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 basic documentation systems in this style:

  • 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

The style offers academic writers the choice between these two formats; choosing which system you are going to apply to your work will depend on your discipline and the type of sources you are citing.

Popular Chicago Citation Examples

How do I Create and Format Chicago Style Citations?

While the Cite This For Me generator helps you be accurate, you are encouraged to review your citations manually for consistency, accuracy and completeness according to this guide.

I. Notes-Bibliography System

  • Formatting a footnote

Whenever you cite a source, you should insert a superscript number at the end of the sentence containing the source.

  • Insert a superscript number at the end of the sentence containing the source – begin with number 1 and continue numerically throughout the paper.
  • A footnote generally lists the author (first name first), title, and facts of publication (enclosed in parentheses), in that order – each should be separated by commas.

II. Author-Date System

If you are using the author-date system to format your Chicago style citations, you must indicate each source with a brief parenthetical citation:

  • Include the last name of author, the year of publication, and a page number in parentheses.

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 is the perfect opportunity to show your reader the effort you have gone to in researching your chosen topic.

I. Notes-Bibliography System

  • Arrange sources alphabetically by author’s last name.
  • Usually titled ‘Bibliography’, and placed at the end of your work but preceding the index.

II. Author-Date System

  • Instead of a bibliography your list should be titled ‘References’ or ‘Works Cited’. The year of publication comes directly after the author’s name.

Chicago Format Examples (17th Edition)

I. Notes-Bibliography System

  • Book with single author or editor:

  • Full Chicago citation in a footnote:
    5. Michael Pollan, The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (New York: Penguin, 2006), 99-100.

  • Bibliography entry:
    Pollan, Michael, The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. New York: Penguin, 2006.

II. Author-Date System:

  • Article with single author or editor, author mentioned in text:

    • Reference list entry:
      Albiston, Catherine R. 2005. “Bargaining in the Shadow of Social Institutions: Competing Discourses and Social Change in the Workplace Mobilization of Civil Rights.” Law and Society Review 39 (1): 11-47.

A Brief History of the Style

The Chicago format dates back to 1891 when the University of Chicago Press opened. The style has evolved significantly over the years, reflecting changes in technology and the way research and communication occur today.

Why is Citing Important?

Plagiarism occurs when a writer does not properly credit their source material; stealing the ideas or words of another and passing them off as one’s own is literary theft. Proper use of a referencing system, such as the Chicago format, protects writers from committing plagiarism and being accused of plagiarizing their work.

How Do I Know What Types of Sources I Should be Citing?

It is important to know what kinds of sources are appropriate for research papers. There are three kinds of sources:

  • primary
  • secondary
  • reference (tertiary)

Understanding these types can guide your research and writing effectively.