How to Cite The Guardian in Chicago 17 Format

The Guardian presents several unique citation challenges for Chicago 17th Edition formatting. As a major British newspaper published in both print and digital editions, citing The Guardian requires attention to its UK-style date formatting conventions, its distinct website structure (theguardian.com), and the distinction between its various sections and supplements. Additionally, The Guardian frequently publishes content under section-specific branding—such as Guardian Long Read or Guardian US—which can affect how you identify and cite the source. This guide provides specific templates and examples to ensure your Guardian citations are accurate and consistent.

Where to Find Citation Information on The Guardian

Locating the correct bibliographic details on The Guardian's website is straightforward once you know where to look. Here is a breakdown of where to find each element:

• Author name: The byline appears directly below the headline. The Guardian typically displays the full name of the author linked to their contributor profile. If no author is listed, the article may be credited to "Guardian staff reporter" or a specific desk such as "Guardian editorial." In these cases, omit the author and begin with the article title.
• Article title: Use the main headline as it appears on the page. The Guardian often uses a headline and a standfirst (a summary line below the headline). Cite only the main headline, not the standfirst.
• Publication date: The date and time appear below the byline, typically in the format "Wed 15 Jan 2025 14.30 GMT." Use only the date (not the time or time zone) and convert it to Chicago format: January 15, 2025.
• Section: The Guardian organizes articles into sections like World, Opinion, Sport, and Culture. You do not need to include the section in your citation, but it can help you relocate the article.
• URL: Copy the URL from your browser's address bar. Guardian URLs follow a predictable pattern: https://www.theguardian.com/section/year/month/day/slug. Use the full URL without any tracking parameters (remove anything after a ? character).

Chicago 17 Citation Examples for The Guardian

Example 1: Standard News Article

First Footnote:

1. Patrick Wintour, "UK and EU Reach Agreement on Post-Brexit Security Cooperation," The Guardian, March 12, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/12/uk-eu-agreement-post-brexit-security.

Shortened Footnote:

2. Wintour, "UK and EU Reach Agreement."

Bibliography:

Wintour, Patrick. "UK and EU Reach Agreement on Post-Brexit Security Cooperation." The Guardian, March 12, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/12/uk-eu-agreement-post-brexit-security.

Example 2: Opinion or Comment Piece

Opinion pieces in The Guardian are cited the same way as news articles. You do not need to label the piece as an opinion column, but you may note it parenthetically if it adds clarity for your reader.

First Footnote:

3. Nesrine Malik, "The Myth of British Politeness Is Finally Crumbling," The Guardian, February 8, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/08/myth-british-politeness-crumbling.

Shortened Footnote:

4. Malik, "Myth of British Politeness."

Bibliography:

Malik, Nesrine. "The Myth of British Politeness Is Finally Crumbling." The Guardian, February 8, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/08/myth-british-politeness-crumbling.

Example 3: Article with No Named Author

When no individual author is identified, begin the footnote with the article title. In the bibliography, alphabetize by the first significant word of the title (ignoring "The," "A," or "An").

First Footnote:

5. "NHS Waiting Lists Hit Record High amid Staffing Shortages," The Guardian, January 20, 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jan/20/nhs-waiting-lists-record-high-staffing.

Shortened Footnote:

6. "NHS Waiting Lists."

Bibliography:

"NHS Waiting Lists Hit Record High amid Staffing Shortages." The Guardian, January 20, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jan/20/nhs-waiting-lists-record-high-staffing.

Example 4: Book Review or Long-Form Feature

The Guardian publishes long-form features under brands like "The Long Read." These are cited as standard newspaper articles. If the piece is a review, you may include that context after the title.

First Footnote:

7. Oliver Burkeman, "The Tyranny of Convenience: How Modern Life Became Impossible to Refuse," The Guardian, November 3, 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/news/2024/nov/03/tyranny-of-convenience-modern-life.

Shortened Footnote:

8. Burkeman, "Tyranny of Convenience."

Bibliography:

Burkeman, Oliver. "The Tyranny of Convenience: How Modern Life Became Impossible to Refuse." The Guardian, November 3, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/news/2024/nov/03/tyranny-of-convenience-modern-life.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Identify the Author

Find the byline below the article headline. Use the author's full name as displayed. If two or three authors are listed, include all names. For the footnote, write names in normal order (First Last). For the bibliography, invert the first author's name (Last, First).

