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How to Cite an Encyclopedia and Dictionary in Chicago Format

Emma Flores

Dec 14, 2022

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How to cite a dictionary in Chicago format inside your scientific work? Should you use parentheses when citing encyclopedias in Chicago or not? When should all writers be listed, and when is it enough to add et al.? Do you always need to include a page number?

When doing research for an article or report, you can use encyclopedias as reference. Your quoting should allow anyone reading your work to find the same material you used. There are many questions about citing encyclopedias or dictionaries. It is imperative to learn how to quote correctly. It depends on whether or not your work gets published. In order not to doubt and cite these sources, read our guide! Alternatively, you can buy dissertation or any other academic work from our professional writers.

How to Cite Encyclopedia: Chicago

Read further to discover how to cite an encyclopedia in Chicago writing style. It's well known that this formatting style has two ways of citation. They are in footnotes and in bibliography. But both depend on what format the encyclopedia has. It can be printed or found on online sources. It can also have none, one, or many writers. In all these cases, mentioning is different. For example, for online sources, it's obligatory to have an access date. But no worries. You will find all necessary references below.

Chicago Style Citation: Encyclopedia in Printed Format

How to cite an encyclopedia in Chicago? There is a fundamental way of citation shown below. First, you write the title of the piece with source. Then you add an editor together with a number of additions if it's available. For footnotes, you simply write short titles in quotation marks. Here are formulas:

Bibliography	“Title.” In Encyclopedia Name. Edited by First Name Last Name. Edition. Volume. City: Publisher, Year.
Full Note	“Title,” in Encyclopedia Name, ed. First Name Last Name, edition, volume (City: Publisher, Year), Page range.
Short Note	Encyclopedia Name, s.v. “Title.”

Look at examples:

Chicago style encyclopedia in printed format citation example

Chicago Citation: Encyclopedia With One Author

Citing an encyclopedia in Chicago with one writer differs from the previous case. It has one new detail. You start your referencing with this information. Then you continue with the title of the piece with source. Afterward, you add an editor. If there are available numbers of additions, add them also. Do not have information on editor, volume, or page numbers? Then simply delete that information from your citation. Instead of short titles in quotation marks for footnotes, you write authors. Look at formulas below:

Bibliography	Last Name, First Name. “Title.” In Encyclopedia Name. Edited by First Name Last Name. Edition. Volume. City: Publisher, Year.
Full Note	First Name Last Name, “Title,” in Encyclopedia Name, ed. First Name Last Name, edition, volume (City: Publisher, Year), Page range.
Short Note	Encyclopedia Name, s.v. “Title.”

Examples:

Example of Chicago style encyclopedia with one author citation

Chicago: Cite Encyclopedia With Two+ Authors

Chicago style citation encyclopedias might have two or more writers. How to mention their data then? If there are two writers, list them in order they are given on page, not alphabetically. This works for footnotes, as well as bibliography. Then do the usual citation. Add entry, editor's with publisher, publication date, pages, and database. Here are formulas:

Bibliography	1st Author’s Last Name First Name and 2nd Author’s First Name Last Name. “Title.” In Encyclopedia Name. Edited by First name Last Name. Edition. Volume. City: Publisher, Year.
Full Note	1st Author’s First Name Last Name and 2nd Author’s First Name Last Name, “Title,” in Encyclopedia Name, ed. First Name Last Name, edition, volume (City: Publisher, Year), Page range.
Short Note	Encyclopedia Name, s.v. “Title.”

Look at the following examples:

Example of Chicago style encyclopedia with two authors citation

If there are three or more writers, cite only the first one listed. Mention Last and First Name, add commas and et al. This works for footnote and bibliography. Then do the usual citation. Add entry, editor's with publisher, publication date, pages, and database.

Bibliography	Last Name, First Name et al. “Title.” In Encyclopedia Name. Edited by First Name Last Name. Edition. Volume. City: Publisher, Year.
Full Note	First Name Last Name et al., “Title,” in Encyclopedia Name, ed. First Name Last Name, edition, volume (City: Publisher, Year), Page range.
Short Note	Encyclopedia Name, s.v. “Title.”

Examples:

Example of Chicago style encyclopedia with three or more authors citation

How to Cite an Online Encyclopedia: Chicago

Let’s find out more about the Chicago style of citation for online encyclopedias. Does it differ from what we have seen before? And, spoiler, yes, it is a little bit different. Online format requires something in the end. So you start as usual from entry and source title. Continue with publisher and date. Then you end up with a URL and access day when you visit this website. If you do not have any data, then do not include this information in your citation. Look at formulas below:

Bibliography	Encyclopedia Name. s.v. “Title.” Publisher, Year of Publication. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.
Full Note	Encyclopedia Name, s.v. “Title,” publisher, year of publication, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.
Short Note	Encyclopedia Name, s.v. “Title.”

