How to Cite a Journal Article in Chicago Style

11.12.22 Chicago style examples Time to read: 5min

How do you like this article?

0 Reviews


How-to-Cite-a-Journal-Article-in-Chicago-Style-Definition

When writing an academic paper in Chicago style, it is essential to learn how to cite a journal article in Chicago style properly to avoid plagiarism and give the appropriate credit to the original author. For most citation styles, you will begin the citation with the original author’s name and include the translator’s information later in the citation. In-text citations will typically use the original author’s name. This guide will show you how to cite a journal article in Chicago style correctly.

How to Cite a Journal Article in Chicago Style – In a Nutshell

Learn how to cite a journal article in Chicago style when it’s:

  • published online
  • listed the author’s name
  • the article’s title
  • the journal name
  • the volume and issue
  • publication date
  • page range on which the article appears
  • a DOI or URL.

If you need to learn how to cite a journal article in Chicago style in print, follow the same format and simply leave out the DOI or URL. In your citations and notes, pay attention to the punctuation (e.g. commas, quotation marks, parentheses).

Definition: How to cite a journal article in Chicago style

If you would like to learn how to cite a journal article in Chicago style, the Chicago Manual of Style is vital. It is a style guide for American English that has been consistently published since 1906 by the University of Chicago Press. Its 17 editions prescribed styles of writing and citation commonly used in academia and publishing. It is one of the best-known and trusted style guides in the United States.

The guide focuses specifically on American English and covers many features of editorial practice, such as grammar and usage, in addition to formatting and document preparation. We recommend reading it to learn more about how to cite a journal article in Chicago style.

Check your final paper for plagiarism
Not properly attributing credit to original sources often causes deductions in marks. Use our online plagiarism checker to reduce the risk of such penalties and correct any potential plagiarized passages. It takes only 10 minutes to submit your paper confidently.

How to cite a journal article in Chicago style

There are two types of notes in learning how to cite a journal article in chicago style:

Full Note: Author First Name/Initial Surname, “Article Title,” Journal Title Volume, Issue no. (Year): page number, DOI/URL.

Example

  1. Nazanin Shahrokni, “Women, Life, Freedom,” History Today 72, no. 11: 123. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/history-matters/women-life-freedom
  2. Gingerich, Daniel W., and Jan P. Vogler. “Pandemics and Political Development: The Electoral Legacy of the Black Death in Germany.” World Politics 73, no. 3 (2021): 393–440. doi:10.1017/S0043887121000034.

Subsequent Note:  Author Surname, “Article Title,” page number.

Example

  1. Shahrokni, “Women, Life, Freedom,” 123.
  2. Gingerich and Vogler, “Pandemics and Political Development” p 393-440.

Please note in the text that the format for citing an article in print is the same but minus the DOI or URL.

How to cite a journal article in Chicago style – DOI vs. URL

If the journal lists one, you should include a DOI (Digital Object Identifier). If no DOI is available, list a URL. Learning how to cite a journal article in Chicago style is tricky in this respect, but you only need to include an access date if required by your publisher or discipline.

How to cite a journal article in Chicago style: No DOI/URL

To understand how to cite a journal article in Chicago style, pay attention to the following guidelines:

  • Provide DOIs over URLs if at all possible.
  • If you don’t know the DOI, use the source’s URL in the citation.
  • Write the DOI or URL at the end of the citation, formatting the rest of the citation as usual for a traditional source.
  • A DOI should be preceded by a “doi:” label (please note the lowercase).

Access dates are not generally needed for formally published electronic sources (like journal articles). However, they can be helpful for informally published electronic sources. They may also be needed in some disciplines for all electronic sources (formal or informal). Access dates should be located immediately before the DOI or URL.

Example

Last name, First/middle initials. “Title of Article.” Journal Title volume number, issue no. (Year): page range. https://www.anyaddress.com/full/url/ or doi:0000000/000000000000

How to cite a journal article in Chicago style: Multiple authors

To learn how to cite a journal article in Chicago style, it is essential to learn to format the footnotes and bibliography correctly.

In Chicago style footnotes, you may list up to three authors. If there are more than three, only the first author needs to be named, followed by “et al.

In the Chicago style bibliography, you can list up to ten authors. If there are more than ten, list the first seven followed by “et al.”

Two authors Full note: Emma Brown and John Burns
Short note: Brown and Burns
Three authors Full note: Emma Brown, John Burns and Dylan Kennedy
Short note: Brown, Burns and Kennedy
4+ authors Full note: Emma Brown et al.
Short note: Brown et al.

How to cite a journal article in Chicago style: Finding the information

Create a graphic with arrows pointing to where the various pieces of information required for a reference can be found in a journal article (this can be ignored as we will add it in later ourselves).

Conduct a final format revision for a print of your thesis
Before submitting your thesis for print, check on your formatting with our 3D preview function for a final time. It provides an exact virtual visualization of what the printed version will resemble, making sure the physical version meets your expectations.

FAQs

Author last name, first name. Year. “Article Title.” Publication Name, Month, Day, Year. URL.

Here’s how to cite a newspaper article in Chicago style in a nutshell:

Author first name, author last name, “Article Title,” Newspaper Title, Date, Database.

There are a few differences to be aware of if you want to learn how to cite a journal article in Chicago style or Harvard referencing. Although they are similar, there are a few formatting differences. Harvard referencing is mainly used for humanities, natural or social sciences writings, while the Chicago style is predominantly used in history, business, and fine arts.

As you can see from this guide, understanding how to cite a journal article in Chicago style is not difficult and will help you present your academic work professionally and competently.