Chicago Citation Format (17th Ed): Notes & Bibliography Guide

Also known as “Editor’s bible”, the Chicago Manual of Style (17th Edition) is used for a wide range of literary pieces, covering fields like Humanities, Social Sciences, and Academics. From book publication and research journals to manuscript writing and documentation, the Chicago Citation Format is used everywhere. 

CMOS generally has two citation formats: Author-Date (for sciences) and Notes and Bibliography (using footnotes/endnotes). In this article, we will specifically discuss each in detail.

Key Takeaways on Chicago Citation Format

• Chicago style has two systems: Notes-Bibliography (humanities) and Author-Date (sciences).
• The Notes system features superscript numbers following punctuation that connect to footnotes or endnotes.
• “Full Notes” are required for the first citation, while “Short Notes” are used for all subsequent mentions.
• Bibliography entries invert the author’s name (Last, First) and are organized in alphabetical order.
• Use “et al.” to keep notes brief for four or more authors.

What is the Chicago Citation Format for Notes & Bibliography?

The Chicago style citation format for Notes and Bibliography uses in-text superscript numbers. These numbers are linked to footnote (bottom of the page) or endnotes (end of the paper) references. 

Chicago notes and bibliography style pairs the citations with a final bibliography, which is alphabetically ordered. The standard use of this kind of citation is generally found in history, literature, arts, and other humanities subjects. 

How to Cite Sources with the Chicago Style Footnotes and Endnotes?

Chicago style citation of sources includes the following steps:

1. At the end of the clause or sentence, place a superscript number. 
2. The number must be placed after the punctuation mark. 
3. Correspond this superscript number to the numbered footnote or endnote (choose any).
4. If a sentence ends with a quotation, the footnote is placed after the closing quotation marks
5. If you cite multiple sources, place a single footnote at the end of the sentence. Then, include all citations separated by semicolons. 

Here’s a Chicago footnote citation example: 

Many word-processing systems (e.g., Microsoft Word) auto-link the superscript numbers with notes. 

Types of Chicago Footnote Citation – Full Notes vs. Short Notes

Chicago style citation can be of two types: Short notes and full notes. 

Note: Different fields may have different guidelines. Sometimes, you may have to use any of the type everytime for Chicago style first and subsequent footnotes. Therefore, check your instructor’s rules properly if unsure. 

How to Cite Multiple Authors in Chicago Style Source Notes?

A single source may have multiple authors. In that case, you can list up to 3 authors in the citation notes. If there are more, you need to mention “et al” – a Latin phrase meaning “and others”. 

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How to Format a Chicago Bibliography Entry?

The  Chicago style bibliography format lists full references for all sources. They are arranged in alphabetical order by author’s last name. These appear at the nd of the document on its own page, before the appendices (if included).

Here are the rules to generate an accurate Chicago bibliography format style: 

1. First comes the Author’s Name. Names should be written in inverted style. This means the surname will appear first and be separated from the first name with a comma (eg, Smith, Chloe instead of Chloe Smith).
2. Second, mention of the Title of the Source: Each source reference is listed on a new line. They also often include a handling indent which may run over multiple lines. 

Note: If a specific part of a text is referenced, page number(s) must be included. Like MLA 9th Edition Citation Format, use commas to separate the elements (may vary based on source type) and end a note with a period. Use an “en dash” to separate the page range. 

Here’s an example: 

Chicago Bibliography Format for Multiple Authors 

If there are multiple authors for a single source, you can list up to 10 in the bibliography. If the number exceeds 11 or more, mention “et al” after mentioning the first 7. 

When Do You Need to Include a Bibliography?

Including a bibliography is not always mandatory if the sources are cited with full notes. Yet, most adding a bibliography is a recommended practice for most cases. If the text is very short and has few sources, you may skip this. 

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Chicago Notes and Bibliography Example Guide

Here’s how to format Chicago style citations for notes and bibliography in different contexts: 

1. Chicago Citation Format for Books and Book Chapters

Let’s assume you are citing a book and the edition is specified. In that case, you can use an abbreviation to include it (e.g. 7th ed.). You have accessed an online book; consider adding a URL. 

If citing a specific chapter from a multi-authored book, first mention the chapter details and then the book details. 

The entries for the bibliography often differ by source type. 

This table gives examples in note citation (both full and short) and bibliography format for books and book chapters:

2. Chicago Citation Format for Websites

Sometimes, webpages may not have a date or author specified. 

In case of an unknown author, first mention the title in a full note and use the name of the website in a short note in place of the author. 

If the date is also unknown, you can mention the date when you accessed the information. For example, accessed on May 17, 2025.

Here are some examples of website note citation and bibliography using CMOS: 

3. Chicago Citation Format for Journal Articles

The journal citation includes the mention of volume as well as the issue and its date. Also, if DOI is not specified, you can use a URL in the Chicago footnote format.

Check out the examples for all formats:

What is the Difference Between Footnotes and Bibliography in Chicago Style?

Here is a quick overview of the difference between footnotes and bibliography, if you still have any confusion to clear:

Special Instructions 

In the bibliography, each entry should utilize a hanging indent. The first line will be aligned to the left edge of the page, while all subsequent lines will be indented 0.5 inches. 

For the footnotes themselves, the note numbers must be full-sized (not superscript or raised) and followed by a period. Also, the first line of each footnote should be indented 0.5 inches from the left margin, and the rest of the lines in the footnote should be flush left. 

The spacing used in footnotes and in the bibliography is normally single-spaced; between each entry, there is a double space (one blank line) for readability and a clear bibliography.

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What is the Chicago Author-Date Style Format?

In science writing, the Chicago author-date style format is generally used. Like APA Citation style, it uses parenthetical in-text citations. For all source types, this style citation looks similar. 

Example of Chicago author-date style: 

What is the Reference list?

Instead of a bibliography, author-date citations have a reference list.  This also lists all the sources (in full note) at the end of the text. 

There’s only one difference: the author’s name is immediately followed by the year of publication in order to match in-text citations. 

Here’s an example: 

Conclusion

The Chicago style is an important writing style for academics. It assists you in providing credit to authors in an appropriate and clear manner. Either footnotes or author-date citations may be used. There are rules for books, websites, and journals for each method. There should also be a bibliography or reference list. These tools can help you to make your research credible and professional. Always follow your instructor’s guidelines for the best results. If you choose the correct format, your paper will be easy to read.

Frequently Asked Questions