How to Cite in Turabian Format: Step-by-Step Guide

This guide explains how to cite Turabian style clearly and practically. If youʼre asking "how to cite Turabian" for a history paper, thesis, or humanities assignment, this step-by-step walkthrough covers general rules, source-specific formats, in-text citation options, and common mistakes you can fix immediately.

Quick tip: use Rephrasely’s free citation generator to build correctly formatted entries and save time when assembling your bibliography.

Introduction — What Turabian Is and Who Uses It

Turabian style is a simplified derivative of Chicago style created for students by Kate L. Turabian. It supports two citation systems: Notes-Bibliography (NB) and Author-Date. NB is common in history, arts, and humanities; Author-Date is more common in the sciences and social sciences.

In academic settings, instructors typically specify which system to use. When in doubt, follow departmental guidelines or check assignment instructions.

General Rules — Key Formatting Rules

Paper format: Use standard margins (1 inch), a readable font (e.g., Times New Roman 12 pt), and double-space the text. Block quotations and notes may be single-spaced.
Systems: Choose Notes-Bibliography (footnotes or endnotes + bibliography) or Author-Date (parenthetical citations + reference list).
Numbers: Use Arabic numerals for footnotes/superscripts. In NB, place the superscript at the end of the clause or sentence, after punctuation.
Title page and headers: Title-page layout and running headers vary by instructor; follow your institution’s requirements or the Turabian manual.
Consistency: Be consistent with punctuation, italics, and capitalization across all entries.

How to Cite by Source Type

Below are step-by-step formats and examples for several common source types using both systems where relevant. All examples use code-style formatting for clarity.

Books (Notes-Bibliography)

Footnote format: Author, Title (Place: Publisher, Year), page.

Bibliography format: Author. Title. Place: Publisher, Year.

Example — footnote:

1. John H. Smith, The Making of Modern Europe (New York: Academic Press, 2018), 45.

Example — bibliography:

Smith, John H. The Making of Modern Europe. New York: Academic Press, 2018.

Books (Author-Date)

In-text: (Author Year, page). Reference list: Author. Year. Title. Place: Publisher.

Example — in-text: (Smith 2018, 45)

Example — reference list:

Smith, John H. 2018. The Making of Modern Europe. New York: Academic Press.

Journal Articles

Notes-bibliography footnote:

2. Maria K. Lopez, "Trade Networks in the 17th Century," Journal of Early Modern Studies 12, no. 3 (2016): 234–56.

Bibliography:

Lopez, Maria K. "Trade Networks in the 17th Century." Journal of Early Modern Studies 12, no. 3 (2016): 234–56.

Author-Date reference list:

Lopez, Maria K. 2016. "Trade Networks in the 17th Century." Journal of Early Modern Studies 12 (3): 234–56.

Websites

Include author (if any), page title, site name, publication or revision date (if available), and URL. For NB, include access date if no date is given.

Footnote example:

3. National Museum of History, "Colonial Trade Routes," NationalMuseum.org, accessed July 10, 2023, https://www.nationalmuseum.org/colonial-trade.

Bibliography example:

National Museum of History. "Colonial Trade Routes." NationalMuseum.org. Accessed July 10, 2023. https://www.nationalmuseum.org/colonial-trade.

Author-Date example:

National Museum of History. 2023. "Colonial Trade Routes." NationalMuseum.org. https://www.nationalmuseum.org/colonial-trade.

Chapter or Essay in an Edited Book

Footnote:

4. Anne R. Cole, "Urban Culture," in Cities and Society, ed. Peter J. Adams (Chicago: University Press, 2010), 78–102.

Bibliography:

Cole, Anne R. "Urban Culture." In Cities and Society, edited by Peter J. Adams, 78–102. Chicago: University Press, 2010.

Dissertations and Theses

Footnote:

5. Laura M. Greene, "Economic Policy in Small States" (PhD diss., Columbia University, 2019), 56.

Bibliography:

Greene, Laura M. 2019. "Economic Policy in Small States." PhD diss., Columbia University.

