How do I cite an X post in Chicago?

To cite an X post 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 an X post in Chicago?

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

How to Cite an X (Twitter) Post in Chicago (17th edition)

Learn how to cite tweets and posts on X (formerly Twitter) 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 an X post in your bibliography:

Author Real Name (@username). "Full text of the post." X, Month Day, Year. https://x.com/username/status/xxxxx.

Chicago Example for an X (Twitter) Post

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

Petrov, Ivan. 2024. “New preprint out today - reference accuracy in LLM output.” X, March 2. https://x.com/ipetrov/status/1234567890.

Matching in-text citation: (Petrov 2024)

Chicago In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

(@username 2024)

Narrative

@username (2024) notes...

Key Chicago Formatting Rules

Name the author by real name with the handle in parentheses, then quote the full text of the post.
Identify "X" as the source and give the full Month Day, Year date.
Posts are usually cited in a note and may be omitted from the bibliography.
End with the direct URL of the post.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your X post.
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 an X post in Chicago?: To cite an X post 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 an X post citation?: The Chicago format for an X post is: Author Real Name (@username). "Full text of the post." X, Month Day, Year. https://x.com/username/status/xxxxx.
What does the in-text citation look like for an X post in Chicago?: In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is (@username 2024)