Chicago Style footnotes are numbered notes at the bottom of a page that cite sources and add brief comments for readers.
If you’ve been told to “use Chicago,” odds are you’re being asked for footnotes. They sit at the bottom of the page, but they do big work: they show where each quote, detail, or idea came from, and they let a reader follow your trail without breaking the flow of your sentences.
Below you’ll learn what Chicago footnotes are, how the numbers work, how to build a first note, how to shorten repeat notes, and how to cite the sources students use most.
| Source type | First footnote (full note template) | Later footnote (short note template) |
|---|---|---|
| Book (1 author) | 1. First Last, Book Title (City: Publisher, Year), page. | Last, Short Title, page. |
| Book (2–3 authors) | 1. First Last and First Last, Book Title (City: Publisher, Year), page. | Last and Last, Short Title, page. |
| Chapter in edited book | 1. First Last, “Chapter Title,” in Book Title, ed. First Last (City: Publisher, Year), page. | Last, “Chapter Title,” page. |
| Journal article | 1. First Last, “Article Title,” Journal Title volume, no. issue (Year): page. | Last, “Article Title,” page. |
| Webpage | 1. First Last, “Page Title,” Site Name, Month Day, Year, URL. | Last, “Page Title.” |
| News story | 1. First Last, “Headline,” Publication Name, Month Day, Year, URL or page. | Last, “Headline.” |
| Thesis or dissertation | 1. First Last, “Title” (PhD diss. or master’s thesis, School, Year), page. | Last, “Title,” page. |
| Film or episode | 1. Title, directed by First Last (Year; City: Studio, Year), medium or platform. | Title. |
| Interview or message | 1. First Last, interview by author, Month Day, Year, medium; or First Last, email message to author, Month Day, Year. | Last, interview; or Last, email message. |
Footnotes in Chicago style for notes-bibliography papers
Chicago has two citation systems. One uses parenthetical citations in the text (author-date). The other uses notes (footnotes or endnotes) plus a bibliography. When teachers say “Chicago footnotes,” they usually mean the notes-and-bibliography system.
In that system, you drop a superscript number into your sentence right after the material you’re citing. That number points to a note at the bottom of the page. The note lists source details, then a page number or other locator when you’re pointing to a specific place.
What Are Footnotes In Chicago Style?
Footnotes in Chicago style are notes that match numbered superscripts in your text. Most of the time they act as citations. They can also carry short clarifications or credit lines that would feel clunky in the paragraph itself.
A Chicago footnote is not the same as a bibliography entry. Notes use a reader-friendly punctuation style because they sit on the page with your prose. Bibliography entries start with the author’s last name and use a different rhythm. Many assignments ask for both: footnotes for citations as you write, plus a bibliography at the end.
Where the footnote number goes
In most Chicago papers, the superscript number goes at the end of the clause that needs a citation. Put it after punctuation marks like commas and periods. For a quoted passage, the number usually goes after the closing quotation mark.
If one sentence draws from more than one source, you can use one note number at the end and list the sources inside that note. If two different clauses need different sources, place a note number after each clause so the reader can see which source backs which claim.
Notes are numbered in order from the start of the paper to the end. They don’t restart on each page unless your teacher gave a special rule.
Parts of a Chicago footnote
Most Chicago footnotes follow a steady pattern:
- Author (first name then last name)
- Title (books and journals in italics; articles and chapters in “quotation marks”)
- Publication details in parentheses
- Locator (page number, chapter, section, timestamp)
Model full note:
1. Taylor Branch, Parting the Waters (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1988), 214.
Model short note:
2. Branch, Parting the Waters, 219.
Full notes and short notes
Your first note for a source is normally the full note. After that, Chicago uses shortened notes: last name, a short form of the title, and the page or locator.
If you cite the same source again in the next note, you may see “Ibid.” in older papers. Some teachers accept it. Others want shortened notes each time, since they stay clear even when your draft shifts during editing. If you’re unsure, match your assignment sheet.
How to write a footnote for common sources
Books and ebooks
For a print book, list author, title, then (city: publisher, year), then the page. For an ebook without stable page numbers, use a chapter number, section, or device location so a reader can find the same spot.
Chapters in edited books
Cite the chapter title first, then the book title, then the editor, then the page range for the chapter. End with the page you used when you’re pointing to a specific passage.
Journal articles
Include the author, article title, journal title, volume and issue, year, then the page. Add a DOI or stable URL when you read it online.
