You Found a Great Website, But It's Like a Mystery Novel: Author Unknown. How Do You Cite It in Chicago Style?
Ah, the joys of research! You've unearthed a goldmine of information online, but there's a tiny snag. It's like a fantastic mystery novel – packed with intrigue, but the author remains anonymous. No byline, no "written by" section. Now you wonder, how do you cite this website in Chicago style?
Fear not, intrepid researcher! We'll crack this case together and get you citing like a pro, even without a culprit... I mean, author... to name.
First Things First: Full Name or Nickname?
Chicago style offers two ways to cite a website with no author, depending on where you're referencing it in your paper. Think of it like giving someone a nickname:
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Full Footnote: This is like the character's full, mysterious name revealed at the climax of the novel. It includes all the details for the first time someone encounters the source. Here's the format:
Owner of Website, "Title of Page," date last modified or accessed, URL.
For example, let's say you found an awesome guide to making the perfect cup of tea on a website called "The Steeping Zone." The website doesn't mention a creator, but you see a copyright date of 2023. Here's your full footnote:
The Steeping Zone, "The Ultimate Guide to Brewing Tea," 2023, https://www.facebook.com/thezonesyouth/.
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Shortened Note & Bibliography: This is like casually referring to the mysterious character by their nickname throughout the rest of the story. It's a shorter version you use after the full footnote introduction. Here's the format for both:
- Shortened Note: The Steeping Zone, "Ultimate Tea Brewing Guide." (Notice how we shorten the title a bit for convenience.)
- Bibliography: The Steeping Zone. "The Ultimate Guide to Brewing Tea." 2023. https://www.facebook.com/thezonesyouth/.
Pro tip: If you're referencing multiple pages from the same website, you can use "Ibid." (Latin for "the same") in your shortened notes to save space, just like referring to our mystery character by their nickname throughout the story.
But Wait, There's More!
What if the website doesn't have a date? Don't panic! Chicago style has a secret agent code for that situation. Use "n.d." (no date) in place of the missing year.
Remember: Even without an author, citing a website properly shows you did your research and gives credit where credit is due (even if it's to a website with a case of authorial anonymity).
So, go forth and conquer your research, my friend! With these tips, you'll be citing websites with no author in Chicago style like a champ, and maybe even solve the mystery of the missing author along the way.
