chicago style essay format

Chicago Research Paper Formatting

Chicago manual of style (cmos - 17th edition).

• Finding Sources for Your Paper
• Additional Resources
• Sample Papers

You are going to love this! Save this template somewhere safe or e-mail it to yourself. Then resave it immediately with the name of your new document. This will keep your template safe and ready to reuse again for future assignments.

The templates provided will be sufficient for most student Chicago Style papers. For more information on formatting, please check out The Chicago Manual of Style Online Resources for Students page at  https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/help-tools/Resources-for-Students.html . 

• Purdue Owl Author Date Sample Paper Sample paper is downloadable.
• Purdue Owl Notes Bibliography Sample Paper Sample paper is downloadable.
• Turabian: Student Paper-Writing Tip Sheets Official Chicago style, in easy-to-use, printable PDF paper-writing tip sheets for students, teachers, and librarians. Guidelines are per Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (9th ed.) and are fully compatible with The Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed.).
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• Writing Tips

How to Write and Format a Chicago Style Paper [With Examples]

• 3-minute read
• 18th August 2023

Are you working on a Chicago style project but struggling with the question, “just what is it?!”

Fear not, this post will walk you through Chicago style basics.

What Is Chicago Style?

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMoS) is a comprehensive style guide primarily used by professional writers, publishers, and researchers. It covers various forms of writing, including books, journals, magazines, and other publications. It’s often the go-to style for publishers and editors. CMoS is also known for its emphasis on scholarly writing and is suitable for a wide range of disciplines, including history, literature, the arts, and social sciences.

However, there’s an important distinction between Chicago style and Turabian style , which is essentially a simplified version of CMoS used in scholarly writing. Turabian omits some of the complexities and focuses on the needs of academic writers, especially those in the humanities and social sciences.

With either style, it’s essential to consult the relevant edition of the style guide specified by your institution or publication: either The Chicago Manual of Style or A Manual for Writers by Kate L. Turabian (currently in its ninth edition).

How Are Chicago Style Citations Formatted?

CMoS emphasizes two primary documentation systems : the notes and bibliography system (often used in the humanities) and the author–date system (preferred in the sciences and social sciences). When formatting a CMoS/Turabian paper, you’ll need to adhere to the guidelines associated with your chosen documentation system.

Notes and Bibliography System:

●  In this system, you’ll use footnotes or endnotes to cite sources within the text.

●  A corresponding bibliography is included at the end of the paper, listing all sources in alphabetical order.

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●  Citations typically include author names, titles, publication details, and page numbers.

Author–Date System:

●  In the author–date system, you’ll incorporate in-text citations within parentheses.

●  A reference list is included at the end of the document, providing full details for each cited source.

●  Citations include author’s last names, publication year, and page numbers (if applicable).

What Does Turabian Style Formatting Look Like?

A well-structured Turabian Style paper should adhere to the following formatting guidelines :

•   Title page : Include the title of your paper, your name, the course name/number, instructor’s name, and the date on a separate page, starting a third of the page down. Alternatively, write the title on the first page.
•   Margins : Apply one-inch margins on all sides.
• Indentation and spacing : Indent paragraphs and double-space the main text.
• Font : Use a legible 12-point font (e.g., Times New Roman).
• Page numbers : Number all pages consecutively in the top right corner, starting with the first page. Alternatively, page numbers may be placed at the bottom center of the page.
• Headings and subheadings : Use headline-style capitalization for headings and subheadings, with different levels distinguished.
• Footnotes or in-text citations: Implement your chosen citation system consistently throughout the paper.
• Bibliography or reference list : Include a comprehensive list of all sources used, following Chicago style citation guidelines for your chosen system.

How Should I Choose Which Chicago Style Documentation to Use?

It’s crucial to find out which specific CMoS system is preferred by your institution, publisher, or field of study. Always consult your assignment guidelines or style manual to determine whether you should use the notes and bibliography system or the author–date system. This choice will significantly impact how you format your citations and references.

Remember that mastering CMoS takes practice. By following these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to crafting polished, professionally formatted papers that meet the expectations of your academic or professional audience.

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Chicago Style Guide - 17th Edition

• Chicago Style
• Title Page and Pagination
• Quotations and Signal Phrases
• Bibliography
• Chicago's Citation Parts
• Articles - Online
• Articles - Print
• Blogs and Social Media
• Government Publications
• Elders & Knowledge Keepers
• Other Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Generative AI Tools (e.g., ChatGPT, DALL·E 2)
• Author/Date (Scientific) System
• Need More Help?

