Examples of Turabian Style Format for Websites: 3 Clear Models You Can Copy

1. Three core examples of Turabian style format for websites

Let’s start with what you actually need: real, ready-to-use examples of Turabian style format for websites. These 3 examples cover the situations students run into most often:

• A government website with an organization as author
• An online article with a named author and clear date
• A webpage with no date and no obvious individual author

Each example below is shown in two versions:

• Notes and bibliography (often used in history, theology, arts)
• Author-date (often used in social sciences, education, some sciences)

Throughout, I’ll point out patterns so you can adapt these examples of Turabian style format for websites to almost any online source you meet.

2. Example 1: Government website (organization as author)

This is one of the best examples of Turabian style format for websites because government sites are widely used in research and usually have clear titles and dates.

Source used: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 information page.

Sample webpage:

• Organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Page title: “COVID-19”
• Site title: “CDC”
• Last reviewed date: August 30, 2024 (assume for this example)
• URL: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• Accessed: October 5, 2025

You can check the real page here: CDC COVID-19.

Notes and bibliography format

First footnote:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “COVID-19,” CDC, last reviewed August 30, 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Shortened footnote (later citations):

2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “COVID-19.”

Bibliography entry:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “COVID-19.” CDC. Last reviewed August 30, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

This first model is a clean example of Turabian style format for websites when an organization is clearly responsible for the content.

Author-date format

In-text citation:

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2024)

Reference list entry:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2024. “COVID-19.” CDC. Last reviewed August 30, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Key pattern to copy:

• Use the organization name as the author.
• Put the page title in quotation marks.
• Italicize the larger site title.
• Include a specific date if available ("last reviewed” or “last updated").

Once you understand this pattern, you can build similar examples of Turabian style format for websites for other .gov pages, such as NIH or USA.gov.

3. Example 2: Online article with a named author (Harvard.edu)

Now let’s look at an example of Turabian style format for websites when there is a named author, which is common with university and organization blogs.

Source used: An article on sleep from Harvard Medical School.

Sample webpage:

• Author: Deepak L. Bhatt
• Page title: “Lack of Sleep: Can It Make You Sick?”
• Site title: “Harvard Health Publishing”
• Publication date: January 15, 2024 (assume for this example)
• URL: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/lack-of-sleep-can-it-make-you-sick
• Accessed: October 5, 2025

You can see the actual site here: Harvard Health Publishing.

Notes and bibliography format

First footnote:

3. Deepak L. Bhatt, “Lack of Sleep: Can It Make You Sick?,” Harvard Health Publishing, January 15, 2024, https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/lack-of-sleep-can-it-make-you-sick.

Shortened footnote:

4. Bhatt, “Lack of Sleep.”

Bibliography entry:

Bhatt, Deepak L. “Lack of Sleep: Can It Make You Sick?” Harvard Health Publishing. January 15, 2024. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/lack-of-sleep-can-it-make-you-sick.

This is one of the best examples of Turabian style format for websites when you have a clear author, date, and professional site. Many professors expect your citations to look exactly like this.

Author-date format

In-text citation:

(Bhatt 2024)

Reference list entry:

Bhatt, Deepak L. 2024. “Lack of Sleep: Can It Make You Sick?” Harvard Health Publishing. January 15, 2024. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/lack-of-sleep-can-it-make-you-sick.

Key pattern to copy:

• Start with the author’s last name, then first name.
• Put the article title in quotation marks.
• Italicize the site or publication name.
• Use the full date if it’s given.

With this structure, you can build your own examples of Turabian style format for websites from similar sources like Mayo Clinic or WebMD.

4. Example 3: Webpage with no date and no clear author

Sometimes you land on a page with no obvious author and no publication date. This is where students usually panic. Let’s look at a calm, clean example of Turabian style format for websites in that situation.

Sample webpage (hypothetical but realistic):

• No individual author listed
• Page title: “How to Prepare for a Research Presentation”
• Organization: “University Writing Center, State University”
• No publication or update date shown
• URL: https://www.stateuniversity.edu/writing-center/research-presentation-tips
• Accessed: October 5, 2025

Notes and bibliography format

First footnote:

5. “How to Prepare for a Research Presentation,” University Writing Center, State University, accessed October 5, 2025, https://www.stateuniversity.edu/writing-center/research-presentation-tips.

Shortened footnote:

6. “How to Prepare for a Research Presentation.”

Bibliography entry:

“How to Prepare for a Research Presentation.” University Writing Center, State University. Accessed October 5, 2025. https://www.stateuniversity.edu/writing-center/research-presentation-tips.

Author-date format

When there’s no date, Turabian allows you to use n.d. ("no date"). For in-text citations, if there’s no author, you can shorten the title.

In-text citation:

("How to Prepare for a Research Presentation” n.d.)

Reference list entry:

“How to Prepare for a Research Presentation.” n.d. University Writing Center, State University. Accessed October 5, 2025. https://www.stateuniversity.edu/writing-center/research-presentation-tips.

This gives you another solid example of Turabian style format for websites when the page doesn’t tell you much about who wrote it or when.

5. More real examples of Turabian style format for websites

To really master this, it helps to see several more real examples. Below are additional models that build on the 3 main patterns above.

Example: NIH health information page (organization author)

Source: National Institutes of Health

Assume this sample page:

• Organization: National Institutes of Health
• Page title: “Understanding Clinical Trials”
• Site title: “NIH”
• Date updated: July 10, 2023
• URL: https://www.nih.gov/health-information/understanding-clinical-trials

Notes and bibliography:

National Institutes of Health, “Understanding Clinical Trials,” NIH, last updated July 10, 2023, https://www.nih.gov/health-information/understanding-clinical-trials.

