Chicago Style Citation Guide: Understanding the Chicago Manual of Style Format with Examples

The Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) is a widely used guide for manuscript preparation and publication. Often abbreviated as CMOS or simply Chicago and called the “editor’s bible,” it provides detailed instructions on grammar, usage, formatting, citation and more. Thus, the Chicago Manual of Style is an essential resource for researchers aiming to ensure clarity and consistency in scholarly communication. 

First published in 1906, the Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition was the most recent version until 2024, when the most current version, i.e., 18th edition, was released. The Chicago Manual of Style provides detailed guidelines for creating citations, managing Chicago style footnotes and endnotes, organizing a Chicago style bibliography, and much more.  

The Chicago style format has two documentation systems: the “notes and bibliography (NB)” system and the “author-date” system. Whether you are using a Chicago citation generator or typing out your citations and bibliography manually, it is important to understand Chicago style referencing. Managing proper Chicago style format and Chicago style citation can seem daunting at first. This post will walk you through everything you need to know about creating a paper perfectly formatted as per the Chicago Manual of Style. 

What is Chicago Manual of Style (17th Edition)? 

Published by the University of Chicago Press, the Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) is an authoritative resource for researchers, editors, and publishers. Published in September 2017, it expanded the style guidelines of the previous edition to address evolving technology, publishing practices, and electronic workflows.  

It provides detailed instructions for the Chicago style format, including Chicago style footnotes, referencing, and citation. The Chicago Manual of Style also outlines rules for grammar and punctuation. This style guide has therefore become the go-to resource for authors seeking to maintain consistency and clarity in their academic manuscripts. 

How is Chicago Style Citation Different from Other Citation Styles? 

In the APA citation format, the author’s last name and the year of publication appear in the text. If one is referring to a particular part of a source, the page number may be included, e.g., “(Robinson et al., 2013, p. 43).”  

In MLA style citations, the author’s last name and page number(s) are provided, and in-text citations correspond to a Works Cited list. 

In the AMA citation style, in-text citations appear as superscript reference numbers, and the references appear as a numbered list. 

Chicago style citation differs from other citation formats mainly in its two citation systems. Unlike APA and MLA citation styles, Chicago style referencing includes two main systems for citing sources: the “notes and bibliography” (NB) system, primarily used in the humanities, and the “author-date” system, commonly used in the sciences. The NB system features Chicago style footnotes or Chicago style endnotes. This flexibility provided by the Chicago Manual of Style allows writers to choose the system that best suits their discipline and audience. 

Notes and Bibliography (NB) in Chicago Manual of Style 

NB in Chicago Manual of Style is typically used in the fields of literature, history, and the arts. In this system, sources are cited using numbered notes that correspond to superscript numbers within the text. This system allows space for unusual types of sources, as well as to include commentary. 

Introduction to Notes 

Chicago style footnotes or Chicago style endnotes are used whenever a source is referenced through quotes, paraphrases, or summaries. Each citation is marked by a superscript number in the text. This allows readers to access source information without cluttering the main text.  

Introduction to Bibliography

In the NB system, a Chicago style bibliography appears at the end of a paper, listing all sources alphabetically (by authors’ last names, or by title when no author exists). This structured approach ensures that all referenced materials are easily accessible for verification. 

Citing Sources in Chicago Style (Notes and Bibliography)

Chicago style footnotes or Chicago style endnotes list the author name, title, and details of publication, with the elements separated by commas and publication details within parentheses. Each note begins with a number followed by a period and space. The number corresponds to a superscript note reference number in the text (appearing after the punctuation). It is worth mentioning that in the electronic format, the note and its number are linked. Footnotes appear at the bottom of the relevant page (Fig. 1a), whereas endnotes are found where a chapter or document ends, listed together at the end of the paper before the bibliography. 

When a bibliography is included or the same source is being referred to subsequently, the notes can use shortened citations with the author’s surname, shortened title, and page numbers (Fig. 1b). Remember that notes should be numbered consecutively throughout the paper. 

Figure 1a. Chicago style footnote: full.

Figure 1b. Chicago style footnote: shortened.

shorteneFigure 1b. Chicago style footnote: shortened.  

Figure 2. Chicago style bibliography.

