How to Do Chicago Style Footnotes / Endnotes: Format & Examples

What is a Footnote? 

Have you noticed numbers in documents after a sentence and then at the bottom of a page? Of course, everyone has come across footnotes. What is it about in the Chicago manual of style, footnotes?

A footnote is an additional information/comment that is placed at the bottom of a page. In this way, you can provide readers with additional information and cite a source that contains full information used in the current text.

To indicate footnotes in the text, use an index. Footnotes must be numbered consecutively throughout a document. They are used both in academic documents and in newspapers, books, and scholarly publications.

So what does it look like? Here is a simple example of a footnote format. 

Footnote Citation Example 

What Is an Endnote? 

There is also an endnote, which also should be marked in text with the superscript number. Unlike footnotes, Chicago style endnotes are usually placed at the end of a document, chapter, or paper. They are used to provide additional information in a particular section of a document. 

Endnotes are often used in academic writing for additional information and citation sources. Using endnotes is a better option if you have too many references and don’t want to staff your page with notes. This way, you won’t distract readers from reading your paper. Like footnotes, endnotes should be numbered consistently throughout the document and correspond to a superscript number in the text.

Footnotes vs. Endnotes in Chicago Style 

It is vital to understand that both footnotes and endnotes are used to provide additional information and link to a resource in text. What is the difference between footnotes and endnotes? The key difference between these referencing methods is where they are used in text.

Footnotes are typically placed at the bottom of the page on which a specific citation or reference is mentioned. They are used to provide clarifications on sources that can be quickly accessed by readers. Endnotes, on the other hand, are located at the end of a paper or publication. By providing notes in a separate area, you won’t disturb readers with excessive citations. 

As for which choice to make, it is necessary to take into account the requirements of a publisher and consider the amount of citations you will make. However, footnotes are more commonly used when talking about Chicago Style, as this is an opportunity for readers to immediately obtain more details on a resource you linked to.

Without further ado, let's discuss how to do footnotes in Chicago style 17th edition.

Full Notes and Short Notes in Chicago Style

Chicago footnote citation format offers two types of notes – full notes  and short notes. When to use each type? Full notes provide complete bibliographic information and are utilized when a source is mentioned for the first time. Short notes are used when you need to indicate a source that has already been mentioned. In this case, you will indicate less details on a publication. 

To create a full note, you need to specify all details essential to identify the source. Include the author's name, title of the work, publication information, and page numbers. Here is an example designed for a book. 

Full Note Example

1. Matthew Ball, The Metaverse: And How It Will Revolutionize Everything (New York: Liveright Publishing, 2022), 74-76.

In this example, the full note includes the author's name, the full title and subtitle of the book, place and date of publication, and precise page range where the referenced ideas can be found.

Now, let’s imagine that you need to create a subsequent Chicago footnote citation for the same source. In this case, you will include a short note listing only the author's name,  shortened title of this book, and page numbers. Here’s an example. 

Short Note Example 

2. Ball, The Metaverse, 74-76.

As you can see, using short notes can help to reduce repetition and clutter in a paper or document.

Where Should a Chicago Footnote be Placed?

Now, let’s figure out how to properly place footnotes. 

In Chicago Style, a superscript number should not disrupt the overall coherence of your text. Insert a footnote number at a point where the idea being cited appears complete, be it the end of clause or entire sentence. This will establish a logical flow and make it easy for readers to understand the context of the citation.

Let’s take a look at these 2 examples. 

Superscript at the End of a Sentence 

Several factors have been identified as contributing to the decline in biodiversity, including climate change and habitat destruction.³

Here, the superscript number is placed after the period that follows "destruction," indicating that the citation pertains to the entire sentence.

Superscript at the End of a Clause

The author argues that postcolonial theory is a fundamental theoretical framework for understanding power dynamics in contemporary society⁴, particularly in the context of globalization and cultural exchange.

In this case, a paper writer implies that the reference links to the information preceding the footnote.

Punctuation

There are 2 ways students can use to insert a footnote – before or after punctuation. 

According to Chicago style guidelines, footnotes should be incorporated directly after all punctuation marks, including period, comma, quotation marks, colons and semicolons. The only exception is the dash, which should be followed by the footnote number. 

 Example of Chicago Format Footnotes 

The history of the Roman Empire is a complex and multifaceted topic.⁵ However, scholars generally agree that it began in 27 BCE with the establishment of the Roman Principate⁶ – a form of government that consolidated power in the hands of a single individual.

