How to Cite a PDF in Chicago (17th edition)
Learn how to cite PDF documents and reports in Chicago format (17th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
Chicago Bibliography Format
Here is the standard Chicago format for citing a pdf in your bibliography:
Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Document. Place: Publisher, Year. PDF.
Chicago Example for a PDF
A complete Chicago reference for a pdf, formatted by the official Chicago CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Open Scholarship Council. 2023. Annual Review of Open Scholarship. Open Scholarship Council. https://www.example.org/reports/2023.pdf.
Matching in-text citation: (Open Scholarship Council 2023)
Chicago In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Organization 2024, 5)
Narrative
Organization (2024) reports...
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your pdf.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Chicago (17th edition) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Chicago requirements.
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