How to Cite a Book Chapter in Chicago (17th edition)

Learn how to cite chapters and essays in edited books 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 a book chapter in your bibliography:

Chicago In-Text Citation

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

Key Chicago Formatting Rules

• Put the chapter title in quotation marks and italicize the book title.
• Introduce the book with "In" and credit the editor with "edited by" before the page range.
• Give the chapter page range (no pp.) after the editor, then place, publisher, and year.
• Notes-Bibliography: cite the specific page(s) in the footnote.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your book chapter.
2. Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Chicago (17th edition) template shown above.
3. Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
4. Add to your bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
5. Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Chicago requirements.

Cite a Book Chapter in Other Styles

Cite Other Sources in Chicago

More Resources

• Free Citation Generator (10,832 styles)
• Free Writing Tools
• Compare Citation Styles
• All Citation Guides
• Cheat Sheets (APA, MLA, Chicago)