Chicago 17th/18th · Graph
How to Cite A Graph in Chicago Edition
Chicago Notes & Bibliography asks for fuller repository detail when you cite a graph—especially medium, dimensions when known, and the holding institution with city—then a URL if you consulted a digital surrogate. Graph citations need enough axis and series context that a reader can find the original plotted data.
Image Citation Generator
Chicago Style (Notes & Bibliography)
17th/18th Edition (CMOS 14.235)1. Max Roser, Share of people living in extreme poverty, 2022, Graph, Our World in Data, https://ourworldindata.org/poverty.
💡 "Copy Formatted" copies with HTML styling so pasting into Microsoft Word or Google Docs retains italicized titles and indentation automatically.
Chicago formula for a graph
Creator Last Name, First Name. Title of Work. Year. Graph, dimensions. Institution, City. URL.
Italics: Italicize titles of artworks and photographs; medium and dimensions stay roman. Year position: After the title, before medium and repository details.
Worked example
In-text citation
(See note 1)
Template: Footnote number after the sentence; shortened subsequent notes.
Figure caption
Figure 1. Max Roser, Share of people living in extreme poverty, 2022. Our World in Data.
Special rules for graphs
- Preserve axis labels and units in your figure note when you reproduce the graph.
- If the graph comes from a journal article, cite the article as the container when required.
- Distinguish line graphs, bar graphs, and scatterplots in the format description when helpful.
Source of truth: The paper, report, or data portal that first published the graph axes and series.
Common mistakes
- Citing a blog that embeds the graph instead of the original dataset or paper.
- Leaving out the year the data series covers versus the year of publication.
- Forgetting an “adapted from” note after you restyle colors or crop axes.
FAQ
How do you cite a graph in Chicago?
Build one Chicago reference from creator → date → title → “Graph” → host. Then paste the finished string into your reference list; do not leave the format field blank or point to a search-results URL.
What is the in-text citation for a graph in Chicago?
Match the creator spelling used in the reference entry and apply Footnote number after the sentence; shortened subsequent notes.. If the graph is labeled as a numbered figure in the paper, add that figure number only where your instructor’s Chicago handout allows.
Do I need a figure caption when I include a graph in my paper (Chicago)?
Only if you reprint the visual. A mention in prose needs in-text + reference list; a reproduced graph also needs a numbered caption so readers can connect the picture on the page to the bibliography entry.
Where should I look for source details for a graph?
Start on the object or article page that displays the graph, then read the credit line, about panel, or download metadata. Skip aggregator cards and thumbnail feeds—they rarely carry a citable creator or permanent link.
What is a common mistake when citing graphs in Chicago?
Students often citing a blog that embeds the graph instead of the original dataset or paper. Another frequent miss: treating a cropped social share as the publisher of record.
How is citing a graph different from citing a generic online photo in Chicago?
A generic photo citation can stop at photographer + site + URL. For graphs, you also have to capture preserve axis labels and units in your figure note when you reproduce the graph. That extra field is what keeps the entry recoverable.