OWLL

Referencing online material in Chicago style

This page outlines the correct format for online material in Chicago footnote and bibliography style.

In this section

Many online sources are missing important referencing information, such as the author or year of publication. See referencing elements for information on what to do in these circumstances.

New to referencing? See introduction to referencing.

Web page

Notes

Order: Author, "Title of specific webpage," title/description of site as a whole, owner or sponsor of site, publication/revision/modification or access date, URL.

  • When there is no publication, revision or last modified date, give an access date.
  • For frequently updated resources such as unfolding news stories, include a time stamp with a time zone (see Stuff example).

1. A. Benson, R. Kipp, J. Larson, and A. Fusaro, "Potamopyrgus Antipodarum," United States Geological Survey, last revised February 2, 2018, http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?SpeciesID=1008.

2. Kendra Cherry, "Learned Optimism," Verywell Mind, Dotdash, updated July 15, 2019, https://www.verywellmind.com/learned-optimism-4174101.

3. "Kaipara Art Awards, 2019," Mangawhaia Artists, accessed October 19, 2019, http://www.mangawhaiartists.co.nz/kaipara-art-award-2019.html.

Bibliography

Order: Author. "Title of specific webpage." Title/description of site as a whole. Owner or sponsor of site. Publication/revision/modified, or access date. URL.

Benson, A., R. Kipp, J. Larson, and A. Fusaro. "Potamopyrgus Antipodarum." United States Geological Survey. Last revised February 2, 2018. http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?SpeciesID=1008.

Cherry, Kendra. "Learned Optimism." Verywell Mind. Dotdash. Updated July 15, 2019. https://www.verywellmind.com/learned-optimism-4174101.

"Kaipara Art Awards, 2019." Mangawhaia Artists. Accessed October 19, 2019. http://www.mangawhaiartists.co.nz/kaipara-art-award-2019.html.

Online book or journal

News or magazine article (online)

Notes

Order: Author, "Article Title," Title of Newspaper/Magazine, date of publication, URL or database name.

  • When there is no publication, revision or last modified date, give an access date.
  • For frequently updated resources such as unfolding news stories, include a time stamp with a time zone (see Stuff example).

1. Neil Wallace, "MAF Director-General Plans to Be Visible," Otago Daily Times, November 29, 2010, https://www.odt.co.nz/business/farming/maf-director-general-plans-be-visible.

2. Wallace, "MAF Director-General."

3. Nancy Gibbs, "Free Speech, Forced Speech and the Right to Silence," Time, March 1, 2018, https://time.com/5180703/free-speech-forced-speech-and-the-right-to-silence/.

4. Hernan Munoz, “Flying Metal From Spanish Petrochemical Plant Explosion Kills Man 3km Away,” Stuff, January 16, 2020, 9:51 a.m. NZST, https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/118825150/spanish-petrochemical-plant-explosion-kills-man-3km-away

Bibliography

Order: Author. "Article Title." Title of Newspaper/Magazine, date of publication. URL or database name.

Wallace, Neil. "MAF Director-General Plans to Be Visible." Otago Daily Times, November 29, 2010. https://www.odt.co.nz/business/farming/maf-director-general-plans-be-visible.

Nancy Gibbs. "Free Speech, Forced Speech and the Right to Silence." Time, March 1, 2018. https://time.com/5180703/free-speech-forced-speech-and-the-right-to-silence/.

Hernan Munoz. “Flying Metal From Spanish Petrochemical Plant Explosion Kills Man 3km Away.” Stuff, January 16, 2020, 9:51 a.m. NZST. https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/118825150/spanish-petrochemical-plant-explosion-kills-man-3km-away

Report (online)

Notes

Order: Author, "Title of Document" (source type identifier, Place of publication if available, publication/revision/modified, or access date), URL.

  • When there is no publication, revision or last modified date, give an access date. 

1. New Zealand Police, "The Safest Country: Policing 2021" (New Zealand Police Four Year Plan 2017/2018-2020/2021, May 2017), http://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/publications/2017-21-police-four-year-plan.pdf.

2. United Nations General Assembly, "Report on Best Practices and Lessons Learned On How Protecting and Promoting Human Rights Contribute To Preventing And Countering Violent Extremism," July 21, 2016, https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G16/162/55/pdf/G1616255.pdf?OpenElement.

Bibliography

Order: Author. "Title of Document." Source type identifier. Place of publication if available, publication/revision/modified, or access date. URL

New Zealand Police. "The Safest Country: Policing 2021." New Zealand Police Four Year Plan 2017/2018-2020/2021, May 2017. http://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/publications/2017-21-police-four-year-plan.pdf.

United Nations General Assembly. "Report on Best Practices and Lessons Learned On How Protecting and Promoting Human Rights Contribute To Preventing And Countering Violent Extremism," July 21, 2016. https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G16/162/55/pdf/G1616255.pdf?OpenElement.

