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How to Write and Format a Chicago Style Paper [With Examples]

• 3-minute read
• 18th August 2023

Are you working on a Chicago style project but struggling with the question, “just what is it?!”

Fear not, this post will walk you through Chicago style basics.

What Is Chicago Style?

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMoS) is a comprehensive style guide primarily used by professional writers, publishers, and researchers. It covers various forms of writing, including books, journals, magazines, and other publications. It’s often the go-to style for publishers and editors. CMoS is also known for its emphasis on scholarly writing and is suitable for a wide range of disciplines, including history, literature, the arts, and social sciences.

However, there’s an important distinction between Chicago style and Turabian style , which is essentially a simplified version of CMoS used in scholarly writing. Turabian omits some of the complexities and focuses on the needs of academic writers, especially those in the humanities and social sciences.

With either style, it’s essential to consult the relevant edition of the style guide specified by your institution or publication: either The Chicago Manual of Style or A Manual for Writers by Kate L. Turabian (currently in its ninth edition).

How Are Chicago Style Citations Formatted?

CMoS emphasizes two primary documentation systems : the notes and bibliography system (often used in the humanities) and the author–date system (preferred in the sciences and social sciences). When formatting a CMoS/Turabian paper, you’ll need to adhere to the guidelines associated with your chosen documentation system.

Notes and Bibliography System:

●  In this system, you’ll use footnotes or endnotes to cite sources within the text.

●  A corresponding bibliography is included at the end of the paper, listing all sources in alphabetical order.

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●  Citations typically include author names, titles, publication details, and page numbers.

Author–Date System:

●  In the author–date system, you’ll incorporate in-text citations within parentheses.

●  A reference list is included at the end of the document, providing full details for each cited source.

●  Citations include author’s last names, publication year, and page numbers (if applicable).

What Does Turabian Style Formatting Look Like?

A well-structured Turabian Style paper should adhere to the following formatting guidelines :

•   Title page : Include the title of your paper, your name, the course name/number, instructor’s name, and the date on a separate page, starting a third of the page down. Alternatively, write the title on the first page.
•   Margins : Apply one-inch margins on all sides.
• Indentation and spacing : Indent paragraphs and double-space the main text.
• Font : Use a legible 12-point font (e.g., Times New Roman).
• Page numbers : Number all pages consecutively in the top right corner, starting with the first page. Alternatively, page numbers may be placed at the bottom center of the page.
• Headings and subheadings : Use headline-style capitalization for headings and subheadings, with different levels distinguished.
• Footnotes or in-text citations: Implement your chosen citation system consistently throughout the paper.
• Bibliography or reference list : Include a comprehensive list of all sources used, following Chicago style citation guidelines for your chosen system.

How Should I Choose Which Chicago Style Documentation to Use?

It’s crucial to find out which specific CMoS system is preferred by your institution, publisher, or field of study. Always consult your assignment guidelines or style manual to determine whether you should use the notes and bibliography system or the author–date system. This choice will significantly impact how you format your citations and references.

Remember that mastering CMoS takes practice. By following these guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to crafting polished, professionally formatted papers that meet the expectations of your academic or professional audience.

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Attribution

This guide was adapted from the Chicago Style Guide by Cathy Rettberg at Menlo School Library.

• Chicago Manual of Style This link opens in a new window The time-tested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format.

Your professors expect to receive papers that are properly formatted and laid out. Use the following guidelines when setting up your paper. It is easiest if you use the correct settings from the beginning; otherwise you will have to go back and reformat your paper.

