How to reference a chapter in an edited book in Chicago

A chapter footnote in Chicago has 6 parts. See them labelled on an example, then build your own and copy it.

  • In your essay: A footnote, or (Author year)
  • Checked 21 October 2026

Pip tip: in KanBananza, right-click any page and choose “Save as a source”. Most of this is filled in for you.

The 6 parts

Chapter author, “Chapter title,” in Book, ed. Editor (Publisher, Year).

The example footnote, with each part labelled

1 · CHAPTER AUTHORHannah Lee, 2 · CHAPTER TITLE“Revising with Others,” in 3 · BOOKStudy Skills for University, ed. 4 · EDITORSamuel Brown (5 · PUBLISHERNorthgate Press, 6 · DATE2022).

  1. 1 · Chapter authorFirst name, then surname.At the start of the chapter, not on the book’s cover.
  2. 2 · Chapter titleCapital letters for the main words (KanBananza adds them). In double quotation marks.The chapter’s own title.
  3. 3 · BookAfter “in”. In italics. Then “ed.”.The title of the whole book.
  4. 4 · EditorFirst name, then surname. After “ed.”.On the book’s cover and title page, marked “edited by”.
  5. 5 · PublisherAs the source gives it.On the book’s title page or the spine.
  6. 6 · DateThe year.On the back of the book’s title page.

In your bibliography

The bibliography at the end gives the same source like this, with the surname first:

The example in the bibliography, with each part labelled

1 · CHAPTER AUTHORLee, Hannah. 2 · CHAPTER TITLE“Revising with Others.” In 3 · BOOKStudy Skills for University, edited by 4 · EDITORSamuel Brown. 5 · PUBLISHERNorthgate Press, 6 · DATE2022.

Two places, one source

IN YOUR ESSAY

Revising in a group can help students remember more.1

A footnote number, after the full stop.
IN YOUR FOOTNOTE

1 Hannah Lee, “Revising with Others,” in Study Skills for University, ed. Samuel Brown (Northgate Press, 2022).

The footnote gives the full details, at the bottom of the page.

Using Chicago author-date instead?

Some courses use Chicago’s other form: the author and year in brackets in your text, and a reference list at the end. Here’s the same chapter:

The example in Chicago author-date, with each part labelled

1 · CHAPTER AUTHORLee, Hannah. 2 · DATE2022. 3 · CHAPTER TITLE“Revising with Others.” In 4 · BOOKStudy Skills for University, edited by 5 · EDITORSamuel Brown. 6 · PUBLISHERNorthgate Press.

In your essay: Revising in a group can help students remember more (Lee 2022).

Build your footnote

Fill in what you have. Anything still missing is highlighted. Nothing you type leaves this page.

Surname, then first name. Separate people with a semicolon (;).
The book’s editor. Separate people with a semicolon (;).
Like 2025, May 2025 or 5 May 2025.
Optional.
YOUR FOOTNOTEReady to copy

Hannah Lee, “Revising with Others,” in Study Skills for University, ed. Samuel Brown (Northgate Press, 2022).

IN YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lee, Hannah. “Revising with Others.” In Study Skills for University, edited by Samuel Brown. Northgate Press, 2022.

Pip tip: the title stays in italics when you paste into Word or Google Docs. If it doesn’t, select it and press Ctrl+I.

What if…

  • Made by an organisation

    Give the organisation’s name where the author goes.

    Riverside Media Bureau, “Revising with Others,” in Study Skills for University, ed. Samuel Brown (Northgate Press, 2022).

  • No date

    Write “n.d.” where the date goes.

    Hannah Lee, “Revising with Others,” in Study Skills for University, ed. Samuel Brown (Northgate Press, n.d.).

  • Two authors

    Give both names, joined with “and”.

    Amara Green and Ravi Patel, “Revising with Others,” in Study Skills for University, ed. Samuel Brown (Northgate Press, 2022).

  • Four or more authors

    Give the first author, then “et al.”, which means “and others”.

    Amara Green et al., “Revising with Others,” in Study Skills for University, ed. Samuel Brown (Northgate Press, 2022).

Check your university’s version

Chicago has two forms, and departments choose one. Don’t mix them in one piece of work. Your course handbook always wins.

This guide follows The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th edition, in both its forms: notes and bibliography, and author-date.

The full Chicago guide

Questions

What goes in the footnote?

The first time you cite it, the footnote gives the full details: Hannah Lee, “Revising with Others,” in Study Skills for University, ed. Samuel Brown (Northgate Press, 2022). To point to one place in it, add that at the end: Hannah Lee, “Revising with Others,” in Study Skills for University, ed. Samuel Brown (Northgate Press, 2022), 50.

What if there’s no date?

Check the page or document again first. If there really is none, here’s how Chicago sets it out: Hannah Lee, “Revising with Others,” in Study Skills for University, ed. Samuel Brown (Northgate Press, n.d.).

Is Chicago the same at every university?

Chicago has two forms, and departments choose one. Don’t mix them in one piece of work. Your course handbook always wins.

Referencing is easier as you go

Our step-by-step guides show how to keep your sources in order while you research and write, so the reference list is ready when you are.

Skip the typing next time

In KanBananza, right-click any page and choose “Save as a source”. The details are filled in for you, anything missing is flagged, and your reference list is made in your style. Harvard is free; the other styles come with Full Bananza.

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