Encyclopædia or dictionary entry (online)

Notes

Order: Encyclopaedia/Dictionary Title, edition, s.v. "title of entry," Author, publication/revision/modified, or access date, URL.

  • Well-known and reliable reference works are normally cited in the notes, not the bibliography.
  • Treat encyclopaedia or dictionary entries like a page number, preceding the entry title with the abbreviation s.v. (meaning sub verbo, "under the word") or s.vv. for more than one entry.
  • When there is no publication, revision or last modified date, give an access date.
  • For frequently updated resources, include a time stamp and time zone (see Stuff example).

1. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 250th Anniversary ed., s.v. "Émile Durkheim," by Henri M. Peyre, last updated October 18, 2019, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Emile-Durkheim.

2. Merriam-Webster, s.v. "sauce (n.)," accessed October 21, 2019, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sauce.

Bibliography

Order: Encyclopaedia/Dictionary Title. Edition. S.v. "Title of entry." Author. Publication/revision/modified, or access date. URL.

Encyclopaedia Britannica. 250th Anniversary ed. S.v. "Émile Durkheim," by Henri M. Peyre. Last updated October 18, 2019. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Emile-Durkheim.

Merriam-Webster. S.v. "sauce (n.)." Accessed October 21, 2019. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sauce.

Blogs

Notes

Order: Author, "Title of post," Title of the blog (blog), date of post, URL.

1. Massey University, "Entering Group or Organisational Authors," Massey University (blog), January 5, 2011, http://masseyblogs.ac.nz/endnote/2011/01/25/entering-corporate-authors/.

Bibliography

Order: Author. "Title of post." Title of the blog (blog). Date of post, URL.

Massey University. "Entering Group or Organisational Authors." Massey University (blog). January 5, 2011, http://masseyblogs.ac.nz/endnote/2011/01/25/entering-corporate-authors/.

Social media

Notes

Order: Author (may include screen name or handle), "Title or text (up to 160 characters) of post," Title/type of post, date of post, timestamp, URL.

  • Generally, social media content (e.g., tweets, Facebook posts) are cited only as notes.

1. Massey University (@Massey_Uni_Lib), "Words of Wisdom," Twitter, November 6, 2019, 3:13 a.m., https://twitter.com/Massey_Uni_Lib/status/1191901494468964352.

2. Massey University, "Who said it best in 2019? The quest is on for the 2019 Quote of the Year – and we need your help to find it!" Facebook, October 30, 2019, https://www.facebook.com/masseyuniversity/posts/10157173814842851.

3. Massey University, "Words of Wisdom."

Bibliography

Order: Author (may include screen name or handle). "Title or text (up to 160 characters) of post." Title/type of post, date of post, timestamp, URL.

Massey University. "Who said it best in 2019? The quest is on for the 2019 Quote of the Year – and we need your help to find it!" Facebook, October 30, 2019, https://www.facebook.com/masseyuniversity/posts/10157173814842851.

Video online

Notes

Order (include some or all of the following as relevant):
Author/creator, "Title of work," information about the work (e.g., contributors, location of performance), information about publisher including date, medium/format, relevant supplementary information (e.g., duration), URL.

1. Beverly Biology, "Mitosis vs Meiosis," 4 May, 2014, YouTube video, 15:24, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRcjB11hDCU.

2. Nick Cave, "The World Is My Skin," interview by Jonas Hjorth, Louisiana Channel, 2013, video, 4:53, https://vimeo.com/64135061.

Bibliography

Order (include some or all of the following as relevant): Author/creator. "Title." Information about the work (e.g., contributors, location of performance). Information about publisher including date. Medium/format, relevant supplementary information (e.g., duration), URL.

Beverly Biology. "Mitosis vs Meiosis." 4 May, 2014, YouTube video, 15:24. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRcjB11hDCU.

Cave, Nick. "The World Is My Skin." Interview by Jonas Hjorth. Louisiana Channel, 2013. Video, 4:53. https://vimeo.com/64135061.

Personal communications

Notes

Order: Author, type of communication, date.
Note: Personal communications like email or text messages, or private messages shared through social media are usually referred to in text or in a note only.

In an email communication on February 4, 2017, A. Jones outlined ...

1. Sally B. Correspondent, email message to author, July 13, 2019.

2. Facebook direct message to author, September 2, 2018.

References and further reading

Chicago Manual of Style. 17th ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2017. [Massey Library link] [E-book link]

Chicago Manual of Style Online. http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html

 

Disclaimer

These pages are provided as a guide to proper referencing. Your course, department, school, or institute may prescribe specific conventions, and their recommendations supersede these instructions. If you have questions not covered here, check in the style guide listed above, ask your course coordinator, or ask at Academic Q+A.

Page authorised by Director, CTL
Last updated on 17 April, 2020

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