Overall page layout

• One inch margins on sides, top and bottom.
• Use Times or Times New Roman 12 pt font.
• Double-space the text of the paper.
• Use left-justified text, which will have a ragged right edge. Do not use fully (newspaper-style) justified text.
• Use a 1/2" indent for paragraph beginnings, block quotes and hanging (bibliography) indents.
• Number the pages in the top right corner of the paper, beginning with the first page of text. It's a good idea to include your last name as well, in case pages become separated. Number straight through from the first text page to the final bibliography page but do not count any pages after the end of the text as part of your page count. (A five-page paper may also have a cover page, two pages of notes and one page of bibliography which is nine pieces of paper.)
• Center the title of your paper in the middle of the page, halfway down.
• Center your name directly under the title.
• Your professor's name, course title, and date should be written in three lines and centered at the bottom of the page.
• Use Times or Times New Roman 12 pt font for the title page. Do not try to make your cover page decorative by using bold , underline , or creative fonts.
• Do not put a page number on the cover page, and do not count it as part of the total page count.

Assemble your paper in the following order

• Cover/title page
• Body of the paper
• Appendix (if needed)

Bibliography

Names and numbers.

• Use full names of people and agencies/legislation the first time you use them. For agencies, include the acronym in parentheses after the full name when first used, e.g. Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA).
• After the first time you can refer to people by their last name or agencies/bills by their acronyms for the rest of the paper.
• Write out numbers lower than 100. (“All nine members of the Supreme Court...”)

Footnotes and endnotes

• Footnotes go at the bottom of the page where the reference occurs; endnotes go on a separate page after the body of the paper. Both use the same formatting guidelines.
• Within the essay text: put the note number at the end of the sentence where the reference occurs, even if the cited material is mentioned at the beginning of the sentence.
• The note number goes after all other punctuation.
• Be sure to use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) nor Roman (i, ii, iii).
• Put the word Notes (not Endnotes) at the top of the page with your endnotes. Use Times/Times New Roman 10 pt font.
• Single space each entry; double space between entries.
• Indent the first line of each note.
• Never reuse a number - use a new number for each reference, even if you have used that reference previously.
• Be sure to look at shortened form examples for sources you refer to more than once.
• To cite multiple sources in a single note, separate the two citations with a semicolon. Never use two note numbers at the end of a sentence.
• Your bibliography should go on a separate page, with the word Bibliography centered at the top of the page in Times/Times New Roman 12 pt font. Do not use bold or large size font for the heading.
• Be sure to use proper formatting - note and bibliography styles are different.
• Use a "hanging indent" - the first line of the citation begins at the margin, subsequent lines are indented.
• If your source has no author, alphabetize by title within the authors - don't make a separate list.
• Don't separate primary and secondary sources unless your professor requests it.

Watch out for these common errors:

• Note format uses first name last name, bibliography uses last name, first name.
• In your notes, do not reuse numbers! Each citation gets a new number.
• Pay attention to indents. Notes use a first line indent, a bibliography uses a hanging indent.
• A bibliography goes in alphabetical order by author (or title if there is no author). Notes are numbered and are listed in the order the sources are used.
• Don't put Works Cited at the top of your bibliography - that is MLA style.
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• Last Updated: Jul 25, 2024 9:14 AM
• URL: https://guide.unwsp.edu/chicago_style

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• Tags: Academic Writing , Chicago Style , Formatting Guidelines , Research Paper

The Chicago Manual of Style is used widely in academic writing across sciences, social sciences, and humanities. In this article, we will explore the Chicago style format in detail. Read on to learn about how to format a Chicago title page, headings, block quotes, and body text. 

What is the Chicago style format? 

The Chicago Manual of Style, also known as CMOS or CMS, is a set of guidelines devised by The University of Chicago Press, originally in 1906. The latest CMS guidelines are currently compiled in the official handbook’s 17th edition, which was released in 2017. 

Why is CMOS used? 

The Chicago Manual of Style format is frequently used by editors, publishers, and researchers around the world because of its comprehensive style and versatile applicability. The guide has extensive notes on manuscript preparation and formatting, and two types of citation styles. It is focused on American English writing conventions.

The Chicago style format is widely used for its applicability across a wide range of documents and academic disciplines, especially the humanities and social sciences. 

