Chicago 17th Author-Date is an author-date referencing style used across a broad range of subject areas. It is based on the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition.
Note: The 18th edition of the Chicago Manual was released in September 2024. This referencing guide will be updated to comply with Chicago 18th for Semester 2, 2025. What’s New in the 18th Edition?
This guide is primarily for students completing assignments at Curtin University. If you are publishing (e.g. journal article, PhD), please consult the above publication as the examples provided here may differ slightly from the requirements outlined in the official style guide.
What is referencing?
Referencing is a standardised method of acknowledging sources of information that you have used in your assignments or research, in a way that uniquely identifies the source. It is not only necessary for avoiding plagiarism, but also for supporting your ideas and arguments.
A printable Chicago 17th Author-Date referencing guide is available on the UniSkills downloads page.
Note on assignment formatting
Please check your unit outline/Blackboard for assignment formatting requirements (such as fonts, headers, spacing, word counts etc.) and assignment cover sheets. PhD and Masters by research students should consult the relevant publication manual for formatting information.
Need to use Chicago 17th Footnotes referencing?
If you are required to use the footnotes version of the Chicago referencing style, Chicago 17th Footnotes, you can consult the Chicago Manual of Style, Notes and Bibliography: Sample Citations Citation Quick Guide, which provides examples and instruction for commonly used sources of information. You should also check your Unit Outline for any specific guidance from your Unit Coordinator.