Useful Links

• Chicago Manual of Style Online - Quick Guide
• Douglas College Library - Chicago Style Guide (PDF)
• Purdue OWL - Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed.)
• SFU Library - Chicago/Turabian (17th ed.) Citation Guide

Avoid Plagiarism

• Camosun Academic Integrity Guide
• Camosun Plagiarism Guide
• Douglas College Learning Centre - Paraphrasing Without Plagiarizing
• Purdue OWL - Avoiding Plagiarism
• SFU Library - Plagiarism Tutorial

Chicago Style Sample Research Paper

Formatting and Sample Paper

The formatting guidelines listed on this page, provide general best practices for formatting your work using the Chicago style. Detailed information about formatting your title page , using quotes and signal phrases , and creating a bibliography , can be found by navigating to various sub-pages of this "Formatting Your Paper" page.

Learning how to correctly format your research paper into Chicago style can seem overwhelming, especially if the style is new to you. One of the best ways to help visualize what your paper needs to look like is by checking out an example of a paper that has already been formatted correctly.

View this  sample Chicago style research paper   ( notes and bibliography/humanities system ) from Purdue OWL for examples on how to format:

• A title page
• Headers and page numbers
• A bibliography

For a sample paper in the Chicago author/date style , visit the "Author/Date (Scientific) System" page in this guide.

Paragraphs and Spacing

The first line of all new paragraphs should begin with an indent . You can use either the tab key or your word processor's indentation tool to make your indentations–just be sure to be consistent and use the same process throughout your paper.

Your paper should be double spaced throughout its main body , with the following exceptions: 

• Block quotations , table titles , and figure captions should be single-spaced . 
• ​An extra line of space should be inserted both before and after a block quotation. 

Entries in the bibliography and footnotes/ endnotes are single spaced within entries , but double-spaced between entries (unless your instructor prefers double-spacing throughout).​

Footnotes and Endnotes

• Notes can be either  footnotes   (placed at the  foot   (bottom) of the same page  as the referenced text) or  endnotes   (listed on a  separate sheet at the end  of the essay, before the bibliography).
• Other than placement in your document, footnotes and endnotes are  structured in exactly the same way .
• Notes are  numbered consecutively  throughout the paper. Most word processing programs (such as MS Word) handle footnotes automatically.
• Follow your instructors’ directions when deciding whether to use footnotes or endnotes.

To insert a footnote in a Microsoft Word document:

• Place the cursor after the text you want to cite.
• Click on the " References "   tab.
• In the " Footnotes " section , click on the " In sert Footnote " button.
• A superscript number 1 will appear after the text you want to cite.
• A superscript number 1 will also appear at the bottom of page.
• At the bottom of the page next to the superscript number, enter the citation information for your resource (see the citation examples in this guide for how to create footnotes).
• Repeat these steps to insert and consecutively number your footnotes.

Some instructors may ask you to use endnotes, instead of footnotes. For information on inserting endnotes, see the  Microsoft Office Tutorial .

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Chicago Style (17th ed.): Citation Guide

• Getting Started with Chicago

Formatting a Paper in Chicago Style

Chicago paper visual guide.

• Citing Sources in Chicago Style
• Chicago Style Citation Examples
• Additional Chicago Style Resources
• Citation Guides Homepage

Sample Student Paper

• Sample Chicago Paper

Ask A Librarian

• Paper Formatting
• Bibliography

Chicago Basic Formatting Rules

The following guidelines are the basic formatting rules outlined in the  Chicago Manual of Style  17th edition. If your instructor sets different requirements, always use your instructor's guidelines first.

• readable serif font, regular-sized
• example: 12pt Times New Roman
• double space the body of the paper
• 1-inch margins on all sides
• indent the first line of each paragraph by 1/2-inch (tab)
• left-justified for the body of the paper

Page Numbers:

• count the title page as page one, but don't include a page number
• include the page number in the top right corner of all pages except the title page

Formatting Notes:

• Format note numbers as superscripts in the text of your paper
• single space each note (footnote or endnote) but double space between notes

Chicago Title Page

The following guidelines are the basic formatting rules outlined in the Chicago Manual of Style  17th edition. If your instructor sets different requirements, always use your instructor's guidelines first.