What is CMOS used for? 

The Chicago style format is used in a variety of documents, ranging from journal articles to books. It is a commonly used style for many technical and academic publications, as well as some trade books. Some social science journals in North America have also adopted the Chicago format as their choice of style guide. 

The Chicago Manual of Style primarily focuses on manuscript formatting for books and journals. While formatting internal academic submissions like term papers, graduate theses, and dissertations, the Turabian format is followed instead. 

Page formatting for a Chicago style paper

The official Chicago style guide does not provide strict guidelines in great detail, but it does stress the importance of consistency in style. In other words, Chicago guidelines cover some basic aspects of formatting and leave the rest to the researcher. So make sure to always check with your professor for the official university guidelines. 

Follow these basic guidelines to format a Chicago style paper:

• Maintain a one-inch margin on all sides of the page. 
• Choose a commonly used font size and style. The recommended font is Times New Roman 12 pt. 
• Double-space all the text in your document, including lists, extracts, footnotes and endnotes, and bibliographies. 
• Insert a half-inch indent at the beginning of each paragraph. 
• Insert a half-inch indent to separate block quotations from paragraphs. 
• Insert page numbers in the running header on the top right corner of every page, barring the title page (if there is one). 
• Ensure all text is aligned to the left; do not “justify” the text. 
• Leave one space after every concluding punctuation mark in a sentence, unless your instructor specifies otherwise. 
• Begin every chapter on a new page, starting with the chapter title. 
• Begin subheadings on a new line, flush left. Distinguish levels of headings and subheadings using the font size. 
• Use headline-style capitalization for headings and subheadings. 
• Ensure all chapter titles, headings, and subheadings match their corresponding entry in the table of contents. 
• Add a half-inch hanging indent for each entry in the bibliography. 

Chicago 17 Paper Format

1. chicago title or cover page.

The Chicago style format does not officially mandate that you include a cover page in your paper. However, your university’s formatting guidelines may require you to include one in your dissertation or other academic documents. In this case, we’ll tell you how to create a Chicago title page for your document.

Follow these guidelines while creating a Chicago style title page:  

• Add the Chicago title in the middle of the page. 
• Type out your full name directly under the title. 
• Add the name(s) of your professor(s), the course title, and the date of submission in three separate lines and place them in the bottom center of the page, as shown below. 
• Maintain the same font style and size you’ve used throughout your paper (preferably Times New Roman 12 point). 
• Avoid embellishments like bold typeface, italics, and unconventional fonts. 
• Do not add a page number to the title page.

2. Table of contents 

A Chicago style paper (or longer documents like dissertations) may require a table of contents. Check your university guidelines for the exact format. If the university hasn’t prescribed you any format, you may create a Chicago style table of contents.

Here are some guidelines you can follow while creating a Chicago style table of contents: 

• Start the table of contents on a new page. 
• Center-align the title “Contents” at the top of the page. 
• Leave a space of two lines between this title and the first item of the table.  
• Add chapter titles, headings, and subheadings in the same order as seen in your paper. 
• Ensure that capitalization and hierarchy of titles/headings match the paper.  
• Place page numbers flush right, with leader dots linking the number to the title. 

3. Headings 

The Chicago format handbook sets some basic guidelines on how to set headings and subheadings in a paper or book. However, these guidelines are more a matter of convention than stringent rules, so you should check with your instructor or publisher to find out the exact Chicago title and heading conventions.

Follow these guidelines to format your Chicago style headings: 

• Use headline capitalization rules for chapter titles. 
• Ensure you match each title to its corresponding numbered entry in the table of contents. 
• Set a new subheading in a new line, flush left. 
• Distinguish the hierarchy of subheadings using different font sizes (higher-level headings in a larger size and vice versa). 
• Use headline-style capitalization for subheadings. 
• In the case of run-on subheadings, italicize the subheadings and follow with a period before beginning the next sentence. 

