How to Create a Chicago/Turabian Bibliography
A guide to formatting your Chicago 17th ed. bibliography, from hanging indents to common source examples.
Get Chicago Formatting HelpYou’ve finished your paper, and your Chicago style footnotes are all in place. The last step is the “Bibliography.” This page is not just a list of your footnotes; it has its own unique formatting rules.
An error-free bibliography shows your professor that you are a serious researcher who pays attention to detail. It is a critical component of the Chicago Notes-Bibliography (NB) system.
This guide is your resource for formatting the Bibliography page in Chicago 17th edition. We will cover the “macro” rules (page setup) and the “micro” details (citation examples) to help you build a perfect bibliography.
What is a Chicago Bibliography?
A Bibliography is a complete, alphabetical list of all sources cited in your paper. It appears on its own page at the end of your document. Its purpose is to provide a “big picture” overview of your research and give your reader all the information they need to find your sources themselves.
Bibliography vs. Works Cited vs. References
These terms are not interchangeable. They refer to the specific list required by each style guide.
- Bibliography: Used by Chicago (Notes-Bibliography).
- References: Used by APA and Chicago (Author-Date).
- Works Cited: Used by MLA.
5 Core Formatting Rules (17th Edition)
Follow these five rules to format your Bibliography page.
Start on a New Page
The Bibliography must begin on a new page after the end of your main text (or after your endnotes, if you used them). It should have the same 1-inch margins and page number in the top-right as the rest of your paper.
Title the Page Correctly
The title “Bibliography” must be centered on the first line of the page. Do not bold, italicize, underline, or put the title in quotation marks.
Alphabetize All Entries
List all entries in alphabetical order by the first word of the entry (which is always the author’s last name). If a source has no author, alphabetize by the title.
Use a Hanging Indent
This is a critical rule. You must use a hanging indent (0.5 inches) for all entries. This means the first line of each entry is flush with the left margin, and all subsequent lines of that *same entry* are indented.
Spacing
According to the *Chicago Manual of Style* (17th ed.), bibliography entries should be single-spaced. However, you must leave a blank line (a single extra space) between each entry.
Note: Your professor may prefer the entire page to be double-spaced. Always check your assignment guidelines.
Footnote vs. Bibliography Entry: The Key Differences
This is the most common mistake. A Bibliography entry is not the same as a footnote. They are formatted differently.
| Element | Footnote (Note) | Bibliography Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Author | First Name Last Name. | Last Name, First Name. |
| Punctuation | Separated by commas. | Separated by periods. |
| Indentation | First line is indented 0.5 inches. | Hanging indent (second line is indented). |
| Page Number | Includes the *specific* page(s) you cited (e.g., 45–47). | Includes the *total* page range (for articles) or not at all (for books). |
Example: Note vs. Bibliography
Notice the three key differences: author’s name, punctuation (commas vs. periods), and indentation.
Footnote:
1. John W. Dower, *War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War* (New York: Pantheon Books, 1986), 45.
Bibliography Entry:
Dower, John W. *War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War*. New York:
Pantheon Books, 1986.
Common Chicago Bibliography Examples (NB System)
Here are the formats for common sources. For more, see the official Chicago (NB) guide.
Book with One Author
Bibliography:
Pollan, Michael. *The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals*. New York:
Penguin, 2006.
Journal Article (with DOI)
Note that the page range for the *entire article* is now included.
Bibliography:
Johnson, Walter. “On Agency.” *Journal of Social History* 37, no. 1 (Fall 2003): 113–24.
https://doi.org/10.1353/jsh.2003.0125.
Webpage
If the author and website name are the same, you do not need to repeat the website name (as in the example below).
Bibliography:
Smart Academic Writing. “MLA 9th Edition: What’s New?.” Accessed November 14, 2025.
https://smartacademicwriting.com/mla-9th-edition-changes/.
Source with No Author
Alphabetize by the title, ignoring “A,” “An,” or “The.”
Bibliography:
*Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary*. 11th ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster,
2003.
Source with Two Authors
Only the first author’s name is inverted.
Bibliography:
Lattimore, Richmond, and David Grene, trans. *Aeschylus I: Oresteia*. Chicago:
University of Chicago Press, 1953.
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This guide covers the Chicago 17th ed. Bibliography. By following these rules, you can format your reference list correctly and professionally.
If you’re still confused by hanging indents or how to cite a specific source, let our formatting experts help. We can take your draft and return a perfectly formatted paper.
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