Page Number:

• do not include the page number on the title page (but it counts as page 1)

Title Page Heading:

• Paper Title
• Date (Month Day, Year)

Bibliography Formatting

The following guidelines are the basic formatting rules outlined in the Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition. If your instructor sets different requirements, always use your instructor's guidelines first.

• needs to start on a new page following the end of your paper
• include the title Bibliography  centered on the first line of the page
• everything after the title is left-justified
• listed in alphabetical order by the first part of the citation (usually the author)
• each entry is single spaced with a double space between each entry
• Each entry should have a hanging indent- or it should start at the left margin and then have all lines after it indented by 1/2-inch

Click on the information circles for tips on how to use Microsoft Word to format your paper in Chicago Style.

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• Last Updated: Jun 10, 2024 3:32 PM
• URL: https://lonestar-online.libguides.com/chicago

Chicago style sample papers 

Published March 8, 2021. Updated August 15, 2021.

In general, the following formatting guidelines apply for all Chicago/Turabian-style papers (based on Kate L. Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, which adapts The Chicago Manual of Style ’s guidelines for articles and papers):

• Paper size: The paper should be written on a standard 8.5” x 11” page.
• Margins : The margins should be set to at least 1” and no more than 1.5” on all sides for all pages including the title page.
• Font: The paper should be written in a readable font that is accessible to all readers, such as 12-point Times New Roman, Calibri, or Courier, or 11-point Arial. Use one font consistently throughout the entire text. The font size should be no smaller than 10-point.
• Line spacing: The title page, body, and headings should be double-spaced. Block quotations (with a blank line before and after the block), bibliographies, reference lists, endnotes, and footnotes should be single-spaced (with a blank line between notes and reference list entries).
• First page: Papers should either begin with a title page or include a title on the first page of text.
• Indentation : The first line of each new paragraph of the main text should be indented 0.5” from the left.
• Quotations: Quotations of five or more lines should be indented as a block. Block quotations should be indented 0.5” from the left margin and do not use beginning or ending quotation marks.
• Page numbers: Every page except the title page should include a page number in an Arabic numeral. If there is no title page, the paper’s first page of body text should begin with an Arabic numeral “1.” If there is a title page, the paper’s first page of main text should begin with an Arabic numeral “2.” Place the page number either at the bottom center in the footer or the top right in the header. (Though theses or dissertations once called for page numbers to be placed in the footer for front matter, main text, and back matter, and for page numbers to be placed in the header for all other text, most schools now require consistent page number placement throughout a paper.)

For help writing your essay, research paper , or other project, check out these writing tips .

Paper order

In general, your paper should be put together in this order:

• Table of Contents (optional)
• List of Tables and Figures (optional)
• Introduction (optional)
• Body (with footnotes or in-text citations)
• Conclusion (optional)
• Appendixes (optional)
• Endnotes (optional)
• Bibliography or Reference List

Formatting for the title page

• From the top of the page, find a line about 1/3 of the way down the page and set the title (and subtitle) of the paper in bold.
• Capitalize each significant word using headline-style capitalization.
• Use the same font as the main text.
• When using subtitles, end the main title with a colon and start the subtitle on the following line.
• Double-space all text on the title page.

For student papers ONLY:

• Include course information several lines after the title and subtitle.
• course name and number
• due date of the assignment

For more information, visit this page on Chicago title pages.

Formatting for the abstract

Chicago rarely requires abstracts, which generally appear in scientific papers and journals.

For more information, visit this page on Chicago abstracts .

Formatting for the body of the paper

• When a title page is not required, write the title at the top of your first page of main text.
• Begin every new paragraph in the body of the paper on its own line with a 0.5” indentation; do this by pressing the Tab key once.
• Double-space the main text (except when using block quotations).
• Use only one space after a period, not two spaces.
• Start page numbering with the first page of body text, not the title page, and use Arabic numerals (1, 2, etc.). When there is a title page, start the first page of body text with page “2.” When there is no separate title page, start the first page of body text with page “1.”

Notes-Bibliography vs. Author-Date format

To cite references in the body of the paper, Chicago style follows either the author-date format (preferred for science and social science) or the notes-bibliography format (preferred for humanities) . Choose one format and use it consistently throughout the paper.