Here are some Chicago style heading examples:  

Literature review

Literature Review

Methodology of research

Methodology Of Research

Methodology of Research

4. Figures, illustrations, and tables

Using visual aids such as figures, illustrations, tables, graphs, and so forth is a great way to provide additional context for your research.

Follow these guidelines to format visual or non-textual sources according to the  Chicago format:  

• Present a figure or table as soon as possible after the first time you have referenced or described it in the text. 
• Use arabic numerals to number the figures in the text (Example: Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3). 
• Add a caption below the figure or table, explaining its contents in a phrase or 1-2 lines. . 
• If your caption is an incomplete sentence, style it in sentence case without punctuation marks. 
• Present titles of works of art in headline capitalization style. 
• Separate the illustration number from the rest of the caption. (The demarcation is usually marked by a period, but check with your instructor for the exact guidelines.)
• Wherever applicable, add a credit line containing the bibliographic information of the illustration. 
• Place the credit line in parentheses, right after the concluding punctuation mark of the caption. 
• If you have listed the work in the bibliography, include only its shortened form in the credit line. 
• When you include graphs, tables, and charts, ensure consistent style in typography and graphic elements. 

A note regarding the numbering of figures: 

Check with your instructor about the nomenclature you should use while numbering figures and tables in a Chicago style paper. While the Chicago style format specifies you use arabic numerals, it has distinct guidelines about labeling continuous and separate numbering, as well as double numeration (For example: Figure 12.8). This is particularly useful when you have a series of images or an illustration in parts. 

5. Numbers, abbreviations, and acronyms 

The Chicago style format emphasizes consistency while writing numbers, abbreviations, and acronyms. Follow these guidelines to format numbers and names under the Chicago format:  

• Use the full names of people and organizations when you introduce them for the first time.
• If you intend to use an abbreviation or acronym thereafter, include it in parentheses next to the first instance of its full form. 
• Refer to people by their last names after their first introduction.

Example: 

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was founded in 1949. Since its inception, NATO has been instrumental in brokering peaceful relations between countries around the world. 

Hedy Lamarr first arrived in America in 1938… besides her prolific career in Hollywood in the 1940s, Lamarr’s legacy is far beyond the confines of the industry.

• Spell out whole numbers from zero to one hundred. 

The early committee has only 4 members…

The early committee has only four members…

Note: While this is a general guideline followed for formatting numbers, you should check with your instructor or publisher for exact guidelines for numbering conventions. 

6. Block quotations 

According to the Chicago style format, you can include quoted text in two ways: it can be within the text or can be set off as a block quotation. Block quotations are generally reserved for longer excerpts of prose or poetry. 

The deciding factor for what you should set off as a block quote is usually the length of the quoted text. The Chicago format guide recommends setting off text of 100 or more words (or 5 or more lines) in a block quotation. Two or more lines of poetry can be set off as a block quote. 

Here are your guidelines for the Chicago block quotes format: 

• Set the block quote in a new line, with a half-inch indent.
• Do not enclose the quote with any quotation marks.
• While including excerpts from poems, maintain line breaks set in the original verse. 
• Do not double-space the block quotations. 

See below for an example of a block quote in the Chicago format:

As your academic editors and proofreaders , we want you to do your best with your Chicago format papers. To learn more about how to arrange your manuscript according to CMS guidelines, head over to our article about citations and references in the Chicago style format.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the chicago style header format , should i add a chicago style cover page to my paper , what is the format for chicago style page numbers.

Found this article helpful?

2 comments on “ Chicago Title, Cover Page & Body | Paper Format Guidelines ”

This is so well-researched and thorough! Thanks for writing!

Wow, I have been looking for informative instructions about using Chicago Style Formatting. I am about to make a history paper and after reading this informative blog, my fingers are now itching to touch my keyboard already. I really want to start writing my paper right now. The substance of your post really gives clear instructions on how to use the Chicago style, which is why I am sure I would not lose track of the formatting. I have one question, though: is Times New Roman the only standard font Chicago Style is using?

