Turabian Citation Machine
Get Turabian style citations and reference list for any source in no time with our online Turabian Citation Maker.
What Is the Turabian Citation Machine?
The Turabian Citation Machine is a free tool that formats citations to Kate L. Turabian's A Manual for Writers - the student adaptation of Chicago style required in many history, theology and social-science courses. Turabian covers two systems: notes-bibliography (footnotes plus bibliography, common in the humanities) and author-date (parenthetical citations plus reference list, common in the sciences). Paste a URL or enter details manually and the tool produces correctly formatted entries, saving you from the subtle differences between Turabian and full Chicago that markers love to catch.
How to Use the Turabian Citation Machine
- Paste your source URL into the generator above, or switch to manual entry.
- Click generate to receive the formatted citation.
- Confirm whether your course requires footnotes or author-date and use the matching format.
- Copy the entry into your bibliography or reference list, alphabetized by surname.
Turabian vs Chicago: What Students Need to Know
Turabian is Chicago simplified for student papers - the citation formats are nearly identical, but Turabian adds specific rules for the parts Chicago leaves to publishers: title pages, margins, headings and pagination. Most Turabian courses use the notes-bibliography system: superscript numbers in text, full footnotes below, bibliography at the end. The classic Turabian paper structure is title page, body, bibliography - check whether your department also wants a table of contents for longer papers. If you specifically need Chicago formatting, our Chicago NB and AD machines follow the full manual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Turabian citation machine free?
Yes - free and unlimited, with no account required.
Is Turabian the same as Chicago style?
Nearly - Turabian adapts Chicago for student research papers. Citation formats match closely, but Turabian adds explicit paper-formatting rules (title page, spacing, headings) that Chicago leaves open.
Which Turabian system should I use - notes or author-date?
Humanities courses usually require notes-bibliography; science and social-science courses usually require author-date. Your syllabus decides.
Which edition does the tool follow?
Turabian's 9th edition, aligned with the Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition.