Chicago 18 Author–Date System

The following information is an abridged version of the style and formatting guidelines found in the Publication Manual of the Chicago Manual of Style, 18th ed. (2024).  This sheet is to serve as a ready reference; more in-depth descriptions can be found in the handbook.

General Information

  • This system is comprised of two indispensable parts: a complete list of sources cited (Reference List), and in-text citations, usually in parentheses.
  • The Reference List should be placed at the end of the text before the index.
  • Sources are listed alphabetically by last name.
  • The publication date follows the author’s name as it does in in-text citations.
  • The title of the source is italicized and capitalized sentence style (ex: only the first word of the title is capitalized).
  • Each entry has a hanging indent and begins flushed with the left margin.
  • Entries are single-spaced with a double space between entries.
  • For in-text quotations, place the citation at the end of the quote or paraphrase before any punctuation mark.
  • For block quotations, place the citation at the end of the quote after the final punctuation. No punctuation follows the in-text citation.
    • Use this format to quote more than five lines or 100 words.

Reference Format

A book with one author:

  • Author’s Last Name, First name and first initial (if known). Year of Publication. Title. Publisher.
  • Ex: Stanford, Judith A. 1993. Connections, A Multicultural Reader for Writers. Mayfield Publishing Co.
    • In-text citation: (Stanford 1993, 34)

A book with two or three authors:

  • Author 1 and Author 2. Year of Publication. Title. Publisher.
  • Ex: Ramage, John D., and John C. Bean. 1997. The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Writing. Allyn & Bacon.
  • In-text citation: (Ramage and Bean 1997, 94-7)

A book with four or more authors:

  • Up to six authors are now listed in a bibliography or reference list entry.
    • For a work with more than six, only the first three are listed, followed by “et al.”
  • Authors. Year of Publication. Title. Publisher.
  • Ex: Cole, Gerald R., John Smith, Jane Smith, and Robert Smith. 1996. Criminal Justice in America. Wadsworth.
    • In-text citation: (Cole et al. 1996, 34)

A book with an editor or translator instead of author

  • Editor/Translator, ed./trans. Year of publication. Title. Publisher.
  • Ex: Morgan, Edwin, trans. 1952. Beowulf. University of California Press.
    • In-text citation: (Morgan 1952, 39)

An article or chapter in an edited book or anthology

  • Author. Year of Publication. “Title.” In Book Title, editor, page. Publisher.
  • Ex: Rogoff, Brian. 1985. “Memory Development in Cultural Context.” In Cognitive Learning and Memory in Children, ed. Michael Pressley, 34-7. Springer-Verlag.
    • In-text citation: (Rogoff 1985, 34-7)

Note: The citations of online journals, magazines, and newspapers follow the same format as the print version, but the URL should be added. Also, if the material is time-sensitive, an access date should be added as well.

Article in a journal

  • Author. Year of Publication. “Title.” Journal Title volume (issue): page.
  • Ex: Beck, Debra B. 1998. “The ‘F’ Word: How the Media Frame Feminism.” NWSA Journal 10 (1): 139–53. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4316558.
    • In-text citation: (Beck 1998, 140)

Article in a magazine

  • Author. Year of Publication. “Title.” Magazine Title, Date of Publication.
  • Ex: Ezzell, Chris. 2000. “The Business of the Human Genome.” Scientistic American. July 6.
    • In-text citation: (Ezzell 2000, 34)

Article in a newspaper

  • Author. Year of Publication. “Title.” Newspaper Title, Date of Publication. Section, Edition.
  • Ex: Norris, Frank. 1994. “Are 20 Years of Market Joy about to End?” New York Times, November 27, section F, late edition.
    • In-text citation: (Norris 1994, F4)

A source with no author

  • If you cite a source with no author, use the title of the work in place of the author in your reference list.
  • For in-text citations, use a shortened version of the title (no more than four words) as it appears in your reference list.
  • Ex:
    • In-text citation: (“The Amazing World” 1998, 21)

A webpage or document from a website

  • Author or owner of site. “Title.” Title of Site. Access date. URL.
  • Ex: University of Chicago. 2011. “Chicago Manual of Style.” University of Chicago. Accessed June 1, 2001. http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org.
    • In-text citation: (University of Chicago 2011)