These examples cover the most common source types. For government documents, maps, multimedia, and interviews, follow the same principles: identify author/creator, title, container or publisher, date, and location or URL.

In-Text Citations — Rules and Examples

Turabian uses two main in-text approaches. Choose the one required by your instructor and apply it consistently.

Notes-Bibliography (NB): Use superscript numbers in the text linked to footnotes or endnotes. The first citation includes full bibliographic details; subsequent citations can be shortened (author last name, shortened title, page).
Author-Date: Use parenthetical citations containing the authorʼs last name, publication year, and page number if applicable: (Doe 2020, 122).

NB short citation example after initial full note:

6. Smith, Making of Modern Europe, 122.

Author-Date in-text example:

(Lopez 2016, 241)

Actionable advice: when using NB, compile your footnotes as you write, not only at the end. This prevents missed superscripts and makes review easier.

Reference List — Formatting Rules and Example

Whether you call it a Bibliography (NB) or Reference List (Author-Date), apply these rules:

Start on a new page titled "Bibliography" (NB) or "References" (Author-Date).
Alphabetize entries by authors' last names.
Use a hanging indent for each entry (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented).
Italicize book and journal titles. Use quotation marks for article or chapter titles (NB uses quotation marks in bibliography too).
Be consistent with date and punctuation order.

Sample short Bibliography (Notes-Bibliography):


Bibliography

Lopez, Maria K. "Trade Networks in the 17th Century." Journal of Early Modern Studies 12, no. 3 (2016): 234–56.

Smith, John H. The Making of Modern Europe. New York: Academic Press, 2018.

National Museum of History. "Colonial Trade Routes." NationalMuseum.org. Accessed July 10, 2023. https://www.nationalmuseum.org/colonial-trade.

Actionable formatting tip: use your word processorʼs hanging indent function and alphabetize with the sort tool to avoid manual errors.

Common Mistakes — Errors to Avoid

Mixing systems. Don’t combine NB and Author-Date styles in one paper. Choose one and use it consistently.
Incorrect punctuation and italics. Misplacing commas, parentheses, or failing to italicize book and journal titles is common. Check one example at a time.
Incomplete citations. Omitting publisher names, page ranges, or URLs makes sources hard to verify. Always include enough information for a reader to find the source.
Improper use of "Ibid." and shortened citations. In NB, use Ibid. only when the immediately preceding note cites the same source and page. Otherwise, use shortened citations (author, shortened title, page).

Fixing these is straightforward: choose your system, follow one official example for each source type, and use tools to check formatting.

Practical Tools and Workflow Tips

Automate repetitive tasks: generate citations using Rephrasely’s citation generator, then paste them into your document. Use the AI writer (Composer) to draft text, the plagiarism checker to confirm originality, and the AI detector if you must verify AI-assisted content disclosure.

Also consider paraphrasing and translation tools when summarizing or working with foreign-language sources. Rephrasely’s paraphraser and translator can speed that part of the process while maintaining citation integrity.

Final Checklist Before Submission

Choose NB or Author-Date and apply it consistently throughout.
Verify every footnote and bibliography entry includes author, title, place, publisher, year, and page or URL as applicable.
Use hanging indents, alphabetize the bibliography, and double-space the body text.
Run a final pass with a citation generator and a plagiarism checker to ensure accuracy and originality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Turabian system should I use for history papers?

History typically uses the Notes-Bibliography (NB) system with footnotes and a bibliography. Check your instructor’s preference, but NB is standard in historical writing because it supports detailed source explanations.

Can I use an online citation generator for Turabian?

Yes. An online citation generator, like Rephrasely’s citation generator, can save time and reduce formatting errors. Always verify generated citations against an official Turabian example, because some complex sources require manual editing.

Do I need footnotes for every quote in Turabian?

In the Notes-Bibliography system, include a footnote for each quotation and for any paraphrase that draws on a specific passage. For the Author-Date system, use parenthetical citations with page numbers for direct quotes and specific paraphrases.

How to Cite in Turabian Format: Step-by-Step Guide