Author-Date

When using the author-date format, use in-text citations. To create an in-text citation, place the author’s last name and the publication year of the cited work in parentheses at the end of the quote or paraphrase. Do not separate the author’s last name and the publication year with a comma.

(Sato 2020)

If you quote a specific part of a text, you’ll also provide a specific page number or another location identifier in the in-text citation.

(Sato 2020, 203)

For author-date citations, include a reference list at the end of the paper with full source information.

For more author-date information, visit these pages on Chicago style in-text citations and Chicago style reference lists.

When using the notes-bibliography format, add a note (endnote or footnote) after each quotation, paraphrase, or summary. To create a note, insert a superscript number after any punctuation marks except the dash. Use the same number in the endnote or footnote providing full source information. The first note provides all source information while any subsequent notes may use a shortened citation with the author’s name, a shortened form of the title (if more than four words), and the page number(s).

For notes-bibliography citations, include a bibliography at the end of the paper with full source information.

For more information, visit these pages on Chicago style footnotes and Chicago style bibliographies .

Bibliography or reference list formatting

Both Chicago formats include a full list of sources at the end of a paper. Author-date format requires a reference list while notes-bibliography encourages (but does not require) a bibliography.

Here are formatting guidelines that apply to both lists:

• Begin the bibliography (Notes-Bib) or reference list (Author-Date) on a new page immediately following the last page of main text.
• Center the word “Bibliography” or “References” on the first line of the page. Add two blank lines after the title.
• Single-space each entry and add a blank line between entries.
• Begin each reference entry with a hanging indentation so that the first line of the reference touches the left margin while all subsequent lines have a 0.5” indent.
• Order reference list entries alphabetically by the author’s last name, followed by the first name(s) (last name, first name).

Apart from the guidelines above, there are some differences between creating a Chicago bibliography and reference list. For more information, visit these pages on styling a Chicago bibliography and Chicago reference list.

Notes-Bib example paper

Download the example paper here .

Author-Date example paper

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How to Format a Chicago-style Paper

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Attribution

This guide was adapted from the Chicago Style Guide by Cathy Rettberg at Menlo School Library.

• Chicago Manual of Style This link opens in a new window The time-tested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format.

Your professors expect to receive papers that are properly formatted and laid out. Use the following guidelines when setting up your paper. It is easiest if you use the correct settings from the beginning; otherwise you will have to go back and reformat your paper.

Overall page layout

• One inch margins on sides, top and bottom.
• Use Times or Times New Roman 12 pt font.
• Double-space the text of the paper.
• Use left-justified text, which will have a ragged right edge. Do not use fully (newspaper-style) justified text.
• Use a 1/2" indent for paragraph beginnings, block quotes and hanging (bibliography) indents.
• Number the pages in the top right corner of the paper, beginning with the first page of text. It's a good idea to include your last name as well, in case pages become separated. Number straight through from the first text page to the final bibliography page but do not count any pages after the end of the text as part of your page count. (A five-page paper may also have a cover page, two pages of notes and one page of bibliography which is nine pieces of paper.)
• Center the title of your paper in the middle of the page, halfway down.
• Center your name directly under the title.
• Your professor's name, course title, and date should be written in three lines and centered at the bottom of the page.
• Use Times or Times New Roman 12 pt font for the title page. Do not try to make your cover page decorative by using bold , underline , or creative fonts.
• Do not put a page number on the cover page, and do not count it as part of the total page count.

Assemble your paper in the following order

• Cover/title page
• Body of the paper
• Appendix (if needed)

Bibliography

Names and numbers.

• Use full names of people and agencies/legislation the first time you use them. For agencies, include the acronym in parentheses after the full name when first used, e.g. Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA).
• After the first time you can refer to people by their last name or agencies/bills by their acronyms for the rest of the paper.
• Write out numbers lower than 100. (“All nine members of the Supreme Court...”)

