How do I cite a preprint in Chicago?

To cite a preprint in Chicago (17th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for a preprint in Chicago?

In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is (Author 2024)

How to Cite a Preprint in Chicago (17th edition)

Learn how to cite arXiv, bioRxiv, and other preprint server papers 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 preprint in your bibliography:

Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Preprint." Repository Name. Preprint, submitted Month Day, Year. https://doi.org/xxxxx.

Chicago Example for a Preprint

A complete Chicago reference for a preprint, formatted by the official Chicago CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

Petrov, Ivan, and Akua Osei. 2024. “Reference Accuracy in Large Language Model Output.” In arXiv, Preprint 2403.01234. March 2. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2403.01234.

Matching in-text citation: (Petrov and Osei 2024)

Chicago In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(Author 2024)

Narrative

Author (2024) argues in a preprint...

Key Chicago Formatting Rules

Put the preprint title in quotation marks.
Label the work as a preprint: Preprint, submitted Month Day, Year.
Name the repository and include the DOI or stable URL.
Do not format it like a published journal article (no volume/issue).
Notes-Bibliography: use a footnote; Author-Date: use a parenthetical.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your preprint.
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.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: chicago.csl

Editorial sources

Chicago Manual of Style — citation quick guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a preprint in Chicago?: To cite a preprint in Chicago (17th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Chicago format for a preprint citation?: The Chicago format for a preprint is: Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Preprint." Repository Name. Preprint, submitted Month Day, Year. https://doi.org/xxxxx.
What does the in-text citation look like for a preprint in Chicago?: In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is (Author 2024)