How to Cite a PowerPoint Presentation in Chicago (17th edition)
Learn how to cite PowerPoint and presentation slide decks 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 PowerPoint presentation in your bibliography:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Presentation." PowerPoint presentation, Course or Organization Name, Location, Month Day, Year.
Chicago Example for a PowerPoint Presentation
A complete Chicago reference for a PowerPoint presentation, formatted by the official Chicago CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Mbeki, Thandi. 2024. “Citation Metrics in Context.” In Research Impact Symposium, PowerPoint slides. State University, April 22. https://www.example.org/slides/metrics.
Matching in-text citation: (Mbeki 2024)
Chicago In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Author Year, slide 4)
Narrative
Author (Year) notes on slide 4 that...
Key Chicago Formatting Rules
- Put the presentation title in quotation marks.
- Identify the medium as a "PowerPoint presentation" after the title.
- Give the sponsoring course, conference, or organization, the location, and the date.
- Notes-Bibliography: use a footnote; Author-Date: use a parenthetical with the year.
- Add the URL if the slides were posted online.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your PowerPoint presentation.
- 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
Metadata to collect
- presenter
- presentation title
- date delivered
- course, conference or organization
- institution or venue
- URL of the slides, if shared
Common metadata traps
- If your readers cannot access the slides, cite them as a personal communication instead.
- Use slide numbers as the locator when you quote.
Editorial sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a PowerPoint presentation in Chicago?
- To cite a PowerPoint presentation 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 PowerPoint presentation citation?
- The Chicago format for a PowerPoint presentation is: Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Presentation." PowerPoint presentation, Course or Organization Name, Location, Month Day, Year.
- What does the in-text citation look like for a PowerPoint presentation in Chicago?
- In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is (Author Year, slide 4)
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