Free Chicago Citation Generator
What is the Chicago Style Citation?
Chicago citations are used by students, writers, and researchers worldwide to acknowledge the use of other people’s words and ideas in their written work, thereby lending credibility to their statements and conclusions without committing plagiarism.
There are two documentation systems:
- Notes-Bibliography System (NB) is made up of footnotes or endnotes (or both), and a bibliography.
- Author-Date System consists of parenthetical author-date citations and a corresponding reference list including full publication information.
This guide is not officially associated with the citation style, but it will give you a good overview of the rules and format. So read on to see how both Chicago variants work.
The notes and bibliography system is primarily used in the humanities – including literature, history, and the arts – because it is a flexible style that accommodates unusual source types and opens up space for commentary on the sources cited. A superscript number at the end of the sentence signals to the reader that a source has been used, and summary details of the source can be found using the numbered footnote at the bottom of the page. Full details of the source information can be located in the bibliography, which is presented at the end of the essay in alphabetical order by author.
The Chicago style citation also has an author-date variant, which is commonly used by those in the physical, natural, and social sciences. Sources are briefly cited in the text and enclosed within parentheses. Each parenthetical citation includes the author’s last name, date of publication, and sometimes a page number, and is keyed to a corresponding citation in a complete list of references, where full bibliographic information is provided.
Popular Chicago Citation Examples
How Do I Create and Format Chicago Style Citations?
I. Notes-Bibliography System
- Formatting a footnote
- Insert a superscript number (raised slightly above the line) at the end of the sentence containing the source.
- A footnote generally lists the author (first name first), title, and facts of publication (enclosed in parentheses).
II. Author-Date System
- Include the last name of the author and the year of publication in parentheses.
- Position the parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence referring to the source.
Creating My Bibliography and Reference List
Each Chicago citation in the body of your written work should be directly keyed to a bibliography or reference list entry. Compiling a full list of all the source material that has contributed to your research and writing process is an opportunity to show your reader the effort you have gone to in researching your topic.
I. Notes-Bibliography System
- Arrange sources alphabetically by author’s last name.
- Each bibliographic entry should include: author name, title of work, publication information.
II. Author-Date System
- Instead of a bibliography, your list should be titled ‘References’.
- The year of publication comes directly after the author’s name.
Chicago Format Examples (17th Edition)
I. Notes-Bibliography System
Book with single author:
- Footnote: Michael Pollan, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, 99-100.
- Bibliography entry: Pollan, Michael. The Omnivore’s Dilemma. New York: Penguin, 2006.
II. Author-Date System
Article with single author:
- In-text citation: (Albiston 2005)
- Reference list entry: Albiston, Catherine R. 2005. "Bargaining in the Shadow of Social Institutions..."
A Brief History of the Style
The Chicago format dates back to 1891 when the University of Chicago Press opened. Over the years, the style has evolved to reflect technological developments and the changing landscape of publishing.
Why is Citing Important?
Plagiarism occurs when a writer does not properly credit their source material. The proper use of a referencing system, such as the Chicago format, protects writers from committing plagiarism and validates their work by demonstrating thorough research.
How Do I Know What Types of Sources I Should be Citing?
There are three kinds of sources that you will come across:
- Primary sources (original material)
- Secondary sources (well-researched interpretation of primary sources)
- Reference sources (summarize information about topics)
Cite This For Me can help you handle citations for all of these types of sources.