Last revised: November 2007
Citing Sources Using the Chicago/Turabian Style: Notes System
Scope: This guide is designed to help researchers learn how to cite sources using the Chicago Style notes system. This system is often used in history, the humanitites, and the arts. This guide is not a comprehensive list of all the types of materials that can be cited; for more information, refer to:
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Gibaldi, Joseph. The Chicago Manual of Style. 15th ed.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003. McKeldin Library Reference Desk Z253 .U69 2003 |
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Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 7th ed.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007. Engineering & Physical Sciences Library Reference LB2369.T8 2007
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Turabian's manual translates Chicago style into a more concise form for students. Turabian's 7th edition is based on the 15th edition of Chicago Manual of Style. So, at least for electronic sources, it is recommended that you use the 15th ed. of Chicago. All the citations below are based on the Chicago 15th edition.
Chicago's Web site also contains a Q & A section.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Overview of Chicago/Turabian Documentation Systems
- Two Types of Notes Systems
- How to Construct a Short Note
- Documenting Sources Using the Notes System
Overview of Chicago/Turabian Documentation Systems
Chicago/Turabian allows for 2 different systems of documentation: a notes system which is suggested for use in the humanities, art, and history, and an in-text parenthetical system called the author-date system, suggested for use in the physical, natural, and social sciences.What differentiates the notes system from the in-text parenthetical system (also known as the author-date system) is the use of footnotes (notes at the bottom of the page) or endnotes (notes at the end of the paper on a separate sheet) to document sources. This involves the use of a superscript number in the text of your paper to identify an idea or quote which you borrowed from someone else.
This guide outlines the notes system. For more information on using the author-date system, which Chicago recommends for papers in the physical, natural, and social sciences, see Citing Sources Using the Chicago Style Manual: In-Text Parenthetical System (Author-Date).
Two Types of Notes Systems
In the notes system, the format and content of the notes depends upon whether or not you include a full bibliography (one that lists all the sources you cite) with your paper. The Chicago/Turabian style allows the writer to choose whether or not to include a full bibliography and gives rules in either case. The options are:
- Notes and Full Bibliography: All notes can be in the shortened form, even the first mention of a source, since a full bibliography will give the full source information for every note you have in your paper. This is the recommended practice, which Chicago describes on page 594 as, "user-friendly and economical-duplication of information is minimized." To illustrate how this would look, imagine that you're writing a paper on the "ideal" politician and are quoting a particular author's idea about desirable qualities in a politician. An exerpt from a sentence in the text of a paper written using the notes system with a full bibliography would look like this:
While some assert that the essential qualities a politician must posess are, "passion, a feeling of responsibility, and a sense of proportion" ², others think that...
The note would look like this:
2. Weber, "Politics as a Vocation", 33
and the entry in the bibliography would look like this:
Weber, Max. "Politics as a Vocation." In Essays in Sociology, edited by H.H. Garth and C. Wright Mills, 26-45. New York: Macmillian, 1946.
Click here for an example of a research paper which uses this system. - Notes only, No Bibliography, or only a Selected Bibliography: The first mention of a source must be a full note-i.e., it must include all source citation information since the reader can't refer to the bibliography for that information. The shortened form can then be utilized for subsequent notes to the same source. Here is an example:
2. Max Weber, "Politics as a Vocation," in Essays in Sociology, ed. Howard Garth and Cynthia Mills (New York: Macmillian, 1946), 26-45.
Any subsequent note (not consecutive) referring to that same source would look like this:
3. Weber, "Politics as a Vocation," 32.
Click here for an example of a research paper which uses this system.
| How to Construct a Short Note | |
|---|---|
Short notes are used:
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| Basic form: Author's last name and the title of the source plus page references | 2. Harvey, Notes on Ireland, 45. |
| Long titles: Remove "a" and "the"; shorten title if it is longer than four words | 12. Verne, Journey to the Center, 56. (for A Journey to the Center of the Earth ) |
| Two to three authors: Use all last names | 4. Sweet and Krolowsi, Last Train to Rehoboth, 34-35. |
| More than three authors: Use first followed by "et al." | 1. Smith et al., "Analysis of Panel Study", 45. |
| Two notes from the same source in a row: Use "Ibid." | 1. Harvey, Notes on Ireland, 45.
