Below is an example of Chicago author-date in-text citation:


To cite sources in Chicago notes and bibliography style, place a superscript number at the end of a sentence or clause, after the mark, corresponding to a numbered .


Chicago style is a set of formatting and citation guidelines that tell you how an academic paper should look, similar to other styles like APA or MLA. Based on the , or , Chicago style is the preferred format for citing sources related to history and historical topics. It is known for its comprehensive system of footnotes and endnotes.

Each of the main formats has different rules for writing citations and bibliographic information. Depending on the topics you write about, you may need to learn Chicago style at some point. Below, we explain all the guidelines for Chicago format, including how to cite sources, and give Chicago citation examples.

See this example of a sample footnote citation in Chicago format:

The () is one of the main styles for . Currently in its seventeenth edition, it was first published in 1906 by the University of Chicago Press.

Notes and bibliography is the most common type of Chicago style citation, and the main focus of this article. It is widely used in the humanities. Citations are placed in or , with a listing your sources in full at the end.

Like other styles, such as and , the provides guidelines for formatting works and citing sources in specific fields. While Chicago style is mainly used for history, it’s also occasionally used for subjects in business and the fine arts.

The name “Turabian style” comes from the style guidelines created in 1937 by Kate L. Turabian, the University of Chicago’s graduate school dissertation secretary. The Turabian style narrows down the Chicago style to provide a format for college and graduate students to use with research papers.


Formatting Research Paper Title Page in APA, MLA & Chicago

If you aren’t sure which style guide to use for your assignment, ask your instructor. Chicago format is typically the go-to style for history papers, but it can also be used for humanities and social sciences.

[University History: Essay] Chicago Style Formatting Question

The Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) contains guidelines for two styles of citation: notes and bibliography and author-date.

[PDF] SAMPLE CHICAGO STYLE PAPER | John Doe History 2010

Specifically, Chicago style is preferable if the writer plans on using abundant footnotes or endnotes. Compared to the other styles, Chicago places the most emphasis on notes for citations and commentary. This comes in handy if you’re repeatedly citing multiple sources in the same line or sentence, as footnotes and endnotes can help you avoid lengthy in-text citations.

Chicago Style 17th Edition: Notes and Bibliography

Aside from its emphasis on footnotes, Chicago differentiates itself from other styles with its flexibility. For example, Chicago doesn’t require that a paper include a title page, but it has formatting guidelines if you choose to use one. Similarly, there are no hard-and-fast requirements for your headings and subheads, but Chicago style also provides guidelines you can follow.

The Chicago Manual of Style refers to how an essay is formatted

Chicago style uses two different citation formats: the notes-bibliography system and the author-date system. Both are completely acceptable for a paper formatted in Chicago, but your instructor may require that you use one or the other.

Formatting a Chicago Style Essay

The Chicago Manual of Style is an American English style guide published by the University of Chicago Press. The Manual’s guidelines for publishing, style and usage, and citations and indexes—known as “Chicago style” rules and recommendations—are among the most widely used in the United States, especially in academic and book publishing.