Chicago In-Text Citations
Master Chicago (17th edition) in-text citations with this complete guide. Learn the correct format for every scenario, including single and multiple authors, direct quotes, and sources with missing information.
In-Text Citation Rules
Below are the Chicago in-text citation rules for every common scenario you will encounter when writing your paper.
Single Author
(Smith 2024, 15) or footnote: Smith, The Art of Research, 15.
Two Authors
(Smith and Jones 2024, 15)
Three or More Authors
(Smith et al. 2024, 15)
Direct Quote
(Smith 2024, 15) — always include page numbers for direct quotes
No Author
Use a shortened title: ("Art of Research" 2024)
No Date
(Smith n.d.)
Quick Examples
Here are real-world Chicago in-text citation examples for different source types:
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Cite in Chicago Now →Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I format an Chicago in-text citation?
- For a single author in Chicago, use the format (Smith 2024, 15) or footnote: Smith, The Art of Research, 15.. For two authors, use (Smith and Jones 2024, 15). For three or more authors, use (Smith et al. 2024, 15).
- How do I cite a direct quote in Chicago?
- For direct quotes in Chicago (17th edition), use the format: (Smith 2024, 15) — always include page numbers for direct quotes.
- What if there is no author or no date in Chicago?
- When there is no author in Chicago, use: Use a shortened title: ("Art of Research" 2024). When there is no date, use: (Smith n.d.).