Chicago-Style Citations

One response to the confusing state of citation rules and guidelines is the Chicago style guidelines. Though well-intentioned, Chicago style has several key flaws. The primary flaw is that of inconsistency, which citation guidelines are assumedly developed to improve. Many academics feel Chicago Style, along with its descendant Turabian style, fail to meet this need. Chicago style has three different format styles, depending on where they citation is found and how it is being used. Two of these format styles are used for the list of sources, designating them the “bibliographic” and “resource list” styles. The bibliographic format is used if the writer has used Oxford-style marker/notation format. The other appears if Harvard-style parenthetical referencing is used.

How to Format Chicago Style

Since parenthetical notations change very little between resource types, let us first examine their format and use. In most uses, the format for parenthetical notations is:
(Name Date, Page)

In books published online or electronically, the notation omits page references:
(Name Date)

Newspaper references also use this format, though if there is more than one article written by a particular author in a given year then a suffix letter indicates its order in the bibliography. This technique can also be used in other situations where there is multiple sources for a single author.

Parenthetical references for websites and blogs are very different. When referencing a website, the name of the author may be replaced with the full name of the hosting organization. When referencing a blog or blog comment, the name of the author (or Internet nickname) is used, followed by the blog’s name and the date it was posted, like this: (Author Name, Random Thoughts Blog, entry posted Jan 1st, 2007)

Once we get past the parenthetical notations, things get a little more complicated. In the following examples, the following entry codes will be used:

• N – footnote/endnote notation citations (name indicates proper name: First I. Last)
• B – footnote/endnote referencing bibliography (name indicates surname first)
• R – parenthetical referencing bibliography (name indicates surname first)

Books

Single author:

• N: Author Name, Book Title (Location: Name of Publisher, Date), Page.
• B: Author Name. Book Title. Location: Name of Publisher, Date.
• R: Author Name. Date. Book Title. Location: Name of Publisher.

Two authors:

• N: Author and Author, Book Title (Location: Name of Publisher, Date), Page.
• B: Author and Author. Book Title. Location: Name of Publisher, Date.
• R: Author and Author. Date. Book Title. Location: Name of Publisher.

More than three authors:

• N: First Author et al., Book Title (Location: Name of Publisher, Date), Page.
• B: List of Authors (all). Book Title. Location: Name of Publisher, Date.
• R: List of Authors (all). Date. Book Title. Location: Name of Publisher.

Editor, translator, or compiler instead of author:

• N: Name, trans., Book Title (Location: Name of Publisher, Date), Page.
• B: Name, trans., Book Title. Location: Name of Publisher, Date.
• R: Name, trans., Date, Book Title, Location: Name of Publisher.

Editor, translator, or compiler in addition to author:

• N: Name, Book Title, ed. Editor (Location: Name of Publisher, Date), Page.
• B: Name, Book Title, Edited by Name. Location: Name of Publisher, Date.
• R: Name. Date. Book Title. Ed. Name. Location: Name of Publisher.

Chapter or article within a book:

• N: Name, “Section Title,” in Book Title, ed. Editor (Location: Name of Publisher, Date), Pages.
• B: Name. “Section Title.” In Book Title, Edited by Editor, Pages. Location: Name of Publisher, Date.
• R: Name. Date. Section Title. In Book Title, ed. Editor, Page. Location: Name of Publisher.

Chapter of an edited volume appearing originally elsewhere, as in original research:
This is one citation specification that is a bit confusing, so let’s take a look at it.

• N: Name of Original Author. “Article Title,” in Book Title, ed. Editor, Volume Number and Publication (if applicable), ed. Publication Editors (Location: Name of Publisher, Date), Page.
• B: Name of Original Author. “Article Title,” in Book Title, edited by Editor, Volume Number and Publication, edited by Publication Editors, page. Location: Name of Publisher, Date. Originally published in continue citation based on type of original source.
• R: Name of Original Author. Date of Source. Article Title. In Book Title, edited by Editor. Volume Number and Publication, edited by Publication Editors, page. Location: Name of Publisher. Originally published in continue citation based on type of original source.

Preface, foreword, introduction, or similar part of a book:

• N: Introduction Author, Introduction to Book Title, by Book Author (Location: Name of Publisher, Date), Pages.
• B: Introduction Author, Introduction to Book Title, by Book Author, Pages. Location: Name of Publisher, Date.
• R: Introduction Author, Date. Introduction to Book Title, by Book Author, Pages. Location: Name of Publisher.

Book published electronically

• N: Name, Book Title (Location: Name of Publisher, Date), URL (accessed Date).
• B: Name, Book Title. Location: Name of Publisher, Date. URL. (accessed Date).
• R: Name. Date. Book Title. Location: Name of Publisher. URL (accessed Date).

Journal article (printed)

• N: Name, “Article Title,” Journal Name Volume (Date): Pages.
• B: Name, “Article Title,” Journal Name Volume (Date): Pages.
• R: Name, Date. Article Title. Journal Name Volume: Pages.

Journal article (online)

• N: Name, “Article Title,” Journal Name Volume, Issue (Year), URL (accessed Date).
• B: Names (all), “Article Title.” Journal Name Volume, Issue (Date), URL (accessed Date).
• R: Names (all). Date. Article Title, Journal Name Volume, Issue (Date), URL (accessed Date).

Popular magazine article

• N: Name, “Article Title”, Magazine Name, Date, Page.
• B: Name. “Article Title.” Magazine Name, Date.
• R: Name. Year. Article Title. Magazine Name, Date.

Newspaper article:

• N: Name, “Article Title,” Newspaper Name, Date, Section, Edition.
• B: Name. “Article Title.” Newspaper Name, Date, Section, Edition.
• R: Name. Year. Article Title. Newspaper Name, Date, Section, Edition.

Final Words

It is not hard to see the complexity of Chicago style guidelines. With all the details, it is easy for students to make a mistake when preparing their citations. And when one begins citing dissertations, email messages or database items, this complexity only gets worse. This can be rather troublesome for students, particularly if they have an instructor who is strict about such matters. Fortunately, there is hope. Our company employs hundreds of writers who are highly skilled and knowledgeable about citation and referencing requirements, as well as research, actual writing, and other documentation assistance that you may require as part of your work. If you have already done your own assignment, we can assist with reviewing and editing to improve your work in preparation for submission. Contact us today to find out how we can help you with your next assignment, be it a simple essay or complex dissertation.