Creating entries in Chicago author-date style is easier than the notes-biblio style, including for websites and other online sources. The notes-biblio style works well for research papers where you need to give your reader a lot of background information. However, the author-date style works better for research papers when you simply want to direct the reader to the source by providing the name of the work’s creator and the publication date.
In most social sciences, as well as natural and physical sciences, the author-date style is the best way to go. Instead of developing a bibliography of all the works consulted, you will create a reference list of actual sources used in your research.
Citing Web Pages
For your Chicago author-date style paper, you will want to follow these guidelines when citing websites. Be sure to keep the order of elements in mind as you collect the source information.
Order of Elements
Create reference list entries for web pages by using these elements:
- Author
- Publication date
- Title of page
- Title of site
- Owner of the site
- Add the URL or DOI at the end of the entry. Add https://doi.org to DOIs.
- Place a period at the end.
Undated Source
If you cannot find a publication date, use n.d. and include the date you accessed the source. Otherwise, you do not need to add the access date. As well, if you are using a source that is updated often, you may use a time stamp, if available.
Example
World Oral Literature Project. n.d. “Endangered Languages Database: Introduction to Resource and Terms of Use.” Accessed May 27, 2019. http://www.oralliterature.org/research/databaseterms.html.
No Author Listed
List the owner, creator or website name in the entry, if there is no author.
Example
Book Industry Study Group. 2016. “BISG Quick Start Guide to Accessible Publishing.” March 6. BISG. https://www.bisg.org/publications/bisq-quick-start-guide-accessible-publishing.
Citing Blogs
Include blog posts and comments within the text of your school research paper. If you feel a blog post reference is important to your argument, you may include a reference list entry. Blog comments, on the other hand, are incorporated within the text.
Example
Ehrenkranz, Melanie. 2019. “Tesla IS Blocking Its Employees From Accessing an Anonymous Social Network for Workplace Complaints”. Gizmodo. June 4, 2019. https://gizmodo.com/tesla-is-blocking-its-employees-from-accessing-an-anony-1835238737
Social Media Post Entries
Treat social media posts the same way as blog posts. Cite these posts in the text unless you feel it’s critical to your research. Then, add a reference list entry.
Best Practices for Online Research
Using online sources is an important part of research. However, make sure the website you are using for research is developed by a reputable organization. If the URL ends in .edu or .gov, feel assured it is reputable. Organizations, such as non-profits, may use .org, which is considered reputable.
If the website you are citing is from a well-established news source such as Time Magazine or the New York Times, you can feel comfortable, too. However, if you’re unsure, do some research first, particularly with political websites.