Chicago citation is widely used in history, humanities, art history, philosophy, religion, and some social science courses. It gives students two main ways to cite sources: notes-bibliography and author-date.
The right system depends on your assignment and academic field. This guide explains how Chicago citation works, how footnotes and bibliographies differ, and how to format books, journal articles, and websites correctly before submitting your paper.
Quick Answer to Chicago Citation
Chicago citation has two main systems: notes-bibliography and author-date.
In Chicago notes-bibliography style, you use superscript numbers in the text and cite sources in footnotes or endnotes. A bibliography usually appears at the end of the paper.
Text example:
Student writing often improves when feedback is given before the final draft.¹
Footnote example:
Rebecca Miller, Writing with Evidence in College (Boston: Beacon Academic Press, 2023), 42.
In Chicago author-date style, you use parenthetical citations in the text and a reference list at the end.
Author-date example:
Student writing often improves when feedback is given before the final draft (Miller 2023, 42).
Both systems are Chicago style, but they should not be mixed in the same paper unless your instructor specifically asks you to compare them.
What Is Chicago Citation?
Chicago citation is a source documentation style based on The Chicago Manual of Style. It is often used for research papers that rely on books, historical sources, archival materials, scholarly articles, and long-form academic arguments.
Chicago style is especially common in:
history
literature
philosophy
religion
art history
humanities
publishing
some social sciences
For official examples, students can review the Chicago Manual of Style citation guide, which explains both notes-bibliography and author-date formats.
Chicago citation is flexible, but that flexibility can confuse students. The first step is always to identify which Chicago system your instructor requires.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography Style
The notes-bibliography system is the version many students mean when they say “Chicago citation.” It uses footnotes or endnotes to cite sources in the paper.
A superscript number appears after the sentence or clause that uses the source:
The expansion of public education changed how many Americans understood citizenship.¹
The matching footnote appears at the bottom of the page:
Daniel Carter, Schools and Citizenship in Modern America (New York: Northview Press, 2021), 113.
A bibliography entry appears at the end:
Carter, Daniel. Schools and Citizenship in Modern America. New York: Northview Press, 2021.
Notice that the footnote and bibliography entry are not identical. The footnote uses the author’s first name first and includes the specific page cited. The bibliography reverses the author’s name and usually gives the full source information rather than one cited page.
Chicago Author-Date Style
Chicago author-date style uses parenthetical citations instead of footnotes. It is less common in history papers but may be used in some social sciences and sciences.
In-text citation format:
(Author Year, Page)
Example:
Public education shaped ideas about citizenship and social mobility (Carter 2021, 113).
The matching reference list entry appears at the end:
Carter, Daniel. 2021. Schools and Citizenship in Modern America. New York: Northview Press.
In author-date style, the year appears right after the author in the reference list. This makes it easier for readers to match the in-text citation to the full entry.
Chicago Citation Formats by Source Type
Source Type | Notes-Bibliography Footnote | Bibliography or Reference Format |
|---|---|---|
Book | Author First Last, Title (Place: Publisher, Year), page. | Last Name, First Name. Title. Place: Publisher, Year. |
Journal article | Author First Last, “Article Title,” Journal Name volume, no. issue (Year): page. | Last Name, First Name. “Article Title.” Journal Name volume, no. issue (Year): page range. |
Website | Author or Organization, “Page Title,” Website Name, date, URL. | Author or Organization. “Page Title.” Website Name. Date. URL. |
Edited book chapter | Author First Last, “Chapter Title,” in Book Title, ed. Editor Name (Place: Publisher, Year), page. | Last Name, First Name. “Chapter Title.” In Book Title, edited by Editor Name, pages. Place: Publisher, Year. |
Chicago citations change by source type, so a book, journal article, and website should not be formatted the same way.
Complete Chicago Citation Example
Here is a complete Chicago notes-bibliography example for a book.
Source information:
Author: Rebecca Miller
Book title: Writing With Evidence in College
Place of publication: Boston
Publisher: Beacon Academic Press
Year: 2023
Page cited: 42
Sentence in the paper:
Student writing often improves when feedback is given before the final draft.¹
First footnote:
Rebecca Miller, Writing with Evidence in College (Boston: Beacon Academic Press, 2023), 42.
Shortened footnote later in the paper:
Miller, Writing with Evidence, 58.
Bibliography entry:
Miller, Rebecca. Writing with Evidence in College. Boston: Beacon Academic Press, 2023.
This example is correct because the first footnote gives full source details and a specific page number. The later footnote uses a shortened form because the source has already been cited. The bibliography entry gives the full source information at the end of the paper, with the author’s last name first.
