Chicago Citation Style (Quick Guide)

Printable Version: Chicago Citation Style (Quick Guide)

 
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What is Chicago citation style?

Chicago style gets its name from The Chicago Manual of Style, a manual published by the University of Chicago that details publishing, grammar, and documentation practices. The documentation style detailed in that manual is used for research across multiple disciplines, but it is especially prominent in history. If you are a student, this means that Chicago style determines the required layout for things like in-text citations and the bibliography page of many essays you will write for your History courses. This guide provides some Chicago style citation basics. You may find more detailed instructions about Chicago formatting in the MTSU EasyWriter or Research Matters.

 

Why does citation matter?

Whenever you refer to someone’s words or ideas, whether you are paraphrasing, summarizing, or quoting, you have a responsibility to your readers to cite your source. If you do not cite your sources’ words or information, you are committing plagiarism (academic theft). Whether intentional or accidental, it has consequences. See our resources on Writing Responsibly and Citation for more information. Understanding your citation style can go a long way toward helping you write responsibly.

 

What's an in-text citation?

Writers use in-text (parenthetical) citations when they make reference to someone else’s ideas through paraphrasing, summarizing, or quoting.

In-text citations in Chicago format are done by using superscript numbers that correspond to footnotes. Those footnotes typically contain:

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