Chicago Style of Reference: Notes- Bibliography & Author-Date Style

Have you ever finished writing a great paper, only to feel confused about how to cite your sources properly? Figuring out where to place a comma, how to format a footnote, or what to include in a bibliography can be stressful. 

Even worse, small citation mistakes can lower your grade or raise concerns about plagiarism.

But don’t worry because there’s an easy way to avoid this. 

In this blog, you’ll learn the simple steps to mastering Chicago Style referencing. We’ll guide you through the two systems, Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date, so you can cite your sources the right way without confusion.

Let's get started!

What is the Chicago Style Reference?

The Chicago Manual of Style was first published in 1906 by the University of Chicago Press. The most recent version of the Chicago Manual of Style Citation is the 17th Edition. 

It’s a detailed guide that covers many areas of writing, such as grammar, punctuation, and citation rules. 

Chicago Style is commonly used in subjects like history, literature, and the arts, but it can also be used in social sciences and sciences, depending on the topic.

Importance of Citing in Academic and Professional Writing

Here is why referencing is important in academic and professional writing:

• Respect for Others' Work: Using the Chicago Style shows that you value and respect the ideas and work of other authors.
• Avoiding Plagiarism: Proper citations help you avoid plagiarism, which is using someone else's ideas without giving credit.
• Reliability of Your Paper: Well-formatted citations make your paper more reliable, as they indicate where you found your information.
• Ease for Readers: Clear citations allow your readers to easily follow your research and locate the sources you used.

Key Differences Between Chicago Style and Other Citation Styles

The Chicago style stands out because it offers two citation systems, unlike most other formats:

Two Systems for Citing Sources:

• Notes and Bibliography: Common in humanities like history and literature, using footnotes or endnotes and a bibliography.
• Author-Date: Used in sciences and social sciences, with in-text citations and a reference list.

Flexibility:
Chicago is more flexible than other citation styles, allowing you to choose the best system for your subject.

Comparison with Other Styles:

• APA: Used in social sciences, only has the Author-Date system.
• MLA: Common in literature, uses in-text citations with the author’s name and page number.
• Harvard: Similar to APA, used in sciences, but doesn’t have footnotes.
• IEEE: Used in engineering, with numbered citations ([1], [2]) and a numbered reference list.

Two Systems of Chicago Style

Chicago Style has two ways to cite sources. It's important to choose the right one for your paper.

Notes and Bibliography System

The Notes and Bibliography system is used in history, literature, and art. It uses footnotes or endnotes and a bibliography at the end.

You place a small number (superscript) in the text where you cite a source. This number points to a footnote or endnote.

Explanation of Chicago Style Footnotes and Endnotes

• Footnotes: Located at the bottom of the page.
• Endnotes: Collected at the end of the paper.

Author-Date System

The Author-Date system is used in social sciences and sciences. It uses in-text citations and a reference list.

You include the author’s last name and year of publication in parentheses (e.g., Smith 2020) in the text, with full citations in the reference list.

Usage of In-text Citations and Reference Lists

You include the author’s last name, year, and page number (if needed) in the text, while full details go at the end.

Detailed Guide to Notes and Bibliography System

The Chicago Notes and Bibliography style is often used in the humanities, such as history and literature. This system uses footnotes or endnotes for citations and a bibliography at the end of the document. Here’s how to create notes and a bibliography in Chicago style.

How to Create Notes in Chicago Style

Here is what you should remember if you want error-free notes:

Footnotes and Endnotes:

While both may sound similar, Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page, while endnotes are at the end of the document. Here are Chicago-style formats for notes and endnotes for different sources:

Formatting Notes:

Footnote numbers should be in superscript (small and raised).

Notes should be single-spaced, with a blank line between each note. Indent the first line of each note.

Note Formats for Different Sources

Books:

Format: First Name Last Name, Title of Book (City: Publisher, Year), page number.

Example: John Smith, Understanding Modern Science (New York: Academic Press, 2020), 23.

Journal Articles:

Format: First Name Last Name, "Title of Article," Title of Journal Volume Number (Year): page range.

Example: Sarah Johnson, "The Impact of Technology on Education," Journal of Educational Research 45 (2019): 101–115.

Website:

Format: First Name Last Name, "Title of Webpage," Website Name, last modified Date or Accessed Date, URL.

Example: Emily Williams, "The Future of Artificial Intelligence," Tech Innovations, last modified July 10, 2022, http://www.techinnovations.com/future-ai.

