FAQ: What is Chicago Style or Format?

General Information

Chicago Style, currently in its 18th edition, is a citation protocol established by the University of Chicago. If you're using this style, there are rules for how your paper should be structured and formatted, how you should format in-text citations in the body of your paper, and how you should compile and present your bibliography at the end of your paper.

What does Chicago Style include?

• instructions for manuscript preparation and publication
• guidelines for style, grammar and usage
• rules for documenting your sources in-text including the Notes-Bibliography System (NB) and the Author-Date System
• guidelines for a Bibliography at the end of your paper

Chicago Style is most often used in the disciplines of:

• History
• Religion

The library provides access to The Chicago Manual of Style This link opens in a new window.

Sample Paper

• Chicago Sample Paper This link opens in a new window (SNHU Academic Support) 

Citation Format

Books

The general format to cite a book in Notes & Bibliography style is below, for more information, including how to format the bibliography entry, please consult the FAQ: How do I cite a book in Chicago Style?

2. AuthorFirstName AuthorLastName, Title of Work (Publisher, Year), page(s).

eBooks

The general format to cite an eBook in Notes & Bibliography style is below, for more information, including how to format the bibliography entry, please consult the FAQ: How do I cite a book in Chicago Style?

3. AuthorFirstName AuthorLastName, Title of Work (Publisher, Year), page(s), Database Name or URL.

Print and Electronic Journal Articles

The general format to cite print and electronic journal articles in Chicago Style is below, for more information, including how to format the bibliography entry, please consult the FAQ: How do I cite a journal article in Chicago Style?

4. AuthorFirstName AuthorLastName, “Title of Article,” Title of Journal vol#, no. # (Date): page(s).

5. AuthorFirstName AuthorLastName, “Title of Article,” Title of Journal vol#, no. # (Date): page(s), DOI/StableURL.

Print and Electronic Magazine Articles

The general format to cite print and electronic magazine articles in Chicago Style is below, for more information, including how to format the bibliography entry, please consult the FAQ: How do I cite a newspaper article in Chicago Style?

6. AuthorFirstName AuthorLastName, “Article Title,” Newspaper Title, Date.

Websites

The general format to cite websites in MLA Style is below, for more information, including how to format the bibliography entry, please consult the FAQ: How do I cite a website in Chicago style?

7. AuthorFirstName AuthorLastName, “Title of Web Page,” Publishing Organization or Name of Website, publication date and/or access date if available, URL.

More Information

• Chicago Style (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. (2024). The Chicago Manual of Style. University of Chicago Press.