The first time you cite a source, the note includes the author’s or authors’ names, the title and subtitle, and the publication details following the rule for the specific type of source document. Word processing software generally has an automatic note tool that generates the reference numbers, and if you rearrange the text, the notes automatically follow. Always position reference numbers after punctuation. The superscript reference numbers correspond to numbered notes at the bottom of each page.

These reference numbers begin at 1 and continue consecutively. Student assessment tasks often use footnotes, rather than endnotes. The advantage of footnotes is that interested readers can easily see the source details as they read. To create footnotes, identify your sources of information (including quotations, paraphrases and ideas) with superscript reference numbers. Citations correspond to entries in the bibliography. It includes citations presented in footnotes (at the bottom of each page) or endnotes (at the end of a section or document). This part describes Chicago's notes and bibliography system of documentation.

This new edition of the guide includes expanded information on referencing digital resources. This guide outlines the convention for referencing resources for the Seventeenth Edition of The Chicago Manual of Style.

Personal communication & confidential unpublished material.

Conferences, theses & university materials.

Websites newspaper & magazine articles, socia media.

Images, graphs, tables, figures & data sets.

Government/organisational/technical reports.

Government and Organisation Publications.

Conference papers, theses and university material.

Websites, newspaper and magazine articles, social media.

Turabian footnote example