Footnotes and endnotes

• Footnotes go at the bottom of the page where the reference occurs; endnotes go on a separate page after the body of the paper. Both use the same formatting guidelines.
• Within the essay text: put the note number at the end of the sentence where the reference occurs, even if the cited material is mentioned at the beginning of the sentence.
• The note number goes after all other punctuation.
• Be sure to use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) nor Roman (i, ii, iii).
• Put the word Notes (not Endnotes) at the top of the page with your endnotes. Use Times/Times New Roman 10 pt font.
• Single space each entry; double space between entries.
• Indent the first line of each note.
• Never reuse a number - use a new number for each reference, even if you have used that reference previously.
• Be sure to look at shortened form examples for sources you refer to more than once.
• To cite multiple sources in a single note, separate the two citations with a semicolon. Never use two note numbers at the end of a sentence.
• Your bibliography should go on a separate page, with the word Bibliography centered at the top of the page in Times/Times New Roman 12 pt font. Do not use bold or large size font for the heading.
• Be sure to use proper formatting - note and bibliography styles are different.
• Use a "hanging indent" - the first line of the citation begins at the margin, subsequent lines are indented.
• If your source has no author, alphabetize by title within the authors - don't make a separate list.
• Don't separate primary and secondary sources unless your professor requests it.

Watch out for these common errors:

• Note format uses first name last name, bibliography uses last name, first name.
• In your notes, do not reuse numbers! Each citation gets a new number.
• Pay attention to indents. Notes use a first line indent, a bibliography uses a hanging indent.
• A bibliography goes in alphabetical order by author (or title if there is no author). Notes are numbered and are listed in the order the sources are used.
• Don't put Works Cited at the top of your bibliography - that is MLA style.
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• Last Updated: Jul 25, 2024 9:14 AM
• URL: https://guide.unwsp.edu/chicago_style

How to Format Your Research Paper

• APA 7 Paper Format
• MLA Paper Format

Writing Your Paper: Chicago

Chicago style papers.

• Hanging Indents
• Ask a Librarian

Chicago Style Resources

• How Do I Format My Class Paper in Chicago Style? If your instructor has specific requirements for the format of your research paper, check with them before preparing your final draft. The most common formatting is presented here.

Things to know before you begin:

• Font:  Times New Roman  
• Font Size:  12 point
• Margins:  1 inch
• Paragraphs: All paragraphs should be indented.
• Spacing: All of the text in the body of your paper should be double-spaced.

Typical Chicago style papers have three sections:

• Bibliography

See the tabs below for a breakdown of how each portion should be formatted.

• Sample Papers

Below you will find an example of an accurately formatted CMOS paper. 

• Sample Paper Chicago Style - PDF Click here to see a sample of an accurately formatted CMOS paper.
• Sample Paper Chicago Style - Word Click here to see a sample of an accurately formatted CMOS paper.

• Your title should be centered and place a third of the way down the page. Use Times New Roman 12-point font.
• Capitalize all the words in your title. If there is a subtitle, place it on the second line.
• Place your course name first, then your name, then the due date of the paper. This should be double-spaced and placed in the bottom third of your paper. 

• Start the body of your paper on the first line of a new page.
• Insert the page number in the top right corner of the page using the header function.
• CMS uses footnotes. Place the footnote after any punctuation. Each number must have an entry at the bottom of the page.

• Center the word "Bibliography" on the first line of a new page.
• Your citations should be alphabetical.
• Each entry is single-spaced with one blank line separating entries.
• Be sure to use a hanging indent for any citations that require more than one line.

Need help formatting your Chicago/Turabian style citations using the 17th edition of the  Chicago Manual of Style ? Click the image or link below to go to the citation guide.

• Chicago Style Citations

Need help learning what hanging indents are and how to create them using Google Docs or Microsoft Word? 

• Hanging Indents This page gives a brief description of what they are, where to find information on when and how to properly use them, and also video tutorials on how to create them.

Need help learning what footnotes are and  how to create them  using Google Docs or Microsoft Word? 

• Footnotes This page gives a brief description of what they are, where to find information on when and how to properly use them, and also video tutorials on how to create them.
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• Last Updated: Jul 19, 2024 3:41 PM
• URL: https://necc.mass.libguides.com/formatting

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Generate accurate Chicago citations for free

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• Chicago Style

Chicago Style Citation Examples | Website, Book, Article, Video

Published on July 25, 2018 by Courtney Gahan . Revised on April 9, 2024.

The Chicago Manual of Style provides guidelines for two styles of citation: author-date and notes and bibliography:

• In notes and bibliography style (mostly used in the humanities), you use footnotes or endnotes to cite sources.
• In author-date style (mostly used in the sciences), you use brief parenthetical references to cite sources in the text.

Chicago Citation Generator

In both styles, full source citations are listed in an alphabetized Chicago style bibliography or reference list . Make sure to pay attention to punctuation (e.g., commas , parentheses , and quotation marks ) in your notes and citations.

