Turabian Format
First identify the required Turabian edition and citation system, then follow local assignment or institutional rules for matters such as title pages, margins, pagination, notes, bibliography, or author-date references. Turabian is closely related to Chicago, but a school’s dissertation or course requirements can override generic presentation advice.
Turabian adapts Chicago-style research and citation practices for students. As of October 1, 2026, the currently published manual is the ninth edition; the University of Chicago Press lists a tenth edition for November 2026. Use the edition required by your instructor or institution and recheck the manual when the new edition is released.
Key details
Further guidance
Chicago Relationship
Turabian adapts Chicago for student researchers but is not simply a synonym for every rule in the full Chicago Manual of Style.
Citation System
Determine whether the work requires notes and bibliography or author-date rather than mixing the two systems.
Edition Check
Check the edition named by the assignment or institution. On this guide’s review date, the ninth edition is still the current published manual and the tenth is forthcoming.
Local Rules
For theses, dissertations, and course papers, follow the institution’s local specifications for page layout, front matter, pagination, and submission even when they differ from a generic example.
Worked Example
If a graduate school requires Turabian ninth edition plus its own title-page and margin rules, follow that combination now; recheck the school and Press guidance after the tenth edition is actually published.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Tenth Edition (opens in a new tab)University of Chicago Press · University of Chicago Press lists the tenth edition for November 2026; on 2026-10-01 it is forthcoming rather than the current published edition.
- A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Ninth Edition (opens in a new tab)University of Chicago Press · University of Chicago Press lists the ninth edition as the published Turabian manual while the tenth edition is scheduled for November 2026.