Citing Sources

Chicago style is usually used in Philosophy, Theology, the Humanities, History, and other fields. It includes several different versions for notes, bibliography entries, and shortened citations.

Turabian style is a simplified version of Chicago style with some modifications for the needs of student writers. It includes a notes-bibliography style and a parenthetical citations-reference list style.

Big Picture

There are several versions of Chicago style, including Turabian style, which is a simplified version keyed toward students. At CDU, students should make use of the Notes and Bibliography system (NB), which allows writers to make footnotes and other commentary. When copying and downloading citation information you should always select Chicago Notes & Bibliography, NOT Chicago Author-Date which is generally used by Social Sciences disciplines.

Footnotes - see left-hand tab for more details

The Notes and Bibliography system has established the following rules for footnotes.

• Each footnote should appear at the bottom of the page that includes its numbered in-text reference.
• Footnote numbers in the text should be superscripted.
  • Footnote numbers should be placed at the end of the clause or sentence to which they refer and should be placed after any and all punctuation.
• In the footnotes themselves, the footnote numbers should use normal text size with a period and space after, or use superscript with a space but no period after.
  • Indent the first line of each footnote half an inch, like a paragraph in the main text.
  • Use regular font size or a smaller font size for the footnotes.
  • Single-space each footnote and add a blank line between footnotes.
  • Footnotes should be left-aligned, leaving the right margin "ragged."

See the following Turabian Tip Sheet for more information

In-Text/Parenthetical Citations - see left-hand tab for more details

At CDU, In-Text/Parenthetical Citations are used when citing the Bible, Church Documents, the Catechism, and the Summa. All other sources should be cited using the rules for footnotes.

• In-text citations are placed immediately after a quotation or other material requiring a citation.
  • Use the "In-Text Citation" tab to the left to see specific elements for citing the Bible, the Catechism, Church Documents, and the Summa.
  • Closing the parenthesis precedes a comma, period, or other mark when the quotation is run into the text.
  • At the end of a block quotation, the opening parenthesis follows terminal punctuation.

See the following Turabian Tip Sheet for more information.

Bibliographies - see left-hand tab for more details 

When following the Turabian rules for paper writing, you should use the term Bibliography as  the title for your reference list or works cited page.

• Center the title "Bibliography" at the top of the first page and add two blank lines after.
• Apply half-inch hanging indents for each entry.
• Single space each entry.
  • Add  blank line between entries.
  • Leave the right margin "ragged."
• For multiple works by the same author(s), replace the author or authors' names with a 3-em dash in all entries after the first.

See the following Turabian Tip Sheet more information.

Important! Directions from your teacher, instructor, or dissertation office overrule these guidelines. For more details and examples, see Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (Turabian.org) or The Chicago Manual of Style (Chicagomanualofstyle.org). © 2018 University of Chicago.