Quoting Like a Boss: A Guide to Chicago Style Citations
So, you've finally decided to dive into the world of academic writing. Congrats! You're about to embark on a thrilling adventure filled with footnotes, endnotes, and the occasional existential crisis. Let's talk about the dreaded Chicago style, specifically how to cite a quote. Don't worry, I won't bore you with the nitty-gritty details. We'll keep it fun and informative.
Short Quotes: Keep it Simple
For quotes that are four lines or less, it's like quoting a friend – casual and breezy. You simply enclose the quote in quotation marks and slap on a footnote or endnote number at the end. That's it! No drama, no fuss.
Example:
As Shakespeare famously said, "To be, or not to be: that is the question".¹
Long Quotes: Indent and Relax
If your quote is five lines or more, it's time to give it some space. Indent the entire quote half an inch from the left margin and single-space it. It's like giving your quote a VIP treatment. Again, don't forget the footnote or endnote number at the end.
Example:
To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous
fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing, end them? To die: to sleep; No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause: there's the respect That makes calamity of so long life; For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of despised love, the law's delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear, To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But that the dread of something after death, The undiscover'd country from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will, And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all; And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pith and moment With this regard their currents turn awry, And lose the name of action.
¹ Shakespeare, William. Hamlet.
Don't Forget the Bibliography
Once you're done dazzling everyone with your quotes, make sure to list your sources in a bibliography at the end of your paper. It's like giving credit where credit is due.
How to...
- How to format a short quote: Enclose the quote in quotation marks and add a footnote or endnote number at the end.
- How to format a long quote: Indent the quote half an inch, single-space it, and add a footnote or endnote number at the end.
- How to add a footnote or endnote: Use a superscript number at the end of the quote and provide the full citation in the corresponding footnote or endnote section.
- How to create a bibliography: List all your sources alphabetically at the end of your paper.
- How to survive Chicago style: Take a deep breath, use a style guide, and don't be afraid to ask for help.
Remember, citing correctly is important, but it doesn't have to be a pain. Just follow these simple steps and you'll be quoting like a pro in no time!