Footnote and Endnote Citations: How Chicago, Turabian, and OSCOLA Use Them

Footnotes vs. Endnotes

Both are forms of note-based citation, differing only in placement:

• Footnotes appear at the bottom of the same page as the superscript number they correspond to.
• Endnotes are collected together at the end of the chapter or document, in numerical order.

Word processors (Word, Google Docs) handle the numbering and placement automatically once you insert a footnote or endnote — the citation content you type is identical either way; only the location on the page differs. Most style guides let the writer (or publisher) choose between the two, though footnotes are more common in coursework since they keep the citation visible on the same page as the claim.

Full Notes vs. Short-Form Notes

A defining feature of footnote systems is that the first citation of a source gets a full note with complete bibliographic information, while every subsequent citation of that same source uses a much shorter form.

Older editions of Chicago used "ibid." (Latin for "in the same place") for a source cited immediately after itself, but the 17th edition recommends the shortened author-title form instead, since it's clearer when notes are renumbered or reordered.

The Bibliography

Even though footnotes already contain full citation information the first time a source appears, the Chicago Notes-Bibliography system also requires a bibliography page at the end — an alphabetically ordered list of every source cited, formatted slightly differently from the footnote version (inverted author name, periods instead of commas between elements).

Turabian: The Student Version of Chicago

Turabian is a simplified adaptation of Chicago style, created specifically for student papers, theses, and dissertations (named after Kate L. Turabian, who developed it at the University of Chicago). It follows the same Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date options as Chicago, with minor adjustments suited to academic submission rather than publishing — for example, slightly different formatting guidance for title pages and tables. If your assignment says "Turabian," follow Chicago's rules for notes and bibliography unless your institution specifies a particular difference.

Legal Citation: OSCOLA and Bluebook

Legal citation systems are footnote-based but follow entirely different abbreviation and formatting conventions from academic footnote styles, since they cite cases, statutes, and legal commentary rather than journal articles and books.

• OSCOLA (Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities) is the standard in UK and Commonwealth legal writing. Case citations include the case name, year, volume, and law report abbreviation — e.g., Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562.
• Bluebook is the dominant legal citation system in the United States, used in law reviews, court documents, and most US law school writing. It uses extensive abbreviations for case reporters, statutes, and journals.

Both rely heavily on footnotes for case citations, statutory references, and secondary legal commentary, often citing far more densely per page than academic footnote styles.

When You'll Encounter Footnote Citation

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need both footnotes and a bibliography, or just one?

In Chicago Notes-Bibliography and Turabian, both are typically required — the bibliography gives readers a quick alphabetical reference, while footnotes provide the citation exactly where it's used, often with added context the writer chooses to include.

Can I use "ibid." in modern Chicago style?

The 17th edition discourages it in favor of shortened author-title notes, though some instructors still accept it — check your specific course guidance.

How is a footnote different from an explanatory or content note?

A citation footnote exists purely to identify a source. An explanatory note adds commentary, context, or an aside the writer didn't want to put in the main text — Chicago style allows both types in the same numbered sequence.