.” Scientific American, November 2023, 34-41.
Government Documents
Government documents follow this format: Name of Government Body/Division, Publication Title, (Place of Publication: Publisher, Year), URL.
Federal government: U.S. Department of State. 1965. Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1943. Washington, DC: GPO. https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AHYZCVT6HJUNS78B3.
In-text: (U.S. Department of State 1965, 562)
State/local government: Government of Ontario. 2014. “About Ontario.” Ontario. Last modified July 8. https://www.ontario.ca/page/about-ontario.
Published dissertation: Williams, Sarah. 2022. “Climate Change Impact on Agricultural Systems.” PhD diss., Stanford University. ProQuest (28542156).
Unpublished thesis: Martinez, Carlos. 2023. “Neural Networks in Medical Diagnosis.” Master’s thesis, MIT.
In-text: (Williams 2022) or (Martinez 2023)
Conference Papers
Published proceedings: Anderson, Robert. 2023. “Machine Learning Applications in Healthcare.” In Proceedings of the International Conference on AI, edited by Jane Smith, 145-162. New York: IEEE Press.
Unpublished paper: Chen, Lisa. 2024. “Sustainable Urban Development.” Paper presented at the Annual Urban Planning Conference, Chicago, March 15.
Students working on research proposal writing often cite conference papers to demonstrate engagement with current research trends.
What's New in the 17th Edition
The 17th edition brought significant changes reflecting digital-age writing conventions. Understanding these updates prevents outdated citations.
Stylistic Changes
In a departure from previous editions, Chicago Manual of Style 17 discourages the use of ibid. Instead, include a shortened footnote citation. This change primarily affects Notes-Bibliography style, but the philosophy extends to author-date: clarity trumps brevity.
The 17th edition, however, discourages the use of “ibid” in favor of shortened citations. The footnote can instead start with the author’s last name, and include the page number.
Linguistic modernization:
“Email” replaces “e-mail” (no hyphen)
“Internet” becomes lowercase “internet”
Singular “they” receives formal acceptance
“Website” standardizes as one word
Formatting Updates
A place of publication is no longer required in book citations. This streamlines references significantly.
Old format (16th edition): Brown, James. 2015. Research Methods in Psychology. New York: Academic Press.
New format (17th edition): Brown, James. 2015. Research Methods in Psychology. Academic Press.
The page range for a chapter in a book is no longer required in reference list entries, though including it helps readers locate specific content.
The 17th edition embraced digital publishing realities. Website titles follow clearer rules, DOIs receive priority over URLs, and social media gets formal recognition. These changes acknowledge that online sources equal print sources in scholarly importance.
For online resources, provide an access date if the publication date is unavailable. This practice protects citations of changing web content.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even experienced writers make Chicago citation errors. Recognition prevents repetition.
Punctuation Problems
Common error: Comma between author and year in parenthetical citations Wrong: (Smith, 2023) Right: (Smith 2023)
Common error: Missing comma before page numbers Wrong: (Johnson 2022 45) Right: (Johnson 2022, 45)
Date Placement Confusion
The author-date system’s defining feature—date after author—trips up students familiar with Notes-Bibliography style.
Notes-Bibliography: Morrison, Toni. Home. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2012. Author-Date: Morrison, Toni. 2012. Home. Alfred A. Knopf.
When a source has 3 or more authors, your in-text citation should give only the first author’s name followed by “et al.” Students forget the period after “al” or misapply the rule.
In-text (correct): (Smith et al. 2023) Reference list: Smith, John, Maria Garcia, and Robert Chen. 2023…
Hanging Indent Errors
Reference List / Bibliography entries are formatted with a hanging indent. The first line starts at the left margin; subsequent lines indent 0.5 inches. Word processors automate this, but manual formatting often goes wrong.
Missing Page Numbers for Quotations
Include page numbers in in-text citations when citing quoted material. Direct quotes without page numbers constitute incomplete citations.
Incomplete: Anderson (2023) argues that “climate change demands immediate action.” Complete: Anderson (2023, 142) argues that “climate change demands immediate action.”
DOIs and URLs should not be hyperlinked. Present them as plain text: https://doi.org/10.1234/example
A DOI or URL does not belong in an in-text citation. Ever. They appear only in reference lists.
Tools and Resources for Chicago Citations
Technology simplifies citation management. Understanding available tools maximizes efficiency.
Citation Management Software
Zotero
Zotero is open source and cannot be acquired by a company. This independence ensures long-term accessibility. Zotero can be used solely as a web-based library but more functionalities are available with the downloadable desktop tool (Mac, Windows, and Linux).
The Zotero Connector is a browser plug-in (Firefox, Chrome, Edge, or Safari) that allows you to save whatever you come across online into your web/desktop library. One-click capture streamlines research collection.
You can integrate Zotero into your word processor (Word, Google Docs, and OpenOffice) so you can use it as a citation manager in-text as well as for your bibliography.
In September 2017 the 17th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style (CMoS) manual was released. In response, we just updated most CMoS CSL citation styles to the 17th edition format, including the three CMoS citation styles that are bundled with Zotero.
Mendeley
Mendeley is a citation management tool that helps you import citations from the web and plugs into Word to insert citations as you write. PDF Management: Mendeley allows you to read, annotate, and highlight PDFs within the citation library.
Citation Generation: Mendeley can generate citations in a wide range of citation styles, including APA, MLA, Chicago, and many others.
EndNote
EndNote X9 offers some advanced features that might be necessary for your discipline and work flow, including hundreds of built-in citation styles. Many universities provide institutional access.
