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Subject Guide: Turabian Style

Overview

Seminaries use the Turabian Style Guide which is based on Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS). All resources in this Quick Guide are based on Turabian’s 9th edition, which is based on CMOS’s 17th edition. This means all bibliography entries, footnotes, fonts, margins, headings, and page numbering are determined by the Turabian Format Guide. 

  • There are two formats in Turabian: author-date and notes-bibliography. Use the notes-bibliography format.
  • (Purchase only) Book: Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (9th ed.)
  • Online Turabian Style Guide
Turabian Templates

It is expected in most courses that you use a Turabian Template. Global Christian University has one for Book Reports and one for Theological Research Papers (download these templates). In most cases, students will lose points on assignments if they do not use the template. There is no creativity allowed in margins, page numbering, font type or size, or other style specifications in Turabian.

Citing the Bible
  • Assume your reader knows the Bible well. It is not necessary to write out full quotes of verses from the Bible since your readers can find the references that you cite.
  • Footnote: when your paper cites from only one translation of the Bible, cite it with a footnote (not in the bibliography) at the first quotation of a verse. If you use multiple translations or versions of the Bible, then you would have to spell out the version used the first time you use each, and then use a series of abbreviations for subsequent citations in parentheses (NASB, ESV, KJV).
  • Citing a Bible verse can be done at the end of a sentence in parentheses in abbreviated form without the need of a footnote (Gen. 3:16). Or you can reference a verse in the sentence, for example, you may make a reference to Romans 1:16, and then you would not use the book’s abbreviation.
Turabian Footnotes and Bibliography
Quoting and Paraphrasing
  • Quotes are never more than 25% of academic work.
  • Paraphrases are preferred. This shows a higher level of academic synthesis. Still use a footnote and proper attribution when you are paraphrasing someone.
  • Quotes should not be more than 2 lines long in most cases.
  • All quotes and paraphrases should be set up with the author’s full name and with the author’s last name for any subsequent quotes. For example, Jack Smith says,… or Smith comments,…followed by the quote. This gives credit to the author in the body text.
  • Quotes should be followed with a footnote at the end of a sentence.
  • If you cite specific information or data like a date or specific idea that is not general knowledge, cite it with a footnote. Example: Crete is approximately 500 miles from Cyprus; this fact needs a footnote.
Quotes and Paraphrases
  • Quoting and Citing
Footnotes & Bibliography
  • Footnotes: footnotes (end of the page) are to be used instead of endnotes (end of the chapter). Most word processors include an “Insert” and “Footnote” feature. 
  • Footnotes: Ibid is no longer used for shortened footnote entries. Please include the Author_last_name, The Shortened Book Title, page_number. Shortened book titles are to be less than 4 words. 
  • Bibliography: Alphabetize all entries by the first word in each (usually the first author’s last name for each).
  • Bibliography: Use hanging indents (left-justify the first line of each entry and indent lines two+ of each entry ½” from the left margin)
Turabian Footnotes and Bibliography