How to Cite a Book in Chicago Style
The Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) is the definitive citation guide for historians, art historians, and humanities scholars. This comprehensive guide covers citing books in both the Notes-Bibliography system (preferred for history and arts) and Author-Date system (used in social sciences).
Understanding Chicago's Two Systems
Chicago offers two distinct citation systems. The Notes-Bibliography system uses numbered footnotes or endnotes for citations with a bibliography listing all sources. The Author-Date system uses in-text parenthetical citations with author and year, plus a reference list. Most humanities disciplines prefer Notes-Bibliography for its flexibility and detailed source information.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography Format for Books
The Notes-Bibliography system is the standard in history, art history, literature, and religious studies. It allows for discursive notes and detailed source information without interrupting the text flow.
Basic Format for Single-Author Books
Footnote/Endnote (first reference):
First Name Last Name, Book Title (Place of Publication: Publisher, Year), Page number(s).
Shortened note (subsequent references):
Last Name, Shortened Title, Page.
Bibliography entry:
Last Name, First Name. Book Title. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year.
Example: Single-Author Book
First note:
1. Jill Lepore, These Truths: A History of the United States (New York: W. W. Norton, 2018), 45.
Shortened note:
2. Lepore, These Truths, 67.
Bibliography:
Lepore, Jill. These Truths: A History of the United States. New York: W. W. Norton, 2018.
Example: Two or Three Authors
Note:
3. William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White, The Elements of Style, 4th ed. (New York: Longman, 2000), 23.
Bibliography:
Strunk, William, Jr., and E. B. White. The Elements of Style. 4th ed. New York: Longman, 2000.
Example: Four or More Authors
Note:
4. David Crystal et al., The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019), 156.
Bibliography:
Crystal, David, Derek Davy, Randolph Quirk, and Sidney Greenbaum. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019.
Note: List all authors in the bibliography. Use "et al." only in notes.
Example: Edited Volume
Note:
5. Mary Beard, ed., Cambridge Companion to the Roman Historians (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009), 234.
Bibliography:
Beard, Mary, ed. Cambridge Companion to the Roman Historians. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009.
Example: Chapter in Edited Volume
Note:
6. John Matthews, "Roman Life and Society," in The Oxford Handbook of Roman Studies, ed. Alessandro Barchiesi and Walter Scheidel (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010), 455.
Bibliography:
Matthews, John. "Roman Life and Society." In The Oxford Handbook of Roman Studies, edited by Alessandro Barchiesi and Walter Scheidel, 451-478. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010.
Example: E-book or Online Book
Note:
7. Ta-Nehisi Coates, Between the World and Me (New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2015), Kindle edition, chap. 2.
Bibliography:
Coates, Ta-Nehisi. Between the World and Me. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2015. Kindle edition.
Example: Translated Book
Note:
8. Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude, trans. Gregory Rabassa (New York: Harper & Row, 1970), 89.
Bibliography:
García Márquez, Gabriel. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Translated by Gregory Rabassa. New York: Harper & Row, 1970.
Chicago Author-Date Format for Books
The Author-Date system is preferred in the physical, natural, and social sciences where currency of research is emphasized. It allows readers to quickly identify when research was published.
Basic Format
In-text citation:
(Author Year, Page)
Reference list entry:
Author, First Name. Year. Book Title. Place of Publication: Publisher.
Example: Single-Author Book
In-text citation:
(Lepore 2018, 45)
Reference list:
Lepore, Jill. 2018. These Truths: A History of the United States. New York: W. W. Norton.
Example: Two Authors
In-text citation:
(Strunk and White 2000, 23)
Reference list:
Strunk, William, Jr., and E. B. White. 2000. The Elements of Style. 4th ed. New York: Longman.
Example: Edited Volume
In-text citation:
(Beard 2009, 234)
Reference list:
Beard, Mary, ed. 2009. Cambridge Companion to the Roman Historians. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Example: Chapter in Edited Volume
In-text citation:
(Matthews 2010, 455)
Reference list:
Matthews, John. 2010. "Roman Life and Society." In The Oxford Handbook of Roman Studies, edited by Alessandro Barchiesi and Walter Scheidel, 451-478. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
When to Use Notes-Bibliography vs Author-Date
| Discipline/Context | Recommended System |
|---|---|
| History | Notes-Bibliography |
| Art History | Notes-Bibliography |
| Literature | Notes-Bibliography |
| Religious Studies | Notes-Bibliography |
| Philosophy | Notes-Bibliography |
| Social Sciences | Author-Date |
| Physical Sciences | Author-Date |
| Natural Sciences | Author-Date |
Common Errors to Avoid
1. Mixing the Two Systems
Never combine Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date systems in the same paper. Choose one system and use it consistently throughout your work.
2. Incorrect Punctuation in Notes
In notes, use commas to separate elements (author, title, publication info). In bibliography entries, use periods after author and title.
3. Wrong Name Order
In footnotes, names appear in natural order (First Last). In bibliography entries, the first author's name is inverted (Last, First).
4. Missing Publication Place
Always include the place of publication. If multiple cities are listed, use only the first one.
5. Incorrect Edition Format
Write out edition numbers in bibliography entries (2nd ed., revised ed.) but you may abbreviate in notes.
6. Page Numbers in Bibliography
For whole books, do not include page numbers in bibliography entries. Only include page ranges for book chapters or essays in edited volumes.
Special Cases
Book with No Author (Corporate Author)
Bibliography:
American Medical Association. AMA Manual of Style. 11th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2020.
Multivolume Work
Note:
9. Winston S. Churchill, The Second World War, vol. 4, The Hinge of Fate (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1950), 123.
Republished Book
Bibliography:
Orwell, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. 1949. Reprint, New York: Signet Classic, 1961.
Tips for Historians and Humanities Scholars
When using Chicago style for historical research, remember that the Notes-Bibliography system is strongly preferred. This system allows you to provide rich context about your sources, including archival information, translator notes, and edition details that are crucial for historical scholarship.
For primary sources published as books (diaries, letters, historical documents), include all relevant information about the edition and editor. This helps other scholars locate the exact text you used.
Generate Perfect Chicago Book Citations
Use our free Chicago citation generator to create accurate book citations in both Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date formats. Perfect for historians, art scholars, and humanities researchers.