Chicago Manual of Style 18th Edition Citation Guide: CMOS Citations - Home

What is The Chicago Manual of Style?

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) is a reference tool providing guidance on style, grammar, formatting and citation formats.

When using CMS for citing sources there are two options for citation styles: Notes & Bibliography and Author-Date. Once your professor specifies which citation style to follow, you will want to pay close attention to the sources and examples in this guide to ensure you are using the correct style. The tabs across the top provide samples for both citation styles.

• To give credit to appropriate authors and researchers.
• To demonstrate proper and appropriate research on a topic was conducted.
• To provide readers with additional resources to further learn about a topic.
• To reassure readers that facts are accurate and previously documented.
• To provide a logical pattern of support for conclusions.

• When using exact language in quotation marks from a source.
• When you paraphrase (i.e. use your own words) an idea from a source.
• When you use any idea, data, or methodology from a source.

Below are some of the most frequently used parts of a Chicago-style citation. If you’re unsure about a citation element, ask your instructor or the LSC North Harris Library staff for help.

Author
Name of the creator(s) of the work. Usually includes first and last name, and sometimes middle initials.

Title of article, chapter, or webpage
The title of the specific work being cited. Subtitles follow the main title, separated by a colon (:).

Title of journal, book, or website
The larger source that contains the work (e.g., journal, book, newspaper, or website).

Other contributors
Editors, translators, narrators, or anyone else who contributed to the work.

Version
Indicates if the work is a revised edition, later edition (e.g., 8th ed.), or alternate version (e.g., director’s cut).

Number
Refers to volume or issue numbers for journals, volume numbers for books, or seasons/episodes for TV shows.

Publisher (or website sponsor)
The organization that makes the work available, whether in print or online.

Date
The publication date of the work. For online sources, this may also include last update or access date.

Place of publication
The city or location where the work was published.

Pages
Page numbers of the part you are citing, such as an article, book chapter, or magazine piece.

URL or DOI
For online sources, provide the stable URL or “permalink.” If a DOI is available, use it instead of the URL.

Format
For audiovisual materials (CDs, DVDs, VHS, films, digital files, etc.), include the format in the citation.