The Chicago Manual of Style is regularly updated. Our examples are all based on the 17th edition, which is the most recent (published in 2017).

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Table of contents

Chicago book citation, chicago journal article citation, chicago website citation (no author or date), chicago newspaper citation, chicago youtube citation.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Linking to online journal articles

When citing online journal articles, use the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or a stable URL, not the URL that appears in the address bar.

Authors and dates in website citations

If the web page has a named author, use this at the start of the citation as you would for any other source. If there is a date of publication or last revision, include this instead of the access date.

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If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Gahan, C. (2024, April 09). Chicago Style Citation Examples | Website, Book, Article, Video. Scribbr. Retrieved August 26, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/chicago-style/citation-examples/

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Ways to Avoid Plagiarism

A Note about Plagiarism

It is important to cite your sources properly. If you want to learn more about avoiding plagiarism, read the Plagiarism Guide .

When you are writing your paper, you can use several ways to present information you have found in the body of your paper, and consciously avoid plagiarizing.

Direct quote

If you want to use a sentence or a passage exactly as it was written, you can include a direct quote, surrounded by quotation marks, and either using an inline citation, or a sentence before the quote referencing the author and work of origin.

You can also write a summary (in your own words of course) of the ideas or text you want to use. It helps to write the summary from your memory rather than looking directly at the passage.

Paraphrasing is similar to a summary. It just means taking what you have read and rewriting it in your own words.

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Library Links - FindIt@Txstate Bibliography Manager - EndNote ( refers to Desktop EndNote )

• Ulrich's To find out if a journal is considered Refereed/Peer-Reviewed , check the Ulrich's database by doing a search for the title of the journal. Many library databases allow searches to be limited to articles published in Peer-Reviewed journals.

Chicago Manual of Style Links

NOT CITING OR GIVING ATTRIBUTION TO AN IMAGE SOURCE IS A FORM OF VISUAL PLAGIARISM

Citing images:

The basic elements needed  for citing images are as follows:

• artist's name, if known
• title of image, if known
• date work was created
• if date is unknown, place n.d. were the date would go
• permanent owner or institution where the artwork is housed
• the location or city

How to Cite Images from Mississsippi State University

• See their Quick Guide for the basics
• See an example of an annotated bibliography
• Writer's Handbook Chicago
• Chicago Guide from NW Missouri with examples from different databases.

Copies of The Chicago manual of Style are also avaliable at the Alkek Library and the Music Library.

Citing Images Chicago Style from Colgate Visual Resources Library

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Or if you would like to use another style you can look at other Writing & Citation Style Guides such as APA, MLA. ASA, IEEE.

ASA Image Citation

MLA Style Guide from Purdue

Other MLA resources

Print copies of the MLA Handbook are available for checkout

To see examples of how to cite images in MLA , see the  An Image (Including a Painting, Sculpture, or Photograph) entry or the A Painting, Sculpture, or Photograph entry from Purdue's Online Writing Lab.

Citing images in APA from the APA Style Blog

IEEE Editorial Style Manual (Online)

From The Chicago Manual of Style 16th edition

3.22 Formal titles in captions

• APA Style Help: FAQs, Video Tutorial on the basics of APA, Blog, and more learning resources
• Purdue OWL
• Concise Guide to APA Style (7th ed.).
• The Concise APA Handbook (7th ed.eBook)
• APA Style Manual (7th ed. print) 

Understanding a Journal Citation

You'll see something like this:

It's important to know the parts of a citation so you can interpret it correctly. You must have at least the Journal name, volume, issue, and page number to be able to locate the article.

| Citation Management |

Have a lot of citations you want to enter in your works cited/references list? Try a citation manager.

Do you need the Web or Desktop version?

• EndNote A citation management tool that enables you to:
• Organize your research Include citations while you write your paper
• Build a bibliography in a variety of formats
• Import references from library databases and Google Scholar.
• Canvas EndNote Modules
• EndNote Web Tutorials
• EndNote Desktop tutorials
• Print copies of Various Style Guides

Zotero Bib Citation Generator

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• Last Updated: Aug 28, 2024 4:09 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.txstate.edu/fm1330

Author-Date: Sample Citations

Go to Notes and Bibliography: Sample Citations

The following examples illustrate the author-date system. Each example of a reference list entry is accompanied by an example of a corresponding in-text citation. For more details and many more examples, see chapters 13 and 14 of The Chicago Manual of Style . For examples of the same citations using the notes and bibliography system, follow the Notes and Bibliography link above.

