Cite a dataset in Chicago (author-date)
Datasets are cited so the reader can locate the exact version you used, which is why Chicago (author-date) (17th ed.) requires the publisher, the version or release date, and a persistent identifier like a DOI. The dataset title is italicized, and the format is noted in brackets.
Chicago (author-date) rules for a dataset
- Author is the dataset's creator or the publishing institution.
- Dataset title is italicized; specify the version or release date.
- Add [Data set] in square brackets after the title to indicate the format.
- Publisher is the repository hosting the data (e.g., Zenodo, Figshare, ICPSR).
- Include the DOI as a persistent identifier; URLs alone are not enough.
- Add the version or release date; repository name and URL go at the end.
Worked example
Chicago (author-date) · datasetA real dataset formatted using the Chicago (author-date) rules above.
Studies, NASA Goddard Institute for Space. 2024. "Global temperature anomalies, 1880-2024 [Data set]." Zenodo. accessed January 15, 2025. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1234567.
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