How to Cite a Book in Chicago Manual of Style (Notes-Bibliography)
Learn the exact format with examples, in-text citations, and common mistakes to avoid.
Citation Format
Basic Template
Author. Title of Book. Place: Publisher, Year.
Citation Components
Author(s)
First name(s) Last. Multiple: Author and Author.
Book Title
Italicized. Standard capitalization.
Place of Publication
City of publication.
Publisher
Full publisher name.
Year
Year of publication.
Real-World Example
Example Source
Paul Theroux
The Great Railway Bazaar
Boston
Houghton Mifflin
1975
Formatted Citation
1. Paul Theroux, The Great Railway Bazaar (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1975).
In-Text Citation
1
Superscript numeral in text
Common Mistakes
Wrong:
Theroux, Paul. The Great Railway Bazaar. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1975.
Right:
1. Paul Theroux, The Great Railway Bazaar (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1975).
Why: In notes, use First Last format (not Last, First). Enclose publication info in parentheses with colon between place and publisher.
Wrong:
1. Theroux, Paul (1975). The Great Railway Bazaar. Houghton Mifflin: Boston.
Right:
1. Paul Theroux, The Great Railway Bazaar (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1975).
Why: Use First Last format in notes. Publication info in parentheses: Place: Publisher, Year (not reversed).
Wrong:
1. The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux was published in Boston in 1975 by Houghton Mifflin.
Right:
1. Paul Theroux, The Great Railway Bazaar (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1975).
Why: Use proper citation format with standardized punctuation and order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if a book has multiple publishers or publication locations? ▼
List the first one: (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1975). Alternatively, you can list multiple if you want to be thorough.
How do I format a book with an editor instead of an author? ▼
Editor's First Last, ed., Book Title (Place: Publisher, Year).
Should I include the edition if it's not the first edition? ▼
Yes, include it: Paul Theroux, The Great Railway Bazaar, 2nd ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1975).
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