How to Cite a Conference Paper 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: Author. Year. "Paper Title." Paper presented at Conference Name, Location, Month Day-Day, Year.
Citation Components
Author(s)
Full name or names.
Year
Year of conference.
Paper Title
In quotation marks. Sentence case.
Conference Name
Full official conference name.
Location
City and country/state.
Date
Month Day-Day, Year format or Month Day, Year
Real-World Example
Example Source
Morrison, Sarah and James Lin
2023
Quantum computing applications in pharmaceutical development
International Conference on Quantum Technologies
Zurich, Switzerland
October 15-18, 2023
Formatted Citation
Morrison, Sarah, and James Lin. 2023. "Quantum Computing Applications in Pharmaceutical Development." Paper presented at the International Conference on Quantum Technologies, Zurich, Switzerland, October 15-18, 2023.
In-Text Citation
(Morrison and Lin 2023)
(Author Year)
Common Mistakes
Wrong:
(Morrison & Lin 2023) - using & symbol
Right:
(Morrison and Lin 2023) - use 'and'
Why: Chicago author-date uses 'and', not '&'.
Wrong:
Morrison, S. and Lin, J. 2023. Paper Title. Presented at International Conference, October 2023.
Right:
Morrison, Sarah, and James Lin. 2023. "Paper Title." Paper presented at the Conference Name, Location, October 15-18, 2023.
Why: Use full first names, quotation marks for title, complete conference name, and specific dates.
Wrong:
Morrison, Sarah. 2023. "Paper Title." International Conference on Quantum Technologies. Zurich. October.
Right:
Morrison, Sarah, and James Lin. 2023. "Paper Title." Paper presented at the International Conference on Quantum Technologies, Zurich, Switzerland, October 15-18, 2023.
Why: Include 'Paper presented at', full conference name, location with country, and complete date range.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cite a conference paper that was later published? ▼
If it was published in proceedings or as an article, cite the published version instead.
What if I don't know the exact conference dates? ▼
Include the month and year: October 2023. Specific dates are preferred when available.
Should I include the conference location in the in-text citation? ▼
No, just use (Author Year) format. Location is only in the full reference.
Need to Generate a Citation?
Use our free Chicago Manual of Style (Author-Date) citation generator tool to instantly format your citations.
Go to Chicago A-D Citation Generator →Looking for other citation styles or source types?
View All Citation Guides →