Chicago Author-Date Style 

The Chicago author-date style represents an alternative approach to Chicago style citation, and it is particularly favored in the sciences and social sciences. This system uses a parenthetical in-text citation format, which corresponds to an alphabetically arranged reference list. Instead of using footnotes, the Chicago style citation system incorporates the author’s last name and publication year directly in the text. 

In Chicago author-date style, sources (author’s last name followed by the year of publication, without punctuation) appear in parentheses within the text, e.g.: 

(Singh 2023) 

When referring to a part of the text, the page number or page range is provided, e.g.: 

(Singh 2023, 117–120) 

Now, you have learnt how to cite Chicago style references, with ample Chicago style citation examples, including how to cite a book Chicago style. While it is indeed tedious to remember the minutiae of formatting and styles, Chicago citation generators can help you when you need to create a Chicago style paper! 

Chicago Manual of Style 18th Edition Updates 

The evolving nature of academic publishing and digital resources means that style manuals will keep undergoing revisions. The Chicago Manual of Style 18th edition, released in September this year, introduces several updates, including “changed,” “clarified,” and “new or expanded” aspects under punctuation, usage, sources, and manuscript preparation. Overall, the core principles remain consistent with the Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition. 

Some key changes in the Chicago Manual of Style 18th edition that are relevant to researchers are as follows: 

• The new edition recommends placing acknowledgments in the back matter rather than in the front matter for most types of books.
• There is no longer a need to mention the place of publication for books published in or after 1900. For books published before 1900, the publisher’s name may be omitted but the city/state of publication and date of publication should be provided. 
• Shortened citations are to take one of three forms: author-title (Chicago style citation’s regular short form), author-only, or title-only. 
• Required elements of a citation that have been mentioned in the text may be omitted from a footnote owing to its proximity to the text (but not from an endnote). 
• Authors using AI-generated content must disclose its use, editing status, and cite specific content with generation dates and version numbers. 
• When writing a Chicago style paper, it is important to stay updated about the latest standards to ensure that your manuscript’s format meets current academic requirements. 

Key Takeaways 

• The Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition), published by the University of Chicago Press, is often referred to as the “editor’s bible.” It is a comprehensive guide for manuscript preparation and publication, detailing grammar, usage, formatting, and citation practices. The Chicago Manual of Style serves as a valuable resource for researchers to maintain clarity and consistency in their scholarly writing. 

• The 18th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style was released in 2024, introducing several updates such as changes, clarifications and new or expanded points. 

• Chicago style citation features two primary citation systems: the notes and bibliography (NB) and author-date systems. Unlike APA and MLA styles, which have a single format for citations, Chicago Manual of Style offers flexibility through its two systems. This adaptability allows authors to choose the method that best fits their discipline. 

• NB is commonly used in the humanities. This system employs footnotes or endnotes for citations and includes a bibliography at the end of the document. In the NB system, citations are marked with superscript numbers in the text, corresponding to detailed footnotes or endnotes that include publication details. A bibliography is required at the end. 

• The author-date system is preferred in the sciences. It uses parenthetical citations (author’s last name and year) within the text that correspond to an alphabetically arranged reference list.  

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. How is the 17th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style different from the 16th edition?

Some major updates over the Chicago Manual of Style 16th edition were the treatment of a website’s title (if there is a print version, the title should be italicized; if not, it should remain unformatted) and the use of “ibid.” The 17th edition recommends against using “ibid.” and instead suggests using shortened citations. Footnotes now begin with the author’s last name followed by the page number. 

2. What is the difference between the notes and bibliography and author-date systems?

The notes and bibliography system uses Chicago style footnotes or Chicago style endnotes for citations, along with a bibliography. Footnotes appear at the bottom of the relevant page, whereas endnotes appear at the end of a chapter or document, before the bibliography. 

Meanwhile, the Chicago author-date style employs parenthetical citations within the text, with a reference list at the end.  

3. How can I cite a journal article in Chicago style?

As per Chicago style citation format, this can be done in two ways: 

(i) To cite a journal article in Chicago style using the notes and bibliography system, use either footnotes or endnotes with full details upon first mention: 

Note:  

1. Author First Name Last Name, “Title of Article,” Journal Name volume number (year): page numbers.
2. Subsequent references to the same text (shortened note): 
3. Last name, “Article Title,” page number.

Chicago style bibliography: 

Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Journal Name volume number (year): page range. 

*Note that the first and last names are flipped in the note vis-à-vis the bibliography. 

