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Chicago Footnote Referencing - Theology students: eBooks

This guide provides information on how to reference using the Chicago Footnote referencing style. PLEASE NOTE: counselling and education students should use APA referencing style.

How to reference eBooks

Most of the Chicago style rules for referencing print books apply to referencing eBooks e.g. how to reference multiple authors, different editions, an edited book etc. Click on "Books" on the tab above for further details. 

Many eBooks now have page numbers which correlate with their print alternatives. If an eBook has page numbers then you provide those page numbers in your footnote, the same as you would for a print book. If an eBook does not have page numbers or does not have constant page numbers (e.g. in an eReader where the size of font or screen orientation can change the number of pages) then you can include a section title or a chapter or other number such as a paragraph number. If you are using a direct quote or paraphrase, be as specific as possible with the citation.

Many eBook providers now have a references/citation function that will produce a reference automatically. If you use this, make sure you check the style first, and double check the reference it creates.

There are some specific differences with referencing a eBooks. Below is specific information on how to reference:

  • an eBook accessed through an eReader (e.g. Kindle)
  • an online eBook
  • an eBook accessed through Perlego

NB: If a book is available as both a print book and eBook you should follow the rule "cite what you used" and cite whatever version of the book you accessed for your assignment. 

Specific examples of referencing eBooks

Footnote

1st citation 

First name Surname, Title of the Book: Subtitle of the Book (City of publication: Publisher, Year), page number(s), format

Alister McGrath, Theology: The Basics (Malden: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011), 176, Kindle.

 

Subsequent citations

Surname, Shortened Title of Book, page number(s).

McGrath, Theology, 233.

 

Bibliography

Surname, First name. Title of the Book: Subtitle of the Book. City of publication: Publisher, Year. Format.

McGrath, Alister. Theology: The Basics. Malden: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. Kindle.

Footnote

1st citation 

First name Surname, Title of the Book: Subtitle of the Book (City of publication: Publisher, Year), page number(s), URL/database

Albert Eichhorn and Hugo Gressman, The Lord's Supper in the New Testament (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2007), 60, EBSCO.*

 

Subsequent citations

Surname, Shortened Title of Book, page number(s).

Eichhorn and Gressman, The Lord's Supper, 55. 

 

Bibliography

Surname, First name. Title of the Book: Subtitle of the Book. City of publication: Publisher, Year. URL/database.

Eichhorn, Albert and Hugo Gressman. The Lord's Supper in the New Testament. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2007. EBSCO.

 

*Note that for this book, the URL would be very long and the page requires a login. In this case, providing the databse (EBSCO) is appropriate. If a book can be found without a login (such as on Google Books), then provide the shortest URL possible.

Footnote

1st citation 

First name Surname, Title of the Book: Subtitle of the Book (City of publication: Publisher, Year), section heading, Perlego

David A. deSilva, An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods and Ministry Formation (Downers Grove: IVP, 2020), "Pharisees," Perlego.

 

Subsequent citations

Surname, Shortened Title of Book, section heading.

deSilva, An Introduction to the New Testament, "Pharisees." 

 

Bibliography

Surname, First name. Title of the Book: Subtitle of the Book. City of publication: Publisher, Year. Perlego.

deSilva, David A. An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods and Ministry Formation. Downers Grove: IVP, 2020. Perlego.

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