How to Cite a Journal Article in Chicago Style

Citing journal articles correctly in Chicago style is essential for academic credibility and reader reference. Whether you’re conducting research in sciences, social sciences, or humanities, journal articles are primary sources that demand precise citation. This guide walks you through both the Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date systems for citing journal articles in Chicago style.

What You Need to Gather

Before creating your citation, collect these essential pieces of information from the journal article:

• Author’s full name(s)
• Article title (in quotation marks)
• Journal title (italicized)
• Volume number (the collection of issues in a year)
• Issue number (individual publication within a volume)
• Publication year
• Page numbers (for the entire article or the page you cited)
• DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or URL (for online articles)

These elements combine to create a complete, verifiable citation.

Notes-Bibliography System for Journal Articles

The Notes-Bibliography system places full citation details in footnotes or endnotes, with a shortened form in a bibliography.

First Reference (Full Note)

The complete citation appears in the first footnote or endnote:

1. Author First Last, "Title of Article," Journal Title volume, no. issue (Year): page.

Real-world example:

1. Elena Rodriguez, "Digital Transformation in Academic Libraries," Journal of Information Science 48, no. 3 (2024): 245-267.

Subsequent References (Shortened Note)

After the first citation, use a shortened form:

3. Rodriguez, "Digital Transformation," 251.

Bibliography Entry

In the bibliography, arrange entries alphabetically by author’s last name:

Rodriguez, Elena. "Digital Transformation in Academic Libraries." Journal of Information Science 48, no. 3 (2024): 245-267.

Author-Date System for Journal Articles

The Author-Date system uses parenthetical in-text citations and a reference list at the end of the paper.

In-Text Citation Format

(Author Year, page)
(Rodriguez 2024, 245)

Multiple citations in one parenthetical:

(Rodriguez 2024, 245; Chen 2023, 89)

Reference List Entry

Author Last, First. Year. "Article Title." Journal Title volume, no. issue: page range.

Real-world example:

Rodriguez, Elena. 2024. "Digital Transformation in Academic Libraries." Journal of Information Science 48, no. 3: 245-267.

Citing Journal Articles with DOI

When a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is available, include it at the end of the citation. DOIs are preferred because they provide permanent access to the article.

Notes-Bibliography with DOI

1. Author First Last, "Article Title," Journal Title volume, no. issue (Year): pages, https://doi.org/10.1234/example.

Example:

1. Sarah Mitchell, "Climate Policy and International Cooperation," Environmental Studies 36, no. 2 (2024): 112-135, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-01956-z.

Author-Date with DOI

Mitchell, Sarah. 2024. "Climate Policy and International Cooperation." Environmental Studies 36, no. 2: 112-135. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-01956-z.

Citing Online Journal Articles without DOI

If the article lacks a DOI, include the URL and access date.

Notes-Bibliography without DOI

1. Author First Last, "Article Title," Journal Title volume, no. issue (Year): pages, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.

Example:

1. David Park, "Social Media Analytics in Marketing Research," Digital Marketing Review 15, no. 4 (2024): 78-94, accessed March 15, 2026, https://www.digitalmarketingreview.org/articles/social-media.html.

Author-Date without DOI

Park, David. 2024. "Social Media Analytics in Marketing Research." Digital Marketing Review 15, no. 4: 78-94. Accessed March 15, 2026. https://www.digitalmarketingreview.org/articles/social-media.html.

Multiple Authors in Journal Articles

When a journal article has multiple authors, include all names in the first reference, then use et al. in shortened references.

Notes-Bibliography with Multiple Authors

First note:

1. Author One First Last, Author Two First Last, and Author Three First Last, "Article Title," Journal Title volume, no. issue (Year): page.

Example:

1. Jessica Chen, Robert Williams, and Maria González, "Collaborative Research Methods in Social Sciences," Sociological Quarterly 52, no. 1 (2024): 34-58.

Shortened note:

2. Chen, Williams, and González, "Collaborative Research Methods," 40.

Bibliography:

Chen, Jessica, Robert Williams, and Maria González. "Collaborative Research Methods in Social Sciences." Sociological Quarterly 52, no. 1 (2024): 34-58.

Author-Date with Multiple Authors

In-text (up to three authors):

(Chen, Williams, and González 2024, 40)

In-text (four or more authors):

(Chen et al. 2024, 40)

Reference list:

Chen, Jessica, Robert Williams, Maria González, and [other authors]. 2024. "Collaborative Research Methods in Social Sciences." Sociological Quarterly 52, no. 1: 34-58.

