Transitioning from a familiar citation style such as APA or MLA to Turabian Notes-Bibliography can initially pose significant challenges to students. Especially for graduate-level scholars in fields like global leadership, theology, history, or international development, the meticulous nature of Turabian style can lead to frequent mistakes. Recognizing these common pitfalls in advance can help students avoid errors and produce polished academic papers that meet scholarly standards.
Below is a comprehensive exploration of the most common mistakes made by students when shifting to Turabian Notes-Bibliography style, complete with explanations and corrected examples:
1. Misusing Footnotes and Bibliography Entries
Mistake: Confusing the formatting difference between footnotes and bibliography entries. Students often copy the same formatting for both sections, which is incorrect.
Correct Format:
-
Footnote (first reference):
¹ Peter G. Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, 8th ed. (Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2019), 45. -
Bibliography entry:
Northouse, Peter G. Leadership: Theory and Practice. 8th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2019.
Tip: Footnotes list the author's first name first and include exact page numbers, while bibliography entries reverse the author’s name (surname first) and typically omit the page number.
2. Incorrect Punctuation and Formatting
Mistake: Using APA punctuation and formatting conventions (such as parentheses or periods incorrectly placed).
Incorrect Example:
¹ Northouse, Peter G. (2019). Leadership: Theory and Practice (8th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Correct Example:
¹ Peter G. Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, 8th ed. (Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2019), 45.
Tip: In Turabian, edition information appears after the book title, and the publication year follows the publisher, enclosed in parentheses.
3. Failing to Use Shortened Citations Correctly
Mistake: Students repeatedly provide full citation details for subsequent citations of the same source rather than using the abbreviated form.
Correct Usage:
-
First Footnote:
¹ Joshua Jaebum Lee, Global Leadership Dynamics: Servanthood and Influence (Seoul: SIU Press, 2023), 78. -
Subsequent Footnotes:
² Lee, Global Leadership Dynamics, 80.
Tip: Once the complete citation has been provided, use only the author's last name, a shortened title, and the specific page number in later footnotes.
4. Omitting Page Numbers in Footnotes
Mistake: Leaving out page numbers in footnotes, especially when paraphrasing or quoting directly.
Incorrect Example:
¹ Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice.
Correct Example:
¹ Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, 45.
Tip: Always include page numbers for direct quotes, paraphrased statements, or specific ideas referenced.
5. Incorrect Formatting of Web Sources
Mistake: Not providing accurate URL or access dates for online sources.
Incorrect Example:
¹ Brad Glosserman, “Peak Japan: The End of Great Ambitions,” Japan Times, August 10, 2023.
Correct Example:
¹ Brad Glosserman, “Peak Japan: The End of Great Ambitions,” Japan Times, August 10, 2023, accessed March 20, 2025, https://www.japantimes.co.jp/peak-japan.
Tip: Web sources must include the complete URL and the access date to help verify online sources accurately.
6. Misunderstanding the Use of 'Ibid.'
Mistake: Incorrectly using or misusing "Ibid." for repeated footnotes.
Correct Usage:
- First Footnote:
¹ Lee, Global Leadership Dynamics, 78. - Immediately Following (same source, same page):
² Ibid. - Immediately Following (same source, different page):
³ Ibid., 80.
Tip: "Ibid." is only correctly used if the very next footnote references exactly the same source cited in the footnote immediately before it.
7. Incorrectly Formatting Multiple Authors
Mistake: Incorrect punctuation or incorrect use of "and" vs. "&".
Incorrect Example:
¹ Northouse, Peter G., & James P. Smith, Leadership in Practice, (New York: Academic Press, 2020), 12.
Correct Example:
¹ Peter G. Northouse and James P. Smith, Leadership in Practice (New York: Academic Press, 2020), 12.
Tip: Turabian style uses the word "and" to connect authors rather than an ampersand (&).
8. Using Italics or Quotations Incorrectly
Mistake: Misapplying italics or quotation marks for article titles and book titles.
Correct Formatting:
- Book title (italics): Leadership: Theory and Practice
- Article title (quotation marks): “Peak Japan: The End of Great Ambitions”
Tip: Books, journals, and newspapers use italics; article titles or chapters use quotation marks.
9. Neglecting to Alphabetize the Bibliography
Mistake: Presenting bibliography entries in random order rather than alphabetical by the author's surname.
Correct Format:
Bibliography entries should always be alphabetized by author’s last name:
Lee, Joshua Jaebum. Global Leadership Dynamics: Servanthood and Influence. Seoul: SIU Press, 2023.
Northouse, Peter G. Leadership: Theory and Practice. 8th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2019.
10. Misrepresenting Thesis or Dissertation Entries
Mistake: Incorrectly citing theses or dissertations, neglecting institutional details.
Correct Format Example:
¹ John Doe, “Global Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations” (PhD diss., Sudo International University, 2024), 35.
Bibliography:
Doe, John. “Global Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations.” PhD diss., Sudo International University, 2024.
How SIU Helps Students Master Turabian Style
At Sudo International University (SIU), situated in Kwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea, students are particularly guided to adhere rigorously to Turabian’s Notes-Bibliography style, reflecting SIU’s dedication to academic excellence in global leadership, theology, and international development. SIU actively supports students through detailed workshops, accessible style manuals, and extensive faculty mentoring, ensuring each student gains proficiency and confidence in scholarly writing.
Conclusion
Transitioning to Turabian Notes-Bibliography style is a necessary skill for rigorous academic disciplines. Awareness of common errors, combined with deliberate practice, detailed guidance, and proper examples, can significantly streamline the process, ensuring accuracy, credibility, and professionalism in your scholarly works. By avoiding these common mistakes, students can master this style and enhance their academic and professional credibility in the global scholarly community.