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How to Format a Turabian/Chicago Style Title Page | Example

Published on October 10, 2019 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on April 9, 2024.

Turabian style , a version of Chicago style designed specifically for writing research papers , theses , and dissertations , provides detailed guidelines for formatting a title page.

A title page is not mandatory; if you haven’t been told to include one, you can just center your title at the top of the first page.

These are the key guidelines for creating a title page in Turabian style:

• Title and subtitle appear ⅓ of the way down the page.
• Other information (e.g., your name, the date, class information) appears ⅔ down the page.
• All text is center-aligned and double-spaced .
• No page number is included on the title page.

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Table of contents

Chicago title page example, general formatting of the title page, placement and format of the title, placement and format of other information, frequently asked questions about chicago format.

Below is an example of a typical title page following Turabian guidelines:

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The title page is the very first page of your text, appearing before the table of contents , acknowledgements , abstract , etc.

All text on your title page should be presented in the same font you use for the main text, center-aligned and double-spaced. The title page does not feature a page number, but it is included in the page count—that means that the following page should be page 2.

The title appears roughly ⅓ of the way down the page (it’s not important to be precise) in bold. It can also be written in a larger font size than the rest of the text, though this is optional.

Use headline capitalization, which means capitalizing all important words:

• Summary of results
• Summary of Results

If you have a subtitle, the main title should be followed by a colon, and the subtitle should appear on the next line. It should also appear in headline capitalization , in bold, and in the same font size as the main title.

Roughly ⅔ of the way down the page, add any other information your instructor or faculty requires you to include. This information should not be in bold, and should be in the same font size as your main text. Each new piece of information appears on a new line.

This might include your name, student number, the course name and number, and/or your instructor’s name, among other things. There’s no standard list of information to include, but you’ll usually be told clearly by your university what needs to be here.

Turabian style is a version of Chicago style designed specifically for students and researchers. It follows most Chicago conventions, but also adds extra guidelines for formatting research papers , theses and dissertations .

More information can be found in A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations by Kate L. Turabian, now in its ninth edition.

Chicago format doesn’t require you to use any specific font, as long as you choose something readable. A good standard choice is 12 pt Times New Roman.

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Notes and Bibliography: Sample Citations

Go to Author-Date: Sample Citations

The following examples illustrate the notes and bibliography system. Sample notes show full citations followed by shortened citations for the same sources. Sample bibliography entries follow the notes. For more details and many more examples, see chapters 13 and 14 of The Chicago Manual of Style . For examples of the same citations using the author-date system, follow the Author-Date link above.

Note that a place of publication is no longer required in book citations (see CMOS 14.30 ).

1. Charles Yu, Interior Chinatown (Pantheon Books, 2020), 45.

2. Amy J. Binder and Jeffrey L. Kidder, The Channels of Student Activism: How the Left and Right Are Winning (and Losing) in Campus Politics Today (University of Chicago Press, 2022), 117–18.

Shortened notes

3. Yu, Interior Chinatown , 48.

4. Binder and Kidder, Channels of Student Activism , 125.

Bibliography entries (in alphabetical order)

Binder, Amy J., and Jeffrey L. Kidder. The Channels of Student Activism: How the Left and Right Are Winning (and Losing) in Campus Politics Today . University of Chicago Press, 2022.

Yu, Charles. Interior Chinatown . Pantheon Books, 2020.

For more details and examples, see CMOS 13.21–26 and 14.2–62 .

Chapter or other part of an edited book

The page range for a chapter in a book is no longer required in bibliography entries (see CMOS 14.8 ). In a note, cite specific pages as applicable.

