Free Turabian Citation Generator
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Supports both Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date systems
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Why Use Our Turabian Citation Generator?
Real Academic Databases
Search 250M+ works from OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, CrossRef, and PubMed. Every Turabian citation links to real, verifiable academic literature.
9th Edition Compliant
Automatically formatted according to the Turabian 9th edition (2018). Proper footnote, bibliography, and author-date reference list formats.
Footnote Format Ready
Get complete footnote and shortened note forms for the Notes-Bibliography system. Ready to paste into your paper as superscript-numbered references.
Bibliography & Reference List
Citations are formatted for both bibliography entries (NB system) and reference list entries (Author-Date system). Alphabetically ordered and properly indented.
How to Cite in Turabian 9th Edition
Turabian provides two citation systems. The Notes-Bibliography (NB) system uses footnotes and a bibliography. The Author-Date (AD) system uses parenthetical citations and a reference list.
Notes-Bibliography System
Book (Note)
Book (Bibliography)
Journal Article (Note)
Journal Article (Bibliography)
Website (Note)
Website (Bibliography)
Author-Date System
Book (Reference List)
Journal Article (Reference List)
Key Turabian Formatting Rules
- Notes-Bibliography: first note uses full citation; subsequent notes use shortened form
- Shortened note: Last name, Shortened Title, page number
- Bibliography entries use hanging indent (first line flush left)
- Author-Date in-text: (Last Year, page) — e.g., (Smith 2024, 45)
- Titles of longer works in italics; shorter works in quotation marks
Turabian 9th Edition Citation Examples
Book (Notes-Bibliography)
Note: 1. Martha C. Nussbaum, The Monarchy of Fear: A Philosopher Looks at Our Political Crisis (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2018), 73.
Bibliography: Nussbaum, Martha C. The Monarchy of Fear: A Philosopher Looks at Our Political Crisis. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2018.
Journal Article (Notes-Bibliography)
Note: 2. Sarah Chen and James Rivera, "Neural Networks in Climate Modeling," Nature Climate Change 14, no. 3 (2024): 245–261, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-00123.
Bibliography: Chen, Sarah, and James Rivera. "Neural Networks in Climate Modeling." Nature Climate Change 14, no. 3 (2024): 245–261. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-00123.
Website
Note: 3. United Nations, "Sustainable Development Goals," United Nations, accessed March 15, 2026, https://sdgs.un.org/goals.
Bibliography: United Nations. "Sustainable Development Goals." United Nations. Accessed March 15, 2026. https://sdgs.un.org/goals.
Journal Article (Author-Date)
In-text: (Patel and Kim 2023, 112)
Reference List: Patel, Ravi, and Soo-Jin Kim. 2023. "Machine Learning Applications in Epidemiology." American Journal of Public Health 113 (4): 501–519. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.306789.
Shortened Note (Subsequent Citations)
First note: 1. Martha C. Nussbaum, The Monarchy of Fear (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2018), 73.
Shortened note: 4. Nussbaum, Monarchy of Fear, 91.
Use shortened form for all subsequent citations of the same source
Examples formatted in Turabian 9th Edition
Turabian In-Text Citations
Notes-Bibliography
Superscript number after punctuation, full note on first citation:
Author-Date
Parenthetical citation with author, year, and page:
Turabian vs Chicago: Quick Reference
| Feature | Turabian (9th Edition) | Chicago (17th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| Intended audience | Students and researchers | Publishers, editors, professional writers |
| Citation systems | Notes-Bibliography & Author-Date | Notes-Bibliography & Author-Date |
| Scope | Focused on student papers and theses | Comprehensive (publishing, grammar, usage) |
| Paper formatting | Detailed thesis/dissertation guidelines | Minimal paper formatting guidance |
| Citation formatting | Nearly identical to Chicago | The authoritative source |
Turabian is recommended for most student papers. Try our Chicago generator
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Turabian citation style?
Turabian is a citation style based on Kate L. Turabian's "A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations." It is a simplified version of the Chicago Manual of Style, designed specifically for students and researchers. The current version is the 9th edition (2018).
What are the two Turabian citation systems?
Turabian offers two citation systems: (1) Notes-Bibliography (NB), used mainly in humanities, which uses footnotes or endnotes with superscript numbers plus a bibliography; and (2) Author-Date (AD), used mainly in sciences and social sciences, which uses parenthetical in-text citations plus a reference list.
How do Turabian footnotes work?
In the Notes-Bibliography system, a superscript number is placed in the text after the relevant passage. The corresponding footnote at the bottom of the page (or endnote at the end of the chapter) provides full bibliographic details on first citation. Subsequent citations of the same source use a shortened form with author last name, shortened title, and page number.
Is this Turabian citation generator free?
Yes. CiteMe lets you generate Turabian 9th edition citations for free. Search real academic databases including OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, and CrossRef to find and format references automatically.
What is the difference between Turabian and Chicago style?
Turabian is based on the Chicago Manual of Style but simplified for students. Chicago is the comprehensive style guide used by publishers and professional writers. The main differences are that Turabian omits publisher-specific rules (e.g., manuscript preparation for typesetting), focuses on student paper formatting, and provides clearer guidance on thesis/dissertation requirements.
How do I cite a website in Turabian format?
In Notes-Bibliography: Footnote: Author First Last, "Page Title," Website Name, published or modified date, accessed date, URL. Bibliography: Author Last, First. "Page Title." Website Name. Published or modified date. Accessed date. URL.
When should I use Notes-Bibliography vs Author-Date?
Use Notes-Bibliography (NB) for humanities disciplines such as history, literature, philosophy, and the arts. Use Author-Date (AD) for sciences and social sciences. Always follow your instructor's or department's requirements, as preferences vary by institution.
What edition of Turabian is current?
The current edition is the 9th edition, published in 2018. It was revised by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, Joseph Bizup, and William T. FitzGerald, and is aligned with the 17th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style.
How do I format a Turabian bibliography?
The bibliography appears at the end of the paper. Entries are listed alphabetically by author's last name, with a hanging indent (first line flush left, subsequent lines indented). Single-author entries precede multi-author entries beginning with the same name. For the Notes-Bibliography system, the heading is "Bibliography"; for Author-Date, it is "References" or "Reference List."
Do I need both footnotes and a bibliography in Turabian?
In the Notes-Bibliography system, yes — you include both footnotes (or endnotes) and a bibliography. The notes provide citation details at the point of reference, while the bibliography gives readers a complete alphabetical list of all sources consulted. Some instructors may allow notes only or bibliography only, so always check assignment requirements.
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