A common mistake is copying the footnote exactly into the bibliography. Chicago notes and bibliography entries use different punctuation, author order, and page information.
Chicago Citation for Books
Books are one of the most common source types in Chicago style, especially in history and humanities writing.
First footnote:
Maria Johnson, Labor and Reform in Modern America (Chicago: Northview Press, 2022), 88.
Shortened footnote:
Johnson, Labor and Reform, 91.
Bibliography entry:
Johnson, Maria. Labor and Reform in Modern America. Chicago: Northview Press, 2022.
Use a page number in the footnote when you cite a specific idea, quote, or passage.
Chicago Citation for Journal Articles
Journal articles usually require the author, article title, journal title, volume, issue, year, and page number or page range.
First footnote:
Laura Chen, “Student Activism and Campus Reform,” Journal of American Education 18, no. 2 (2022): 47.
Shortened footnote:
Chen, “Student Activism,” 52.
Bibliography entry:
Chen, Laura. “Student Activism and Campus Reform.” Journal of American Education 18, no. 2 (2022): 40–62.
In the footnote, cite the specific page you used. In the bibliography, include the full page range of the article.
Chicago Citation for Websites
Websites can be cited in Chicago style, but students should use reliable sources such as university pages, government agencies, museums, libraries, archives, and established publications.
First footnote:
Library of Congress, “The Civil Rights Act of 1964,” accessed June 26, 2026, https://www.loc.gov/example.
Bibliography entry:
Library of Congress. “The Civil Rights Act of 1964.” Accessed June 26, 2026. https://www.loc.gov/example.
If a webpage has a publication or update date, include that date. If no date is listed, an access date can help readers know when you viewed the page.
Chicago Citation vs. APA and MLA
Chicago style is different from APA and MLA in both purpose and format.
Style | In-Text Format | Final Source Page | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
Chicago notes-bibliography | Superscript number + footnote | Bibliography | History and humanities |
Chicago author-date | (Smith 2023, 45) | References | Some social sciences |
APA | (Smith, 2023, p. 45) | References | Psychology and social sciences |
MLA | (Smith 45) | Works Cited | English and humanities |
A common student mistake is using APA punctuation in Chicago author-date citations. Chicago uses (Smith 2023, 45), not (Smith, 2023, p. 45).
Common Chicago Citation Mistakes
Mistake | Correct Approach |
|---|---|
Mixing notes-bibliography and author-date | Use one Chicago system consistently. |
Copying footnotes into the bibliography | Reformat bibliography entries separately. |
Forgetting page numbers in footnotes | Include the exact page for quotes or specific evidence. |
Repeating full notes every time | Use shortened notes after the first full note when allowed. |
Using APA or MLA in-text citation rules | Follow Chicago rules for the required system. |
Citing unreliable websites | Prefer academic, government, museum, archive, or library sources. |
Leaving out the final source list | Include a bibliography or reference list when required. |
Tips for Checking Chicago Citations Before Submitting
First, confirm whether your assignment requires notes-bibliography or author-date style. This choice affects the entire paper.
Next, check whether each citation matches the source type. A book citation should not look like a journal article citation. A website citation should include the page title, website name, date information when available, and URL.
Then review page numbers. Chicago footnotes often point readers to exact pages, especially when you quote or analyze a specific passage.
Finally, compare your footnotes and bibliography. They should contain related information, but they should not be formatted exactly the same.
FAQ About Chicago Citation
What is Chicago citation?
Chicago citation is a source documentation style used in history, humanities, publishing, and some social sciences. It has two main systems: notes-bibliography and author-date.
Does Chicago citation use footnotes?
Chicago notes-bibliography style uses footnotes or endnotes. Chicago author-date style uses parenthetical citations instead.
What does a Chicago footnote look like?
A book footnote may look like this: Rebecca Miller, Writing with Evidence in College (Boston: Beacon Academic Press, 2023), 42.
What is Chicago author-date citation?
Chicago author-date citation uses the author’s last name, publication year, and page number when needed, such as (Miller 2023, 42).
Is Chicago citation the same as Turabian?
Turabian style is a student-focused version of Chicago style. Many college instructors use Turabian for research papers, especially in history and humanities courses.
What is the difference between a Chicago footnote and bibliography entry?
A footnote cites a specific source at a specific point in the paper. A bibliography entry lists the full source at the end and uses different punctuation and author name order.
Conclusion
Chicago citation gives students two main options: notes-bibliography and author-date. Notes-bibliography uses footnotes or endnotes and is common in history and humanities, while author-date uses parenthetical citations and a reference list. Before submitting your paper, confirm which system your instructor requires, include page numbers for specific evidence, and make sure your notes, bibliography, or references are formatted consistently.