Chicago Manual of Style offers two main citation styles: the notes-bibliography system and the author-date system.
Notes-bibliography system uses footnotes or endnotes to cite sources and a bibliography to list all sources used in the work.Author-date system uses in-text citations and a reference list to cite sources.
Chicago style is often used intercheangably with Turabuan format, however there is a diference between the two. Roughly speaking, the Chicago Manual of Style is crafted for professional academic publications. Turabian is its simplified version, but more applicable for students.
In this blog post, our assignment writers have compiled the main points of both Chicago and Turabian formatting guidelines for students. Let’s start from the very beginning!
Chicago Style Guide
General formatting guidelines in Chicago style paper have less strict rules like APA format in paper, for instance. But it still provides the following regulations:
- Use regular serif fonts like Times New Roman, 12pt. or Arial, 11pt.
- Make your text double-spaced.
- Set margins at least at 1 inch from all four sides.
- Use 1/2 inch indentation for new paragraphs.
- Include page numbers placing them either at the top right corner of each page or at the bottom center. This rule doesn’t apply to a title page – this page shouldn’t be numbered.
Look through general formatting guidelines sample:
Chicago Style Title Page
Including a Chicago style title or cover page is not necessary in academic papers – putting centered text’s title at your first page’s beginning is enough. But students are sometimes asked to create a title page.
For this purpose, we should turn to Turabian citation recommendations for formatting title pages:
- Don’t include the page number (in this case, page number 1) but make it count.
- Type your title in bold and capitalize it. Place it 1/3 of the way down the page.
- If you have a subtitle, type it on the following line also bold and capitalized. Use colon at your title’s end in case you have a subtitle.
- Place other necessary information about 2/3 of the way down the page.
- Include your name, course name, tutor’s name, and date. All points should start from the new line and be centered. No font formatting like bold or italics is required.
- Don’t forget to double-space your title page.
Take a look at the title page example:
Don't forget that you can also use StudyCrumb title page generator to make a cover page in Chicago style.
Chicago Style In-text Citation
As for the in-text citation in Chicago style paper, you have two ways to cite your sources: author-date and footnotes. Mind that you need to choose one of them. All general formatting guidelines apply to both variants. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
Chicago Style Author-Date Citation
Chicago author date citation implies putting a source directly in needed sentences in parentheses. Your cited source should be similar to that one on the bibliography page. This method gives you more room for making your text unique as you can rephrase cited sources.
It can look like you refer to a source rather than directly cite it. Here’s an example:
Chicago Style Footnotes
Chicago style paper footnotes guidelines are the following:
Start numbering notes with 1 and save the consecutive order up to your final note.
In text:
- Note’s number should be superscripted.
- Place this superscripted number at the sentence’s end after all punctuation.
In footnotes:
- Write down note’s number, both full-sized or superscripted. In the first case, put a period after the number.
- Align notes to the left.
Here’s a sample to finalize your knowledge of footnotes Chicago style.
Also, there’s a complete guide on how to cite a book Chicago style so you can get acquainted with it. Quick reminder: citation of used sources in academic papers is vital to avoid plagiarism!
Chicago Style Block Quotes
Another aspect of a Chicago style paper worth paying attention to is a block quote. It has way different formatting compared to other citations and implies using a direct quotation of prose or poetry longer than 100 words.
While formatting a block quote, you don’t need to put your text into the quotation marks and use double-spacing. Make a one-line space, start your quote and indent all the piece to 0.5 inch. Make another one-line space after the quote’s end before proceeding to your text. If it's too mind-boggling, try term paper writing services instead.
Take a glance at the example of block quotes:
Chicago Style Bibliography / References
A separate page with a list of cited sources in Chicago style paper may vary depending on a type of citation you use throughout your text. Bibliography is used in a footnotes variant when references are applicable for author-date citations.
General formatting for both pages is similar:
- Type “Bibliography” or “References” at page’s top and align it to the center without additional font formatting like bold or italics.
- Create a two-line space before listing your sources.
- List your references or bibliography in alphabetical order.
- Leave just one line space between entries.
- Make sure all your text is still double-spaced.
- Try online research paper writing services for automation.
Here are comprehensible samples of bibliography and references pages:
Also, students may be asked to create an annotated bibliography. It is pretty similar to a standard bibliography but has a detailed description of cited source and some additional formatting issues. Learn about this section in our guide about Chicago style annotated bibliography.
Chicago Style / Turabian Headings
There are no specific requirements regarding Chicago style paper headings, but there is a sort of recommendation.
- Don’t create more than 3 levels of headings (heading, subheading, sub-sub heading).
- Make levels different with font formatting (bold for headings, italics for subheadings, etc.).
- Make it coherent: use the same formatting for each level throughout your text.
- Use capitalization for each level.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who uses the Chicago style?
There’s no strict specification of the style’s area of implementation, but mostly this formatting style is connected to academic papers on Business, History, Social studies, and Humanities written in American English.
However, each institution and even a particular instructor can set their own rules of paper formatting, and Chicago/Turabian style is one of the most popular ones.
2. What is the difference between Chicago and Turabian?
Turabian includes almost any specifications of Chicago but is mastered for use by high school and college students. The latter style is way more complicated and broadened, so its mission is to serve professional academic writing.
3. Is it compulsory to include a bibliography or references page in Chicago style?
Yes, Chicago Manual of Style requires highlighting cited sources on a separate page as a list. Depending on what type of citation you use, you need to include a bibliography or references page.
Bibliography page is a list for a footnotes citation, references page is for an author-date one.
Emma Flores knows all about formatting standards. She shares with StudyCrumb readers tips on creating academic papers that will meet high-quality standards.
Comments
I am writing my paper in Chicago style and this article was really helpful. Especially the part where you explain how to use footnotes. I have a lot of them in my paper. But I would also like to know how do I insert notes into a Chicago or Turabian style paper in Microsoft Word? Didn't find this information anywhere on the internet, so maybe you can help me here.
Glad to hear our article helped you with your paper! Since Word automates most of the footnote process, it will be the easiest part. To incorporate a footnote (citation) in Microsoft Word follow these simple steps:
1. Place your cursor in the body text where you want the footnote superscript to appear.
2. Then click the little tab in the ribbon toolbar that says references.
3. In this tab, you will find the button that says "Insert Footnote." This will immediately bring you to the bottom of the page with the right footnote number to use.
3. Write your footnote.
4. Repeat the process for every next footnote. Word will automatically set the number for you.
Note that if you don't feel like clicking all these buttons, Alt-Ctrl-F will automatically insert one for you. Hope this helps! Good luck with your writing!
Style guides do not keep changing randomly just because someone wants to change them. They are updated every few years, usually to reflect changes in technology and media. Different disciplines use particular style guides. For example, the humanities generally use MLA. Why is that conducive to learning? Because when you finish school, each assignment you have has not just one professor with their own style demands. There will be a lot of professors with their own style inputs. Another point is that by hopping from one style recommendation to the next, you are learning the valuable skills of doing the same thing in multiple ways. Hope we have answered your question. Good luck in your further academic pursuits! Let changing writing styles will be easy for you!