When writing a research paper or another type of scholarly work, in-text citations are an important part of the process. Without in-text citations, your work can appear to be plagiarized and can lead to serious consequences. Knowing how to properly cite your sources in Chicago Style is essential for any student or researcher. This article will provide an overview of understanding in-text citations in Chicago Style, including what they are, why they are important, and how to create them. In-text citations are short references within the text of your paper that direct the reader to a full citation in the works cited page.
They provide the reader with information on the source used and help to ensure that the original author is credited for their work. Properly citing sources is also important for avoiding plagiarism, which is a serious academic offense. For those working in the humanities, Chicago Style is one of the most commonly used citation styles. It is important to understand the rules of Chicago Style when it comes to creating in-text citations. This article will provide an overview of understanding in-text citations in Chicago Style, and will help you create them properly. The first step in correctly citing a source is to make sure that the author and title of the source are included in the sentence.
For example: According to Smith (2020), “In-text citations are a vital part of academic writing.” In this example, Smith (2020) is the in-text citation that gives credit to the author for the quote used. When citing multiple authors, the last names should be separated by commas and an ampersand symbol should be used before the last name. For example: Smith, Jones, & Johnson (2020) argued that “In-text citations are a vital part of academic writing.”When citing a source with three or more authors, only include the last name of the first author followed by et al. For example: Smith et al.
(2020) argued that “In-text citations are a vital part of academic writing.”When citing a source with no author, include the title of the source instead of the author’s name. For example: “In-text citations are a vital part of academic writing” (Chicago Style Guide 2020).When citing a source with multiple works by the same author, include the year for each work cited. For example: Smith (2020a) argued that “In-text citations are a vital part of academic writing,” while Smith (2020b) pointed out that “Proper formatting is also important for citing sources.”When citing multiple sources in one sentence, each source should be separated by a semicolon. For example: Smith (2020) argued that “In-text citations are a vital part of academic writing;” Jones (2021) noted that “Proper formatting is also important for citing sources;” and Johnson (2022) concluded that “Citing sources accurately is key to creating a successful paper.”
Examples
In-text citations in Chicago style include specific details that allow readers to quickly and easily identify the source of the information.The main components required for a Chicago-style in-text citation are the author's last name and the page number (if available). Here are some examples of how to properly cite different sources in Chicago style:
- Books: Last name, First name. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication.
Page Number.
- Journal Articles: Last name, First name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, Volume number (Year): Page Numbers.
- Websites: Last name, First name. “Title of Webpage.” Name of Website, Day Month Year of Publication. URL.
For more detailed information about citing different types of sources, you can consult the Chicago Manual of Style or consult a librarian for help. In conclusion, when using Chicago style, it is important to pay close attention to in-text citations. Properly citing sources provides evidence for claims made as well as giving credit to original authors for their work. Following these guidelines will help to ensure that all sources are accurately cited and that the work is properly credited.