Example:

Chicago Style Citation: Online Encyclopedia With One Author

Citing an online encyclopedia in Chicago requires an author who wrote it. So when you are selecting information for citing, it is manual to check data. Instead of short titles in quotation marks for footnotes, you write authors. Other information is the same as previously. Look at the following formulas:

Bibliography	Author’s Last Name, First Name. Encyclopedia Name. s.v. “Title.” Publisher, Year of Publication. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.
Full Note	Author’s First Name Last Name, Encyclopedia Name, s.v. “Title,” publisher, year of publication, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.
Short Note	Encyclopedia Name, s.v. “Title.”

Example:

Chicago Citation: Online Encyclopedia With Two+ Authors

Let’s see a template of Chicago style of citation for an online encyclopedia that has multiple authors. This section has two options depending on the authors' number. If there are two writers, list them in order they are given on page, not alphabetically. This works for footnote and bibliography citation style. Then do the usual citation with entry and source’s titles, publication date, and URL. Here are formulas:

Bibliography	1st Author’s Last Name, First Name and 2nd Author’s First Name Last Name. Encyclopedia Name. s.v. “Title.” Publisher, Year of Publication. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.
Full Note	1st Author’s First Name Last Name and 2nd Author’s First Name Last Name, Encyclopedia Name, s.v. “Title,” publisher, year of publication, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.
Short Note	Encyclopedia Name, s.v. “Title.”

Examples:

Chicago style online encyclopedia with two authors citation example

If there are three or more writers, cite only the first one listed. Mention Last with First Name, add comma and et al. This works for Chicago footnotes, as well as bibliography. Then do the usual citation with an entry with the source's titles, publication date, and URL. Look at formulas:

Bibliography	1st Author’s Last Name, First Name et al. Encyclopedia Name. s.v. “Title.” Publisher, Year of Publication. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.
Full Note	1st Author’s First Name Last Name et al., Encyclopedia Name, s.v. “Title,” publisher, year of publication, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.
Short Note	Encyclopedia Name, s.v. “Title.”

Here are examples:

Example of Chicago style online encyclopedia with multiple authors citation

How to Cite Dictionary in Chicago

Below we will show you how to cite a dictionary in Chicago. You should know that this format has two ways it appears in your work. They are in footnotes in text and in bibliography. But both depend on what format the dictionary has. It can be printed or online. It can also have none, one, or many writers. And in all these cases, mentioning is different. But no worries. Read further, careful not to miss any detail.

Chicago Style Citation: Dictionary in Printed Format

Let's start with how to cite a dictionary in Chicago. In reference, you mention as much information as possible, even pages. So your readers could know how to find the source you are referring to. For note, you simply write a dictionary name and short title in quotation marks. Here are formulas:

Bibliography	“Title.” Dictionary Name. City: Publisher, Year Published.
Full Note	“Title,” Dictionary Name (City: Publisher, Year Published), Page range.
Short Note	Dictionary Name, s.v. “Title.”

Look at examples:

Example of Chicago style dictionary in printed format citation

Do not have information on editor, volume, or page numbers? Then simply delete that information from your citation.

How to Cite Dictionary: Chicago (One Author)

For citing dictionaries in Chicago, put writer’s data first. Then continue with entry and dictionary titles. If information about editions is available, don't hesitate to mention it. To works cited, add data on pages, publisher, date, and database. Here are formulas to use:

Bibliography	Author’s Last Name, First Name. “Title.” Dictionary Name. City: Publisher, Year Published.
Full Note	Author’s First Name, Last Name, “Title,” Dictionary Name (City: Publisher, Year Published), Page range.
Short Note	Dictionary Name, s.v. “Title.”

Examples:

Example of Chicago style dictionary with one author citation

Chicago Citation: Dictionary (Two+ Authors)

How should you do Chicago-style dictionary citation when having few writers? The number of authors is essential here. In this section, there are two authors. List them in order they are given on page, not alphabetically. This works for footnotes, as well as bibliography. Then do as usual. Continue with entry, editor with publisher, publication date, and pages. Use these formulas:

Bibliography	1st Author’s Last Name, First Name and 2nd Author’s First Name Last Name. “Title.” Dictionary Name. City: Publisher, Year Published.
Full Note	1st Author’s First Name, Last Name and 2nd Author’s Fist Name Last Name, “Title,” Dictionary Name (City: Publisher, Year Published), Page range.
Short Note	Dictionary Name, s.v. “Title.”

