How to Cite a Magazine Article in Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography)

This guide explains how to format a magazine article citation in Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography). 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 magazine article in Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography):

Template

Note: Author First Last, "Title of Article," Magazine Name, Month Day, Year, page range. Bibliography: Last, First. "Title of Article." Magazine Name, Month Day, Year.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

1. Rebecca Solnit, "The Myth of the Lone Genius," The New Yorker, March 15, 2024, 34.

Bibliography Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your bibliography:

Bibliography entry

Solnit, Rebecca. "The Myth of the Lone Genius." The New Yorker, March 15, 2024.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Format the author name
In notes, use First Name Last Name. In the bibliography, invert the first author's name to Last Name, First Name.
2
Write the article title
Place the article title in quotation marks using headline-style capitalization. Follow with a comma inside the closing quotation mark.
3
Italicize the magazine name
Italicize the magazine title and use headline-style capitalization. Follow with a comma.
4
Add the publication date
Include the full date (Month Day, Year) for weekly or biweekly magazines. For monthly magazines, use Month Year.
5
Include page numbers or URL
Add the specific page number in notes. For online articles, include the URL at the end.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Confusing magazine citations with journal article citations — magazines use the full date instead of volume and issue.
Forgetting to italicize the magazine name.
Including magazine articles in the bibliography when Chicago recommends citing them in notes only.
Using volume/issue numbers instead of the full date for monthly or weekly magazines.
Omitting the article title's quotation marks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do magazine articles go in a Chicago bibliography?

Generally, no. Chicago typically cites magazine articles in notes only. If a magazine article is critical to your argument, your instructor or publisher may allow a bibliography entry.

How do I distinguish a magazine from a journal in Chicago style?

Magazines are non-scholarly periodicals aimed at a general audience and cited by date. Journals are scholarly periodicals cited by volume and issue number.

How do I cite an online magazine article with no page numbers?

Omit the page number and include the URL at the end of the citation. In the note, you may add a paragraph number or section heading if needed for pinpointing.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your magazine article:

Author
Title
Magazine Name
Date
Pages
URL

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Step-by-Step Guide

Format the author name

In notes, use First Name Last Name. In the bibliography, invert the first author's name to Last Name, First Name.

Write the article title

Place the article title in quotation marks using headline-style capitalization. Follow with a comma inside the closing quotation mark.

Italicize the magazine name

Italicize the magazine title and use headline-style capitalization. Follow with a comma.

Add the publication date

Include the full date (Month Day, Year) for weekly or biweekly magazines. For monthly magazines, use Month Year.

Include page numbers or URL

Add the specific page number in notes. For online articles, include the URL at the end.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Confusing magazine citations with journal article citations — magazines use the full date instead of volume and issue.

Forgetting to italicize the magazine name.

Including magazine articles in the bibliography when Chicago recommends citing them in notes only.

Using volume/issue numbers instead of the full date for monthly or weekly magazines.

Omitting the article title's quotation marks.