You Wrote It, Now How Do You Cite It? A Hilariously Un-Stressful Guide to Chicago Style Citations
Congratulations! You've battled writer's block, channeled your inner Hemingway (or maybe your inner Kardashian, no judgment), and produced a masterpiece. Now comes the part that makes most students break out in a cold sweat: citations.
Fear not, fellow wordsmiths! While Chicago style citations might seem about as fun as a root canal, fret no more. This guide will take you from citation-confused to citation champion, all with a healthy dose of humor.
Demystifying the Monsters Under the Bed: Different Citation Styles?
There are actually two main brawlers in the Chicago citation world: notes and bibliography and author-date.
- Notes and bibliography is like a chatty friend, gossiping about sources in footnotes or endnotes (think footnotes = at the bottom of the page, endnotes = all bunched up at the end).
- Author-date is the more mysterious one, dropping cryptic hints about sources in parentheses within your text (think tiny detective in a trench coat whispering clues).
Which one should you use?
Well, that depends on your teacher/professor/tyrant who assigned the work. They might have a preference, so check your syllabus first. If they're delightfully devoid of instructions (or you're a rebel at heart), author-date is generally preferred in humanities and social sciences, while notes and bibliography reign supreme in law and some other fields.
Let's Face It, We're Here for the Author-Date Style
Alright, since author-date seems to be the cool kid on the block, let's break it down. Imagine you're introducing two people at a party:
- The Last Name: This is like your source's surname. Bold and prominent, just like your best friend introducing you with a flourish. (Example: Smith)
- The Year: This is basically the year your source, the life of the party, arrived on the scene. (Example: 2023)
Put them together in parentheses, separated by a comma, and WHAM! You've got yourself a basic Chicago author-date citation. (Smith, 2023)
But Wait, There's More! (cue the cheesy infomercial music)
Of course, there's more to life (and citations) than just a name and a year. Here's where things get a tad spicy:
- Page Numbers: If you're referencing a specific part of your source, be a good party guest and point them to the right hors d'oeuvres (page numbers). Put those page numbers after the year, separated by a colon. (Smith, 2023:12)
- Quoting? Double Up: If you're quoting your source directly, it's like using a megaphone at the party. Enclose the quote in quotation marks and add the page number after the closing quotation mark, but before the closing parenthesis. ("This is a cool citation guide," Smith, 2023:12).
Yes, there are other citation variations for different source types (books, articles, websites, etc.), but don't worry! There's a wealth of resources online and in libraries to help you navigate those.
Remember, the key to Chicago style citations is to be consistent. Pick a style (notes and bibliography or author-date) and stick with it. And most importantly, don't panic! These citations may seem scary at first, but with a little practice, you'll be a citation pro in no time.