Examples:

Example of Chicago style dictionary with two authors citation

If there are three or more writers, cite only the first one listed. Mention Last with First Name, add comma and et al. This works for footnotes, as well as Chicago bibliography. Then do the usual citation with entry, editor with publisher, publication date and pages. Here are formulas:

Bibliography	Author’s Last Name, First Name et al. “Title.” Dictionary Name. City: Publisher, Year Published.
Full Note	Author’s First Name, Last Name et al., “Title,” Dictionary Name (City: Publisher, Year Published), Page range.
Short Note	Dictionary Name, s.v. “Title.”

Look at the following examples:

Example of Chicago style dictionary with multiple authors citation

How to Cite Online Dictionary: Chicago

Online Chicago style citation of the dictionary is reliable only in one case. You have to mention the URL and access day in the end. This is needed for your readers to check available sources that you used. Follow template to make an excellent citation in this format. If you do not have information on editor, volume, or page numbers, don't worry. Just fill in with what you have. Here are formulas below:

Bibliography	Dictionary Name. s.v. “Title.” Publisher, Year of Publication. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.
Full Note	Dictionary Name, s.v. “Title,” publisher, year of publication, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.
Short Note	Dictionary Name, s.v. “Title.”

Look at examples:

Example of Chicago style online dictionary citation

How to Cite Online Dictionary in Chicago Style (One Author)

Online authored Chicago citations of dictionaries are more accessible than you think. Web libraries usually show all the information that you need. So you will definitely have what to write in the works cited part. Follow the template below to succeed in it.

Bibliography	Author’s Last Name First Name. Dictionary Name. s.v. “Title.” Publisher, Year of Publication. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.
Full Note	Author’s First Name Last Name, Dictionary Name, s.v. “Title,” publisher, year of publication, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.
Short Note	Dictionary Name, s.v. “Title.”

Examples:

Example of Chicago style online dictionary with one author

How to Cite Online Dictionary: Chicago (Two+ Authors)

We will end up on a template of how to cite a dictionary in Chicago online. There are two different citations. This section is for two authors. List them in order they are given on page, not alphabetically. This works for footnotes, as well as bibliography. Then do the usual citation with an entry with the source's titles, publication date, and URL. Here are formulas:

Bibliography	1st Author’s Last Name First Name and 2nd Author’s First Name Last Name. Dictionary Name. s.v. “Title.” Publisher, Year of Publication. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.
Full Note	1st Author’s First Name Last Name and 2nd Author’s First Name Last name, Dictionary Name, s.v. “Title,” publisher, year of publication, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.
Short Note	Dictionary Name, s.v. “Title.”

Examples:

Chicago style online dictionary with two authors citation example

The following style works for three or more authors. Cite only first one listed. Mention Last and First Name, add commas and et al. This works for footnotes, as well as bibliography. Then do the usual citation with an entry with the source's titles, publication date, and URL. Use these formulas:

Bibliography	Author’s Last Name First Name et al. Dictionary Name. s.v. “Title.” Publisher, Year of Publication. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.
Full Note	Author’s First Name Last Name et al., Dictionary Name, s.v. “Title,” publisher, year of publication, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.
Short Note	Dictionary Name, s.v. “Title.”

Look at examples:

Chicago style online dictionary with multiple authors citation example

Final Thoughts on How to Cite an Encyclopedia/Dictionary: Chicago

How to cite an encyclopedia in Chicago 17th edition? How to cite a dictionary in Chicago? Above we answered these and many more questions you might have about citing in this format. Basically, it may seem that this style has only one way of referencing. However, we showed that each case is unique. So do not miss any detail and follow our guide with templates!

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Article posted on:Dec 14, 2022

Article updated on:Dec 14, 2022

Emma Flores Author

Emma Flores knows all about formatting standards. She shares with StudyCrumb readers tips on creating academic papers that will meet high-quality standards.

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How to Cite an Encyclopedia and Dictionary in Chicago Format

How to Cite Encyclopedia: Chicago

Chicago Style Citation: Encyclopedia in Printed Format

Look at examples:

Chicago Citation: Encyclopedia With One Author

Chicago: Cite Encyclopedia With Two+ Authors

How to Cite an Online Encyclopedia: Chicago

Chicago Style Citation: Online Encyclopedia With One Author

Chicago Citation: Online Encyclopedia With Two+ Authors

How to Cite Dictionary in Chicago

Chicago Style Citation: Dictionary in Printed Format

How to Cite Dictionary: Chicago (One Author)

Chicago Citation: Dictionary (Two+ Authors)

How to Cite Online Dictionary: Chicago

How to Cite Online Dictionary in Chicago Style (One Author)

How to Cite Online Dictionary: Chicago (Two+ Authors)

Final Thoughts on How to Cite an Encyclopedia/Dictionary: Chicago

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