Published February 10, 2021. Updated August 5, 2021.

To cite a PDF in Chicago style, it is helpful to know basic information including the author, book title, publisher, publication year, and place of publication.

The templates and examples below are based on the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition and Chicago Style website.

If you’re trying to cite a book chapter, the Chegg Writing Chicago citation generator could help. Help protect your paper against accidental plagiarism with the Chegg Writing plagiarism checker and citation generator.

Citing a print book in Chicago style

Notes-Bibliography format

In-text citation template and example:

Example sentence.¹

———-

1. Author First Name Surname, Title of the Book (Place of Publication: Publisher, Published Year), page number.

The lessons monks learn are profound but often abstract.¹

———-

1. Jay Shetty, Think Like a Monk (Glasgow: HarperCollins, 2020).

2. Shetty, Think Like a Monk, 127.

When you cite a source in the first instance, provide full information in notes. If the same source is cited in multiple instances, you can provide only short information of the source such as the surname of the author and a few words of the title.

Reference list entry template and example:

Author-Date format

In-text citation template and example:

Parenthetical:

(Author Surname Publication Year, Page #)

(Hartley 2020, 123)

Narrative:

Author Surname Publication (Year, Page #)

Hartley (2020, 123)

Reference list entry template and example:

The book title should be in title case and italicized. Note the separator after each element.

Read this Chicago style format guide for more style basics.

Citing an online book in Chicago style

Notes-Bibliography format

In-text citation template and example:

Example sentence.¹

———-

1. Author First Name Surname, “Chapter Title.” In Title of the Anthology/Compilation, edited by Editor First Name Surname (Place of Publication: Publisher, Published Year), page number.

Ribs are shown in superior view on the left, inferior view on the right.¹

———-

1. Jules Kieser and Allan John, "Asthma." The Thorax (Johannesburg: Wits University Press, 2020), https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.18772/22020015720.8.

When you cite a source in the first instance, provide full information in notes. If the same source is cited in multiple instances, you can provide only short information of the source such as the surname of the author and a few words of the title.

Reference list entry template and example:

Author-Date format

In-text citation template and example:

Parenthetical:

(Author Surname Publication Year, Page #)

(Daubert and Daubert 2020, 25)

Narrative:

Author Surname (Publication Year, Page #)

Daubert and Daubert (2020, 25)

Reference list entry template and example:

The book title should be in title case and italicized. Note the separator after each element.

For more information on citing sources in Chicago, also read these guides on Chicago style in-text citations and Chicago style bibliographies.