A Student’s Guide to the Chicago Style Citation
This guide offers a comprehensive overview of the Chicago Manual of Style, with clear examples for both the Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date systems.
Get Help with Your CitationsAcademic Assistance Price Estimator
Get an instant quote for your paper.
Customize Your Order
1 page = ~275 words
An Introduction to Chicago Style
The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) is one of the most widely used citation styles in academic writing. It is known for its flexibility and its ability to handle a wide variety of source types. This guide is for students who need to master this essential academic skill.
I remember my first history paper in college. I was confident in my research, but my professor’s feedback was all about my inconsistent citations. I had mixed up footnotes and in-text citations, and my bibliography was a mess. It was a hard lesson in the importance of precision. This guide is designed to demystify the Chicago style and help you cite your sources with confidence. For more on academic integrity, see our guide on avoiding plagiarism.
The Two Systems of Chicago Style
The Chicago Manual of Style offers two distinct citation systems. A 2024 article on academic writing standards explores the importance of choosing the right system for your discipline. The two systems are:
- Notes-Bibliography (NB): Used primarily in the humanities, this system uses footnotes or endnotes to cite sources.
- Author-Date: Used primarily in the sciences and social sciences, this system uses parenthetical in-text citations.
The Notes-Bibliography System
In the NB system, you place a superscript number in the text after a quote or paraphrase. This number corresponds to a note at the bottom of the page (a footnote) or at the end of the paper (an endnote). A 2018 guide on scholarly writing discusses the importance of accurate referencing. The first time you cite a source, you provide the full citation. For subsequent citations of the same source, you can use a shortened format.
Citation Examples (Notes-Bibliography)
Book
Footnote: ¹John Smith, *The Art of Academic Writing* (London: Academic Press, 2024), 25.
Bibliography: Smith, John. *The Art of Academic Writing*. London: Academic Press, 2024.
Journal Article
Footnote: ²Jane Doe, “The Importance of Citation,” *Journal of Academic Studies* 12, no. 3 (2024): 30.
Bibliography: Doe, Jane. “The Importance of Citation.” *Journal of Academic Studies* 12, no. 3 (2024): 25-35.
Website
Footnote: ³John Smith, “The Importance of Citation,” Example Website, last modified October 21, 2025, https://www.example.com.
Bibliography: Smith, John. “The Importance of Citation.” Example Website. Last modified October 21, 2025. https://www.example.com.
A 2024 issue of the Journal of African American Studies provides more examples of academic citation.
The Takeaway
Mastering the Chicago style is an essential skill for any student in the humanities or social sciences. By citing your sources correctly, you are not only giving credit to other scholars but also demonstrating your own academic integrity. If you are struggling with your citations, our custom essay writers are available to help.
Our Academic Experts
Student Testimonials
Trustpilot
3.8
Sitejabber
4.9
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion: The Importance of Academic Integrity
Properly citing your sources is a cornerstone of academic integrity. By mastering the Chicago style, you are demonstrating your respect for the work of other scholars and your commitment to the principles of academic honesty.
Order a Custom PaperEstimate the Price for Your Paper
Get an instant quote for your paper.
1 page = ~275 words
