Chicago Reference Style

Chicago Reference Style

The reference style commonly referred to as “Chicago” originates from The Chicago Manual of Style, which has a much broader scope than only prescribing a reference format. The manual permits a much wider range of variations in reference style than most do, so it’s important to check with your lecturer about their expectations before proceeding. The style requires an in-text notation which is placed immediately after the text to which it refers, and also a full citation located elsewhere. As a general rule, an in-text citation will refer to a footnote containing a reference, and a full bibliography (containing both referenced and unreferenced but relevant sources) will be placed at the end of the text. Remember that consistency in applying this format is paramount.

Reference list

Books:

Author. Title of Book. Edition. Place of Publication: Publisher, year of publication.

Book chapters:

Author. “Title of Chapter.” Title of Book. Edition. Place of Publication: Publisher, year of publication.

Journal articles:

Author. "Title of Article." Journal Title volume, no. issue (date of publication): page numbers.

Articles from a database:

Use a DOI number, if available, or else use the database name or homepage URL, or the full URL to the resource. A stable URL or permalink is preferred.

Author. "Title of Article." Journal Title volume, no. issue (date of publication): page numbers. doi:Digital Object Identifier.

Author. "Title of Article." Journal Title volume, no. issue (date of publication): page numbers. http://dx.doi.org/10.xxxxxxx.

Author. "Title of Article." Journal Title volume, no. issue (date of publication): page numbers. Name of Database or URL.

Website:

Author. "Title of Webpage." Publisher of Website. Accessed date. URL.

Items with multiple authors:

If there are between two and ten authors, reverse the order of the first author’s first name and place a comma preceding an ‘and’ before the last author’s name:

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, Franz Anton Hoffmeister, and Muzio Clementi.

If there are eleven or more authors, reverse the order of the first author’s name and include the first seven authors’ names followed by ‘et al.’:

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, Franz Anton Hoffmeister, Muzio Clementi, Ignaz Pleyel, Franz Krommer, Luigi Cherubini, Franz Xavier Sussmayr, et al.

In-text citation

Irrespective of the type of work, insert a super-scripted footnote number to direct the reader to the relevant footnote.

General example:

This view originated in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian war.1

Example of quotations:

Smith noted that “a general staff was now a critical consideration in the constitution of European armies.” 1

Footnotes

If the work is being cited for the first time then a full citation must be given. If it is referred to again on the same page then use a shortened form. When a reference to the same work follows directly after an identical one then use “Ibid.”, with a page number following only if the page numbers differ from the previous citation.

Books:

Author. Title of Book. Edition. (Place of Publication: Publisher, year of publication), page numbers.

Book chapters:

Author. “Title of Chapter.” Title of Book. Edition. (Place of Publication: Publisher, year of publication).

Journal articles:

Author. "Title of Article." Journal Title volume, no. issue (date of publication): page numbers.

Articles from a database:

Use a DOI number, if available, or else use the database name or homepage URL, or the full URL to the resource. A stable URL or permalink is preferred.

Author. "Title of Article." Journal Title volume, no. issue (date of publication): page numbers. doi:Digital Object Identifier.

Author. "Title of Article." Journal Title volume, no. issue (date of publication): page numbers. http://dx.doi.org/10.xxxxxxx.

Author. "Title of Article." Journal Title volume, no. issue (date of publication): page numbers. Name of Database or URL.

Website:

Author. "Title of Webpage." Publisher of Website. Accessed date. URL.

Items with multiple authors:

For two to three authors, name each author and place a comma preceding an ‘and’ before the last author’s name:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Anton Hoffmeister, and Muzio Clementi.

For more than four authors, name the first author, followed by ‘et al.’:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart et al

    • Related Articles

    • Vancouver Reference Style

      This referencing style—formally known as Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals—is recommended by the International Committee of Biomedical Journal Editors, and is used in ...
    • APA Reference Style

      APA is the reference style of the American Psychological Association (APA). It was originally developed for use in the social and behavioural sciences, but is now widely used in the humanities, business, economics, engineering, and medicine. APA ...
    • Harvard Reference Style Guide

      The Harvard referencing style originated at Harvard Medical School at the end of the nineteenth century. While it was originally used in biology, it is now more common in the humanities, history, and social science. Reference list Every source used ...
    • MLA Reference Style

      Produced by the Modern Language Association, MLA style is used mainly in the humanities. Like Harvard, MLA style prefers in-line referencing of author name and page numbering in a specified order. Works cited Appearing at the end of your paper, this ...
    • What this Section is About

      This section of the knowledge base provides an introduction to the most commonly used reference or citation styles used in tertiary education in New Zealand. Please note that if you are uncertain about how to apply a reference style to a particular ...