Cite reports and web documents (PDFs) in Chicago
Learn how to cite reports and web documents in Chicago Note 18 style. Use correct templates for PDFs, printed reports, and royal commission sources to reference sources accurately in your writing.
Footnotes
- Cite similar to books with either a DOI or URL at the end.
- Footnotes use commas between citation elements.
- Use the author(s) full name in the footnotes.
- If the source has more than two named authors cite only the first listed author followed by ‘et al’.
| Citation format | Example |
| Template | # First Name Last Name, Document Title, (Publisher, Year), Page(s), DOI or URL. |
| Full note | 2 Tanya Notley et al., Adult Media Literacy in 2024: Australian Attitudes, Experiences and Needs (Western Sydney University; Queensland University of Technology; University of Canberra, 2024), 1-126. https://doi.org/10.60836/n1a2-dv63. |
| Subsequent note | 6 Notley et al., Adult Media Literacy. |
Bibliography
- A bibliography uses full stops between citation elements.
- The first author of a source is presented Last Name, First Name(s). Additional authors are presented First Name(s) Last Name.
- List up to six authors/editors in the bibliography. If there are more than six, list the first three authors/editors followed by 'et al'.
| Reference format | Example |
| Template |
Last Name, First Name(s). Document Title. Publisher, Date. DOI or URL. |
| Bibliography entry |
Notley, Tanya, Simon Chambers, Sora Park and Michael Dezuanni. Adult Media Literacy in 2024: Australian Attitudes, Experiences and Needs. Western Sydney University; Queensland University of Technology; University of Canberra, 2024. https://doi.org/10.60836/n1a2-dv63. |
Footnotes
- Cite similar to books with either a DOI or URL at the end.
- Footnotes use commas between citation elements.
- An organisation may be both the author and publisher of a source. Include the name of the organisation in both sections.
| Citation format | Example |
| Template | #Organisation Name, Document Title, (Publisher, Year), Pages(s), DOI/URL. |
| Full note | 12 National Indigenous Australians Agency, Closing the Gap: Combined 2024 Annual Report and 2025 Implementation Plan, (Commonwealth of Australia, 2025), 89, https://www.niaa.gov.au/sites/default/files/reports/closing-the-gap-2018/sites/default/files/ctg-report-20183872.pdf |
| Subsequent note | 13 National Indigenous Australians Agency, Closing the Gap, 89. |
Bibliography
- A bibliography uses full stops between citation elements
- An organisation may be both the author and publisher of a source. Include the name of the organisation in both sections.
| Reference format | Example |
| Template |
Organisation Name. Document Title. Publisher, Year. DOI/URL. |
| Bibliography entry |
National Indigenous Australians Agency, Closing the Gap: Combined 2024 Annual Report and 2025 Implementation Plan. Commonwealth of Australia, 2025. https://www.niaa.gov.au/sites/default/files/reports/closing-the-gap-2018/sites/default/files/ctg-report-20183872.pdf |
Footnotes
- Government reports often have a catalogue or report number. Include this information if it is available.
- Government organisations can be both the author and publisher of a document. Include the name of the organisation in both sections.
| Citation format | Example |
| Template | #Organisation Name, Document Title, Catalogue Number, (Publisher, Year), DOI/URL. |
| Full note | 12 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs in Australia, Cat no. PHE 221, (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2025), https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol/alcohol-tobacco-other-drugs-australia/contents/about |
| Subsequent note | 13 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs. |
Bibliography
| Reference format | Example |
| Template |
Organisation Name. Document Title. Catalogue Number. Publisher, Year. DOI/URL. |
| Bibliography entry |
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs in Australia. Cat no. PHE 221. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2025. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol/alcohol-tobacco-other-drugs-australia/contents/about |