1. Kathleen Doyle, “The Queen Mary Psalter,” in The Book by Design: The Remarkable Story of the World’s Greatest Invention , ed. P. J. M. Marks and Stephen Parkin (University of Chicago Press, 2023), 64.

Shortened note

2. Doyle, “Queen Mary Psalter,” 65.

Bibliography entry

Doyle, Kathleen. “The Queen Mary Psalter.” In The Book by Design: The Remarkable Story of the World’s Greatest Invention , edited by P. J. M. Marks and Stephen Parkin. University of Chicago Press, 2023.

In some cases, you may want to cite the collection as a whole instead.

1. P. J. M. Marks and Stephen Parkin, eds., The Book by Design: The Remarkable Story of the World’s Greatest Invention (University of Chicago Press, 2023).

2. Marks and Parkin, Book by Design .

Marks, P. J. M., and Stephen Parkin, eds. The Book by Design: The Remarkable Story of the World’s Greatest Invention . University of Chicago Press, 2023.

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.8–14 .

Translated book

In the following examples, the author’s name follows Eastern order (family name first) rather than Western order (family name last); the author is therefore referred to as “Liu” in a shortened note, and the name is not inverted in a bibliography entry. See CMOS 13.75 for more details.

1. Liu Xinwu, The Wedding Party , trans. Jeremy Tiang (Amazon Crossing, 2021).

2. Liu, Wedding Party , 279.

Liu Xinwu. The Wedding Party . Translated by Jeremy Tiang. Amazon Crossing, 2021.

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.5–7 .

Book Consulted in an Electronic Format

To cite a book consulted online, include either a URL or the name of the database. For downloadable ebook formats, name the format; if no fixed page numbers are available, cite a section title or a chapter or other number in the note (or simply omit). For citing a place rather than a publisher for books published before 1900 (as in the Moby-Dick example below), see CMOS 14.31.

1. Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things (Random House, 2008), chap. 6, Kindle.

2. Philip B. Kurland and Ralph Lerner, eds., The Founders’ Constitution (University of Chicago Press, 1987), chap. 10, doc. 19, https://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/.

3. Brooke Borel, The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking , 2nd ed. (University of Chicago Press, 2023), 92, EBSCOhost.

4. Herman Melville, Moby-Dick; or, The Whale (New York, 1851), 627, https://melville.electroniclibrary.org/moby-dick-side-by-side.

5. Roy, God of Small Things , chap. 7.

6. Kurland and Lerner, Founder s ’ Constitution , chap. 4, doc. 29.

7. Borel, Fact-Checking , 104–5.

8. Melville, Moby-Dick , 722–23.

Borel, Brooke. The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking . 2nd ed. University of Chicago Press, 2023. EBSCOhost.

Kurland, Philip B., and Ralph Lerner, eds. The Founders’ Constitution . University of Chicago Press, 1987. https://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/.

Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick; or, The Whale . New York, 1851. https://melville.electroniclibrary.org/moby-dick-side-by-side.

Roy, Arundhati. The God of Small Things . Random House, 2008. Kindle.

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.58–62 .

Journal article

Journal articles are usually cited by volume and issue number. In a note, cite specific page numbers. In the bibliography, include the page range for the whole article. For articles consulted online, include a URL (preferably one based on a DOI; see CMOS 13.7); alternatively, list the name of the database.

1. Hyeyoung Kwon, “Inclusion Work: Children of Immigrants Claiming Membership in Everyday Life,” American Journal of Sociology 127, no. 6 (2022): 1842–43, https://doi.org/10.1086/720277.

2. B. T. Hebert, “The Island of Bolsö: A Study of Norwegian Life,” Sociological Review 17, no. 4 (1925): 310, EBSCOhost.

3. Benjamin Lindquist, “The Art of Text-to-Speech,” Critical Inquiry 50, no. 2 (2023): 230, https://doi.org/10.1086/727651.

