Chicago 18 (Notes) Figure / Chart / Graph Citation Generator

Citing a figure / chart / graph (visual data representation (chart, graph, or diagram)) under the Chicago Manual of Style (Notes and Bibliography System) framework requires combining Chicago Manual of Style (shortened note)'s punctuation hierarchy with the specific metadata of the source. To construct a compliant entry, researchers must collect the creator of the figure, year, figure title or caption, the source container (journal article, book, or website) where it appeared, page/figure number, and URL/DOI. In the body of your paper, Chicago Manual of Style (shortened note) utilizes superscript footnote or endnote numerals corresponding to full or shortened documentary notes at the bottom of the page, which links directly to an entry organized in alphabetical order by creator surname in the bibliography, paired with sequential numbering in the footnotes.

When formatting a figure / chart / graph in Chicago Manual of Style (shortened note), pay close attention to contributor names and capitalization. Specifically, Chicago Manual of Style (shortened note) enforces normal order (First Last) separated by commas in footnotes, but inverted order (Last, First) for the primary author in the bibliography, and applies headline-style Title Case across all source titles, using quotation marks for shorter works and italics for complete volumes. Chicago Notes & Bibliography separates elements with commas and parentheses in footnotes, but converts those exact same boundaries into periods in the final bibliography. Furthermore, if your figure / chart / graph does not display an individual creator, the rule is straightforward: attribute the figure to the authors of the overarching article or report in which the chart or graph was published.

For digital and online figure / chart / graph references, Chicago Manual of Style (shortened note) stipulates concluding the note or bibliography entry with a permanent DOI or URL followed by a terminal period. If you reproduce a chart or graph directly in your paper, most styles require a copyright attribution note underneath the figure in addition to a bibliography entry. Using the client-side Chicago Manual of Style (shortened note) Figure / Chart / Graph generator below, you can automatically parse URLs, DOIs, or ISBNs and apply these exact Citation Style Language (CSL) rules locally in your browser with zero server tracking.