Reference list entries (in alphabetical order)

Note that a place of publication is no longer required in book citations (see CMOS 14.30 ).

Binder, Amy J., and Jeffrey L. Kidder. 2022. The Channels of Student Activism: How the Left and Right Are Winning (and Losing) in Campus Politics Today . University of Chicago Press.

Yu, Charles. 2020. Interior Chinatown . Pantheon Books.

In-text citations

(Binder and Kidder 2022, 117–18)

(Yu 2020, 45)

For more details and examples, see CMOS 13.105–10 and 14.2–62 .

Chapter or other part of an edited book

The page range for a chapter in a book is no longer required in reference list entries (see CMOS 14.8 ). In the text, cite specific pages as applicable.

Reference list entry

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.

In-text citation

(Doyle 2023, 64)

In some cases, you may want to cite the collection as a whole instead.

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.

(Marks and Parkin 2023)

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.8–14 . 

Translated book

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). See CMOS 13.75 for more details.

Liu Xinwu. 2021. The Wedding Party . Translated by Jeremy Tiang. Amazon Crossing.

(Liu 2021, 279)

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.5–7 .

Book Consulted in an Electronic Format

To cite a book consulted online, include either a URL or the name of the database in the reference list entry. 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 (or simply omit). For citing a place rather than a publisher for books published before 1900 (as in the Moby-Dick example below), see CMOS 14.31 .

Borel, Brooke. 2023. The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking . 2nd ed. University of Chicago Press. EBSCOhost.

Kurland, Philip B., and Ralph Lerner, eds. 1987. The Founders’ Constitution . University of Chicago Press. https://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/.

Melville, Herman. 1851. Moby-Dick; or, The Whale . New York. https://melville.electroniclibrary.org/moby-dick-side-by-side.

Roy, Arundhati. 2008. The God of Small Things . Random House. Kindle.

(Borel 2023, 92)

(Kurland and Lerner 1987, chap. 10, doc. 19)

(Melville 1851, 627)

(Roy 2008, chap. 6)

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.58–62 .

Journal article

Journal articles are usually cited by volume and issue number. In the reference list, include the page range for the whole article. In the text, cite specific page numbers. For articles consulted online, include a URL (preferably one based on a DOI; see CMOS 13.7 ) in the reference list entry; alternatively, list the name of the database.

Dittmar, Emily L., and Douglas W. Schemske. 2023. “Temporal Variation in Selection Influences Microgeographic Local Adaptation.” American Naturalist 202 (4): 471–85. https://doi.org/10.1086/725865.

Hebert, B. T. 1925. “The Island of Bolsö: A Study of Norwegian Life.” Sociological Review 17 (4): 307–13. EBSCOhost.

Kwon, Hyeyoung. 2022. “Inclusion Work: Children of Immigrants Claiming Membership in Everyday Life.” American Journal of Sociology 127 (6): 1818–59. https://doi.org/10.1086/720277.

Lindquist, Benjamin. 2023. “The Art of Text-to-Speech.” Critical Inquiry 50 (2): 225–51. https://doi.org/10.1086/727651.

(Dittmar and Schemske 2023, 480)

(Hebert 1925, 310)

(Kwon 2022, 1842–43)

(Lindquist 2023, 230)

Journal articles often list many authors, especially in the sciences. For works by two authors, list both in the reference list and the text (as in the Dittmar and Schemske example above). 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.” (“and others”). In the text, list only the first, followed by “et al.” Note that the Dror example below (which credits eighteen authors) includes an article ID in place of a page range; see CMOS 14.71 for details.

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 (2): e0263069. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263069.

(Dror et al. 2022, 10–11)

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.67–86 .

News or magazine article

Articles from newspapers or news sites, magazines, blogs, and the like are cited similarly. Page numbers, if any, can be cited in the text but are omitted from a reference list entry. For articles consulted online, include a URL or the name of the database.

Blum, Dani. 2023. “Are Flax Seeds All That?” New York Times , December 13. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/13/well/eat/flax-seeds-benefits.html.

Klein, Elana. 2023. “Meet Flip, the Viral Video App Giving Away Free Stuff.” Wired , December 21. https://www.wired.com/story/flip-viral-video-app-shopping-free-stuff/.

