How to Cite Websites and Blog Posts in Chicago Style
Citing web content in Chicago style requires careful attention to authorship, publication dates, and access dates. This guide covers citing websites, blog posts, and online content in both the Notes-Bibliography system (preferred in history and humanities) and Author-Date system (used in social sciences).
Understanding Web Citations in Chicago Style
The Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) provides comprehensive guidelines for citing digital sources. Web citations should include enough information to help readers locate the source, including author (if available), page or article title, website name, publication date, and URL. Access dates are now optional unless no publication date is available or the content is likely to change.
Chicago recognizes that web content ranges from informal blog posts to authoritative institutional websites. The citation format adapts based on the formality and permanence of the source.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography: Website Citations
Basic Format for Webpages
Footnote/Endnote (first reference):
First Name Last Name, "Page Title," Website Name, publication date, URL.
Shortened note (subsequent references):
Last Name, "Shortened Title."
Bibliography entry:
Last Name, First Name. "Page Title." Website Name. Publication date. URL.
Example: Webpage with Author and Date
First note:
1. Jennifer Howard, "The Fragility of Digital Preservation," Smithsonian Magazine, November 12, 2023, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/digital-preservation/.
Shortened note:
2. Howard, "Digital Preservation."
Bibliography:
Howard, Jennifer. "The Fragility of Digital Preservation." Smithsonian Magazine. November 12, 2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/digital-preservation/.
Example: Webpage with No Author
Note:
3. "Getting Started with Digital Research," Digital Humanities Resources, last modified March 15, 2024, https://digitalhumanities.org/getting-started/.
Bibliography:
"Getting Started with Digital Research." Digital Humanities Resources. Last modified March 15, 2024. https://digitalhumanities.org/getting-started/.
Example: Webpage with No Date
Note:
4. Michael Chen, "Advanced Research Methods," University Research Portal, accessed February 5, 2026, https://www.university.edu/research-methods/.
Bibliography:
Chen, Michael. "Advanced Research Methods." University Research Portal. Accessed February 5, 2026. https://www.university.edu/research-methods/.
Note: Include access date when no publication date is available.
Chicago Notes-Bibliography: Blog Posts
Basic Format for Blog Posts
Footnote/Endnote:
First Name Last Name, "Post Title," Blog Name (blog), Month Day, Year, URL.
Bibliography entry:
Last Name, First Name. "Post Title." Blog Name (blog). Month Day, Year. URL.
Example: Individual Blog Post
Note:
5. Ta-Nehisi Coates, "The Case for Reparations: A Response," The Atlantic (blog), June 3, 2014, https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/06/the-case-for-reparations-response/371999/.
Bibliography:
Coates, Ta-Nehisi. "The Case for Reparations: A Response." The Atlantic (blog). June 3, 2014. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/06/the-case-for-reparations-response/371999/.
Example: Comment on Blog Post
Note:
6. Sarah Martinez, comment on "Climate Policy and Economic Growth," Economics Today (blog), January 20, 2024, https://economicstoday.com/climate-policy-growth/#comment-12345.
Chicago Author-Date: Website Citations
Basic Format
In-text citation:
(Author Year)
Reference list entry:
Author, First Name. Year. "Page Title." Website Name. Month Day. URL.
Example: Webpage with Author
In-text citation:
(Howard 2023)
Reference list:
Howard, Jennifer. 2023. "The Fragility of Digital Preservation." Smithsonian Magazine. November 12. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/digital-preservation/.
Example: Webpage with No Author
In-text citation:
("Getting Started" 2024)
Reference list:
"Getting Started with Digital Research." 2024. Digital Humanities Resources. Last modified March 15. https://digitalhumanities.org/getting-started/.
Example: Webpage with No Date
In-text citation:
(Chen n.d.)
Reference list:
Chen, Michael. n.d. "Advanced Research Methods." University Research Portal. Accessed February 5, 2026. https://www.university.edu/research-methods/.
Note: Use "n.d." (no date) when publication date is unavailable.
Chicago Author-Date: Blog Posts
Example: Blog Post
In-text citation:
(Coates 2014)
Reference list:
Coates, Ta-Nehisi. 2014. "The Case for Reparations: A Response." The Atlantic (blog). June 3. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/06/the-case-for-reparations-response/371999/.
When to Use Each System
| Discipline | Recommended System | Why |
|---|---|---|
| History | Notes-Bibliography | Detailed source context |
| Digital Humanities | Notes-Bibliography | Humanities standard |
| Art History | Notes-Bibliography | Allows image citations |
| Communication Studies | Author-Date | Social science preference |
| Media Studies | Author-Date | Current content focus |
| Information Science | Author-Date | Emphasizes recency |
Common Errors to Avoid
1. Including Unnecessary Access Dates
Chicago 17th edition made access dates optional for most web citations. Only include access dates when: (1) no publication date is available, or (2) the content is likely to change frequently, such as wikis or real-time data.
2. Confusing Website Name and Page Title
The page title (in quotation marks) is the specific article or page you're citing. The website name (in italics) is the overall site. For example: "Climate Change Basics" is the page title on the EPA website.
3. Using Shortened URLs
Always use complete, permanent URLs rather than shortened links (bit.ly, tinyurl, etc.). Shortened URLs can expire and don't provide information about the source.
4. Omitting the Blog Designation
When citing blog posts, include "(blog)" after the blog name to clarify the source type. This distinguishes blogs from traditional publications.
5. Wrong Punctuation in URLs
Do not include a period after the URL, even at the end of a sentence or bibliography entry. The period can be confused as part of the URL.
6. Citing Social Media as Websites
Social media posts (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) have their own citation formats and should not be cited as regular websites. See our guide on citing social media in Chicago style.
Special Cases and Considerations
Organizational or Corporate Author
Note:
7. National Park Service, "Preserving Historical Sites in the Digital Age," NPS History Portal, August 20, 2023, https://www.nps.gov/subjects/history/digital-preservation.htm.
Page Within a Larger Website
Note:
8. "Research Ethics Guidelines," section 3.2, Harvard University, last modified January 2024, https://www.harvard.edu/research-ethics/guidelines/.
Multimedia Content on Websites
For videos, podcasts, or audio files embedded on websites, follow the multimedia citation format rather than webpage format. See our guide on citing multimedia sources in Chicago style.
Content from Subscription Databases
If web content requires institutional access or subscription, you may note this after the URL: "Available through institutional subscription." However, Chicago generally prefers citing the original publication if possible.
Wikipedia and Wiki Citations
Note:
9. "Digital Preservation," Wikipedia, last modified January 28, 2026, accessed February 5, 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_preservation.
Note: Always include access date for wikis since content changes frequently. Chicago recommends using Wikipedia for background only, not as a primary source.
Best Practices for Web Citations
Evaluating Web Sources
Not all web content is suitable for academic citation. Prioritize sources from established institutions, peer-reviewed online journals, government websites, and recognized authorities in the field. Consider the author's credentials, publication date, and whether the site is maintained by a reputable organization.
Archiving Web Content
Since web content can disappear or change, consider using web archiving services like the Internet Archive (Wayback Machine) for important sources. You can include both the original URL and an archived version in your notes if the content is particularly vulnerable to deletion.
Permalinks and DOIs
When available, use permanent URLs (permalinks) or DOIs instead of standard URLs. These provide more stable links to content. Academic articles published online should be cited with their DOI when available.
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