Juggling Citations: How to Dance with Two Sources in a Chicago Sentence (Without Looking Like a Clown)
Ah, research papers. The land of endless coffee, late nights, and the ever-present fear of accidentally plagiarizing your own grandma's Christmas cookie recipe (who knew?). But fear not, intrepid scholar! Today, we tackle the thrilling topic of citing two sources in one Chicago-styled sentence, a maneuver that can leave even the most seasoned writer feeling like a baby giraffe on roller skates.
The Two is Company, Three's a Crowd Approach
Let's face it, sometimes you just gotta bring two sources to the party. Maybe they both said something brilliant, or maybe they're arguing like siblings at Thanksgiving dinner, and you need to play referee. Here's the magic trick:
- Author Last Name, Year, Semicolon, Bam! That's right, separate those citations with a semicolon, just like you're winking at one source while nudging the other. Easy, right?
For example: Studies have shown that procrastination can lead to increased stress (Smith, 2023; Jones, 2024).
Important Note: If you're citing multiple works by the same author published in the same year (because clearly, they were on a roll!), differentiate them with a lowercase letter after the year (e.g., Smith, 2023a; Smith, 2023b).
But Wait, There's More! (The Page Number Panic)
Let's say you want to be super specific and point out exactly where each source said that thing that blew your mind. Here's where things get a tad spicy:
- Author Last Name, Year, Page Number. Yep, simple as that. Separate the citations with a semicolon, and add the page numbers after each year in parentheses.
For example: Research suggests that napping can improve cognitive function (Johnson, 2022, 123; Lee, 2021, 45).
Underlined and Bold Truth: This applies even if the sources have the same author and year (with the little letter differentiation trick, of course).
You've Got This, Citation Champ!
So there you have it, folks! Now you can weave two sources into your Chicago-styled sentences like a literary maestro (or at least someone who didn't have to bribe their roommate for their Chicago Manual of Style). Remember, research is a journey, not a destination, so grab a coffee, crank up some tunes, and get ready to impress your professor with your citation skills!
