Chicago Citation Generator
Generate accurate citations in Chicago style for both the Author-Date and Notes-Bibliography systems. Enter a URL, DOI, ISBN, or book title to automatically fetch and format citation data according to The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition.
Two Systems: Chicago style comes in two flavors. Use Author-Date for sciences and social sciences (parenthetical in-text citations). Use Notes-Bibliography for humanities (footnotes/endnotes + bibliography). Toggle between them after selecting Chicago.
Tip: Copy and paste your source information from your document, or enter it manually following the format shown above.
Chicago Citation Generator Guide
A Chicago citation generator builds references in either of Chicago style's two systems: Author-Date (for sciences and social sciences) or Notes-Bibliography (for history, literature, and arts). Select your system above, and the Chicago citation generator will produce the correct format for your discipline.
Chicago Author-Date
(Author Year, Page)
Chicago Author-Date — note the comma position differs from APA
A Chicago citation generator using Author-Date produces: (García 2023, 45). This pairs with a reference list at the end of the paper, similar to APA but with different punctuation rules.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography
¹ Author, Title, Page.
Chicago footnote — numbered superscript in text, full note at bottom
In Notes-Bibliography mode, a Chicago citation generator produces superscript numbers in the text with full notes at the bottom of the page or end of the document. A bibliography lists all cited sources alphabetically.
Chicago Citation Generator Tips
- Chicago uses "ibid." for consecutive notes citing the same source
- Shortened notes (author + short title + page) appear after the first full note
- Chicago bibliography entries are listed alphabetically by author last name
Chicago Style Guide
Choosing the Right Chicago System
Author-Date (AD)
Used in: sciences, social sciences, natural sciences
- In-text: (Smith 2020, 45)
- Year appears right after author name
- Reference list at end of paper
- Familiar to readers of APA-style work
Notes-Bibliography (NB)
Used in: humanities, history, literature, arts
- Footnotes or endnotes in text
- Bibliography at end of paper
- Can include commentary in notes
- Traditional academic humanities style
Author-Date System
In-Text Citation Format
- One author:
(Smith 2020) - Two authors:
(Smith and Jones 2020) - Three authors:
(Smith, Jones, and Brown 2020) - Four or more authors:
(Smith et al. 2020) - With page number:
(Smith 2020, 45) - No author:
("Article Title" 2020) - No date:
(Smith n.d.)
Reference List Examples
Book
Smith, John. 2020. Understanding Climate Change. New York: University Press.
Journal Article
Jones, Sarah. 2024. "Advances in Renewable Energy." Energy Research 15, no. 3 (March): 45–67. https://doi.org/10.1234/example.
Website
Brown, Michael. 2024. "The Digital Revolution." Tech Weekly. January 15, 2024. https://techweekly.com/digital-revolution.
Newspaper Article
Doe, Jane. 2024. "Climate Action Needed." New York Times. March 1.
Video
TED. 2023. "The Future of AI." YouTube. November 5, 2023. https://youtu.be/example.
Notes-Bibliography System
In NB style, citations appear as numbered footnotes or endnotes. The bibliography at the end uses a different format (inverted author name, periods between elements). Elements in notes are comma-separated; elements in bibliography entries are period-separated.
Footnote Format Examples
Book (footnote)
1. John Smith, Understanding Climate Change (New York: University Press, 2020), 45.
Journal Article (footnote)
2. Sarah Jones, "Advances in Renewable Energy," Energy Research 15, no. 3 (2024): 47.
Website (footnote)
3. Michael Brown, "The Digital Revolution," Tech Weekly, January 15, 2024, https://techweekly.com/digital-revolution.
Newspaper (footnote)
4. Jane Doe, "Climate Action Needed," New York Times, March 1, 2024.
Video (footnote)
5. TED, "The Future of AI," YouTube, November 5, 2023, https://youtu.be/example.
Bibliography Format Examples
Book (bibliography)
Smith, John. Understanding Climate Change. New York: University Press, 2020.
Journal Article (bibliography)
Jones, Sarah. "Advances in Renewable Energy." Energy Research 15, no. 3 (2024): 45–67. https://doi.org/10.1234/example.
Website (bibliography)
Brown, Michael. "The Digital Revolution." Tech Weekly. January 15, 2024. https://techweekly.com/digital-revolution.
Newspaper (bibliography)
Doe, Jane. "Climate Action Needed." New York Times, March 1, 2024.
Video (bibliography)
TED. "The Future of AI." YouTube. November 5, 2023. https://youtu.be/example.
Key Formatting Rules
- Title case for book and article titles (capitalize major words)
- Italics for book titles, journal names, newspaper names
- Quotation marks for article and chapter titles
- In Author-Date: year follows author name immediately
- In Notes-Bibliography (footnote): First Last order; commas separate elements
- In Notes-Bibliography (bibliography): Last, First. order; periods separate elements
- All authors listed in full (no "et al." in reference list/bibliography — only in in-text/notes)
- Volume and issue formatted as:
15, no. 3 - Page range uses en dash: 45–67
- Include DOI when available for journal articles
Chicago vs. APA vs. MLA — Quick Comparison
| Feature | Chicago AD | Chicago NB | APA 7 | MLA 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-text format | (Smith 2020) | Footnote ¹ | (Smith, 2020) | (Smith 45) |
| End list name | Reference List | Bibliography | References | Works Cited |
| Book title | Italics, Title Case | Italics, Title Case | Italics, Sentence case | Italics, Title Case |
| Article title | Quotes, Title Case | Quotes, Title Case | No quotes, Sentence case | Quotes, Title Case |
| Year position | After author | End (or in parens) | After author | End of entry |
| Disciplines | Sciences, Social sci. | Humanities, History | Psychology, Education | Literature, Languages |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Chicago system should I use?
Ask your professor or check the assignment guidelines. Humanities courses (history, literature, art) typically require Notes-Bibliography. Science and social science courses often use Author-Date. When in doubt, Notes-Bibliography is the more traditional choice.
What is the difference between a footnote and an endnote in Chicago NB?
Both use the same format. Footnotes appear at the bottom of each page; endnotes are grouped at the end of the paper or chapter. Either is acceptable unless your instructor specifies one.
Do I need both footnotes and a bibliography?
Yes. In Chicago NB style, footnotes cite specific passages while the bibliography provides the complete source list. Some instructors may waive the bibliography for shorter papers, but it is standard practice to include both.
How do I cite the same source twice in NB style?
Use the full note on the first citation. For subsequent citations of the same source, use a shortened note: Smith, Climate Change, 67. — just Last name, Short title, page. If citing the same source consecutively, you may use Ibid. with a page number.
Where does the comma go in a Chicago NB article title — inside or outside the quotation marks?
In Chicago style, the comma goes inside the closing quotation mark: "Renewable Energy," not "Renewable Energy",. This follows American punctuation conventions.
Does Chicago style require a DOI or URL for journal articles?
Yes, when available. Chicago 17th edition recommends including a DOI (preferred) or URL for all online journal articles to aid readers in locating the source. Format as a full URL: https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx.