Complete Turabian Citation Guide

Understanding Turabian Citation Style

Turabian citation style, officially known as “A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations,” is based on the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and provides a more accessible approach for academic writers. Developed at the University of Chicago, Turabian offers two distinct citation systems allowing writers to choose based on their discipline and publication requirements.

The dual-system approach makes Turabian flexible and widely applicable across academic disciplines. Whether you’re writing history, literature, philosophy, or other humanities subjects, Turabian accommodates your citation needs.

Two Citation Systems

Turabian provides two comprehensive citation options:

Notes-Bibliography System: Uses footnotes or endnotes combined with a bibliography. This system is preferred in humanities disciplines like history, literature, and philosophy.

Author-Date System: Uses parenthetical citations in text combined with a reference list. This system is preferred in social sciences like psychology, sociology, and economics.

Understanding both systems allows you to select the appropriate format for your discipline and publication.

Notes-Bibliography System Basics

The notes-bibliography system (also called the “humanistic” system) places complete citations in footnotes or endnotes:

First Note (full form):

1. Author First Name Last Name, Book Title (Publisher Location: Publisher, Year), page.

Bibliography Entry (alphabetical listing):

Last Name, First Name. Book Title. Publisher Location: Publisher, Year.

This system provides detailed note citations and a comprehensive bibliography for readers.

Author-Date System Basics

The author-date system (also called the “scientific” system) uses in-text parenthetical citations:

In-Text Citation:

(Author Year)

Reference List Entry:

Last Name, First Name. Year. Title. Publisher.

This system emphasizes the recency of publications and is common in social sciences.

Journal Article Citations

Notes-Bibliography Format:

Author First Last, "Article Title," Journal Name Volume, no. issue (Year): pages.

Author-Date Format:

(Author Year)
Last Name, First Name. Year. "Article Title." Journal Name Volume (issue): pages.

Book Citations

Notes-Bibliography Format:

Author First Last, Book Title (Publisher Location: Publisher, Year), page.

Author-Date Format:

(Author Year)
Last Name, First Name. Year. Book Title. Publisher Location: Publisher.

Website and Online Source Citations

Notes-Bibliography Format:

Author First Last, "Web Page Title," Website Name, accessed Month Date, Year, https://url.

Author-Date Format:

(Author Year)
Last Name, First Name. Year. "Web Page Title." Website Name. Accessed Month Date, Year. https://url.

Ibid. and Shortened Notes

In notes-bibliography system, subsequent references to the same work use shortened forms:

1. Author First Last, Book Title (Location: Publisher, Year), 45.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid., 67.
4. Last, Shortened Title, 89.

“Ibid.” refers to the immediately preceding note.

Footnotes vs. Endnotes

Either format is acceptable in Turabian:

Footnotes: Appear at the bottom of the page (more interactive with reader)

Endnotes: Appear at the end of the paper or chapter (less intrusive but requires reader navigation)

Choose based on instructor preference or publication requirements.

Capitalization and Punctuation

Turabian follows specific capitalization rules:

Book and Article Titles: Capitalize all major words (headline-style capitalization)

"The Rise and Fall of the American Dream"

Subtitles: Capitalize first word after colon, then follow main title rules

Sociology and Psychology: Understanding Human Behavior

Edited Books and Collections

Notes-Bibliography Format:

Chapter Author, "Chapter Title," in Book Title, ed. Editor Name (Location: Publisher, Year), page.

Author-Date Format:

(Author Year)
Author First Last. Year. "Chapter Title." In Book Title, edited by Editor Name, pages. Location: Publisher.

Using GenText for Turabian Citations

GenText supports both Turabian citation systems by automatically formatting notes-bibliography and author-date citations, managing ibid. and shortened forms, correctly capitalizing titles, organizing bibliographies and reference lists alphabetically, and maintaining consistency throughout your document.

Publisher Location and Name

Always include both publisher location and name:

(New York: Penguin Books, 2025)

If multiple locations are listed, use only the first one.

Abbreviations and Shortened Forms

Common Turabian abbreviations:

• n.d. = no date
• ed. = editor
• eds. = editors
• trans. = translator
• et al. = and others
• vol. = volume
• p./pp. = page/pages

Access Dates for Online Sources

For websites and online articles, include access date:

Accessed March 15, 2025.

This helps readers understand when you consulted the source.

DOI and URLs

Include DOI when available (preferred to URL):

https://doi.org/10.1234/journal.2025.001

Or full URL if DOI unavailable:

https://www.journalname.com/article/2025/volume/issue

Consistency and Flexibility

Turabian allows some flexibility in formatting. The key is consistency:

• Choose either footnotes or endnotes and maintain throughout
• Select either notes-bibliography or author-date and maintain throughout
• Use consistent capitalization and punctuation patterns
• Apply the same formatting rules to similar source types

Special Source Types

Turabian accommodates diverse sources:

• Dissertations/Theses: Include institution and year
• Conference Papers: Include conference name, location, date
• Unpublished Manuscripts: Note status and location
• Personal Communications: Include date and note as personal communication
• Social Media: Include platform, author, date, URL

Number-Date Hybrid

Some writers create hybrid citations combining elements from both systems. Generally not recommended; choose one system and apply consistently.

Formatting Manuscript Preparation

When preparing manuscripts in Turabian:

• Page Setup: Standard margins (1 inch all sides)
• Font: Standard serif font (12-point)
• Spacing: Double-spaced throughout
• Headers: Page numbers with author’s last name
• Indentation: Paragraph indentation (0.5 inch)

Revision and Updates

Turabian citations are updated periodically (currently in 9th edition). If writing:

• Check which edition your institution requires
• Use consistent edition throughout
• Note edition if relevant (in notes or on title page)

Conclusion and Best Practices

Mastering Turabian citation style equips you with flexible, discipline-appropriate citation methods. The dual-system approach accommodates diverse academic needs while maintaining rigor and consistency. By understanding both notes-bibliography and author-date systems and using tools like GenText to manage formatting details, you ensure citations meet academic standards. Whether writing history papers, literary analysis, social science research, or other academic work, proper Turabian citations demonstrate scholarly excellence and respect for sources.