Free Chicago Style Citation Generator
Create perfect Chicago 17th edition citations in seconds. Supports Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date formats with footnote generation and bibliography export.
Quick Answer:
CourseLink's free Chicago citation generator supports both Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date formats from the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition. It generates footnotes, endnotes, bibliography entries, and in-text citations for books, articles, websites, and 20+ other source types. It also supports Turabian style formatting.
Understanding Chicago Citation Style
Chicago style is one of the three most commonly used citation formats in American colleges and universities. Developed by the University of Chicago Press, it is the go-to format for history, arts, and many humanities departments. Unlike APA and MLA, Chicago offers two distinct citation systems, giving it flexibility across disciplines.
When to Use Notes-Bibliography (NB)
The Notes-Bibliography system is standard for history, art history, philosophy, literature, and theology courses. It uses superscript numbers in the text that correspond to footnotes at the bottom of the page (or endnotes at the end of the paper). A bibliography at the end lists all sources in alphabetical order. This system allows for explanatory notes alongside citations, making it ideal for disciplines that value commentary and discussion of sources.
When to Use Author-Date (AD)
The Author-Date system is used in sciences and social sciences that follow Chicago rather than APA. It uses parenthetical citations like (Smith 2024, 45) in the text and a reference list at the end. This system is more concise and works well for papers that cite many sources frequently. If your professor does not specify which Chicago system to use, check your department's guidelines or ask.
Chicago vs. Turabian: What Students Need to Know
Many students encounter Turabian style before they encounter the full Chicago Manual of Style. Understanding the relationship between these two helps you navigate citation requirements with confidence.
Turabian for Student Papers
Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers was specifically designed to simplify Chicago style for student papers. It covers the same citation formats as Chicago but adds guidance on paper structure, thesis statements, formatting requirements, and common assignment types. Most college courses that require 'Chicago style' will accept Turabian formatting. The citation formats are functionally identical.
Key Formatting Differences
The main differences between full Chicago and Turabian are in paper formatting rather than citations. Turabian specifies margins, font sizes, and heading styles for student papers, while the Chicago Manual focuses more on publishing standards. For citations, both follow the same rules. CourseLink generates citations that satisfy both Chicago and Turabian requirements.
Common Chicago Citation Mistakes to Avoid
Chicago style has specific rules that differ from APA and MLA, and many students lose points on avoidable errors. The most common mistakes include using the wrong footnote format for subsequent references (forgetting to use shortened form after the first full citation), incorrectly formatting titles (Chicago uses headline-style capitalization), omitting access dates for online sources when required by instructors, and confusing Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date formats within the same paper. Our Chicago citation generator eliminates these errors by applying the correct rules automatically.
CourseLink vs Other Citation Tools
| Feature | CourseLink | Other Citation Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago 17th Edition | ||
| Notes-Bibliography Format | ||
| Author-Date Format | Limited | |
| Turabian Support | — | |
| Footnote/Endnote Generation | Paid | |
| Ibid. Handling | — | |
| Completely Free | — |
Why Students Choose CourseLink
Notes-Bibliography Format
Generate Chicago-style footnotes, endnotes, and bibliography entries following the Notes-Bibliography system preferred in humanities courses like history and art.
Author-Date Format
Full support for the Author-Date system used in social sciences, with properly formatted in-text citations and reference list entries.
Footnote & Endnote Generator
Automatically creates both full and shortened footnote/endnote forms. Handles ibid. references and subsequent citations following Chicago manual rules.
Turabian Style Support
Turabian is the student-focused version of Chicago style. Our tool covers both Turabian and full Chicago Manual of Style formatting for all source types.
Auto-Fill from DOI or URL
Enter a DOI, URL, or ISBN and our tool fetches metadata to auto-populate your citation fields, saving time and reducing errors.
Bibliography Export
Export your complete bibliography or reference list with proper formatting, alphabetical ordering, and hanging indentation to Word or Google Docs.
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Common Questions Students Ask
"How do I cite in Chicago style?"
"What is the difference between Chicago and Turabian?"
"How do I make a footnote in Chicago format?"
"Should I use Chicago Notes-Bibliography or Author-Date?"
"How do I cite a website in Chicago style?"
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Chicago Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date?
Notes-Bibliography uses footnotes or endnotes with a bibliography and is preferred in humanities (history, literature, arts). Author-Date uses parenthetical in-text citations with a reference list and is common in social sciences. CourseLink supports both systems and lets you choose which one your assignment requires.
How do I cite a book in Chicago style?
In Notes-Bibliography: Footnote: First Last, Title of Book (Place: Publisher, Year), page. Bibliography: Last, First. Title of Book. Place: Publisher, Year. In Author-Date: (Last Year, page) with a reference list entry. Our generator formats both versions automatically.
Is this Chicago citation generator free?
Yes, CourseLink's Chicago citation generator is completely free for all students. Generate unlimited footnotes, endnotes, bibliography entries, and author-date citations without any cost or subscription.
What is Turabian style and how is it different from Chicago?
Turabian style is a simplified version of the Chicago Manual of Style designed specifically for students. It covers the same citation formats but includes additional guidance on paper formatting, thesis writing, and common student assignments. Our tool supports both Turabian and full Chicago formatting.
How do I use ibid. in Chicago footnotes?
Use 'Ibid.' (short for ibidem, meaning 'in the same place') when citing the same source as the immediately preceding footnote. If the page number differs, write 'Ibid., 45.' Our footnote generator automatically suggests when ibid. is appropriate.
How do I cite a website in Chicago format?
For Notes-Bibliography: Footnote: First Last, 'Page Title,' Website Name, Month Day, Year, URL. Bibliography: Last, First. 'Page Title.' Website Name. Month Day, Year. URL. Our tool auto-fills these fields when you paste a URL.
Can I switch between Chicago and other citation styles?
Yes, CourseLink lets you convert your bibliography between Chicago, APA, and MLA formats with a single click. This is especially useful if you are working on papers for different courses that require different citation styles.
Which edition of the Chicago Manual does this tool use?
Our generator follows the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition (the latest edition), and Turabian's A Manual for Writers, 9th edition. We update our formatting rules whenever new editions are published.