How to quote Britannica?

How to Quote Britannica Using Chicago Style for an Entry?

To quote Britannica in academic writing, particularly an entry from its online edition, you will typically use the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) format. This involves distinguishing between in-text citations (footnotes or endnotes) and entries in a bibliography, while incorporating specific details about the Britannica entry.

Citing Britannica in Chicago Style

Citing Britannica correctly ensures academic integrity and allows readers to locate the original source. The format varies slightly depending on whether the entry has a specific author and whether you are creating a note or a bibliography entry.

Core Components for Britannica Citations

When citing an entry from Britannica, ensure you include the following essential components:

• Source Name: Always italicized, this will be Britannica or Encyclopaedia Britannica.
• Entry Title: The specific article or topic name. This is crucial for guiding readers to the exact information. Sometimes, it might be identified with s.v. (sub verbo, meaning "under the word"), especially for entries that are treated like dictionary definitions or do not have a specific author.
• Author: The name of the author if one is provided for the specific entry you are citing. Many Britannica articles have named authors.
• Access Date: For online sources like Britannica, include the date you accessed the content. This is important as online content can be updated.
• URL: Provide the direct and stable link to the specific entry.

Citation Formats

Here are the standard Chicago Manual of Style formats for citing Britannica entries, both for notes and bibliography entries.

Notes (Footnotes or Endnotes)

Notes are used for in-text citations, appearing at the bottom of the page (footnotes) or at the end of the paper (endnotes). They provide full citation information for specific points.

• Format with an Author:
  When the Britannica entry you are citing has a clearly listed author:

  #. Author First Name Last Name, "Title of Entry," *Britannica*, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.

  • Example:
    1. Emily J. Smith, "Quantum Physics," Britannica, accessed October 26, 2023, https://www.britannica.com/science/quantum-physics.

• Format without an Author:
  If the Britannica entry does not list a specific author (which is common for many general or foundational entries):

  #. "Title of Entry," *Britannica*, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.

  • Example:
    1. "Impressionism," Britannica, accessed September 15, 2023, https://www.britannica.com/art/Impressionism.

Bibliography Entry

The bibliography appears at the end of your paper and provides a comprehensive list of all sources cited. Entries are typically listed alphabetically by the author's last name or by title if no author is present.

• Format with an Author:
  For entries with a listed author, the author's last name comes first for alphabetical ordering.

  Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Entry." *Britannica*. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.

  • Example:
    Smith, Emily J. "Quantum Physics." Britannica. Accessed October 26, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/science/quantum-physics.

• Format without an Author:
  If no author is listed, the entry begins with the title of the article.

  "Title of Entry." *Britannica*. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.

  • Example:
    "Impressionism." Britannica. Accessed September 15, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/art/Impressionism.

Understanding "s.v." in Britannica Citations

The abbreviation s.v. stands for "sub verbo," a Latin phrase meaning "under the word." In academic citations, s.v. is traditionally used when referring to a specific entry (or headword) in a dictionary or encyclopedia. This is particularly relevant when:

• No Specific Author: The entry does not have a named author, and you are referencing the topic's main entry.
• Focus on Headword: Your citation emphasizes looking up the term itself, rather than a narrative article.

While modern online encyclopedia articles often have distinct titles and authors, making s.v. less common in everyday citations, its inclusion in some guidance emphasizes that you are referring to a specific "word" or "term" as it appears in the encyclopedia's indexed entries. If you explicitly want to point to the headword as the primary identifier, or if an entry genuinely lacks a clear article title beyond its headword, s.v. can be used.

• Example using s.v. (when emphasizing the headword/entry itself):
  • Note:
    1. Britannica, s.v. "Democracy," accessed December 1, 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/democracy.
  • Bibliography:
    Britannica. S.v. "Democracy." Accessed December 1, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/topic/democracy.

Practical Examples