2. Ibid., 46. (same source, different page number) 3. Verne, Journey to the Center, 56. 4. Ibid. (same source, same page number) |
Documenting Sources Using the Notes System
| BOOK | CITATION |
|---|---|
| 1 Author | Full Note:
6. John W. Bagby, Cyberlaw Handbook for E-Commerce (New York: Harcourt Brace, 2003), 37. |
| Bibliography:
Bagby, John W. Cyberlaw Handbook for E-Commerce. New York: Harcourt Brace, 2003. |
|
| 3 Editors | Full Note:
13. David L. Baumer, Julius Poindexter, and Janice Brown, eds., Cyberlaw and E-Commerce (Boston: McGraw Hill, 2002), 46-47. |
| Bibliography:
Baumer, David L., Julius Poindexter, and Janice Brown, eds. Cyberlaw and E-Commerce. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2002. | |
| 4-10 Authors/2nd edition | Full Note:
21. John Smith and others, The History of the World Wide Web, 2nd ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2004), 267. |
| Bibliography:
Smith, John, Janice Brown, Chris W. Enkunde, and Lois Denmark. The History of the World Wide Web. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2004. |
|
| Chapter in an edited multiauthor book: | Full Note:
14. Chris Heller and Andrea Gottlieb, "Gender Roles in Ethiopian Culture," in Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective, ed. Sherry Collier, 45-56 (Louisville, KY: Pilgrim Press, 2001). |
| Bibliography:
Heller, Chris, and Andrea Gottlieb. "Gender Roles in Ethiopian Culture." In Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective, edited by Sherry Collier, 45-56. Louisville, KY: Pilgrim Press, 2001. |
| DICTIONARY or ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRY | CITATION |
|---|---|
| In Print | Note: (Well known reference works are usually cited only in notes with the edition specified but not the publication facts)
1.Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd ed., s.v. "Blog." |
| Online-from a Web site | Note: (Well known reference works are usually cited only in notes with the edition specified but not the publication facts)
1. Dictionary.com, s.v. "Electronic Commerce," http://dictionary.reference.com (accessed March 3, 2004). |
| DISSERTATION | CITATION |
|---|---|
| Unpublished | Full Note:
1. Kerry J. Fitzpatrick, "Effects of Mowing on the Selection of Raptor Foraging Habitat" (PhD diss., University of Maryland, 2003), 201-204. |
| Bibliography:
Fitzpatrick, Kerry J. "Effects of Mowing on the Selection of Raptor Foraging Habitat." PhD diss., University of Maryland, 2003. |
| CITATION | |
|---|---|
| E-Mail: More common to cite in a note or in the text | In the text: "In an e-mail message received by the author on December, 12, 2203, Sheila McCarthy stated that..."
