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

General Rule

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, other medium).

Bibliography Entry Example for Item from a Manuscript Collection

Dinkel, Joseph. Description of Louis Agassiz written at the request of Elizabeth Cary Agassiz, n.d. Louis Agassiz Papers. Houghton Library, Harvard University.

Citing Websites With No Date

If no date can be determined for a website, include an access date instead. 

Note Entry Example for Website with Access Date

5. “Land Acknowledgement,” City of Chicago, accessed September 11, 2022, https://www.chicago.gov/city/en.html.

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.