Chicago Style Citation In Text

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) is a widely used citation style that provides guidelines for formatting and citing sources in academic and professional writing. In-text citations are an essential part of the CMS, as they allow authors to credit their sources and provide readers with a clear understanding of the information being presented.

Basic Principles of Chicago Style In-Text Citations

According to the CMS, in-text citations should be used to credit sources when quoting or paraphrasing information from another author. The basic principle of in-text citations is to provide the author’s last name, the year of publication, and the page number(s) where the information can be found. For example, a citation for a book might look like this: (Smith 2020, 23). If the author’s name is mentioned in the text, only the year and page number are required: Smith (2020, 23) argues that…

Types of In-Text Citations

The CMS provides guidelines for several types of in-text citations, including:

• Direct Quotations: When quoting an author directly, the citation should include the author’s last name, the year of publication, and the page number(s) where the quote can be found. For example: (Smith 2020, 23) or Smith (2020, 23) states, “…
• Paraphrases: When paraphrasing an author’s work, the citation should include the author’s last name and the year of publication. For example: (Smith 2020) or Smith (2020) argues that…
• Multiple Authors: When citing a source with multiple authors, the citation should include all authors’ last names and the year of publication. For example: (Smith, Johnson, and Williams 2020) or Smith, Johnson, and Williams (2020) argue that…

Additional Guidelines for Chicago Style In-Text Citations

The CMS also provides guidelines for citing sources with no author, citing sources with multiple editions, and citing sources with no publication date. For example:

• No Author: When citing a source with no author, the citation should include the title of the work and the year of publication. For example: (“The Chicago Manual of Style” 2020)
• Multiple Editions: When citing a source with multiple editions, the citation should include the edition number and the year of publication. For example: (Smith 2020, 2nd ed.)
• No Publication Date: When citing a source with no publication date, the citation should include the author’s last name and “n.d.” (no date). For example: (Smith n.d.)

In conclusion, Chicago style in-text citations are an essential part of academic and professional writing. By following the guidelines provided by the CMS, authors can ensure that their sources are properly credited and that their writing is clear and concise.