Note:
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| GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT | CITATION |
|---|---|
| In Print: Reports, bulletins, circulars, and misc. materials issued by executive departments, bureaus, and agencies | Full Note:
12. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Irrigation: A National Research Plan, (Washington, DC: GPO, 2001), 34. |
| Bibliography:
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Irrigation: A National Research Plan. Washington, DC: GPO, 2001. | |
| Online-from a Web site with a known author Reports, bulletins, circulars, and misc. materials issued by executive departments, bureaus, and agencies | Full Note:
2. U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Analysis of Crime Patterns 1990-2000 by Shirley Marimer (Washington, DC: GPO, 2002), http://www.usdoj.gov/346576/cr2002.pdf (accessed April 14, 2005). |
| Bibliography:
U.S. Department of Justice. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Analysis of Crime Patterns 1990-2000 by Shirley Marimer. Washington, DC: GPO, 2002. http://www.usdoj.gov/346576/cr2002.pdf (accessed April 14, 2005). |
| INTERVIEW | CITATION |
|---|---|
| Unpublished Interview: Unpublished are usually cited in notes or in the text (see e-mail for example of citing in the text) | Note:
2. Gary Williams (CEO, Sprint), in discussion with the author, February 2004. |
| JOURNAL (PEER REVIEWED) ARTICLE | CITATION |
|---|---|
| In Print-with continuous pagination throughout annual volume: Can omit issue number but Chicago prefers including more info. if it's available rather than less | Full Note:
11. Earl W. T. James, "Obesity in American School Children: An Epidemic," Journal of Nursing 389, no. 12 (2000): 399-405. |
| Bibliography:
James, Earl W.T., and Lucy Danker. "Obesity in American School Children: An Epidemic." Journal of Nursing 389, no. 12 (2000): 399-405. |
|
| In Print-journal that uses only issue numbers, not volumes: Place a comma after the journal title | Full Note:
11. Joanie Harker, "The Rise of the Urban Middle Class," Journal of Urban Renewal , no. 45 (1985): 35-56. |
| Bibliography:
Harker, Joanie. "The Rise of the Urban Middle Class." Journal of Urban Renewal , no. 45 (1985): 35-56. |
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| Online, found using the citation below found through the library database Academic Search Premier: Include access date for time sensitive data or if discipline requires it; it is given here to illustrate the required format | Full Note:
13. Caroline J. Stem and others, "How 'Eco' is Ecotourism? A Comparative Case Study of Ecotourism in Costa Rica," Journal of Sustainable Tourism 11, no. 4 (2003), http://www.epnet.com/ (accessed March 6, 2005). Include page number as well if specific page is referred to |
| Bibliography:
Stem, Caroline J., James P. Lassoie, David R. Lee, and David J. Dessler. "How 'Eco' is Ecotourism? A Comparative Case Study of Ecotourism in Costa Rica." Journal of Sustainable Tourism 11, no. 4 (2003): 322-348. http://www.epnet.com/ (accessed March 6, 2005). |
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| LEGAL SOURCE | CITATION |
|---|---|
| Law/Statute (Usually cited in notes) | Note:
17. Children's Internet Protection Act, Public Law 106-554, U.S. Statutes at Large 118 (2001): 64. |
| Case decided by Supreme Court (Usually cited in notes) | Note:
21. United States v. Patane , 525 U.S. 366 (2000). |
| LETTER TO THE EDITOR | CITATION |
|---|---|
| In Print | Note: More common to cite newspapers in notes than in bibliographies
6. Melissa Jones, letter to the editor, Baltimore Sun, May 20, 2003. |
| Online-from a news Web site | Note:
6. Melissa Jones, letter to the editor, Baltimore Sun, May 20, 2003, http://www.baltimoresun.com/2003/05/20/leditor.html/. |
| MAGAZINE ARTICLE | CITATION |
|---|---|
| In Print-monthly:
Usually cited by date only, even if volume and issue are available |
Full Note:
6. Michael Elliott, "Gypsy Foklore Revisited," Smithsonian, March 2004, 24. |
| Bibliography:
Elliott, Michael. "Gypsy Foklore Revisited." Smithsonian, March 2004, 23-29. |
|
| Online-Using the citation below found through the library database Academic Search Premier-issued weekly:
Usually cited by date only, even if volume and issue are available; Include access date for time sensitive data or if discipline requires it; it is given here to illustrate the required format |
