Is Turabian style the same as Chicago style?

Almost.

Turabian = Kate L. Turabian’s Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations

Turabian is the student version of The Chicago Manual of Style, aimed at high school and college students who are writing papers, theses, and dissertations that are not intended for publication. The Chicago Manual of Style is aimed at professional scholars and publishers. The two books are compatible; both are official Chicago style.

Chicago = The Chicago Manual of Style: The Essential Guide for Writers, Editors, and Publishers (CMOS)

Turabian is written in Chicago style, but it’s much shorter than CMOS. There are many websites that show examples of citations in Turabian style. Here’s our quick guide.

For the most part, the citation styles are the same in both books. But Turabian gives paper formatting rules and covers the research and writing process in detail, whereas CMOS omits such advice and focuses on the publication process.

Quick guide to Turabian-style citations (for student papers, theses, and dissertations)
Quick guide to Chicago-style citations (for professional publishing)

More answers to student questions

~ ~ ~

#ChicagoStyle
Many libraries provide free access to The Chicago Manual of Style Online. If you aren’t sure whether your school subscribes, ask your librarian. In the meantime, click here for a free trial. Order the hardcover here.

#ChicagoStyle for Students
Kate Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, written specifically for students, covers every aspect of research paper writing, from thinking up a topic to submitting the paper in official Chicago format. Turabian’s guidelines are compatible with The Chicago Manual of Style.

Please see our commenting policy.