How to Cite a Newspaper Article 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. "Article Title." Newspaper Name, Month Day, Year, page or URL.
Citation Components
Author
Full name or start with title if no author.
Year
Year of publication.
Article Title
In quotation marks. Sentence case.
Newspaper Name
Full official name including 'The' if applicable.
Publication Date
Month Day, Year format.
Page/URL
Page number for print, URL for online.
Real-World Example
Example Source
Thompson, Derek
2023
The future of work in the age of automation
The Atlantic
November 15, 2023
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/11/future-of-work/
Formatted Citation
Thompson, Derek. 2023. "The Future of Work in the Age of Automation." The Atlantic, November 15, 2023. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/11/future-of-work/.
In-Text Citation
(Thompson 2023)
(Author Year)
Common Mistakes
Wrong:
(Thompson, 2023) - using comma between author and year
Right:
(Thompson 2023) - use space, not comma
Why: Chicago author-date uses space between author and year.
Wrong:
Thompson, Derek. 2023. 'The Future of Work in the Age of Automation.' The Atlantic, November 15, 2023.
Right:
Thompson, Derek. 2023. "The Future of Work in the Age of Automation." The Atlantic, November 15, 2023. URL
Why: Use double quotation marks (not single). Include URL for online articles.
Wrong:
The Atlantic. 2023. Future of Work. By Thompson, Derek. November 15.
Right:
Thompson, Derek. 2023. "The Future of Work in the Age of Automation." The Atlantic, November 15, 2023. URL
Why: Author comes first, then year, then full article title, then newspaper and complete date.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cite a newspaper article without an author? ▼
Start with the article title: "Article Title." Newspaper Name. Year. Month Day, Year. Page/URL.
Should I include page numbers or URL? ▼
For print articles: page number. For online: include URL. For articles that span multiple pages, include the starting page.
How specific should the date be? ▼
Include month and day for newspaper articles: Month Day, Year.
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