How to Cite a Report in Chicago 17th Edition (Author-Date)

This guide explains how to format a report citation in Chicago 17th Edition (Author-Date). Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a report in Chicago 17th Edition (Author-Date):

Template

Author/Organization. Year. Title of Report. Place: Publisher. URL.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(National Institute of Mental Health 2022, 12)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

National Institute of Mental Health. 2022. Technology and the Future of Mental Health Treatment. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/technology-and-the-future-of-mental-health-treatment.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the author
Use the individual author(s) in Last, First format, or the organizational name. For government reports, use the most specific issuing agency.
2
Add the year
Place the year immediately after the author/organization, followed by a period.
3
Write the report title
Italicize the title with headline-style capitalization. Include the report number after the title if one exists.
4
Add publication information
Include the place of publication, a colon, and the publisher/issuing body. End with a period.
5
Include the URL
Provide the full URL where the report can be accessed. End with a period.
6
Format the in-text citation
Use (Organization Year) or (Organization Year, page) for direct quotes. Shorten long organization names if the abbreviation is well known.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Placing the year at the end of the entry instead of immediately after the author/organization.
Not italicizing the report title.
Omitting the place of publication.
Forgetting to include the URL for reports accessed online.
Not distinguishing between the authoring organization and the publisher.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I shorten a long organization name in Chicago Author-Date?

If you cite a report by a long-named organization multiple times, you may introduce an abbreviation in the first citation: (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH] 2022) and then use (NIMH 2022) thereafter. The reference list uses the full name.

Does Chicago Author-Date require the place of publication for reports?

Yes. Chicago style retains the place of publication for reports and government documents, regardless of whether the report was accessed online.

How do I handle a report with no individual author?

Use the organization or agency name as the author. In the in-text citation, use the organization name and year: (World Health Organization 2023). In the reference list, the organization name occupies the author position.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your report:

Author(s) or Organization
Year of publication
Title of report
Report number (if applicable)
Publisher or issuing organization
URL or DOI

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Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the author

Use the individual author(s) in Last, First format, or the organizational name. For government reports, use the most specific issuing agency.

Add the year

Place the year immediately after the author/organization, followed by a period.

Write the report title

Italicize the title with headline-style capitalization. Include the report number after the title if one exists.

Add publication information

Include the place of publication, a colon, and the publisher/issuing body. End with a period.

Include the URL

Provide the full URL where the report can be accessed. End with a period.

Format the in-text citation

Use (Organization Year) or (Organization Year, page) for direct quotes. Shorten long organization names if the abbreviation is well known.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I shorten a long organization name in Chicago Author-Date?

Does Chicago Author-Date require the place of publication for reports?

Yes. Chicago style retains the place of publication for reports and government documents, regardless of whether the report was accessed online.

How do I handle a report with no individual author?