Ever found yourself staring at a website, wondering how on earth to give it its proper due in your footnotes or bibliography? It's a common hurdle, especially when you're deep into research and the Chicago style is your guide. Think of it like this: you've discovered a fantastic hidden gem online, and now you need to tell others exactly where to find it, just like you'd point a friend to a great little cafe.
Let's break down how to do this, keeping it as straightforward as possible. The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) has specific ways to handle these digital sources, and it's not as daunting as it might seem.
The Basics: General Website Content
Sometimes, websites are a bit like a mystery novel – information might be missing. You might not find an author's name, or perhaps a publication date is nowhere to be seen. Don't panic! If there's no author, the title of the page itself steps in as the first element in your footnote. For your bibliography, the name of the site's owner or sponsor takes on the author's role. And if dates are elusive? That's where the 'access date' comes in – the day you visited and consulted the page. For those using the author-date system, you'll use 'n.d.' (no date) in place of the year if that's all you have.
Here's a peek at the structure for the notes-bibliography system:
Footnote:
- Author First Name Author Last Name, “Title of Web Page,” Name of Website, Owner/Sponsor, Publication/Modification/Access Date, URL.
Example: 1. “The Society,” The Bibliographical Society of America, accessed March 26, 2020, https://bibsocamer.org/about-us/the-society/.
Bibliography: Author Last Name, Author First Name/Owner/Sponsor. “Title of Web Page.” Name of Website. Publication/Modification/Access Date. URL.
Example: The Bibliographical Society of America. “The Society.” Accessed March 26, 2020. https://bibsocamer.org/about-us/the-society.
When It Looks Like a Magazine or Newspaper Article
Found a great article on a news site or an online magazine? The good news is, it's often very similar to citing a print version. You'll use the same basic format, but you'll tack on the URL at the end. Just be sure you're not confusing this with a journal article citation, as those have their own distinct Chicago style.
Footnote:
- Author First Name Author Last Name, “Title of Article,” Name of Newspaper or Magazine, Publication Date, URL.
Example: 1. Elliot Brown, “In Silicon Valley, the Big Venture Funds Keep Getting Bigger,” Wall Street Journal, July 25, 2017, https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-silicon-valley-the-big-venture-funds-keep-getting-bigger-1501002000.
Bibliography: Author Last Name, Author First Name. “Title of Article.” Name of Newspaper or Magazine, Publication Date. URL.
Example: Brown, Elliot. “In Silicon Valley, the Big Venture Funds Keep Getting Bigger.” Wall Street Journal, July 25, 2017. https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-silicon-valley-the-big-venture-funds-keep-getting-bigger-1501002000.
Diving into Blogs and Their Comments
Blogs are a bit like personal journals or opinion pieces, and Chicago style treats them accordingly. Citing a blog post is quite similar to citing those online articles we just discussed. You'll italicize the blog's title and then add '(blog)' right after it. If the blog is part of a larger publication, you'll include that publication's name too.
Footnote:
- Author First Name Author Last Name, “Title of Blog Post,” Name of Blog (blog), Name of Publication (if applicable), Date Posted, URL.
Example: 1. Eric Limer, “Heck Yes! The First Free Wireless Plan is Finally Here,” Gizmodo (blog), October 1, 2013, https://gizmodo.com/heck-yes-the-first-free-wireless-plan-is-finally-here-1429566597.
Bibliography: Author Last Name, Author First Name. “Title of Blog Post.” Name of Blog (blog). Name of Publication (if applicable), Date Posted. URL.
Example: Limer, Eric. “Heck Yes! The First Free Wireless Plan is Finally Here.” Gizmodo (blog). October 1, 2013. https://gizmodo.com/heck-yes-the-first-free-wireless-plan-is-finally-here-1429566597.
What about comments on blog posts? If you're referencing a comment, you'll cite the original blog post itself in your reference list or bibliography. In your footnote, you'll list the commenter's name, the date they posted, and then a shortened version of the citation for the main blog post. It's all about giving credit where credit is due, even in the lively world of online discussions.
Remember, the goal is clarity and accuracy. By following these guidelines, you can confidently cite your web sources, ensuring your research is both thorough and properly attributed.