Step 2: Copy the Exact Headline

Use the headline as it appears on the page. Place it in quotation marks. Apply headline-style capitalization per Chicago rules: capitalize the first and last words and all major words. The Guardian's own headlines often use sentence case (only the first word capitalized), so you will need to adjust the capitalization in your citation.

Step 3: Write the Publication Title

The newspaper title is The Guardian, italicized. Include "The" as part of the title since it is the official name. Do not add the city of publication—unlike lesser-known newspapers, The Guardian is widely recognized and does not require disambiguation.

Step 4: Format the Date

Convert the date to Chicago's month-day-year format. The Guardian's website displays dates in British format (e.g., "15 Jan 2025"), so reformat this as January 15, 2025. Spell out the month in full; do not abbreviate.

Step 5: Add the URL

Include the full URL for online articles. Remove any tracking parameters or session identifiers that may appear after a ? in the URL. Do not add a period after the URL in footnotes, but do end with a period in bibliography entries. If your instructor requires access dates, add "Accessed Month Day, Year" before the URL.

Step 6: Punctuate Correctly

In footnotes, separate elements with commas. In bibliography entries, separate major elements with periods. The article title is enclosed in quotation marks; the newspaper title is italicized. Ensure the period at the end of a bibliography entry follows the URL directly.

Common Mistakes When Citing The Guardian

• Using British date format: The Guardian displays dates as "15 January 2025." Chicago style requires "January 15, 2025." Always reformat the date.
• Dropping "The" from the title: The official name is The Guardian, not simply Guardian. Always include "The" and italicize the full title.
• Confusing The Guardian with The Observer: The Observer is The Guardian's sister Sunday newspaper. If the article was published in The Observer (check the masthead and URL, which will show theguardian.com/theobserver), cite it as The Observer, not The Guardian.
• Using sentence-case headlines: The Guardian's website uses sentence case for its headlines. Chicago style requires headline-style capitalization. For example, a Guardian headline reading "Climate crisis threatens coastal cities worldwide" should be cited as "Climate Crisis Threatens Coastal Cities Worldwide."
• Including tracking parameters in URLs: Guardian URLs sometimes include ?CMP= or other tracking codes. Strip these out so the URL is clean and permanent.
• Adding the city of publication: Unlike local or obscure newspapers, The Guardian does not need "London" or any city in parentheses after the title. Chicago 17 only requires a city for lesser-known papers that could be confused with others.
• Citing Guardian US or Guardian Australia incorrectly: The Guardian publishes regional editions, but the newspaper title remains The Guardian regardless of the edition. Do not write "The Guardian US" or "The Guardian Australia" as the publication title.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I cite The Guardian differently if I read the print edition?

Yes—if you accessed the print edition, omit the URL. The rest of the citation remains the same. In practice, most researchers access The Guardian online, and Chicago 17 generally prefers that you provide a URL when one is available, even if you also consulted the print version. If citing the print edition only, your bibliography entry would end with the date: Last Name, First Name. "Article Title." The Guardian, Month Day, Year.

How do I cite a Guardian podcast or video?

Guardian podcasts (such as "Today in Focus") and videos are not cited as newspaper articles. Instead, use Chicago's format for podcasts or multimedia. A podcast episode would be formatted as: First Name Last Name, host, "Episode Title," Today in Focus (podcast), The Guardian, Month Day, Year, audio, duration, URL. For detailed guidance on podcast citation, consult the Chicago 17th Edition guide.

Should I include an access date for Guardian online articles?

Chicago 17 does not require access dates for formally published online newspaper articles, since these have fixed publication dates. However, if your instructor or publisher requires access dates, add them before the URL: "Accessed March 1, 2025." If the article content is likely to change (such as a live blog or frequently updated breaking news story), including an access date is advisable.

How do I handle articles co-published by The Guardian and another outlet?

The Guardian occasionally co-publishes investigative pieces (e.g., as part of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists). Cite the version you actually read. If you read it on theguardian.com, cite it as a Guardian article. If the collaboration is significant to your argument, you can note the partnership in your text or in a footnote, but the citation itself should reflect the publication where you accessed the article.

Additional Resources

For the complete rules on citing newspaper articles and other sources in Chicago 17th Edition, see our comprehensive Chicago 17th Edition citation guide. If you are citing other types of newspaper articles beyond The Guardian, consult our guide to citing newspaper articles in Chicago format.