How do I cite a secondary source in Chicago?

To cite a secondary source in Chicago (18th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

How to Cite a Secondary Source in Chicago (18th edition)

Learn how to cite a source you found quoted or cited in another work in Chicago format (18th 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 secondary source in your bibliography:

1. Original Author, “Original Title,” Container (Date): page, quoted in Secondary Author, Secondary Title (Publisher, Year), page.

Chicago Example for a Secondary Source

A complete Chicago reference for a secondary source, written by hand and checked against the official Chicago guidance for this source:

Zukofsky, Louis. “Sincerity and Objectification.” Poetry 37 (February 1931): 269. Quoted in Bonnie Costello, Marianne Moore: Imaginary Possessions (Harvard University Press, 1981), 78.

Matching in-text citation: 1. Louis Zukofsky, “Sincerity and Objectification,” Poetry 37 (February 1931): 269, quoted in Bonnie Costello, Marianne Moore: Imaginary Possessions (Harvard University Press, 1981), 78.

Chicago In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

Footnote: 1. Louis Zukofsky, “Sincerity and Objectification,” Poetry 37 (February 1931): 269, quoted in Bonnie Costello, Marianne Moore: Imaginary Possessions (Harvard University Press, 1981), 78.

Narrative

Shortened note: 2. Zukofsky, “Sincerity and Objectification,” 269, quoted in Costello, Marianne Moore, 78.

Key Chicago Formatting Rules

Chicago (CMOS 18 §14.160) discourages citing from a secondary source, but if the original is unavailable both works must be listed.
In the note, cite the original in full, then write quoted in and the secondary source with the page you read.
Give the original’s page as the secondary source reports it, not the article’s full page range.
In the bibliography, the original’s entry ends with a sentence beginning Quoted in, and the secondary source also gets its own entry: Costello, Bonnie. Marianne Moore: Imaginary Possessions. Harvard University Press, 1981.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your secondary source.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Chicago (18th 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 on this page are written by hand from the style's own published guidance and checked against it, because the general CSL styles do not encode this source's rules. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

Metadata to collect

original author and year, if the work you read gives them
full details of the work you actually read
page in the work you read
whether you are quoting or paraphrasing
original title and page, as the work you read reports them

Common metadata traps

Listing the original work as if you had read it makes any error in the secondary source your own; list only what you opened, unless the style is Chicago.
The page number belongs to the work you read, because that is the page your reader can check.
Every style asks you to find and cite the original when you can; use a secondary citation only when the original is unavailable, out of print or in a language you cannot read.

Editorial sources

Chicago Manual of Style — citation quick guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a secondary source in Chicago?: To cite a secondary source in Chicago (18th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Chicago format for a secondary source citation?: The Chicago format for a secondary source is: 1. Original Author, “Original Title,” Container (Date): page, quoted in Secondary Author, Secondary Title (Publisher, Year), page.
What does the in-text citation look like for a secondary source in Chicago?: In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is Footnote: 1. Louis Zukofsky, “Sincerity and Objectification,” Poetry 37 (February 1931): 269, quoted in Bonnie Costello, Marianne Moore: Imaginary Possessions (Harvard University Press, 1981), 78.