How to cite an online journal article in Chicago

Chicago style online journal article citation

To cite an online journal article in a reference entry in Chicago style 17th edition include the following elements:

  1. Author(s) of the article: Give first the last name, then the name as presented in the source (e. g. Watson, John). For two authors, reverse only the first name, followed by ‘and’ and the second name in normal order (e. g. Watson, John, and John Watson). For more than seven authors, list the first seven names followed by et al.
  2. Title of the article: Give the title in quotation marks.
  3. Title of the journal: Give the title as presented in the source.
  4. Volume number: Give the volume number only.
  5. Issue number: Give the issue number preceded by the abbreviation 'no.'
  6. Year of publication: Give the year of publication as presented in the source.
  7. page numbers: Give the page number or full page range of the source.
  8. DOI: Give the DOI if available, if none, give the URL.

Here is the basic format for a reference list entry of an online journal article in Chicago style 17th edition:

Author(s) of the article. "Title of the article." Title of the journal Volume number, no. Issue number (Year of publication): page numbers. DOI.

Take a look at our reference list examples that demonstrate the Chicago style guidelines in action:

Examples

An online journal article with two authors and a DOI

Langner, Michael, and Ruedi Imbach. "The University of Freiburg: A Model for a Bilingual University." Higher Education in Europe 25, no. 4 (2000): 461–468. doi.org/10.1007/s10814-017-9105-3.

An online journal article with two authors and a DOI

Hofman, Courtney A., and Torben C. Rick. “Ancient Biological Invasions and Island Ecosystems: Tracking Translocations of Wild Plants and Animals.” Journal of Archaeological Research 26, no. 1 (2018): 65–115. doi.org/10.1080/03797720120037796.

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