All tools automatically format bibliographies and citations in MLA, APA, Chicago Manual of Style, or thousands of other styles.
Remember that switching between the tools is possible, but it does become less convenient the longer you use a tool and the more file attachments you collect.
Consider Zotero if:
You need free, open-source software
Your research involves diverse source types
You want browser integration for easy capture
You use Google Docs or LibreOffice
Consider Mendeley if:
You work primarily with PDFs
You need robust annotation features
You use other Elsevier products (ScienceDirect, Scopus)
Consider EndNote if:
Your institution provides access
You need advanced organizational features
You manage large reference libraries
Your field uses specialized citation styles
Please be aware that automatically generated citations may not provide accurate results. If you choose to use a citation software product, take the time to make the necessary corrections.
Students completing coursework writing projects benefit from citation managers that integrate with writing workflows.
Official Resources
University of Chicago Press The official Chicago Manual of Style Online provides authoritative guidance. Follow the links at the top of this page to see examples of some of the more common source types cited in both systems.
Purdue OWL Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab is a great source for detailed information on paper formatting and citation examples for Chicago Style.
University Library Guides Many institutions maintain comprehensive Chicago style guides. These resources often provide discipline-specific examples relevant to your field.
The 17th edition introduced several key changes. The treatment of titles of websites has changed slightly MetaLib, publication places disappeared from book citations, and "ibid" fell out of favor. Email lost its hyphen, internet became lowercase, and singular "they" gained acceptance. These changes reflect evolving language conventions and digital publishing realities.
The practical impact? Citations became cleaner and more streamlined. Students switching between editions must verify current requirements with instructors or publishers.
When Should I Use Page Numbers?
Include page numbers in in-text citations when citing quoted material Syracuse University Libraries. You're quoting from the text. You're paraphrasing a particular passage. You're referring to information from a specific section —these situations demand page numbers.
When you're referring to the overall argument or general content of a source, it's unnecessary to include page numbers . Distinguish between specific claims requiring precision and broad references to entire works.
What Is Et Al. and When Do I Use It?
"Et al." abbreviates the Latin "et alii" meaning "and others." When a source has 3 or more authors, your in-text citation should give only the first author's name followed by "et al."
In reference lists, list all authors (up to six). For seven or more authors, list the first three followed by "et al." This balance provides complete information while maintaining readability.
How Do I Cite Sources with No Author?
When no author exists, use the organization name or shortened title. If the title is longer than four words, use a shortened version of it starting with the first word (excluding articles).
Format depends on source type: italics for books and websites, quotation marks for articles. Always maintain alphabetical order in reference lists based on the first significant word.
What's the Difference Between Reference List and Bibliography?
In Chicago author-date, use "Reference List." The Reference List in Author-Date style should list all the sources cited in the work. Unlike a bibliography, it should not contain any sources NOT cited in the text.
Bibliographies in Notes-Bibliography style may include additional readings. Reference lists document only cited sources, ensuring perfect correspondence between in-text citations and entries.
Can I Use Ibid in Author-Date System?
No. "Ibid" belongs exclusively to Notes-Bibliography style. The author-date system repeats full parenthetical citations: (Smith 2023, 45). This repetition ensures clarity—readers immediately identify sources without consulting previous citations.
How Do I Cite Multiple Works by Same Author?
List chronologically in both citations and reference lists: (Garcia 2019, 2021, 2024). For multiple works published the same year, add lowercase letters: Smith, James. 2012a. "Example Article." Science Journal 2, no. 1. The alphabetical designation follows title order.
What If There's No Publication Date?
Use n.d. as the date if there is no publication date. Format becomes: (Author n.d.). In reference lists, replace the year with "n.d." and include access dates for web sources: Accessed January 15, 2024.
How Do I Handle Sources from Databases?
When listing an online document (for example, a thesis, report, or journal article) in the references, if possible, provide a DOI. If the source does not have a DOI, link to the document itself (PDF, etc.) or to the landing page that directs the reader to the full text. Include database names only for specialized or subscription databases. Omit common databases like JSTOR when DOIs provide stable links.
Should I Include URLs for All Online Sources?
Cite the DOI wherever possible. If no DOI is available, cite the URL (preferably a stable url or permalink if available). Prioritize DOIs because they provide permanent links regardless of URL changes.
For websites without DOIs, include complete URLs. When the note entry includes a URL that must be divided between two lines, break it after a colon or a double slash or before a tilde (~), period, single slash, comma or hyphen
How Do I Cite AI-Generated Content?
The 17th edition predates AI content generation tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E. Consult the Chicago Manual of Style Online for current guidance. Generally, treat AI-generated text as a tool rather than an author, noting its use in your methodology rather than formal citations. The using ai responsibly homework help guide addresses ethical considerations for AI-assisted research and writing.
Can I Mix Chicago Author-Date with Other Styles?
Never mix citation styles within one document. Choose either Chicago author-date or another system (APA, MLA, Notes-Bibliography) and apply it consistently throughout. The Chicago Manual of Style includes instructions for two systems of citation: The Notes and Bibliography Chicago-style citation system is primarily used in the humanities. The Author-Date Chicago-style citation system is primarily used in the sciences and social sciences.
Consistency maintains professionalism and prevents reader confusion. Check assignment requirements before beginning research to select the appropriate style.
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Kelvin Gichura is a dedicated Computer Science professional and Online Tutor. An alumnus of Kabarak University, he holds a degree in Computer Science. Kelvin possesses a strong passion for education and is committed to teaching and sharing his knowledge with both students and fellow professionals, fostering learning and growth in his field.
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