Chicago style edition and punctuation
The examples on this page use the recently released Chicago Manual of Style 18th edition.
Punctuation is important. Use the same punctuation and formatting as the order instructions and examples. Use 1 space after any punctuation mark.
The Chicago Manual of Style sets out 2 referencing systems: footnotes and a bibliography or an author-date system. This page outlines both methods for referencing sources in Chicago style.
Key points
Each source entry has 4 basic parts:
- Name of the author or creator – write the first author's name in reverse order, family name first. Include the type of artist, if relevant. For example, vocalist.
- Title – capitalise the first letter of all words over 3 letters long. Put the title in quotation marks if it is part of a collection, for example, a song on an album.
- Information about the work – if relevant, include contributors and location of performance.
- Information about the publisher – if relevant, include the recording date or date of the performance, medium, format and relevant supplementary information like the duration. Include the URL if sourced online.
Art works
Author-date system
Usually, you can use an in-text citation only for art works, recordings, paintings, photographs and sculptures.
Example reference list
Redon, Odilon. 1883. The Teeth (Les Dents). Charcoal and chalk on paper, 20 1/8 x 14 1/2" (51.1 x 36.8 cm). New York: Museum of Modern Art. https://www.moma.org/collection/works/35984?classifications=6&date_begin=Pre-1850&date_end=1935&locale=en&on_view=1&page=2&q=&with_images=1
Footnote and bibliography system
Footnotes and endnotes
Usually, you can use a footnote only for art works, paintings, photographs and sculptures.
Include museum accession numbers in citations of artworks when they are available.
Order: Artists, Title, date, medium, dimensions, location of work. URL.
Example footnote
1Rembrandt, The Night Watch, 1642, oil on canvas, 379.5 x 453.5 cm, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/nl/collectie/SK-C-5
2Arthur James Iles. A Maori Maid, Rotorua, New Zealand. 1902. Photolithograph, 138 x 89 mm, Ephemera Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington. https://tiaki.natlib.govt.nz/#details=ecatalogue.127035
Bibliography
Order: Artists. Title. Date. Medium, dimensions. Location of work. URL.
Example bibliography
Redon, Odilon, The Teeth (Les Dents). 1883. Charcoal and chalk on paper, 20 1/8 x 14 1/2" (51.1 x 36.8 cm). Museum of Modern Art, New York. https://www.moma.org/collection/works/35984?classifications=6&date_begin=Pre-1850&date_end=1935&locale=en&on_view=1&page=2&q=&with_images=1
Video and audio
Author-date system
Reference list
Citations for video and audio material can be flexible. In-text, cite the author and date. In the reference list, give as much information as possible to make the source locatable for the reader.
Refer to live performances in the text only. They cannot be accessed by the reader.
Include museum accession numbers in citations of artworks when they are available.
Order: Authors or creators, type of artist. Year. "Title of work." Information about the work, contributors, location of performance. Information about publisher including recording date, medium or format, duration. URL or publisher information.
Example reference list
Biology, Beverly. 2014. "Mitosis vs Meiosis." May 4, 2014, YouTube video, 15:24. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRcjB11hDCU
Cave, Nick. 2013. "The World Is My Skin." Interview by Jonas Hjorth, Louisiana Channel, 2013, video, 4:53. https://vimeo.com/64135061
Jagger, Mick, vocalist. 1971. "Wild Horses." By Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Recorded December 2-4, 1969. MP3 audio. Track 3 on Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers. Rolling Stones Records.
Kalanithi, Paul. 2016. When Breath Becomes Air. Read by Sunil Malhotra. New York: Random House Audio. Audible audio ed., 5 hr., 35 min.
Parul, Sehgal. 2014. "An Ode to Envy." Filmed July 2013 in New York, NY, Ted video, 13:08. https://www.ted.com/talks/parul_sehgal_an_ode_to_envy?nolanguage=e%21
Footnote and bibliography system
Footnotes and endnotes
Include only what is relevant. Refer to live performances in the text only. They cannot be accessed by the reader.
Order: Authors or creators, "Title of work," Information about the work, contributors, location of performance. Information about publisher including date. Medium or format, relevant supplementary information, URL.
Example footnote
1Beverly Biology, "Mitosis vs Meiosis," 4 May, 2014, YouTube video, 15:24, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRcjB11hDCU
2Nick Cave, "The World Is My Skin," interview by Jonas Hjorth, Louisiana Channel, 2013, video, 4:53, https://vimeo.com/64135061
Bibliography
Include only what is relevant.
Order: Authors or creators. "Title." Information about the work, contributors, location of performance. Information about publisher including date. Medium or format, relevant supplementary information, URL.
Example bibliography
Busari, Stephanie. "How Fake News Does Real Harm." February 2017. TED video, 6:27. https://www.ted.com/talks/stephanie_busari_how_fake_news_does_real_harm
Radio New Zealand. "NZ pays highest pre-tax petrol price in the OECD – Ardern." Morning Report October 9, 2018. Audio file, 8:50. https://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018665985
Referencing disclaimer
This page is a guide to proper referencing. Your course, department, school or institute may prescribe specific conventions. Their recommendations supersede these instructions. If your questions are not covered here, ask your course coordinator or ask on our Academic Q&A forum.
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