The Turabian style guide, widely used in the humanities, offers specific rules for formatting publication titles. Understanding these rules is crucial for producing academic work that is both clear and credible. This guide clarifies the nuances of citing publication titles in Turabian, ensuring your work adheres to the highest academic standards.
What is the Turabian Style?
Before diving into the specifics of publication titles, it's helpful to understand the Turabian style itself. Turabian, officially known as A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, provides comprehensive guidelines for formatting academic papers. It's closely related to the Chicago Manual of Style, with some key differences, primarily in its focus on student research papers.
How to Format Publication Titles in Turabian
The core principle in Turabian regarding publication titles lies in italicization. This is how you distinguish them from other elements within your text.
Books: Titles of books are always italicized. For example: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Journals: Titles of journals are also italicized. This applies to both full journal names and abbreviated versions if used consistently. Example: The American Historical Review.
Articles within Journals or Books: Unlike journal and book titles, article titles are placed in quotation marks. For instance: "The Roaring Twenties: A Re-evaluation." Note that this title is within a journal or a collection of essays.
Chapters in Books: Titles of chapters within books are also enclosed in quotation marks. Example: "The Symbolism of Green in The Great Gatsby."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many students and researchers make common errors when formatting titles in Turabian. Here are some crucial points to remember:
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Capitalization: While most titles follow title case (capitalizing the first letter of each significant word), always follow the original source's capitalization style to avoid discrepancies.
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Consistency: Maintain consistency throughout your paper. If you italicize a book title once, italicize all book titles. The same applies to quotation marks for articles and chapter titles.
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Online Publications: The rules for italicizing and using quotation marks remain the same regardless of whether the publication is print or online. The only change might concern the inclusion of URLs (which usually appear as footnotes or endnotes according to Turabian guidelines).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some common questions about Turabian and publication titles:
What about subtitles?
Subtitles follow the same formatting rules as the main title. If the main title is italicized, the subtitle is also italicized. If it's in quotation marks, so is the subtitle. Separate them with a colon. Example: The Great Gatsby: A Novel of the Jazz Age.
How do I cite a publication title in a footnote or endnote?
In a footnote or endnote, follow the prescribed Turabian citation format, ensuring the publication title is italicized or in quotation marks as appropriate. For example, a footnote might look like this: ¹F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (New York: Scribner, 1925), 25.
What if the publication title is in a foreign language?
Even if the title is in a foreign language, the same rules apply regarding italicization or quotation marks.
How should I handle titles within titles?
If a title appears within another title, use quotation marks around the inner title regardless of the main title’s formatting.
Conclusion
Mastering the proper formatting of publication titles in Turabian is essential for producing high-quality academic work. By understanding the core principles of italicization and quotation marks, and by avoiding common mistakes, you can ensure your citations are accurate, consistent, and adhere to the highest scholarly standards. Remember to consult the latest edition of A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations for the most up-to-date guidelines.
