Chicago Style Format Guide
Master the fundamentals of Chicago style formatting for academic papers and research documents.
Chicago Style Format Overview
Chicago style formatting follows the Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) and offers two distinct citation systems: Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date. Understanding proper formatting ensures your historical, literary, and arts research meets academic standards.
Quick Format Reference
- • Font: 12-point Times New Roman
- • Margins: 1 inch on all sides
- • Line Spacing: Double-spaced
- • Page Numbers: Top right corner
- • Alignment: Left-aligned (not justified)
Dual Citation Systems
Notes-Bibliography System
Primarily used in history, literature, and arts. Uses numbered footnotes or endnotes for citations, plus a bibliography listing all sources.
In-text citation:
As historian David McCullough observed, "The past is prologue."¹
Footnote:
1. David McCullough, John Adams (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001), 45.
Author-Date System
Common in social sciences and sciences. Uses parenthetical citations with author's last name and publication year, plus a reference list.
In-text citation:
Historical research reveals complex patterns (McCullough 2001, 45).
Reference list entry:
McCullough, David. 2001. John Adams. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Document Setup Requirements
Basic Formatting
- • Use 12-point Times New Roman font throughout
- • Set 1-inch margins on all sides
- • Double-space the entire document, including footnotes
- • Use left alignment (avoid full justification)
- • Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inches
Page Numbers and Headers
- • Place page numbers in the top right corner
- • Begin numbering on the first page of text
- • Use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3...)
- • No headers or footers unless specifically required
Title Page Elements
Include the following information, centered and double-spaced:
- • Full title of your paper
- • Your full name
- • Course name and number
- • Instructor's name
- • Date of submission
Headings and Subheadings
Chicago style uses a flexible hierarchy for headings. For most academic papers, use the following format:
The Impact of Industrialization
Economic Transformations
Labor Movement Changes
Workers' responses to mechanization
Block Quotations
Use block quotations for prose passages of five or more lines, or poetry of two or more lines:
- • Indent the entire quotation 0.5 inches from the left margin
- • Do not use quotation marks around block quotes
- • Maintain double spacing
- • Place the citation after the final punctuation
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address demonstrates the power of concise rhetoric:
Common Formatting Mistakes to Avoid
- • Wrong font size or type: Stick to 12-point Times New Roman
- • Incorrect margins: Use exactly 1 inch on all sides
- • Single spacing: Everything should be double-spaced
- • Missing page numbers: Number all pages except the title page
- • Inconsistent heading format: Follow the hierarchy system
- • Mixing citation systems: Use either Notes-Bibliography OR Author-Date, not both
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