FAQ: How do I cite a resource with no author in Chicago Style?

Generally speaking, if you cannot identify the author of a source, you move the title to the author position in the references list and use a shortened version of the title for the in-text citation. Here are examples of how it works in the Chicago citation style:

No Author or Date

If the author or editor is unknown, the note or bibliography entry should normally begin with the title. An initial article is ignored in alphabetizing. When the publication date of a printed work cannot be ascertained, the abbreviation n.d. takes the place of the year in the publication details. A guessed-at date may either be substituted (in brackets) or added. The rest of the citation will follow the format of the source (book, journal, website, other medium).

Bibliography Entry

General Format

Title. Location: Publisher, n.d.

"Title." Source vol#, issue no. (n.d.): page(s).

Note Entry

General Format

2. Title (Location: Publisher, n.d.), page(s).

3. "Title," Source vol#, issue no. (n.d.): page(s).

If the author or editor is unknown, the note or bibliography entry should normally begin with the title. An initial article is ignored in alphabetizing. The rest of the citation will follow the format of the source (book, journal, website, other medium).

No Author

Bibliography Entry

General Format

Title. Location: Publisher, date

"Title." Source vol#, issue no. (date): page(s).

Note Entry

General Format

2. Title (Location: Publisher, date), page(s).

3. "Title," Source vol#, issue no. (date): page(s).

More Information

• Citing Your Sources Guide (Shapiro Library)  

Disclaimer

This information is intended to be a guideline, not expert advice. Please be sure to speak to your professor about the appropriate way to cite sources in your class assignments and projects.

References

University of Chicago. (2017). The Chicago Manual of Style. University of Chicago Press.