Chicago footnotes & endnotes
Learn why and how to format Chicago Manual of Style footnotes using the notes and bibliography system.
Chicago bibliography
Learn why and how to format a Chicago Manual of Style bibliography and cite your sources using the footnotes and bibliography system.
Audio & visual material
Chicago style referencing – how to format art works, video, audio and other visual material.
Books
Chicago style referencing – how to format books, chapters and eBooks.
Journals
Chicago style referencing – how to format print and online journal articles.
Online material
Chicago style referencing – how to format online material.
Other material
Learn how to format other material in a Chicago style reference list, footnote or bibliography.
Author-date in-text citations
Learn how to format Chicago Manual of Style in-text citations using the author-date system.
Author-date reference list
Learn how to format Chicago Manual of Style reference lists using the author-date system.
Notes and bibliography v. author-date system
The Chicago Manual of Style sets out 2 referencing systems – you can use either footnotes and a bibliography or an author-date system similar to APA.
Check your assignment instructions for which system to use.
Chicago Style notes and bibliography system
In the note-bibliography system, identify authors using a number in the text and index any further details by number in footnotes at the bottom of the relevant page or endnotes at the end of the text. Footnotes are preferred for university-level writing. Endnotes may be used in writing for publication.
Cite all sources in full in the bibliography, except personal communications and writer-sourced material such as personal photos.
The format will vary depending on the type of source, such as books, journals or online sources.
Chicago author-date referencing
The author-date style uses parenthetical in-text citations and a corresponding alphabetical reference list at the end of the paper.
Notes and bibliography system
Author-date system
More about Chicago referencing systems
Notes and bibliography system
Notes and bibliography system
Author-date system
Author-date system
More about Chicago referencing systems
More about Chicago referencing systems
18th edition v. 17th edition
The 18th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style was released in 2024 with updated guidelines to referencing. Some significant changes, clarification, updates and additions were made to the 18th edition.
Key changes, clarifications, updates and additions in the 18th edition
Key changes, clarifications, updates and additions in the 18th edition
Authors
In the 18th edition, list up to 6 authors in a bibliography (note system) or reference list entry (author-date system). If there are more than 6 authors, list only the first 3 followed by 'et al.'
In a note or author-date text citation, list only 1 or 2 authors. If there are more than 2, only give the first author followed by 'et al.'
Chicago Manual of Style section 13.23: Book with multiple authors or editors
Chicago Manual of Style section 13.107: Author-date – book with multiple authors
Journal month or season
You do not need to include a month or season for journals that have both a volume and an issue number. If there is no volume or issue, then include the month or season.
Note: the season is capitalised in citations but is lower case in-text.
Chicago Manual of Style section 14.70: Journal volume, issue and date
Entries by the same author in the bibliography or reference list
Repeat the name of the author or authors rather than using an em dash to stand in for repeated names in bibliographies or reference lists.
Chicago Manual of Style section 13.72: The 3-em dash – reasons to avoid
Chicago Manual of Style section 13.113: The 3-em dash for repeated names in a reference list
Shortened citations
In notes, shortened citations are preferred over 'Ibid.'
- Shortened citations can be used in the first reference in a note system which should have a full bibliography.
- 'Ibid.' can only be used when it refers to the last item cited so if there is an intervening citation, you must use the shortened citation.
In a shortened citation, you must repeat the page number even if it is the same as the preceding note.
Chicago Manual of Style section 13.37: Shortened citations versus 'ibid.'
Page range for an edited book chapter
It is no longer required to give the page range for a chapter in an edited book in the bibliography entry. You should still give the page cited in your note.
Chicago Manual of Style section 14.8: Chapter in a single-author book
Publisher location
The place of publication is no longer required when citing books published since 1900.
Chicago Manual of Style section 14.30: Place of publication
Omitted elements from a footnote
If a footnote element such as author or title is mentioned in-text, then it can be omitted from the footnote.
Chicago Manual of Style section 13.47: Footnotes – pros and cons
Family name-first names
Authors who give their family name first, such as authors from China or Korea, are not inverted in the reference list or bibliography.
Chicago Manual of Style section 13.75: Form of author’s name
'A', 'An' or 'The' in titles
Ignore 'A', 'An' or 'The' when alphabetically ordering titles by the same author in a reference list or bibliography. Do not ignore non-English words like 'Le' or 'Un'.
Chicago Manual of Style section 13.100: Non-English titles of cited works
Shortened URLS
Do not use shortened versions of a URL created by a third-party such as TinyURL, Bitly or shortDOI.
Chicago Manual of Style section 13.11: Link-shortening services
Numerals
The 18th edition provides greater clarity about when numerals should be used and when numbers should be written as a word.
Chicago Manual of Style section 9.8: When numerals are always used
Non-English words
Non-English words should no longer be italicised in the 18th edition.
Chicago Manual of Style section 11.4: Italics in multilingual narratives and dialogue
Museum accession numbers
Include museum accession numbers if available when citing artworks.
Chicago Manual of Style section 14.133: Citing paintings, photographs, and sculpture
For a full list of changes see What's new in the 18th edition
Chicago Manual of Style Online
An accessible style, usage and grammar guide is available online – this includes the 17th and 18th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style.
Chicago Manual of Style Online
You can also access the Chicago Manual of Style (18th ed.) through the Massey Library. The handbook provides detailed guidance on headings, tables, figures, language and tone.
Search for manual in Library Discover search (Massey library login required)
Get help from the Centre for Learner Success
The Centre for Learner Success work with students of all levels, studying on campus or online. Our Learning Advisers and Writing Consultants can support you with an assignment or help you improve your writing and study skills – either one-on-one or in a small group.
Submit a draft of your assignment to the Assignment Pre-reading Service and receive detailed, individual written feedback on how to improve your academic writing – including structure, focus, flow, style and referencing – before you submit your assignment for marking.
Centre for Learner Success
Centre for Learner Success
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Centre for Learner Success – assignment pre-reading service
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