(ii) To cite a journal article in Chicago style using the author-date system, use the following: 

In-text citation: (Author Last Name Year, page no.) 

Reference list entry: Author Last Name, First Name. Year. “Article Title.” Journal Name Volume, no. Issue: Page range. 

4. How to cite a book in Chicago style?

Here is a Chicago style citation example (NB) for a book with one author: 

Kent Portney, Taking Sustainable Cities Seriously (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2003) 

In the bibliography, this will appear as follows: 

Portney, Kent. Taking Sustainable Cities Seriously. Cambridge, MIT Press, 2003. 

(*Note that the first and last names are flipped in the citation as a note vis-à-vis the bibliography.) 

Next, here is an example of a Chicago style citation (NB) for a book with two authors: 

Harriet Bulkeley and Michele M. Betsill, Cities and Climate Change: Urban Sustainability and Global Environmental Governance (London: Routledge, 2003), 25. 

In the bibliography, this will appear as follows: 

Bulkeley, Harriet, and Michele M. Betsill. Cities and Climate Change: Urban Sustainability and Global Environmental Governance. London: Routledge, 2003. 

(*Note that the first and last names are flipped for the first author only in the note vis-à-vis the bibliography.) 

For more than three authors, list the first author’s name followed by “et al.” However, unlike notes, the bibliographic citations should include the names of all authors. 

Next, for Chicago style citation in the author-date system, here is an example: 

 (Phyllis 1991, 15) 

The reference list entry will be as follows: 

Phyllis, Phoebe. 1991. Failing Wildly. Penguin. 

5. How do I cite multiple authors in Chicago style?

For works with multiple authors: 

– In the notes: List all authors’ names on first mention; use “et al.” for subsequent mentions if there are four or more authors. 

– In the bibliography: List all authors’ names; invert only the first author’s name. 

6. How can I use Chicago style footnotes?

To use Chicago style footnotes, place a superscript number at the end of your sentence or quotation corresponding to a note at the bottom of your page detailing your source information.  

7. How do I create endnotes in Chicago style?

Endnotes are created similarly to footnotes but are compiled at the end of a chapter or document instead of at the bottom of each page. Use superscript numbers within your text that correspond to numbered entries at the end. 

8. How to cite a website in Chicago style?

The format for citing a website as a note in Chicago style is as follows: 

Author First Name Last Name, “Page Title,” Website Name, Month Day, Year, URL. 

Example: 

1. Sunaina Singh. “How to Cite in APA Format (7th edition): Citation Style Guide.” Paperpal. August 21, 2024. https://paperpal.com/blog/researcher-resources/apa-7th-citation-style.

Shortened note: 

Author Last Name, “Shortened Page Title.” 

Example: 

2. Singh, “APA Format.”

Bibliography: 

Author Last Name, First Name. “Page Title.” Website Name. Month Day, Year. URL. 

Example: 

Singh, Sunaina. “How to Cite in APA Format (7th edition): Citation Style Guide.” Paperpal. August 21, 2024. https://paperpal.com/blog/researcher-resources/apa-7th-citation-style. 

9. What is Turabian style?

A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, commonly referred to as Turabian, was published by Kate L Turabian in 1937. While the Chicago Manual of Style primarily targets publishers, Turabian caters specifically to students. It adapts Chicago guidelines to better suit the needs of student writers, differing from Chicago only in minor ways, i.e., formatting advice tailored to student papers, greater detail regarding specific citation formats. 

10. Where can I find more resources on using the Chicago Manual of Style?
Additional resources can be found on the official Chicago Manual of Style website, which offers a Q&A section for specific inquiries. Other helpful sites include various university library guides, which provide quick references and examples. 

Paperpal is a comprehensive AI writing toolkit that helps students and researchers achieve 2x the writing in half the time. It leverages 22+ years of STM experience and insights from millions of research articles to provide in-depth academic writing, language editing, and submission readiness support to help you write better, faster. 

Get accurate academic translations, rewriting support, grammar checks, vocabulary suggestions, and generative AI assistance that delivers human precision at machine speed. Try for free or upgrade to Paperpal Prime starting at US$25 a month to access premium features, including consistency, plagiarism, and 30+ submission readiness checks to help you succeed. 

Experience the future of academic writing – Sign up to Paperpal and start writing for free