When you reference a website in academic writing, Chicago style requires a precise footnote that guides readers to the exact source. This quick guide shows how to format that footnote correctly for online materials.
Use the structured overview below as a rapid reference for the core components of a Chicago website footnote, including elements, order, and punctuation.
| Element | Example | Notes | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author or Site Name | Jane Doe or Data Insights Blog | Use the organization name if no individual author is listed | Conditional |
| Page Title in Italics | Understanding Web Analytics | Sentence case, end with a period | Required |
| Site Name in Italics | Data Insights | Optional if same as author; end with a comma | Conditional |
| URL | https://www.datainsights.org/analytics-101 | Provide the direct link without wrapping | Required |
| Access Date | Accessed April 10, 2023. | Use when content changes frequently | Conditional |
Basic Format Rules for Chicago Website Footnotes
Author and Title Placement
Start with the author or the site name, followed by the page title in italics. Use sentence case for the title and end it with a period. If the author and site name are the same, you can omit the site name in the footnote to avoid repetition.
Next, italicize the name of the website and follow it with a comma. Include the full URL without marking it as a link or adding extra punctuation at the end. If the source is likely to change over time, add an access date after the URL.
Author-Page Style Footnotes for Online Articles
Single Author Web Article
For a standard blog post or news article with a clear author, list the author’s name, the article title in italics, the website name in italics, the URL, and the access date if relevant. Ensure punctuation follows Chicago guidelines, with commas separating elements and a period closing the entry.
Organization as Author
When a site or report is published by an organization rather than an individual, treat the organization as the author. Place the organization name first, then the page title, the site name, the URL, and an access date if the content is updated frequently.
Site Name Omission and Italic Rules
When to Skip the Site Name
If the website name is the same as the author or the title is self-explanatory, you may omit the site name. In these cases, move directly from the italics page title to the URL, keeping the structure clean and avoiding redundancy.
Italics and Punctuation Details
Always italicize standalone titles such as page or site names, but not the names of sections or articles within a site. Pay attention to commas between elements and ensure the URL is plain text, ending the footnote with a period.
FAQ
How do I footnote a webpage with no author in Chicago style?
List the site or page title as the first element, italized, followed by the website name, the URL, and an access date if the content may change.
Should I include an access date for every website footnote?
Use an access date when the content is updated frequently or when your instructor or publisher requests it; otherwise, the URL alone may suffice.
Do I need to italicize the URL in a Chicago footnote?
No, URLs should appear as plain text and not be italicized or formatted as hyperlinks within the footnote.
What if the webpage is part of a larger site with no separate site name?
Use the page title in italics, followed by the URL, and add an access date if needed; you can omit a separate site name when it is unclear or redundant.