Chicago Author-date Citation Generator

If you’re looking for the best Chicago author-date generator, you're in the right place. This free online tool will help you make Chicago author-date citations and references easily.

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To use this Chicago author-date generator, take the following steps:

  1. Pick the type of your source: book, journal article, website, etc.
  2. Search for the details or enter the required information manually.
  3. Get a properly formatted citation and a reference entry.
  4. Create, save, edit, and download your bibliography lists.

âś… Chicago Author-Date Generator Benefits

We are proud to tell you that we’ve made the best Chicago author-date generator. Why are we so sure of that? Find some of the reasons in the below section.

The picture lists the key benefits of this Chicago author-date generator.

Chicago author-date citation generator: the benefits

100% free Use the Chicago author-date generator as many times as you need. We won’t ask you for payment at your first use or any time after that. The tool has no hidden charges or subscriptions.
100% fast You’ll get the result in a few seconds if you have a proper internet connection. There’s no need to undergo a tedious registration procedure or confirm your account through email.
100% accurate We have checked the Chicago author-date citation generator for formatting accuracy in all possible sources. It is error-free and updated whenever new guidelines appear. Currently, it corresponds to the 17th edition of the manual of style.

đź“– Chicago Author-Date Style 101

The University of Chicago Press developed the Chicago Manual of Style back in 1906 for research papers in American English.

Also referred to as Chicago, CMOS, CMS, or TCM, Chicago referencing style has undergone 17 editions and is currently one of the most widely used citation systems in the US.

Apart from document formatting, the manual deals with the following:

  • Proper language usage
  • Grammar
  • Editorial practice

Besides, it offers a choice of several formats, allowing for their mixing (provided that the overall picture is clear and consistent).

Chicago Author-Date Vs. Notes-Bibliography

Chicago citations may have 2 varieties. Choose the one that is more popular in your field or more practical for your purposes.

The picture compares the two Chicago formatting methods.

Chicago Author-Date

This system is typically used in sciences. Parenthetical in-text citations specify the author’s last name and publication year. Then they are detailed in the full bibliographical entry at the end of the paper.

The picture defines Chicago author-date formatting method.

If you doubt the correct formatting, check the particular case in the Chicago Author Date Citation Generator.

Chicago Notes-Bibliography

This system is more practical in arts and humanities since it allows for more freedom in referencing. Here, the sources are cited in numbered footnotes or endnotes, each corresponding to the in-text superscript number. All this permits accommodating different sources, including unusual ones, facilitating the referencing.

đź’¬ Chicago Author-Date Citations: A How-to Guide

Chicago citations include specific information directing the readers to the source where the information can be retrieved.

The picture defines Chicago author-date formatting method.

Particularly, whenever you summarize, quote, or paraphrase another person’s words, have the author and year of the publication in parentheses. Then, list all the sources in a separate bibliography at the end of your document.

Chicago Author-Date In-Text Citations

In Chicago AD, in-text citations comprise:

  1. The author’s name
  2. Publication year
  3. Page number (if applicable)

Each in-text citation shall correspond to the reference list entry providing complete details of the original.

CMOS presupposes only parenthetical citations. They differ from narrative ones because the sources’ details appear in parentheses and do not become parts of a sentence.

Parenthetical citation example Narrative citation example
The hypothetico-deductive method consists of phenomena, the researcher’s ideas, and a hypothesis (McNeill 1990, 56). McNeill (1990) believes that the hypothetico-deductive method consists of phenomena, the researcher’s ideas, and a hypothesis (56).

A Chicago-style citation should appear at the end of the clause, sentence, or quotation before any punctuation.

Whenever multiple sources are required within the same sentence, put them in a single set of parentheses with a semicolon in-between.

In the table below, you’ll find some of the most common examples of Chicago in-text citations.

1 author (McNeill 1990)
2 or 3 authors (McNeill, Smith, and Thomas 1990)
4 authors or more (McNeill et.al. 1990)
Several sources by authors with the same last name
(J. McNeill 1990)
(S. McNeill 1998)
Several sources combined in one citation (McNeill 1990; Thomas 2001)

Chicago Autor-Date References

The list of references completes an academic paper, providing exhaustive information about the cited sources.

