Turabian style, also known as Chicago style, is a citation and formatting style used widely in the humanities, particularly in history and political science. Developed by Kate L. Turabian, the University of Chicago's dissertation secretary, it is based on the Chicago Manual of Style, but with specific guidelines for students and researchers writing papers, theses, and dissertations.
One of the key features of Turabian style is the use of footnotes or endnotes to provide in-text citations and a bibliography at the end of the document. Footnotes and endnotes are used to provide additional information or to give credit to the sources of quotes, ideas, or other information used in the text. They also allow the reader to easily locate the source material for further study.
Turabian style includes specific guidelines for formatting the document itself, including margins, font size and type, and the use of headings. It also provides guidelines for creating a title page, table of contents, and other front matter.
In addition to the use of footnotes and endnotes, Turabian style also requires the use of a bibliography, which lists all of the sources used in the document in alphabetical order. The bibliography should include all sources cited in the text, as well as any additional sources that the writer found useful in their research.
Turabian style is often used in academic settings, particularly in the humanities, as it allows for a clear and organized presentation of research. It is important for writers to follow the guidelines of Turabian style carefully in order to ensure that their work is properly credited and easy to read and understand. By using Turabian style, writers can present their research in a professional and scholarly manner, which is essential in the academic world.