So You Need to Cite a Book Chapter in Chicago Style? Don't Freak Out, It's Not Brain Surgery (Unless You're Citing a Medical Textbook)
Let's face it, citations can be a total drag. Especially when you're knee-deep in research and suddenly Chicago style, your supposed friend, throws the "book chapter" curveball. Fear not, fellow wordsmiths, for this guide will be your comedic knight in shining armor (or should that be a knight referencing a book chapter in proper Chicago style?).
First Things First: You've Got a Book with Chapters, Great!
But is it a solo act by one author, or a multi-author extravaganza edited by some mastermind (think J.K. Rowling and the Hogwarts professors)? Here's where things get interesting, because Chicago style loves its specifics.
- One Author, One Book, One Love: This is the simplest situation. You've got your author, their brainchild (the book), and a specific chapter that tickles your research fancy. Just follow this format:
Author Last Name, First Name. "Chapter Title in Quotation Marks." In Book Title in Italics, page range. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year.
For example, if you're referencing a chapter titled "The Quest for the Perfect Pizza" from a book called "Saucy Secrets: A Culinary Guide to Global Delights" by the renowned chef Antonio Scarpioni, it would look like this:
Scarpioni, Antonio. "The Quest for the Perfect Pizza." In Saucy Secrets: A Culinary Guide to Global Delights, 123-145. Naples: Nonna's Press, 2023.
Easy peasy, lemon squeezy, right?
But Wait, There's More! (Because Apparently Chicago Style Does)
Now, things get a little more complex. What if your book is edited by some scholarly type, and the chapter you need is written by a different person entirely? Buckle up, because Chicago style is about to take you on a wild ride:
- Multiple Authors, Edited Book, One Amazing Chapter: Here, you treat the chapter author like the main course and the editor as the fancy side dish. Follow this format:
Chapter Author Last Name, First Name. "Chapter Title in Quotation Marks." In Book Title in Italics, edited by Editor First Name Last Name, page range. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year.
Let's say you're citing a chapter on the history of procrastination ("The Art of Putting Things Off: A Historical Perspective") written by Dr. Dilatory Dan in a book edited by Professor Punctuality Penny, titled "Time Management for Mortals." Here's how it would look:
Dan, Dilatory. "The Art of Putting Things Off: A Historical Perspective." In Time Management for Mortals, edited by Punctuality Penny, 101-122. New York: Procrastination Press, 2024.
See? Not too shabby, once you get the hang of it.
Remember, These Are Just the Basics, Folks
Chicago style has more twists and turns than a M.C. Escher drawing, so be sure to consult a good style guide (or the online resources of your friendly neighborhood librarian) for more complex situations. But for now, you've got the foundation to navigate the exciting world of book chapter citations!
Now get out there and conquer those research papers! Just remember, if all else fails, a well-placed bibliography with a cute cat meme at the bottom never hurts.