4. Emily L. Dittmar and Douglas W. Schemske, “Temporal Variation in Selection Influences Microgeographic Local Adaptation,” American Naturalist 202, no. 4 (2023): 480, https://doi.org/10.1086/725865.

5. Kwon, “Inclusion Work,” 1851.

6. Hebert, “Island of Bolsö,” 311.

7. Lindquist, “Text-to-Speech,” 231–32.

8. Dittmar and Schemske, “Temporal Variation,” 480.

Dittmar, Emily L., and Douglas W. Schemske. “Temporal Variation in Selection Influences Microgeographic Local Adaptation.” American Naturalist 202, no. 4 (2023): 471–85. https://doi.org/10.1086/725865.

Hebert, B. T. “The Island of Bolsö: A Study of Norwegian Life.” Sociological Review 17, no. 4 (1925): 307–13. EBSCOhost.

Kwon, Hyeyoung. “Inclusion Work: Children of Immigrants Claiming Membership in Everyday Life.” American Journal of Sociology 127, no. 6 (2022): 1818–59. https://doi.org/10.1086/720277.

Lindquist, Benjamin. “The Art of Text-to-Speech.” Critical Inquiry 50, no. 2 (2023): 225–51. https://doi.org/10.1086/727651.

Journal articles often list many authors, especially in the sciences. For works by two authors, list both in the bibliography and in a note (as in the Dittmar and Schemske example above). For three or more authors, list up to six in the bibliography; for more than six authors, list the first three, followed by “et al.” (“and others”). In a note, list only the first, followed by “et al.” Note that the bibliography entry for the Dror example below (which credits eighteen authors) includes an article ID in place of a page range; in a note, specific page numbers may be cited as shown (see CMOS 14.71 for details).

7. Amiel A. Dror et al., “Pre-Infection 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Levels and Association with Severity of COVID-19 Illness,” PLOS ONE 17, no. 2 (2022): 4–5, e0263069, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263069.

8. Dror et al., “Pre-Infection,” 7.

Dror, Amiel A., Nicole Morozov, Amani Daoud, et al. “Pre-Infection 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Levels and Association with Severity of COVID-19 Illness.” PLOS ONE 17, no. 2 (2022): e0263069. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263069.

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.67–86 .

News or magazine article

Articles from newspapers or news sites, magazines, blogs, and the like are cited similarly. Page numbers, if any, can be cited in a note but are omitted from a bibliography entry. For articles consulted online, include a URL or the name of the database.

1. Dani Blum, “Are Flax Seeds All That?,” New York Times , December 13, 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/13/well/eat/flax-seeds-benefits.html.

2. Rebecca Mead, “Terms of Aggrievement,” New Yorker , December 18, 2023, 21.

3. Rob Pegoraro, “Apple’s iPhone Is Sleek, Smart and Simple,” Washington Post , July 5, 2007, LexisNexis Academic.

4. Elana Klein, “Meet Flip, the Viral Video App Giving Away Free Stuff,” Wired , December 21, 2023, https://www.wired.com/story/flip-viral-video-app-shopping-free-stuff/.

5. Blum, “Flax Seeds.”

6. Mead, “Terms of Aggrievement,” 23–24.

7. Pegoraro, “Apple’s iPhone.”

8. Klein, “Meet Flip.”

Blum, Dani. “Are Flax Seeds All That?” New York Times , December 13, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/13/well/eat/flax-seeds-benefits.html.

Klein, Elana. “Meet Flip, the Viral Video App Giving Away Free Stuff.” Wired , December 21, 2023. https://www.wired.com/story/flip-viral-video-app-shopping-free-stuff/.

Mead, Rebecca. “Terms of Aggrievement.” New Yorker , December 18, 2023.

Pegoraro, Rob. “Apple’s iPhone Is Sleek, Smart and Simple.” Washington Post , July 5, 2007. LexisNexis Academic.

Readers’ comments are cited in the text or in a note but omitted from a bibliography.