Full Note:
6. Monica Roman, "Son of NAFTA?" Business Week, December 12, 2003, http://www.epnet.com/ (accessed March 12, 2005). |
| Bibliography:
Roman, Monica. "Son of Nafta?" Business Week, December 12, 2003. http://www.epnet.com/ (accessed March 12, 2005). |
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| NEWSPAPER ARTICLE | CITATION |
|---|---|
| In Print: More common to cite newspapers in notes than in bibliographies; omit page numbers since they are not consistent between editions | Note:
2. Edward Epstein, "It's That Time Again: Lawmakers Revisit Daylight Saving," San Francisco Chronicle, April 9, 2005, final edition. |
| Online-using the citation below found though the library database Lexis Nexis Academic: Include access date for time sensitive data or if discipline requires it; it is given here to illustrate the required format | Note:
2. Daniel Howden, "Polio at Mecca Sparks Fear for Muslim Thousands," The Independent (London), February 12, 2005, first edition, http://www.lexisnexis.com/ (accessed March 25, 2005). |
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| ONLINE POSTING | CITATION |
|---|---|
| Electronic Mailing List Posting: Usually cited in notes or in text (see e-mail for citing in text); if it is archived online, include an access date and url | Note:
12. John Hossberg, e-mail to H-Amsty mailing list, March 23, 1998, http://www.h-net.org/~amsty/. |
| VIDEOCASSETTE/DVD | CITATION |
|---|---|
| Videocassette:
Citation format is exactly the same as books with the addition of the type of medium; scenes are treated like chapters |
Full Note:
12. Power! 1967-1968, VHS, directed by Louis Massiah and Terry Kay Rockefeller (Boston, MA: Public Broadcasting System Video, 1999). |
| Bibliography:
Power! 1967-1968. VHS. Directed by Louis Massiah and Terry Kay Rockefeller. Boston, MA: Public Broadcasting System Video, 1999. |
|
| DVD:
Citation format exactly the same as books with the addition of the type of medium; scenes are treated like chapters |
Full Note:
2. John Travolta, "Conversation with Annette," Saturday Night Fever, special ed., DVD, directed by William Golding (1977; Culver City, CA: Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment, 1998). |
| Bibliography:
Travolta, John. "Conversation with Annette." Saturday Night Fever, special ed. DVD. Directed by William Golding. 1977. Culver City, CA: Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment, 1998. |
| WEB SITE | CITATION |
|---|---|
| Article from a Web site
Include access date for time sensitive data or if discipline requires it; it is given here to illustrate the required format |
Full Note:
12. Danny Sullivan, "Boolean Searching," Search Engine Watch, http://www.searchenginewatch.com/facts/article/2155991.html (accessed April 18, 2005). |
| Bibliography:
Sullivan, Danny. "Boolean Searching." Search Engine Watch. http://www.searchenginewatch.com/facts/article/2155991.html (accessed April 18, 2005). |
|
| Article from Web site-no author: If owner is known, use them | Full Note:
12. Ministry of Buddhism, "Fundamental Buddhism Explained." Buddhism for Beginners, http://www.buddhismforbeginners.com/fundbudd.html (accessed April 18, 2005). |
| Bibliography:
Ministry of Buddhism. "Fundamental Buddhism Explained." Buddhism for Beginners. http://www.buddhismforbeginners.com/fundbudd.html (accessed April 18, 2005). |
|
| Article from a news Web site | Full Note:
12. Jeanna Sahadi, "Bankruptcy Bill Passes in House," Cnn.com, April 14, 2005, http://www.cnn.com/dailynw/24465 (accessed April 18, 2005). |
| Bibliography:
Sahadi, Jeanna. "Bankruptcy Bill Passes in House." Cnn.com. April 14, 2005. http://www.cnn.com/dailynw/24465 (accessed April 18, 2005). |
Sample Papers
| Sample Research Paper Using Chicago's Notes System: Footnotes with Full Bibliography* |
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| *Not necessarily relevant subject content for Chicago/Turabian Notes style. Sample paper is only presented to illustrate the formatting conventions of the style. |
| Sample Research Paper Using Chicago's Notes System: Footnotes, No Bibliography* |
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| *Not necessarily relevant subject content for Chicago/Turabian Notes style. Sample paper is only presented to illustrate the formatting conventions of the style. |