Author-date reference list:

National Institutes of Health. 2023. “Understanding Clinical Trials.” NIH. Last updated July 10, 2023. https://www.nih.gov/health-information/understanding-clinical-trials.

This fits the same pattern as the CDC example of Turabian style format for websites.

Example: University news article (named author)

Imagine a news post from a university site:

• Author: Maria Lopez
• Title: “State University Launches New Environmental Studies Program”
• Site: “State University News”
• Date: September 2, 2024
• URL: https://www.stateuniversity.edu/news/environmental-studies-program

Notes and bibliography:

Maria Lopez, “State University Launches New Environmental Studies Program,” State University News, September 2, 2024, https://www.stateuniversity.edu/news/environmental-studies-program.

Author-date reference list:

Lopez, Maria. 2024. “State University Launches New Environmental Studies Program.” State University News. September 2, 2024. https://www.stateuniversity.edu/news/environmental-studies-program.

Again, this mirrors the Harvard example of Turabian style format for websites.

Example: WebMD article (named author, month-year only)

Many health sites use month-year instead of a full date.

Assume:

• Author: Jane Smith
• Title: “Managing Type 2 Diabetes with Lifestyle Changes”
• Site: WebMD
• Date: March 2023
• URL: https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/features/type-2-diabetes-lifestyle

Notes and bibliography:

Jane Smith, “Managing Type 2 Diabetes with Lifestyle Changes,” WebMD, March 2023, https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/features/type-2-diabetes-lifestyle.

Author-date reference list:

Smith, Jane. 2023. “Managing Type 2 Diabetes with Lifestyle Changes.” WebMD. March 2023. https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/features/type-2-diabetes-lifestyle.

These additional models give you several more examples of Turabian style format for websites so you can see the same rules applied in slightly different ways.

6. How to build your own Turabian website citation (step-by-step)

Now that you’ve seen multiple examples of Turabian style format for websites, let’s turn those into a simple process you can use for any page.

Think of it as filling in blanks.

For notes and bibliography (humanities)

Look for these pieces of information in this order:

1. Author – individual or organization?
2. Page title – in quotation marks.
3. Website or publisher – in italics.
4. Date – full date if possible; otherwise month-year or year only.
5. Access date – only when there’s no clear publication or update date, or if your instructor requires it.
6. URL – no angle brackets, just the link.

A generic pattern for a full note looks like this:

Firstname Lastname or Organization, “Page Title,” Website Title, Month Day, Year, URL.

If there’s no author, start with the title. If there’s no date, skip it and add an access date:

“Page Title,” Website Title, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.

For author-date (social sciences)

Here, the order changes slightly:

AuthorLastName, Firstname. Year. “Page Title.” Website Title. Month Day, Year (if available). URL.

If there’s no date:

AuthorLastName, Firstname. n.d. “Page Title.” Website Title. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL.

If there’s no author, start with the title and use a shortened title in your in-text citation.

Once you’ve practiced with the three main models above, you’ll find it much easier to create your own examples of Turabian style format for websites for any online source.

7. 2024–2025 tips and trends for citing websites in Turabian

A few newer habits and expectations are showing up in recent assignments and style guides:

Instructors expect specific dates when possible

In 2024–2025, more instructors are asking students to use the exact publication or update date when it’s visible, especially for:

• Health information (like CDC, NIH, Mayo Clinic)
• Policy and law content on .gov sites
• Fast-changing topics (public health, technology, social media)

That’s why the examples of Turabian style format for websites in this guide include phrases like “last reviewed” or full dates when they’re available.

Stable URLs are preferred

If a site offers a permalink or a stable URL, use that instead of a long, tracking-heavy address. Many .edu and .gov sites already give you a clean URL by default.

Access dates are used more selectively

Turabian 9th edition does not force you to include an access date for every website. In practice, many professors in 2024–2025 now:

• Skip access dates for stable, dated pages on major sites
• Require access dates for undated or frequently changing content

When in doubt, adding an access date will rarely hurt you, and it can help your professor see when you viewed the information.

For the most up-to-date official guidance, it’s always smart to check the publisher’s site for A Manual for Writers or your library’s Turabian guide, often hosted on a .edu domain.

8. FAQ: Common questions about Turabian website citations

How many examples of Turabian style format for websites do I need to learn?

You don’t need to memorize dozens. If you understand the 3 core patterns in this article—organization as author, named author, and no author/no date—you can handle almost any website. The extra models here just give you more real examples to imitate.

Can you give another example of a short Turabian website citation in a footnote?

Sure. Imagine a short follow-up note to the Harvard sleep article:

7. Bhatt, “Lack of Sleep.”

That’s a clean example of how shortened notes work once you’ve already given the full citation earlier.

Do I need to include “https://” in the URL in Turabian format?

Yes, current practice usually keeps the full URL, including “https://”. It helps readers recognize that it’s a live web address. If your instructor has a different preference, follow their directions.

Where can I see more official examples of Turabian style format for websites?

Many university writing centers host excellent guides. Look for pages on .edu sites that mention “Turabian” or “Chicago” style, since Turabian is based on Chicago. Your campus library site is often the best starting point.

Are Turabian website citations the same as Chicago style citations?

They are very similar. Turabian is basically Chicago style adapted for student papers and theses. So most examples of Turabian style format for websites will look almost identical to Chicago notes and bibliography or Chicago author-date.

If you keep this page open while you write, you can copy the structure from these examples of Turabian style format for websites, swap in your own titles, dates, and URLs, and be confident your citations will look professional and consistent.