APA vs Chicago Style — Which Citation Format to Choose?
Compare APA and Chicago (Turabian) citation styles. Learn the key differences, which disciplines use each, and how to format footnotes versus in-text citations.
| Feature | APA | Chicago Style |
|---|---|---|
| In-text Format | (Author, Year) | Footnote/endnote or (Author Year) |
| Reference Page | References | Bibliography |
| Footnotes | Not standard | Central to NB system |
| Primary Discipline | Social sciences | Humanities, history, publishing |
| Explanatory Notes | Not supported | Supported via footnotes |
| Archival Sources | Limited guidance | Extensive guidance |
| Publisher Use | Academic journals | Books, university presses |
| Current Edition | 7th (2020) | 17th (2017) |
Verdict
Use APA for social sciences, education, and psychology. Use Chicago Notes-Bibliography for history, art history, and humanities where explanatory footnotes are part of the scholarly tradition. Use Chicago Author-Date as an APA alternative in science contexts that prefer it. Always follow your instructor or publisher's specified style.
The Footnote Tradition in Humanities
Chicago's footnote system reflects a scholarly tradition in humanities where footnotes are not just citations but intellectual spaces. A historian might footnote a citation and add three sentences noting a counterargument, an interesting source that contradicts the text, or a tangential point that doesn't fit the main argument but is intellectually interesting to the reader. This discursive footnote tradition is common in history, philosophy, and legal writing. APA's parenthetical system doesn't allow for this — everything must be in the text or referenced without commentary. For disciplines where the footnote itself is part of the scholarly conversation, Chicago's system is genuinely more expressive.
Choosing Your Style for the Long Term
Graduate students often need to internalize one citation style deeply enough to use it automatically. The practical advice: learn the style required by your primary discipline (the one in which you'll publish and be reviewed) and use citation management software for all others. A psychology PhD should master APA; a history PhD should master Chicago NB. When writing across disciplines, citation software handles formatting — your mental bandwidth goes to the argument, not the citation mechanics. Most academic presses and journals specify their required style in submission guidelines, making the choice external to you in professional contexts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers is a simplified Chicago style guide specifically written for student papers and dissertations. Turabian is essentially Chicago style with student-specific guidance. Most university writing centers and instructors who say 'use Turabian' mean Chicago style.
In Chicago Notes-Bibliography style, footnotes (at the bottom of the current page) are generally preferred for ease of reading — the citation is immediately accessible. Endnotes (collected at the end of the document) are used when publishers prefer them (less visual clutter in print). Your instructor's or publisher's preference governs the choice.
Yes. Chicago 17 includes detailed guidance for web pages, social media, databases, and digital sources. Key elements: author, title of page, site name, publication/modification date, URL, and access date. Always include an access date for web sources that may change without notice.