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.
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