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The Chicago Manual of Style is a widely respected guide for academic writing, offering comprehensive rules for grammar, punctuation, and, most importantly, citation. Whether you're a student, researcher, or professional writer, understanding Chicago style is crucial for producing credible and scholarly work. This guide will delve into the intricacies of Chicago style, covering everything from the basics of in-text citations to creating a comprehensive bibliography.
The Chicago Manual of Style, now in its 17th edition, provides guidelines for citing sources accurately and consistently. This ensures that proper credit is given to the original authors and avoids plagiarism. There are two main Chicago citation styles:
The "Notes and Bibliography" system requires the use of footnotes or endnotes. Here's how it works:
"One might wonder whether Einstein would be characterized as belonging somewhere on the autism spectrum."¹
Chicago style footnote:
A bibliography is a comprehensive list of all sources used in your paper, providing full publication details.
The Chicago Manual of Style provides specific formats for various source types. Here is an overview of how to cite common types of documents:
Books:
Footnote/Endnote: First Name Last Name, Title of Book (Publication Place: Publisher, Year), page range.
Bibliography: Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Publication Place: Publisher, Year.
Edited Book Chapter:
Footnote/Endnote: First Name Last name of Chapter Author, “Chapter or Article Title,” in Book Title, ed. First Name Last Name of Editor (Publication Place: Publisher, Year), page range.
Bibliography: Last name, First name. "Chapter Title." In Book Title, edited by First Name Last Name, page range. Publication Place: Publisher, Year.
Journal Article:
Footnote/Endnote: First name Last name, "Title of Article," Journal Title Volume Number, No. of issue (Year): Page range.
Bibliography: Last name, First name. "Title of Article," Journal Title Volume Number, No. of issue (Year): Page range.
Website:
Footnote/Endnote: First name Last name of Author, "Title of Article or Page," Title of Website, Date published or last modified or accessed, URL.
Bibliography: Last name, First name or Organization Name. "Title of Article or Page." Title of Website. Date published or last modified or accessed. URL.
When citing the same source multiple times, Chicago style allows for shortened citations to avoid redundancy.
First mention: Include all relevant information.
Subsequent mentions: Use the author's last name, a shortened title (if the title is long), and the page number(s).
Example:
"Ibid." is a Latin abbreviation for "ibidem," meaning "in the same place." It was traditionally used to refer to the immediately preceding source. While it is still acceptable, but not preffered because it requires the reader to continuously look at previous citations.
The Chicago Manual of Style provides specific guidelines for citing different types of sources, including print books, e-books, journal articles, magazines, web pages, and more. Here are some examples:
Footnote/Endnote: Sam Staggs, Born to Be Hurt: The Untold Story of Imitation of Life (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2009), 84.
Bibliography: Staggs, Sam. Born to Be Hurt: The Untold Story of Imitation of Life. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2009.
Footnote/Endnote: Michael J. Baker, The Marketing Book (Burlington, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2002), 89, https://htbiblio.yolasite.com/resources/Marketing%20Book.pdf.
Bibliography: Baker, Michael J. The Marketing Book. Burlington, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2002. https://htbiblio.yolasite.com/resources/Marketing%20Book.pdf.
Footnote/Endnote: Damien O'Brien and Brian Fitzgerald, "Digital Copyright Law in a YouTube World," Internet Law Bulletin 9, no. 6 (2007): 71-74.
Bibliography: O'Brien, Damien, and Brian Fitzgerald, "Digital Copyright Law in a YouTube World." Internet Law Bulletin 9, no. 6 (2007): 71-74.
Citing unconventional sources like religious texts, blogs, TV broadcasts, or social media posts can be tricky. Here are some specific guidelines:
Note: Blogs are typically cited in footnotes/endnotes rather than bibliographies according to the 17th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style.
Citing in Chicago style can be complex, but several tools can assist you.
Mastering Chicago style might seem challenging at first, but with practice and the right resources, it becomes a manageable and essential skill for any academic writer. By following this comprehensive guide, you can ensure that your citations are accurate, consistent, and credible.
