The Chicago Citation Style, also known as CMS (Chicago Manual of Style), is one of the oldest and most respected ways to cite sources in papers and articles. It's used in many areas like school, history, science, and more. Created by the University of Chicago Press, it first came out in 1906. In this blog post, we'll explain what Chicago citation is, how it has changed over the years, and how to correctly write citations and references for different kinds of sources. We'll also discuss tips on how to keep your citations consistent and avoid mistakes that are easy to make. Let's get into the "Chicago Style Citation Guide" together.
What is Chicago Style format?
Chicago style, aka the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS), is a popular set of citation and formatting requirements for academic writing and publishing. It began with the University of Chicago Press in 1906. The Chicago Manual of Style contains guidelines for manuscript preparation, punctuation, syntax, and citation formatting, providing an approach that is suitable for a wide range of fields, including humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
The Chicago style originated in the early twentieth century when the University of Chicago Press released a style sheet to standardize writing and citation norms among its authors and editors. The Chicago Manual of Style has gone through several revisions to reflect changes in publishing processes and technological advances.
Chicago style differs in its approach to citation, which uses either the notes and bibliography system or the author-date method. This flexibility enables writers to select the approach that best meets their research and publication goals. While the Chicago style is most commonly identified with American academic publishing, it has global influence and is known for its thoroughness and range across various academic disciplines and professional areas.
Two Methods of Citation in Chicago Style
Let's examine the two most popular approaches for citing sources following the Chicago citation style.
Notes and Bibliography Style
The notes and bibliography system is used in study areas like history, humanities, arts, and literature to cite sources in academic writing. When you mention a source, you put a small number or symbol next to it. These symbols, called "note markers," lead to detailed citations at the bottom of the page or end of the paper. These notes provide information about each source, and all sources are listed in a bibliography at the end. This technique is meant to make it clear to your professor or the reader which article or source you have utilized and where allowing them to conclude that you used credible sources.
Author-date Style
The other method of citation is the author-date system, which is primarily used in science and social science. In this system, when you mention a source in your writing, you put the author's last name and the year the source was published in parentheses like this (Brown, 2020). Your professor will discover the sources you used if you cite them in each paragraph of your work and list them in a references section at the end.
Chicago Style Formatting Citations
Notes and Bibliography System
- Books:-
|
Type |
Format |
Example |
|
Single Author |
Author, Title (Place of publication: Publisher, Year), Page. |
Jane Doe, Exploring Shakespearean Tragedy (London: Literary Press, 2019), 50. |
|
Multiple Authors |
First Author and Second Author, Title (Place of publication: Publisher, Year), Page. |
John Smith and Mary Johnson, Themes in English Literature (New York: Academic Press, 2022), 123. |
|
Edited Collections |
Editor, ed., Title (Place of publication: Publisher, Year), Page. |
Robert Brown, ed., The Renaissance in English Literature (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020), 200. |
- Journal Articles:-
|
Type |
Format |
Example |
|
Basic Format |
Author, "Title of Article," Journal Name Volume, no. Issue (Year): Page. |
Emily White, "The Role of Women in Victorian Literature," English Literary Review 15, no. 4 (2020): 4567. |
|
Specific Cases |
Author, "Title of Article," Journal Name Volume, no. Issue (Year): Page, doi: DOI. |
Michael Green, "Modern Interpretations of Chaucer," Journal of Medieval Studies 10, no. 1 (2022): 112130, doi:10.1234/jms.2019.56789.
|
- Websites:-
|
Type |
Format |
Example |
|
Format |
Author or Organization, "Title of site-page," Website Name, accessed Month Day, Year, URL. |
British Library, "Exploring Shakespeare's Works," British Library, accessed May 17, 2024, https://www.bl.uk/shakespeare.
|
Author-Date System
- Books:-
|
Type |
Format |
Example |
|
Single Author |
(Author Year, Page) |
(Doe 2023, 50) |
|
Multiple Authors |
(First Author and Second Author Year, Page) |
(Smith and Johnson 2022, 123) |
- Journal Articles:-
|
Type |
Format |
Example |
|
Basic Format |
(Author Year, Page) |
(White 2020, 4567) |
|
Online Articles |
(Author Year, Page, doi: DOI) |
(Green 2019, 112130, doi:10.1234/jms.2019.567890) |
- Websites:-
|
Type |
Format |
Example |
|
Basic Format |
(Author or Organization, accessed Month Day, Year) |
(British Library, accessed May 17, 2024) |
Things to Remember in Chicago Style
- Author Names: Format author names as first name last name in the bibliography, but last name, first name in footnotes or endnotes.
- Book Title: The book title should be italicized when acknowledging a work in Chicago style.
- Website Name: The name of a website should also be in italics when cited.
- Journal Article Title: The title of a journal article should be in italics.
- Publication Date: Pay attention to the format of dates, which are typically in day month year format (e.g., 10 May 2024).
- Page Numbers: Include page numbers in your citation for direct quotes or specific references within a source.
Key Rules and Tips for Chicago Style
People frequently overlook a lot of factors, but by focusing on these, you may strengthen your citation and reference writing abilities. First and foremost, you must choose the appropriate citation style and stick to it throughout your work. Remember to mention your sources so that people can easily follow your views. Do not forget to follow formatting rules, such as the use of italicized and capital characters.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them in Chicago Style
While citing sources, people frequently make the same errors. They might, for example, jumble up the details' order or remove crucial elements like page numbers or publishing dates. To make sure your citations are accurate, double-check them. A checklist can be a great resource. When editing your paper, you can make a checklist of items to check, like making sure all sources are properly cited, using grammar correctly, and using clear slang that readers who aren't familiar with them understand.
Conclusion
A proper citation recognizes the original authors and shows where your information came from. It's similar to praising them for their efforts. To become an expert in Chicago Style citations, keep in mind to be consistent, to be mindful of capitalization and punctuation, to be aware of common errors, and to utilize checklists to make sure everything is correct. Since we have thoroughly covered each kind of Chicago citation with examples, take these as a guide and make sure your work is organized so that you don't feel overburdened.
