How to Cite Books in Chicago Style
Learn how to properly cite books using both Chicago citation systems with comprehensive examples and formatting rules.
Chicago Book Citation Overview
Books are fundamental sources in historical and literary research. Chicago style provides specific formats for citing books in both the Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date systems, with variations for different types of book sources.
Basic Book Citation Elements
- • Author(s) name(s)
- • Book title (italicized)
- • Place of publication
- • Publisher name
- • Publication year
- • Page number(s) for specific references
Single Author Books
Notes-Bibliography System
Footnote/Endnote (first citation):
1. Sarah Johnson, Democratic Ideals in Practice (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2022), 127.
Footnote/Endnote (subsequent citations):
2. Johnson, Democratic Ideals, 89.
Bibliography entry:
Johnson, Sarah. Democratic Ideals in Practice. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2022.
Author-Date System
In-text citation:
(Johnson 2022, 127)
Reference list entry:
Johnson, Sarah. 2022. Democratic Ideals in Practice. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Multiple Authors
Two Authors
Notes-Bibliography footnote:
1. David Miller and Susan Chen, Historical Perspectives on Democracy (New York: Academic Press, 2023), 45.
Notes-Bibliography bibliography:
Miller, David, and Susan Chen. Historical Perspectives on Democracy. New York: Academic Press, 2023.
Author-Date in-text:
(Miller and Chen 2023, 45)
Author-Date reference list:
Miller, David, and Susan Chen. 2023. Historical Perspectives on Democracy. New York: Academic Press.
Three or More Authors
Notes-Bibliography footnote:
1. Robert Taylor et al., Modern Research Methods in History (Boston: Scholarly Publications, 2022), 78.
Notes-Bibliography bibliography:
Taylor, Robert, Jennifer Adams, Michael Brown, and Lisa Wilson. Modern Research Methods in History. Boston: Scholarly Publications, 2022.
Author-Date in-text:
(Taylor et al. 2022, 78)
Author-Date reference list:
Taylor, Robert, Jennifer Adams, Michael Brown, and Lisa Wilson. 2022. Modern Research Methods in History. Boston: Scholarly Publications.
Edited Collections
Entire Edited Book
Notes-Bibliography footnote:
1. Patricia Williams, ed., Essays on Modern Democracy (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2023), 156.
Notes-Bibliography bibliography:
Williams, Patricia, ed. Essays on Modern Democracy. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2023.
Author-Date reference list:
Williams, Patricia, ed. 2023. Essays on Modern Democracy. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Chapter in Edited Book
Notes-Bibliography footnote:
1. James Anderson, "The Role of Citizenship in Democracy," in Essays on Modern Democracy, ed. Patricia Williams (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2023), 89-112.
Notes-Bibliography bibliography:
Anderson, James. "The Role of Citizenship in Democracy." In Essays on Modern Democracy, edited by Patricia Williams, 89-112. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2023.
Author-Date reference list:
Anderson, James. 2023. "The Role of Citizenship in Democracy." In Essays on Modern Democracy, edited by Patricia Williams, 89-112. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Translated Books
Notes-Bibliography footnote:
1. Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, trans. Harvey Mansfield Jr. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 234.
Notes-Bibliography bibliography:
Tocqueville, Alexis de. Democracy in America. Translated by Harvey Mansfield Jr. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000.
Author-Date reference list:
Tocqueville, Alexis de. 2000. Democracy in America. Translated by Harvey Mansfield Jr. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
E-books and Digital Editions
E-book with DOI
Notes-Bibliography footnote:
1. Margaret Thompson, Digital Democracy: Technology and Political Participation (New York: Oxford University Press, 2023), https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190123456.001.0001.
Notes-Bibliography bibliography:
Thompson, Margaret. Digital Democracy: Technology and Political Participation. New York: Oxford University Press, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190123456.001.0001.
Kindle or Other E-reader
Notes-Bibliography footnote:
1. Sarah Johnson, Democratic Ideals in Practice (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2022), Kindle, chap. 7.
Notes-Bibliography bibliography:
Johnson, Sarah. Democratic Ideals in Practice. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2022. Kindle.
Multiple Editions
Notes-Bibliography footnote:
1. Richard Hofstadter, The American Political Tradition, 25th anniversary ed. (New York: Vintage Books, 1989), 67.
Notes-Bibliography bibliography:
Hofstadter, Richard. The American Political Tradition. 25th anniversary ed. New York: Vintage Books, 1989.
Author-Date reference list:
Hofstadter, Richard. 1989. The American Political Tradition. 25th anniversary ed. New York: Vintage Books.
Multivolume Works
Citing a Specific Volume
Notes-Bibliography footnote:
1. Winston Churchill, The Second World War, vol. 3, The Grand Alliance (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1950), 234.
Notes-Bibliography bibliography:
Churchill, Winston. The Second World War. Vol. 3, The Grand Alliance. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1950.
Citing the Entire Multivolume Work
Notes-Bibliography bibliography:
Churchill, Winston. The Second World War. 6 vols. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1948-1953.
Common Book Citation Mistakes
- • Missing italics: Book titles must be italicized, not quoted
- • Wrong author format: Invert only the first author's name in bibliography
- • Incomplete publication info: Include city, publisher, and year
- • Wrong punctuation: Use commas in footnotes, periods in bibliography
- • Missing page numbers: Include specific page references when citing
- • Inconsistent shortened titles: Use the same shortened form throughout
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