Chicago Style Citation Guide

Understanding Chicago Style Citation

Chicago style is a widely used citation format, particularly in history, literature, and the arts. It offers two distinct systems for citing sources: the Notes-Bibliography (NB) system and the Author-Date (AD) system. Choosing the right one often depends on your field of study or specific assignment guidelines.

The Notes-Bibliography (NB) System

This system is prevalent in the humanities. It uses numbered footnotes or endnotes within the text to cite sources, and these notes correspond to a bibliography at the end of the paper.

How it works:

1. In-text citation: When you first refer to a source, you insert a superscript number at the end of the sentence or clause containing the information.
2. Footnotes/Endnotes: At the bottom of the page (footnote) or at the end of the paper (endnote), you'll find a corresponding numbered entry. The first time a source is cited, the note provides full bibliographic information. Subsequent citations of the same source use a shortened format.
3. Bibliography: This is an alphabetical list of all sources cited in your paper, appearing at the end.

Example: Footnote/Endnote Citation (First Reference)

Let's say you're citing a book titled "The History of Chicago" by Jane Doe, published in 2020.

• Book:

1. Jane Doe, The History of Chicago (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2020), 45.

• Journal Article:

2. John Smith, "Urban Development in the Midwest," Journal of American History 105, no. 2 (September 2018): 312.

• Website:

3. "About Us," City of Chicago Official Website, accessed October 26, 2023, https://www.chicago.gov/about.

Example: Footnote/Endnote Citation (Subsequent Reference)

If you cite Doe's book again:

1. Doe, History of Chicago, 112.

Example: Bibliography Entry

The bibliography entries are more formal and alphabetized by author's last name.

• Book:

Doe, Jane. The History of Chicago. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2020.

• Journal Article:

Smith, John. "Urban Development in the Midwest." Journal of American History 105, no. 2 (September 2018): 305-320.

• Website:

"About Us." City of Chicago Official Website. Accessed October 26, 2023. https://www.chicago.gov/about.

The Author-Date (AD) System

This system is more common in the social sciences. It uses in-text parenthetical citations that include the author's last name and the publication year, along with page numbers if necessary. A reference list at the end provides full details for each source.

How it works:

1. In-text citation: You place the author's last name and the year of publication in parentheses within your text. If you're quoting directly or referring to a specific part of the source, you also include the page number.
2. Reference List: This is an alphabetical list of all sources cited in your paper, similar to a bibliography, but formatted according to AD conventions.

Example: In-text Citation

Using the same sources as before:

• Book:

(Doe 2020, 45)

• Journal Article:

(Smith 2018, 312)

• Website:

("About Us" n.d.) or (City of Chicago n.d.) - if no author is listed, you might use the title or organization.

Example: Reference List Entry

The reference list entries are also alphabetized.

• Book:

Doe, Jane. 2020. The History of Chicago. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

• Journal Article:

Smith, John. 2018. "Urban Development in the Midwest." Journal of American History 105 (2): 305-320.

• Website:

"About Us." City of Chicago Official Website. Accessed October 26, 2023. https://www.chicago.gov/about.

Key Elements for Both Systems

Regardless of the system you use, consistency is vital. Pay close attention to punctuation, capitalization, and the order of information.

• Author Names: Use the full name for the first mention in notes or bibliographies. In AD reference lists, last name comes first.
• Titles: Italicize book and journal titles. Put article and chapter titles in quotation marks.
• Publication Information: Include place of publication, publisher, and year for books. For journals, include volume, issue, and date.
• URLs and DOIs: Provide URLs for online sources and DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) for journal articles when available.

Common Citation Scenarios

Let's look at a few more specific examples to help you out.

Citing a Book

• NB (Bibliography): Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year.

Example: Miller, Frank. The Dark Knight Returns*. New York: DC Comics, 1986.

• AD (Reference List): Author Last Name, First Name. Year. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher.

Example: Miller, Frank. 1986. The Dark Knight Returns*. New York: DC Comics.

Citing a Journal Article

• NB (Bibliography): Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal Volume, no. Issue (Year): Page Numbers.

Example: Garcia, Maria. "The Impact of Social Media on Political Discourse." Political Science Quarterly* 135, no. 3 (2020): 450-472.

• AD (Reference List): Author Last Name, First Name. Year. "Title of Article." Title of Journal Volume (Issue): Page Numbers.

Example: Garcia, Maria. 2020. "The Impact of Social Media on Political Discourse." Political Science Quarterly* 135 (3): 450-472.

Citing a Website

For websites, you often need to be flexible as information can vary.

• NB (Bibliography): Author Last Name, First Name (or Organization Name). "Title of Page/Article." Title of Website. Publication Date (if available). Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.

* Example: National Aeronautics and Space Administration. "Mars Exploration." NASA. Updated March 15, 2023. Accessed October 26, 2023. https://www.nasa.gov/mars.

• AD (Reference List): Author Last Name, First Name (or Organization Name). Year (or n.d. if no date). "Title of Page/Article." Title of Website. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.

* Example: National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 2023. "Mars Exploration." NASA. Accessed October 26, 2023. https://www.nasa.gov/mars.

When in Doubt, Consult the Manual

The Chicago Manual of Style is the definitive guide. For complex citations or if you're unsure about a specific source type, referring to the latest edition of the manual is always the best approach. If you're struggling to get your citations just right, EssayGazebo.com offers professional writing and editing services that can help ensure your work adheres to Chicago style or any other required format.

Mastering Chicago style takes practice, but by understanding the core principles of the Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date systems and by paying close attention to detail, you can confidently cite your sources and enhance the credibility of your academic work.