Subsequent Citations:

For later mentions of the same source, use a shorter format:

Format: Last Name, Shortened Title, page number.

Example: Smith, Understanding Modern Science, 45.

How to Create a Chicago Style Bibliography

The first thing you need to do is create the section for the bibliography. Center the title "Bibliography" at the top of the page. The bibliography should start on a new page at the end of your document.

Before we go into detail about the sources., you must learn how to organize and format the entries. Here is what you should remember:

• List the entries in alphabetical order by the author's last name.
• Each entry should have a hanging indent (the first line is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented).
• The bibliography should be double-spaced with a hanging indent for each entry.
• Italicize the titles of books and journals, while the titles of articles should be in quotation marks.

Different Sources Format in Bibliography

Here is how you can add the different entries or sources in  the section:

Books:

• Format: Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. City: Publisher, Year.
• Example: Smith, John. Understanding Modern Science. New York: Academic Press, 2020.

Journal Articles:

• Format: Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article." Title of Journal Volume Number (Year): page range.
• Example: Johnson, Sarah. "The Impact of Technology on Education." Journal of Educational Research 45 (2019): 101–115.

Website:

• Format: Last Name, First Name. "Title of Webpage." Website Name. Last modified Date or Accessed Date. URL.
• Example: Williams, Emily. "The Future of Artificial Intelligence." Tech Innovations. Last modified July 10, 2022. http://www.techinnovations.com/future-ai.

Citations in Chicago Style Author-Date

In the Author-Date system, citations are included in the text itself, and a full list of references is provided at the end.

In-Text Citations

In-text citations in Chicago Author-Date style typically include the author’s last name, the year of publication, and the page number (if applicable) in parentheses. The format is as follows:

• Basic format: (Author Year, page number)
• Example: (Smith 2020, 23)

If you're citing a source without a specific page number, just include the author's last name and the year:

• Example: (Johnson 2019)

Reference List

At the end of your document, you should include a reference list that provides full details of each source cited. The reference list is titled "References" and is organized alphabetically by the author's last name.

Here is how you can format these entries:

• The reference list should be double-spaced with a hanging indent for each entry.
• The title "References" should be centered at the top of the page.
• Ensure that titles of books and journals are italicized, while titles of articles are in quotation marks.

Different Sources Format in Author-Date Style

Here are the formats for different types of sources:

Book:

• Format: Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. Title of Book. Publisher.
• Example: Smith, John. 2020. Understanding Modern Science. Academic Press.

Journal Article:

• Format: Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. "Title of Article." Title of Journal Volume Number (Issue Number): Page Range.
• Example: Johnson, Sarah. 2019. "The Impact of Technology on Education." Journal of Educational Research 45 (2): 101–115.

Website:

• Format: Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. "Title of Webpage." Website Name. URL.
• Example: Williams, Emily. 2022. "The Future of Artificial Intelligence." Tech Innovations. http://www.techinnovations.com/future-ai.

Chapter in an Edited Book:

• Format: Last Name, First Name. Year of Publication. "Title of Chapter." In Title of Book, edited by Editor’s First Name Last Name, Page Range. Publisher.
• Example: Taylor, Alex. 2023. "Sustainable Practices in Urban Planning." In Urban Studies Today, edited by Jane Doe, 45–60. City Press.

Elements of Chicago Style

Chicago Style also includes rules for the overall format of your paper, including how to handle quotes, headings, and more.

• Block Quotations: If a quotation is longer than five lines, use a block format by indenting the entire quote.
• Headings and Subheadings: Use headings to organize your paper. Chicago Style allows for up to five levels of headings.
• Page Numbers and Margins: Make sure your paper has one-inch margins on all sides and page numbers in the top right corner.
• Figures and Tables: If you include figures or tables, label them clearly and provide a caption with a citation for the source.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Chicago Style

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using Chicago Style:

• Incorrect Punctuation: Make sure to follow the correct punctuation rules for citations.
• Misplaced Footnotes/Endnotes: Footnotes should always come after punctuation.
• Incomplete Citations: Ensure that your citations include all the necessary information, like the publisher’s name and the date of publication.
• Improper Use of “Ibid.”: In the Notes system, use "Ibid." for consecutive references to the same source, but only when it follows directly after the previous citation.

So there you have it!

The Chicago Style referencing is a flexible and detailed way to cite sources in academic writing. Whether you’re using the Notes and Bibliography system or the Author-Date system, following the correct format ensures that your paper is professional, clear, and plagiarism-free. 

Understanding these guidelines will help you succeed in your academic writing and give proper credit to the original authors.

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