How to Do Chicago Style Footnotes / Endnotes: Formatting Guidelines

Here is a simple guide on how to do footnotes and endnotes in Chicago style format:

• Use a legible font, such as Times New Roman, in 12-point size unless required otherwise by your instructor.
• Number your footnotes and endnotes in a sequential order using superscript Arabic numerals (¹,²,³, etc.)
• Footnotes or endnotes should encompass the following information: author's name, title, information about the publication (publisher, date, place of publication), and page numbers where the quote is placed. All recommendations regarding Chicago style must be followed.
• If you are referring again to a source that you have already mentioned, then you can use the abbreviated format – a shortened footnote or endnote. Use the recommendations for the abbreviated format.
• For subsequent citations of the same source, use "ibid" (short for "ibidem," meaning "in the same place").
• If you have a Chicago bibliography that includes all publications cited in your paper, you may opt for short notes in your footnotes.
• When specifying several sources in a single footnote, you need to separate them with a semicolon.
• Consult the rules for each source separately, when creating your endnotes or footnotes. Remember that formatting conditions of Chicago citations may vary depending on the type of source (e.g., book, journal, website).

Creating Chicago Style Citation Footnotes for Sources With Multiple Authors

What to do if you use a source written by several authors? There are special requirements for formatting in such cases. Below you will find answers to such questions.

If you need to know where to start with citing with footnotes when there is one author, you can use the next example:

Citing Sources with 2 Authors

If you need to indicate 2 authors, list their full credentials in a full footnote separated by “and.” Specify only the author's last names in a short note, just like shown below.

Citing Sources with 3 Authors 

If your source was created by 3 people, mention each author separated by commas and connected with “and” before the credentials of the 3rd person. Here are some samples that you can use to format it right.

Citing Sources with 4+ Authors

When you cite a source authored by more than 4 individuals, list the first author followed by “et al.”

Creating a Chicago Style Footnote / Endnote with Missing Information 

What to do if you have used some resources but do not have enough information to make formatting according to all the canons of Chicago style? For example, you do not have data regarding an author's last name or release date. What to do in this case? Below you can find answers to these questions.

Sources with No Page Number 

If you need to format a footnote for a source with missing page numbers, you list information on the alternative location. For instance, if you want to include a direct quotation from a website, specify the name of the headline under which information is displayed or mention the paragraph number. Remember to abridge this information if possible: 

• Paragraph – “para.”
• Section – “sec.”
• Chapter – “chap.”

Example 

6. Eckel, “Conceptual Framework,” para. 3.

Sources with No Date 

If you are formatting a Chicago footnote for a source with publication data being absent, replace it with “n.d.” which stands for no date. 

Example

7. John Smith, The History of the Roman Empire (New York: Random House, n.d.), 56.

Sources with No Author

Sometimes you may discover that the author is missing. How to create a Chicago footnote in this case? If there is no identifiable author, list the title of the work/webpage or organization name in place of the author's name.

Example 

8. StudyCrumb, “Turabian Format,” December, 5, 2022, https://studycrumb.com/turabian-format.

Chicago Manual of Style Footnotes Examples

Want to see Chicago footnotes examples? Below you can find structures as well as examples of Chicago style footnotes format that will help you with arranging information for different sources.

Book 

How to properly format footnotes for a book? Here is a format you can use to properly form a long or short footnote.

As an example, it might look like this:

>> Read more: How to Cite a Book Chicago Style

Book Chapter

When quoting a chapter of a book, feel free to use this format.

Here is an example of footnotes in Chicago style for citing book chapters.

Journal

A general format for a journal will look different. In this case, you will need to specify extra details, such as the volume and issue number. If you have retrieved the publication online, don’t forget to add a DOI or URL in a full note.

You can use the next footnote example for reference: 

>> Learn more: How to Cite a Journal Article Chicago

Magazine 

When you refer to a magazine article, you should include its name, publication date, and page. Pay attention that magazine Chicago style footnote citations will require a URL if it’s published online.

Here is an example of footnotes for a magazine:

>> View more: How to Cite a Magazine in Chicago

Website

When you need to reference a site, you also should add the name of the website page, publishing organization, revision date, and a link to the site.

Here is a Chicago style footnote example for a webpage.

>> Learn more: How to Cite a Website in Chicago

Video 

When you quote a video, it is important to include a link to it as well. In addition to a  URL, you still should mention some points. You can see a detailed structure in the table below.

Here are examples that you can use:

>> Read more: How to Cite a Youtube Video Chicago

Bottom Line on How to Format Footnotes / Endnotes in Chicago Style

So, as you can see, formatting Chicago footnotes and endnotes is not so difficult. The main thing in this task is not to deviate from Chicago Style guidance and always act according to the recommendations. Refer to specific rules on formatting endnotes or footnotes for each source to make sure that you don’t skip any important points.