Mead, Rebecca. 2023. “Terms of Aggrievement.” New Yorker , December 18.

Pegoraro, Rob. 2007. “Apple’s iPhone Is Sleek, Smart and Simple.” Washington Post , July 5, 2007. LexisNexis Academic.

(Blum 2023)

(Klein 2023)

(Mead 2023, 21)

(Pegoraro 2007)

Readers’ comments are cited in the text but omitted from a reference list.

(Michelle [Reno], December 15, 2023, comment on Blum 2023)

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.87–88 (magazines) and 14.89–98 (newspapers and news sites).

Book review

Jacobs, Alexandra. 2023. “The Muchness of Madonna.” Review of Madonna: A Rebel Life , by Mary Gabriel. New York Times , October 8.

(Jacobs 2023)

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.100 .

Interviews are usually cited under the name of the interviewee rather than the interviewer.

Buolamwini, Joy. 2023. “ ‘If You Have a Face, You Have a Place in the Conversation About AI,’ Expert Says.” Interview by Tonya Mosley. Fresh Air , NPR, November 28. Audio, 37:58. https://www.npr.org/2023/11/28/1215529902/unmasking-ai-facial-recognition-technology-joy-buolamwini.

(Buolamwini 2023)

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.108 , 14.109 , and 14.110 .

Thesis or dissertation

For dissertations consulted via ProQuest; include the identification number in parenthesis.

Blajer de la Garza, Yuna. 2019. “A House Is Not a Home: Citizenship and Belonging in Contemporary Democracies.” PhD diss., University of Chicago. ProQuest (13865986).

(Blajer de la Garza 2019, 66–67)

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.113 .

It is often sufficient simply to describe web pages and other website content in the text (“As of November 15, 2023, Google’s privacy policy stated . . .”). If a more formal citation is needed, it may be styled like the examples below.

Google. 2023. “Privacy Policy.” Privacy & Terms. Effective November 15. https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Wikimedia Foundation. 2023. “Wikipedia: Manual of Style.” Last modified December 19, at 21:54 (UTC). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style.

(Google 2023)

(Wikimedia Foundation 2022)

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. Alternatively, if a publicly available archive of the content has been saved using the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine or similar service, the link for that version may be cited.

Yale University. n.d. “About Yale: Yale Facts.” Accessed March 8, 2022. https://www.yale.edu/about-yale/yale-facts.

Yale University. n.d. “About Yale: Yale Facts.” Archived March 8, 2022, at https://web.archive.org/web/20220308143337/https://www.yale.edu/about-yale/yale-facts.

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.104 .

Social media content

Citations of content posted to social media can usually be limited to the text (as in the first example below). 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. Comments are cited in reference to the original post.

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).

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.

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. (Literally, capturing it took less than a day!).” Twitter (now X), July 11. https://twitter.com/NASAWebb/status/1546621080298835970.

(Chicago Manual of Style 2015)

(NASA Webb Telescope 2022)

(Michele Truty, April 17, 2015, 1:09 p.m., comment on Chicago Manual of Style 2015)

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.106 .

Video or podcast

Unless it is clear from context, “video” or the like may be specified in the reference list.

Cowan, Vaitea. 2022. “How Green Hydrogen Could End the Fossil Fuel Era.” TED Talk, Vancouver, BC, April. Video, 9 min., 15 sec. https://www .ted .com /talks /vaitea _cowan _how _green _hydrogen _could _end _the _fossil _fuel _era.

Ober, Lauren, host. 2022. The Loudest Girl in the World . Season 1, episode 2, “Goodbye, Routine; Hello, Meltdown!” Pushkin Industries, September 13. Podcast, 41 min., 37 sec. https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/loudest-girl-in-the-world.

Oliver, Eric. 2022. “Why So Many Americans Believe in So Many ‘Crazy’ Things.” Moderated by Andrew McCall. Virtual lecture, February 23. Posted March 21, 2022, by University of Chicago. YouTube, 1:01:45. https://youtu.be/hfq7AnCF5bg.

(Cowan 2022, at 6:09–17)

(Ober 2022)

(Oliver 2022)

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.167–69 .

Personal communication

Personal communications, including email and text messages and direct messages sent through social media, are usually cited in the text only; they are rarely included in a reference list.

(Sam Gomez, Facebook direct message to author, August 1, 2024)

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.111 .

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