Wrangling the Wild Web: How to Cite Websites in Chicago Style (and Not Look Like a Citation Cyborg)
Let's face it, folks, the internet is a glorious mess. It's a treasure trove of information, a bottomless pit of cat videos, and a breeding ground for questionable life choices (all at 3 am, am I right?). But when it comes to research, the internet can be a goldmine. The problem? Citing all that wonderful, wacky web content in Chicago style. Fear not, intrepid student! With a little know-how, you can navigate the citation jungle and emerge victorious (and properly formatted).
First Things First: Understanding the Two-Headed Citation Beast
Chicago style, like a particularly fancy coin, has two sides to its citation game: footnotes/endnotes and the bibliography. Footnotes and endnotes are those little numbered buggers that pop up at the bottom of the page, like footnotes for ants with tiny shoes. The bibliography, on the other hand, is the big kahuna at the end of your paper, listing all your sources in glorious detail.
Here's the gist: you'll use footnotes/endnotes for in-text citations (think "hey, this cool fact came from this website!"), and the bibliography is where you give all the source's fancy clothes (publication dates, author names, etc.).
Taming the Footnote/Endnote: A Website Citation Safari
Now, let's play "Spot the Website Citation" in the wild footnotes/endnotes! Here's what you gotta track down:
- Author: This might be a person or an organization. If it's a mystery, channel your inner Sherlock Holmes and see if you can dig it up on the website.
- Title of the Webpage: This is the specific page you're citing, not the whole website (think chapter title, not book title).
- Website Name: Pretty straightforward, this is the name of the website you snagged the info from.
- Publication Date (if available): This might be tricky for some websites, but if you can find it, include it!
- Access Date (if no publication date): If the website is shh-secretive about its publication date, use the date you, the intrepid researcher, accessed the information.
- URL: This is the web address, the magic string of letters and numbers that takes you to the webpage.
Here's an example, all formatted and fabulous:
- OWL Purdue Online Writing Lab. "Web Sources." Purdue University, n.d. [accessed May 5, 2024], owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_17th_edition/cmos_formatting_and_style_guide/web_sources.html.
See? Not so scary, right?
The Bibliographic Ballroom: Where Websites Get All Dressed Up
Now that you've wrangled the footnote/endnote, it's time to give your website a proper citation in the bibliography. It's basically the same info, but with a slightly different outfit:
OWL Purdue Online Writing Lab. "Web Sources." Purdue University, n.d. owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_17th_edition/cmos_formatting_and_style_guide/web_sources.html.
Note the year is missing in the bibliography entry. That's because Chicago style puts the year in the footnote/endnote, not the bibliography itself.
Remember: This is just a taste of the wild world of Chicago website citations. There are always exceptions and special cases, so if you're ever unsure, consult your trusty style guide or a friendly librarian (they're like citation superheroes!).
So, there you have it! With a little practice, you'll be a website citation champion in no time. Now, go forth and conquer the web, young scholar, but remember to cite your sources responsibly (and maybe avoid that questionable life choices Wikipedia rabbit hole at 3 am).
💡 This page may contain affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