Webpages and online reports
Capture what your reader needs: author or organization, page title, site name, date, and the URL. If there’s no clear author, treat the organization as the author. If there’s no date, use “n.d.” in the date spot.
When you want to match your formatting against official models, the Chicago Manual of Style Online notes-bibliography citation guide pairs full notes with shortened notes.
News stories
Use the author, headline in quotation marks, publication name in italics, date, then a URL or page. If the story is behind a paywall, a direct link to the article page is still fine.
Class readings and slides
For course material, cite the author (teacher or institution), the title of the file, the course name, the school, the date, and the format (PDF, slide deck). If your class uses an LMS, skip a login-only link and use a plain description instead.
How footnotes link to a bibliography
Many Chicago assignments ask for a bibliography even when your notes already cite sources. Think of the notes as point-by-point proof, and the bibliography as the master list that shows what you read and used.
A quick way to stay consistent is to build your bibliography entries from your first full notes. The pieces are the same, but the order and punctuation change. Notes start with first name then last name and use parentheses around publication details. Bibliography entries flip the name (last name first) and break the parts with periods.
When you’re unsure whether you need a bibliography, check the assignment sheet. Some short reflection papers use notes only. Research papers usually want both.
Purdue’s Chicago Manual of Style overview is handy for quick format checks. Grading gets smoother, too.
Two small note habits that keep your citations clean
- One source per note is simplest. If you need two sources for one sentence, you can place them in one note separated by semicolons, or use two note numbers. Pick one method and keep it steady.
- Match your locator to your claim. Use a page number for a quoted line. Use a chapter, section, or timestamp when pages don’t exist.
Footnotes vs. endnotes
Footnotes sit at the bottom of each page. Endnotes collect the notes at the end of the paper. The citation content stays the same. The difference is layout and reader flow.
Formatting details that trip people up
Indentation and spacing
Most word processors format footnotes automatically. The note number appears first, followed by the note text. A hanging indent is common: the first line starts at the margin; the next lines are indented.
Many classes accept single-spaced notes with a blank line between notes, even when the main paper is double-spaced. Some classes want the notes double-spaced too. Match the rules you were given, then keep the same spacing from start to finish.
Title shortening in short notes
In short notes, shorten long titles to a few words. Keep the first word plus a word or two that makes the title easy to spot.
Publication details order
In notes, city, publisher, and year sit inside parentheses, then you add a comma and the locator. If you add a URL, place it at the end.
| Problem | What to check | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Missing locator | You quoted or pointed to a specific passage | Add page, chapter/section, or timestamp |
| Wrong name order | Note starts with last name first | Use first name then last name in notes |
| Italic vs. quotes mixed | Book titles in quotes, article titles in italics | Swap: books/journals in italics; articles/chapters in quotes |
| Publisher info split | City, publisher, year not grouped | Use (City: Publisher, Year) |
| Short note still long | Full publication details repeated | Use last name + short title + locator |
| URL breaks the note | URL pasted mid-note | Move the URL to the end |
| Number placed too early | Superscript sits before punctuation | Move it after the punctuation mark |
| Mixed repeat style | Ibid. used sometimes, short notes other times | Pick one approach and keep it steady |
How to build footnotes fast in Word and Google Docs
Don’t type the numbers by hand. Let your editor manage them so they update when you add, move, or delete notes.
In Microsoft Word
- Place your cursor where the note number should appear.
- Go to References → Insert Footnote.
- Type the citation in the footnote area.
- Use a full note the first time you cite a source, then short notes after that.
In Google Docs
- Place your cursor where you want the superscript.
- Click Insert → Footnote.
- Type the note at the bottom. Docs will manage numbering.
With citation tools
If you use Zotero, EndNote, or another citation manager, set it to Chicago notes-bibliography. Proofread the output. Auto-generated notes can miss details like editors, chapter numbers, or stable links.
A quick pre-submit routine
Run these checks once, and your notes will stay tidy even after edits:
- Scan for full notes that repeat after the first mention. Convert them to short notes.
- Check that each quoted passage has a locator (page, chapter, section, or timestamp).
- Make sure book and journal titles are in italics, and article or chapter titles are in quotation marks.
- Make sure each note ends with a period.
- Search your draft for this question: what are footnotes in chicago style? If your opening answers it clearly, you’re set.
That’s it. Your notes will read clean.
If you still catch yourself asking what are footnotes in chicago style? mid-draft, glance at your last two notes. If they follow the same pattern, you’re doing it right.