Chicago Notes and Bibliography Style for Academic Writing
Chicago style formatting, a popular way to cite sources, has two main methods: the notes and bibliography system, and the author-date system. This guide explains the notes and bibliography system, often used in humanities subjects. It will teach you how to correctly format footnotes and endnotes, as well as how to create a detailed bibliography.
What Are Chicago Footnotes?
Imagine footnotes as tiny guides that help readers navigate your text. When you quote or summarize something, you add a small number in your text. This number corresponds to a note at the bottom of the page or the end of your paper. These notes contain all the info about the sources you used.
Footnotes and Endnotes: An Overview
In the notes and bibliography system, sources are cited through footnotes or endnotes. These match up with small superscript numbers in your text. Footnotes are found at the bottom of the page, and endnotes are compiled at the end of your work.
Placement and Numbering of Notes
When quoting or paraphrasing a source, place a small superscript number at the end of the sentence or clause, following any punctuation except for a dash. The corresponding footnote or endnote begins with the same number, followed by a period. Notes should be numbered consecutively throughout the entire paper.
ExampleBauman argues that “the data is unconvincing.” ¹
Full Notes vs. Short Notes
Footnotes come in two types: full notes and short notes. Think of full notes as the full package. They include all the details about a source, like the author, title, and where it was published. Short notes are like the simplified version of full notes.
After you have introduced a source with a full note, you can use short notes with just the author's last name, a shortened title, and sometimes the page number. Use a full note with all the publication details the first time you cite a source. After that, you can use short notes, which only need the author's last name, a shortened title, and the page number if relevant.
John Berger, “The Clarity of the Renaissance,” in Selected Essays, ed. Geoff Dyer (Vintage, 2003), 41.
Short Note Example:Berger, “The Clarity of the Renaissance,” 41
Variations in Usage
Guidelines for using full and short notes can vary based on your academic discipline and school preferences. In some fields, you might need to use a full note for every citation. In others, you can use short notes after the first full note as long as the source is completely listed in the bibliography.
To make sure you are doing it right, always check with your instructor for the specific guidelines you need to follow. This will help you meet the expectations for your course and ensure your citations are correct.
Combining Multiple Citations
Sometimes, you will need to cite multiple sources at the same point in your text. You can combine these into one footnote by separating each citation with a semicolon. This keeps your notes neat and organized.
Example Footnote:Darwin, On the Origin of Species; Gould, The Structure of Evolutionary Theory; Dawkins, The Selfish Gene.
By doing this, you can reference several works at once without cluttering your page with multiple footnotes. This technique is especially useful when comparing different sources or building on various pieces of research. Always remember to format each citation correctly within the combined note.
Handling Multiple Authors and Missing Information
Multiple Authors
When citing sources with multiple authors, the rules change slightly based on the number of authors:
-
1 authors: Include the author's full name.
Example: John Berger/Berger -
2 authors: Include both authors' names.
Example: Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace/Darwin and Wallace -
3 authors: Include all three authors' names.
Example: David Johnson, Sarah Smith, and Emily Brown / Johnson, Smith, and Brown -
4 or more authors: Include the first author's name followed by "et al."
Example: Lisa Robinson et al./Robinson et al.
Missing Information
If a source is missing information, such as the author's name or the publication date, adjust your citation accordingly:
-
No publication date: Use "n.d." (no date).
Example: Stevens. Ancient Egyptian Mythology. (London: Oxford University Press, n.d.), 52. -
No individual author: Use the organization’s name as the author.
Example: National Geographic Society, Exploring the Rainforest (Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, n.d.), 25.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure your citations are accurate even when dealing with multiple authors or missing information. This makes your work look professional and credible.
Footnote Examples by Source Type
Here are some examples of how to cite different types of sources in your footnotes using the Chicago style.
Book Citation
Italicize the book title and include edition information if applicable. Add the URL if the book was consulted online.
Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird (London: Vintage, 2004).
Book Chapter Citation
Enclose the chapter title in quotation marks and italicize the book title. List the editor towards the end of the citation.
Virginia Woolf, "Mrs. Dalloway in Bond Street," in Mrs. Dalloway, ed. David Bradshaw (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), 77-92.
Journal Article Citation
Enclose the article title in quotation marks and italicize the journal name. Include volume and issue numbers.
Samantha Brown, "Exploring the Role of Social Media in Modern Politics," Journal of Political Communication 25, no. 3 (July 2019): 301-315.
Website Citation
Enclose the page title in quotation marks without italicizing the website name. If the publication date is unknown, you should include the access date.
World Health Organization, "COVID-19 Guidance and Information," accessed March 15, 2022,
https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease/COVID-19/en/.
Footnotes vs. Endnotes
Decide whether you want to use footnotes or endnotes. Footnotes and endnotes do the same thing: they provide additional information or citations. However, they are placed differently:
| Footnotes are immediately accessible, appearing at the bottom of the relevant page. However, they can clutter the page if there are too many. | Endnotes gather all the citations in one section at the end of your document. They reduce page clutter, but readers have to go back and forth between the text and the endnotes section. They also take up less space in the main text, reducing distraction. |
So, footnotes offer quicker access to information, whereas endnotes maintain a tidy layout, albeit requiring some navigation back and forth.
The format of citations in endnotes is identical to those in footnotes. Unless instructed otherwise, you can choose whichever you prefer, but be consistent in using either footnotes or endnotes throughout your document.
Bibliography vs. Reference List
When it comes to citing sources in your academic writing, understanding the distinction between a bibliography and a reference list is crucial. Let's explore the differences and how they impact your writing.
First off, what exactly are a bibliography and a reference list? Simply put, both serve as lists of the sources you have used in your paper. However, they vary in their format, purpose, and usage.
The bibliography is a comprehensive list of all the sources you consulted and cited when writing your research paper. It includes every book, article, website, or other resource you referenced during your research process.
In contrast, the reference list is a more focused compilation of the sources specifically cited within your text. This list is particularly important in Chicago author-date style, where in-text citations appear in parentheses.
So, which one should you use: a bibliography or a reference list? The answer depends on your professor's instructions or the requirements of your discipline. However, if you are following the Chicago style, you will likely need both.
Wrap It Up
As you dive into the world of Chicago notes and bibliography style, remember that proper citations will guide your readers through the twists and turns of your academic writing. So arm yourself with this knowledge and write your academic papers confidently!