Each reference entry begins with the author’s last name and publication year. Thus, it can be arranged alphabetically to facilitate the readers’ work.

Here are some other guidelines for the Chicago references:

  • In terms of formatting, entitle this page “Works Cited” or “References.”
  • Single-space the lines but leave an extra blank between separate entries.
  • Entries extending for two lines and more should have a “hanging indent” at the second and every subsequent line.

In the table below, you’ll find some of the most common examples of Chicago reference entries.

Book McNeill, Patrick. 1990. Research Methods. New York: Routledge.
Book chapter Gardner, Eldon John, Michael J. Simmons, D. Peter Snustad. 2006. “Cellular Reproduction.” In Principles of Genetics. New Delhi: Wiley.
Journal article Spadafora, Corrado. 2023. “The epigenetic basis of evolution.” Biology Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology, no. 177 (January): 141-150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2023.01.005.
Website Griffiths, Martin. 2019. “Black Sea Grain Initiative – Press Conference.” The United Nations. Updated July 28, 2022. https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1y/k1yv424j9w.

👨‍🎓️ Citing Research Sources - Why Is It Important?

We bet you hate creating references manually. Citation generators have become salvation that significantly eases the tedious part of academic writing.

Some students need help understanding why, when, and how they should cite their sources. Below, we will answer these questions and provide recommendations for using reference makers when writing your paper.

Keep reading!

Why Should I Cite My Sources?

A document with references proves you've researched thoroughly to find proper arguments.

So, what do you actually do when you’re citing a source?

🖋️ You give credit By crediting the source, you show your recognition of its author.
🖋️ Set up your credibility References in your paper show that you've done a great research job. Thus, your readers will understand that the ideas and theories you provide in the writing piece have a solid argument base.
🖋️ Help the readers understand the topic References allow your audience to check the quotes and ideas in their original context. Your reader can always check them to learn more about the paper's subject.

What Do I Need to Cite?

Another question that arises when it comes to citing sources is what you need to cite.

Here is the answer:

  • Direct quotations from another person
  • Summary of other's work
  • Graphs and charts from another author's work
  • Facts and data, when the information is not well-know
  • Websites, blogs, and online magazines
  • Your peer's ideas
  • Your previous papers

There's a small secret for citing: when you're in doubt — cite!

What Are the Consequences of Not Citing a Source?

When you use someone else's work or idea without citing it, it is plagiarism. In its turn, if you're caught on plagiarizing, you even might be excluded from the university.

Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty and, in most cases, violates the college or university honor codes. When you're not crediting your source, you make it impossible for your readers to check the origins for more information.

Even if you cite all the sources, you may still be caught in plagiarism. For example, when you violate style paraphrasing rules, use the wrong citation style, or use someone's image without permission or credit.

Thank you for reading this article! Note that we’ve developed citation generators for the most common formatting styles:

âť“ Chicago Author-date Generator FAQ

đź“Ś How to Cite a Movie in Chicago Author Date?
If you wish to in-text cite a movie in Chicago author-date, you must indicate the director’s last name and year of release in parentheses. Do not divide the two items with any punctuation marks. For example, (Spielberg 2005). For a specific scene, add hour:minute:second timestamp. For instance, (Spielberg 2005, 1:05:25).
đź“Ś How to Cite a Website in Chicago Author Date?
To in-text cite a website in Chicago author-date style, put its author’s last name and publication year in parentheses. Besides, a reference list is similar to a bibliography entry by the place where the year is indicated. Here’s a template: Surname, forename. Year. “Title.” Website Title. Month Day, Year. Link.
đź“Ś How to Cite YouTube Video Chicago Author Date?
Unlike the notes and bibliography style, you don’t have the option to include YouTube videos in the reference list or not. Thus, provide complete details for all the used sources. To do so, place an in-text citation (Last name Year, Minutes:Seconds) at the end of the sentence. Then reference it accordingly: Surname, Forename. Year. “Title.” Extra information. Month Day, Year. Format, Length. Link.
đź“Ś How to Cite a Podcast Chicago Author Date?
To introduce an in-text citation for a podcast, put the author’s surname and year of publication in parentheses. For example, (Spencer 2018). Then make a respective entry in the list of references according to the template: Surname, Forename. Year. “Title”. Podcast. Title. Link.

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đź”— References