Mistakes Checklist
Common Chicago Instagram Post Citation Mistakes
Published studies report citation/reference error rates between 25-54%. Use this page to catch the most frequent formatting failures before submission.
Top mistakes to avoid
- ⚠Linking to the profile instead of the individual post.
- ⚠Abbreviating the month name.
- ⚠Forgetting the period at the end of the citation.
- ⚠Omitting the handle from the author entry.
Wrong vs correct examples
Linking to profile instead of specific post
Wrong
NASA (@nasa). "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." Instagram, November 15, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/nasa/.
Correct
NASA (@nasa). "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." Instagram, November 15, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/.
Always use the specific post permalink, not the user's profile page. The profile URL does not identify which post you are citing.
Abbreviating month names
Wrong
NASA (@nasa). "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." Instagram, Nov. 15, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/.
Correct
NASA (@nasa). "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." Instagram, November 15, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/.
Chicago uses full, unabbreviated month names. Write "November," not "Nov." — this differs from MLA style.
Forgetting the period at the end of the citation
Wrong
NASA (@nasa). "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." Instagram, November 15, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/
Correct
NASA (@nasa). "The Pillars of Creation in stunning new detail." Instagram, November 15, 2024. https://www.instagram.com/p/DC5examplepost/.
Chicago bibliography entries end with a period, including after the URL.
Fix checklist
- ✓Use the caption text as the title, in quotation marks.
- ✓Write the handle in parentheses after the real name.
- ✓Use full month names — Chicago does not abbreviate months.
- ✓Link to the specific post permalink, not the user's profile.
Frequently asked questions
What if the Instagram post has no caption?
Write a brief description in square brackets (e.g., [Photograph of the Pillars of Creation]) and use it as the title.
Can I cite a private Instagram post?
Only cite publicly accessible posts so readers can verify your source. If a post requires an account to view, note this limitation in your citation.
Build the corrected citation now
Use the template and guide, then generate the final citation from verified academic sources.