How to Cite a Journal Article in Turabian Format
Complete guide: how to cite a journal article Turabian-style with step-by-step instructions and examples. This guide explains Turabian’s two main systems (Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date), shows sample citations, and points you to tools like Rephrasely's free citation generator to speed the process.
Introduction — What Turabian Is and Who Uses It
Turabian is a citation style derived from The Chicago Manual of Style, tailored for students and researchers. It’s widely used in history, some humanities, and certain social science courses where faculty prefer Chicago-style rules simplified for academic papers.
Turabian supports two citation systems: Notes-Bibliography (NB) and Author-Date. NB uses footnotes or endnotes plus a bibliography. Author-Date uses parenthetical in-text citations and a reference list. Know which your instructor or publisher requires before formatting references.
General Rules — Key Formatting Rules
- Choose a system: Notes-Bibliography or Author-Date. Do not mix systems in one paper.
- Order of elements: Elements appear in a standard order: author, title, journal, volume/issue, date, page range, DOI or URL when available.
- Punctuation and italics: Article titles are in quotation marks; journal titles are italicized. Use sentence-style capitalization for notes, headline-style for bibliography in NB (check instructor preferences).
- DOIs and URLs: Prefer DOIs. Include DOIs for online articles; include stable URLs if no DOI exists. In NB style, include access dates only when required.
- Spacing and indentation: Use a hanging indent in bibliography/reference lists. Footnotes and endnotes are single-spaced with a blank line between entries.
How to Cite by Source Type
Below are step-by-step templates and examples for common source types in both Turabian systems. Use code-style formatting for each sample citation.
1. Journal Article (Most Common)
Notes-Bibliography (full note): List author name as shown, article title in quotes, journal title italicized, volume number, issue number (if any), date, page range, and DOI/URL.
Note:
1. John D. Smith, "Urban Migration and Social Policy," Journal of Urban Studies 45, no. 2 (Spring 2020): 123–45, https://doi.org/10.1234/jus.2020.5678.Bibliography entry:
Smith, John D. "Urban Migration and Social Policy." Journal of Urban Studies 45, no. 2 (Spring 2020): 123–45. https://doi.org/10.1234/jus.2020.5678.Author-Date (in-text and reference): Parenthetical citation uses author and year. Reference list is similar to bibliography but uses parentheses for the year right after the author.
In-text:
(Smith 2020, 130)
Reference:
Smith, John D. 2020. "Urban Migration and Social Policy." Journal of Urban Studies 45 (2): 123–45. https://doi.org/10.1234/jus.2020.5678.2. Book
NB full note example:
Note:
1. Emily R. Johnson, The Social Fabric: Community and Change (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018), 58–60.Bibliography entry:
Johnson, Emily R. The Social Fabric: Community and Change. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018.Author-Date reference:
Johnson, Emily R. 2018. The Social Fabric: Community and Change. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.3. Website / Web Page
NB full note example:
Note:
1. World Health Organization, "Universal Health Coverage," World Health Organization, accessed January 10, 2023, https://www.who.int/health-topics/universal-health-coverage.Bibliography entry:
World Health Organization. "Universal Health Coverage." World Health Organization. Accessed January 10, 2023. https://www.who.int/health-topics/universal-health-coverage.4. Book Chapter or Essay in an Edited Volume
NB full note example:
Note:
1. Maria L. Ortiz, "Cultural Networks," in Global Cultures, ed. Alan B. Peters (New York: Routledge, 2019), 210–33.Bibliography entry:
Ortiz, Maria L. "Cultural Networks." In Global Cultures, edited by Alan B. Peters, 210–33. New York: Routledge, 2019.5. Government Report or White Paper
NB full note example:
Note:
1. U.S. Department of Education, Title IX and Student Rights (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, 2017), 14–15, https://www.ed.gov/title-ix-report.pdf.Bibliography entry:
U.S. Department of Education. Title IX and Student Rights. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, 2017. https://www.ed.gov/title-ix-report.pdf.In-Text Citations — Rules and Examples
Author-Date uses parenthetical citations: author last name, year, and page numbers if quoting or referring to a specific passage.
(Brown 2016, 47)Notes-Bibliography uses superscript numbers in the text that correspond to footnotes or endnotes. The first citation should be a full note; subsequent citations of the same source can be shortened.
Text example:
As noted by historians, migration patterns changed in the late twentieth century.1
Footnote:
1. John D. Smith, "Urban Migration and Social Policy," Journal of Urban Studies 45, no. 2 (Spring 2020): 125.Shortened note example:
2. Smith, "Urban Migration," 128.Use "ibid." only when referencing the immediately preceding citation in NB. In Turabian 9th edition, "ibid." remains acceptable but preferred sparingly; a shortened citation is often clearer.
Reference List — Formatting Rules and Example
In NB, the list is called "Bibliography." In Author-Date, it is "Reference List." Both are alphabetized by authors’ last names and use hanging indents.
Key formatting rules:
- Alphabetize by the author's last name or by title if no author exists.
- Use a hanging indent (0.5") for each entry.
- Italicize book and journal titles; put article and chapter titles in quotation marks.
- Consistent punctuation and spacing are essential: commas and periods separate elements in a prescribed order.
Sample Bibliography (NB) with mixed sources:
Bibliography
Brown, Michael. The Moving City: Urban Change in the Twentieth Century. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.
Johnson, Emily R. The Social Fabric: Community and Change. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018.
Smith, John D. "Urban Migration and Social Policy." Journal of Urban Studies 45, no. 2 (Spring 2020): 123–45. https://doi.org/10.1234/jus.2020.5678.
World Health Organization. "Universal Health Coverage." World Health Organization. Accessed January 10, 2023. https://www.who.int/health-topics/universal-health-coverage.Tip: Use a citation tool to generate consistent reference lists quickly. Try Rephrasely's citation generator and then run your paper through the plagiarism checker for safety.
Common Mistakes — Errors to Avoid
- Mixing systems: Don’t combine Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date in the same document. Pick one and apply it consistently.
- Missing DOIs or unstable URLs: Always include DOIs for journal articles when available. If no DOI exists, use a stable URL. Avoid link shorteners.
- Incorrect punctuation and capitalization: Article titles go in quotation marks, journal titles are italicized. Small punctuation errors can break the required format.
- Inconsistent shortened notes: After the first full note in NB, use a consistent shortened form (author’s last name, shortened title, page). Avoid vague short citations.
Actionable fix: Run one sample reference from your paper through Rephrasely's citation generator, then compare the output to this guide. Edit the rest to match exactly.
Practical Workflow to Apply Immediately
- Decide which Turabian system you will use (ask your instructor if unsure).
- Collect full bibliographic information for each source: author, title, journal, volume, issue, date, pages, DOI/URL.
- Use a generator like Rephrasely's citation generator to create consistent entries, then paste them into your bibliography and apply hanging indents.
- For content verification, check your text with Rephrasely’s AI writer/composer for clarity and the AI detector if required by your institution.
- Finally, scan the finished paper with the plagiarism checker to ensure originality and proper attribution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a DOI for every Turabian journal citation?
Prefer DOIs when available because they provide a stable, persistent link to the article. If no DOI exists, include a stable URL. Only include access dates when the source is likely to change or if your instructor requests it.
Which Turabian system should I use for humanities vs. sciences?
Humanities disciplines (history, literature) typically use the Notes-Bibliography system. Many sciences and social sciences prefer Author-Date. Confirm with your instructor or department style guide before finalizing.
Can I use a citation generator for Turabian format?
Yes. Tools like Rephrasely's free citation generator can save time and reduce errors. Always double-check generated citations against Turabian rules and your instructor’s preferences before submission.