Special Cases in Journal Article Citations

Article with Editor Instead of Author

When a journal publishes an editorial or content without an individual author:

Notes-Bibliography:

1. "Editorial," Journal Title volume, no. issue (Year): page.

Author-Date:

(Journal Title [Year])
Journal Title. [Year]. "Editorial." Journal Title volume, no. issue: page range.

Translated Journal Article

Notes-Bibliography:

1. Author First Last, "Article Title," trans. Translator Name, Journal Title volume, no. issue (Year): page.

Author-Date:

Last, First. Year. "Article Title." Translated by Translator Name. Journal Title volume, no. issue: page range.

Article in a Supplement Issue

Notes-Bibliography:

1. Author First Last, "Article Title," Journal Title volume, no. issue, supplement (Year): page.

Step-by-Step Citation Process

Step 1: Locate all required information on the article (title page, header, or database record).

Step 2: Arrange elements in the correct order for your system (Notes-Bibliography or Author-Date).

Step 3: Apply proper formatting (italics for journal title, quotation marks for article title).

Step 4: Include page numbers and DOI or URL.

Step 5: Check spacing, punctuation, and capitalization against the format provided.

Step 6: Verify consistency with other citations in your paper.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Forgetting quotation marks around the article title
2. Failing to italicize the journal title
3. Including incorrect volume or issue numbers due to database errors
4. Omitting the page number in the note citation
5. Using URL instead of DOI when a DOI is available
6. Inconsistent author name formats between first reference and shortened forms
7. Missing access dates for online articles without DOI

Using Chicago Style Citation Generators

Citation generators can streamline the process, but always verify accuracy:

• Zotero: Import articles from databases and generate Chicago format automatically
• EasyBib: Manual entry or ISBN/URL lookup with Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date support
• CitationMachine: Format journal articles quickly with template options
• Mendeley: Organize articles and generate citations with Chicago templates

These tools save time, especially when managing multiple sources, but always check that all elements are accurate and complete.

Practice Examples

Example 1: Standard Journal Article

Notes-Bibliography:

1. Jennifer Thompson, "Innovations in Biomedical Engineering," Journal of Medical Research 41, no. 2 (2024): 156-179.

Bibliography:
Thompson, Jennifer. "Innovations in Biomedical Engineering." Journal of Medical Research 41, no. 2 (2024): 156-179.

Author-Date:

(Thompson 2024, 156)

Reference list:
Thompson, Jennifer. 2024. "Innovations in Biomedical Engineering." Journal of Medical Research 41, no. 2: 156-179.

Example 2: Online Article with DOI

Notes-Bibliography:

1. Marcus Lee, "Artificial Intelligence in Education: Opportunities and Challenges," Education Technology Review 18, no. 4 (2024): 89-107, https://doi.org/10.1002/etr.12345.

Author-Date:

(Lee 2024, 89)

Lee, Marcus. 2024. "Artificial Intelligence in Education: Opportunities and Challenges." Education Technology Review 18, no. 4: 89-107. https://doi.org/10.1002/etr.12345.

Example 3: Three Authors, Online Article without DOI

Notes-Bibliography:

1. Amanda Foster, Kevin Patel, and Rachel Burns, "Green Infrastructure and Urban Planning," Environmental Design Journal 29, no. 3 (2024): 201-225, accessed March 16, 2026, https://www.environmentaldesignjournal.org/articles/2024/green-infrastructure.html.

Author-Date:

(Foster, Patel, and Burns 2024, 201)

Foster, Amanda, Kevin Patel, and Rachel Burns. 2024. "Green Infrastructure and Urban Planning." Environmental Design Journal 29, no. 3: 201-225. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://www.environmentaldesignjournal.org/articles/2024/green-infrastructure.html.

Mastering Journal Article Citations

Journal articles form the backbone of academic research. Citing them correctly demonstrates your research depth and allows others to trace your sources. Whether using Notes-Bibliography or Author-Date, the elements remain consistent—accurate author identification, precise title and journal information, and complete publication details.

Practice with a few articles, use citation generators as tools (not shortcuts), and refer to this guide when you encounter unusual articles or missing information. With these skills, you’ll cite journal articles with confidence and maintain the highest standards of academic integrity.

Use our Chicago citation generator to verify your citations and explore our other guides for citing different source types.