How to Cite a Book Chapter in Chicago Manual of Style (Author-Date)
Learn the exact format with examples, in-text citations, and common mistakes to avoid.
Citation Format
Basic Template
(Author Year) Reference: Chapter Author. Year. "Chapter Title." In Book Title, edited by Editor, page range. Place: Publisher.
Citation Components
Chapter Author
Full name of chapter author.
Year
Year of publication.
Chapter Title
In quotation marks. Sentence case.
Editor
Format: 'edited by First Last'.
Book Title
Title of edited book.
Place/Publisher
Format: Place: Publisher.
Real-World Example
Example Source
Geertz, Clifford
1973
Thick description
The Interpretation of Cultures
Geertz
New York
Basic Books
3-30
Formatted Citation
Geertz, Clifford. 1973. "Thick Description." In The Interpretation of Cultures, edited by Clifford Geertz, 3-30. New York: Basic Books.
In-Text Citation
(Geertz 1973, 15)
(Author Year, page#)
Common Mistakes
Wrong:
(Geertz, 1973, p. 15) - using 'p.' abbreviation
Right:
(Geertz 1973, 15) - just use the page number
Why: Chicago author-date doesn't use 'p.' or 'pp.' abbreviations.
Wrong:
Reference: Geertz, C. (1973). Thick Description. In Geertz (ed.), The Interpretation..., pp. 3-30.
Right:
Reference: Geertz, Clifford. 1973. "Thick Description." In The Interpretation of Cultures, edited by Clifford Geertz, 3-30.
Why: Use full names, quotation marks for chapter, no parentheses for year or (ed.) notation.
Wrong:
Geertz, Clifford. 1973. Thick Description. In Geertz (Ed.), The Interpretation of Cultures. New York: Basic Books.
Right:
Geertz, Clifford. 1973. "Thick Description." In The Interpretation of Cultures, edited by Clifford Geertz, 3-30. New York: Basic Books.
Why: Include chapter title in quotation marks, full 'edited by' phrase (not 'Ed.'), and page range.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cite a chapter when there's a different editor? ▼
Same format: Chapter Author. Year. "Chapter." In Book Title, edited by Editor Name, pages. Place: Publisher.
Do I always need page numbers for chapter citations? ▼
Yes, include the full page range of the chapter in the reference list.
Can I cite a chapter from a single-author book? ▼
Yes, the format is the same: Chapter Author. Year. "Chapter Title." In Author's Book Title, page range. Place: Publisher.
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