Turabian Referencing Style

What is Turabian style?

The Turabian citation style, based on Kate L. Turabian’s Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, offers two primary documentation systems:

1. Notes-Bibliography (NB) Style: Commonly used in literature, history, and the arts, this style cites sources using footnotes or endnotes, along with a bibliography.
2. Author-Date Style: Previously known as the parenthetical citation-reference list style, this system is often used in the social sciences, featuring in-text citations paired with a reference list.

Turabian formatting is closely aligned with The Chicago Manual of Style, with minor modifications to suit student writers’ needs. Since specific formatting details (such as indentation) may vary, it is always best to consult the official Turabian style guide or online resources for accuracy.

Turabian Citation Examples

Turabian citation style includes two main documentation systems:

1. Notes-Bibliography (NB) Style: Used primarily in literature, history, and the arts, this format uses footnotes or endnotes and a corresponding bibliography.

2. Author-Date Style: Commonly used in the physical, natural, and social sciences, this format features parenthetical citations in the text, with full details provided in a reference list. 

Books (Print)

Note:

1. Wendy Doniger, Splitting the Difference (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1999), 65.

Bibliographic Entry:
Doniger, Wendy. Splitting the Difference. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1999.

Journal Article (Print)

Note:
8. John Maynard Smith, “The Origin of Altruism,” Nature 393 (1998): 639.

Bibliographic Entry:
Smith, John Maynard. “The Origin of Altruism.” Nature 393 (1998): 639–40.

Journal Article (Electronic)

Note:
33. Campbell Brown, “Consequentialize This,” Ethics 121, no. 4 (July 2011): 751, http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/660696.

Bibliographic Entry:
Brown, Campbell. “Consequentialize This.” Ethics 121, no. 4 (July 2011): 749–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/660696.

Website

Note:
11. “Privacy Policy,” Privacy & Terms, Google, last modified April 17, 2017, https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

Bibliographic Entry:
Google. “Privacy Policy.” Privacy & Terms. Last modified April 17, 2017. https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

2. Author-Date Style

This style is often used in the sciences and social sciences. In-text citations appear in parentheses with the author’s last name and year of publication, and full details are included in a reference list.

Books (Print)

Parenthetical Citation:
(Doniger 1999, 65)

Reference List Entry:
Doniger, Wendy. 1999. Splitting the Difference. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Journal Article (Print)

Parenthetical Citation:
(Smith 1998, 639)

Reference List Entry:
Smith, John Maynard. 1998. “The Origin of Altruism.” Nature 393: 639–40.

Journal Article (Electronic)

Parenthetical Citation:
(Kiser 2011, 340)

Reference List Entry:
Kiser, Lisa J. 2011. “Silencing the Lambs: Economics, Ethics, and Animal Life in Medieval Franciscan Hagiography.” Modern Philology 108, no. 3 (February): 323–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/658052.

Website

Parenthetical Citation:
(Google 2017)

Reference List Entry:
Google. 2017. “Privacy Policy.” Privacy & Terms. Last modified April 17, 2017. https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.