Chicago Style: Citing Electronic Sources

Sample reference entry in Chicago Style formatted with a hanging indent.

Web page

As you are more likely to cite a particular idea from a single web page, we advise that you cite individual web pages rather than websites. This helps your reader trace back to your source of evidence.

Websites differ greatly in what kind of publication information they include. Try to include as much of the following information as possible: author, name of site, sponsor, date updated and web address.  Recall that agencies, governments, and corporations may be listed as authors when no individual author is listed.

First Footnote/Endnote

1. "Documentation Guide - Academic Skills," Academic Skills, Trent University, accessed April 17, 2025, https://www.trentu.ca/academicskills/documentation-guide.

Subsequent Footnotes/Endnotes

2. "documentation Guide - Academic Skills," Trent University.

Bibliography

Website Title. "Page Title." Website Folder. Updated/accessed date. URL

Example

Trent University. "Documentation Guide - Academic Skills." Accessed April 17, 2025. https://www.trentu.ca/academicskills/documentation-guide.

Notice:

  • If there is an "Updated" date on the webpage, then you can provide that rather than the access date.
  • Sometimes, a webpage is not live, but we can still access a version of it through archival sites like the Wayback Machine. For these sites, provide an "Archived" date rather than "Accessed" date. Your website title is still that of the original site. 

Downloaded Text File (PDF)

First Footnote/Endnote

1. Ontario Ministry of Education, The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10: Canadian and World Studies, 2018. (Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2018), http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/secondary/canworld910curr2018.p…

Subsequent Footnotes/Endnotes

2. Ontario Ministry of Education, Canadian and World Studies, 2018.

Bibliography

LastName, FirstName. Title of Document. Publisher, date. URL.

Example

Ontario Ministry of Education. The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10: Canadian and World Studies, 2018. Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2018.  http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/secondary/canworld910curr2018.pdf

NOTE: The URL must correspond to the digital access of the document. The URL cannot be the document's file location on your computer.

Blog Entry

Citations for blogs should include the author of the blog entry, name of the entry, the title of the blog itself, date of the entry and the web address (URL).

First Footnote/Endnote

1. Brent Wood, "Love in a Dangerous Time," PCVS Corner Stone (blog), 28 June 2012, http://pcvscornerstone.blogspot.ca/2012/06/love-in-dangerous-time.html.

Subsequent Footnotes/Endnotes

2. Wood, "Love in a Dangerous Time."

Bibliography

LastName, FirstName. "Title of blog entry." Title of Blog (blog). Larger Publication [if applicable], Date of entry. URL

Example

Wood, Brent. "Love in a Dangerous Time." PCVS Corner Stone (blog). 28 June 2012, http://pcvscornerstone.blogspot.ca/2012/06/love-in-dangerous-time.html

Notice:

  • The name of the web site is italicized.
  • If a blog is part of a larger publication, such as a news website, include that information as the larger publication after the blog site.

Digital Media (YouTube Video and Podcasts)

Citations for YouTube videos and podcasts should include the author/creator of the work and name of the work followed by information about its online format including the online format, runtime, posting date, and web address (URL). If you are citing a video/podcast that is a re-posting of a previous event, you should also include information about where it was originally performed/created.

Note that you do not have to include the date that you accessed the materials unless it is a time sensitive issue or you are advised to do so by your professor.

First Footnote/Endnote

1. Hbomberguy, "Plagiarism and You(Tube)," YouTube, December 2, 2023, 3:51:09. https://www.youtube.come/watch?v=yDp3cB5fHXQ.

Subsequent Footnotes/Endnotes

2. Hbomberguy, "Plagiarism and You(Tube)."

Bibliography

Last name, First name of Speaker/Creator. "Title of Video." Website, Date. Running Time. Original Publication Information (if any). URL

Example

Hbomberguy, "Plagiarism and You(Tube)," YouTube, December 2, 2023, 3:51:09. https://www.youtube.come/watch?v=yDp3cB5fHXQ.

Notice:

  • If the video is posted by a channel not identified by an individual's name, use the channel name.
  • The first footnote uses the author's first name and then last name. The shortened footnote only uses the author's last name, if known.

Content or Course Notes Posted on Blackboard

First Footnote/Endnote

1. Academic Skills Centre, "Why is Academic Integrity Important?," Academic Integrity at Trent 2022-23, Trent University Blackboard, https://learn.trentu.ca/webapps/blackboard/execute/displayLearningUnit?…

Subsequent Footnotes/Endnotes

2. Academic Skills Centre, "Why is Academic Integrity Important?"

Bibliography

LastName, FirstName. "Title of Document or Page." Title of Blackboard Site.  Site Sponsor. URL

Example

Academic Skills Centre. "Why is Academic Integrity Important?" Academic Integrity at Trent 2013-14. Trent University Blackboard https://learn.trentu.ca/webapps/blackboard/execute/displayLearningUnit?c...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Generator (like OpenAI ChatGPT)

The Chicago Manual of Style Online provides discussion in their Q&A section about practices for acknowledging content generated by artificial intelligence; they also explain that conventions will continue to change over time. Students and scholars should refer back to the Manual for updates to these conventions. 

The Manual indicates that AI generators can be cited in a footnote. Any changes to the text generated by the application should be noted in the footnote. Include information about the prompt in your text or in your footnote.

First Footnote/Endnote

1. Response to "Tell me why the CMOS is the best citation style," Copilot, Microsoft, April 16, 2025.

Subsequent Footnotes/Endnotes

2. Response to "Tell me why the CMOS is the best citation style," Copilot.

Bibliography

Publisher. Response to "Prompt." AI Model, Date. URL.

Example

Microsoft. Response to "Tell me why the CMOS is the best citation style." Copilot, April 16, 2025. 

NOTE: Provide a link to the output URL after the date in the endnote and URL is able. 

Trent University respectfully acknowledges it is located on the treaty and traditional territory of the Mississauga Anishnaabeg. We offer our gratitude to First Peoples for their care for, and teachings about, our earth and our relations. May we honour those teachings.

The Campaign For
Momentous
Action Research Leadership Debate Performance Connection Discovery Ideas Places Stewardship Support Possiblity

Peterborough

1600 West Bank Drive
Peterborough, ON Canada, K9L 0G2

Toll Free: 1-855-MY-TRENT

Campus Map

Durham Greater Toronto Area

55 Thornton Road South
Oshawa, ON Canada, L1J 5Y1

Phone: 905-435-5100

Campus Map

Social Media Directory