9. Michelle (Reno), December 15, 2023, comment on Blum, “Flax Seeds.”

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.87–88 (magazines) and 14.89–98 (newspapers and news sites).

Book review

1. Alexandra Jacobs, “The Muchness of Madonna,” review of Madonna: A Rebel Life , by Mary Gabriel, New York Times , October 8, 2023.

2. Jacobs, “Muchness of Madonna.”

Jacobs, Alexandra. “The Muchness of Madonna.” Review of Madonna: A Rebel Life , by Mary Gabriel. New York Times , October 8, 2023.

Interviews are usually cited under the name of the interviewee rather than the interviewer.

1. Joy Buolamwini, “ ‘If You Have a Face, You Have a Place in the Conversation About AI,’ Expert Says,” interview by Tonya Mosley, Fresh Air , NPR, November 28, 2023, audio, 37:58, https://www.npr.org/2023/11/28/1215529902/unmasking-ai-facial-recognition-technology-joy-buolamwini.

2. Buolamwini, interview.

Buolamwini, Joy. “ ‘If You Have a Face, You Have a Place in the Conversation About AI,’ Expert Says.” Interview by Tonya Mosley. Fresh Air , NPR, November 28, 2023. Audio, 37:58. https://www.npr.org/2023/11/28/1215529902/unmasking-ai-facial-recognition-technology-joy-buolamwini.

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.108 , 14.109 , and 14.110 .

Thesis or dissertation

1. Yuna Blajer de la Garza, “A House Is Not a Home: Citizenship and Belonging in Contemporary Democracies” (PhD diss., University of Chicago, 2019), 66–67, ProQuest (13865986).

2. Blajer de la Garza, “House,” 93.

Blajer de la Garza, Yuna. “A House Is Not a Home: Citizenship and Belonging in Contemporary Democracies.” PhD diss., University of Chicago, 2019. ProQuest (13865986).

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.113 .

It is often sufficient simply to describe web pages and other website content in the text (“As of November 15, 2023, Google’s privacy policy stated . . .”). If a more formal citation is needed, it may be styled like the examples below. If a source does not list a date of publication or revision, include an access date. Alternatively, if a publicly available archive of the content has been saved using the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine or similar service, the link for that version may be cited.

1. “Privacy Policy,” Privacy & Terms, Google, effective November 15, https://policies.google.com/privacy.

2. “Wikipedia: Manual of Style,” Wikimedia Foundation, last modified December 19, 2023, 21:54 (UTC), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style.

3. “About Yale: Yale Facts,” Yale University, accessed March 8, 2022, https://www.yale.edu/about-yale/yale-facts.

3. “About Yale: Yale Facts,” Yale University, archived March 8, 2022, at https://web.archive.org/web/20220308143337/https://www.yale.edu/about-yale/yale-facts.

4. Google, “Privacy Policy.”

5. “Wikipedia: Manual of Style.”

6. “Yale Facts.”

In the notes, the title will usually come first (as in the examples above); in a bibliography entry, the source should be listed under the owner or sponsor of the site.

Google. “Privacy Policy.” Privacy & Terms. Effective November 15, 2023. https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Wikimedia Foundation. “Wikipedia: Manual of Style.” Last modified December 19, 2023, at 21:54 (UTC). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style.

Yale University. “About Yale: Yale Facts.” Accessed March 8, 2022. https://www.yale.edu/about-yale/yale-facts.

Yale University. “About Yale: Yale Facts.” Archived March 8, 2022, at https://web.archive.org/web/20220308143337/https://www.yale.edu/about-yale/yale-facts.

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.104 .

Social media content

Citations of content posted to social media can usually be limited to the text (as in the first example below). A note may be added if a more formal citation is needed. In rare cases, a bibliography entry may also be appropriate. In place of a title, quote up to the first 280 characters of the post. Comments are cited in reference to the original post.

The Instagram post included a photo of the president delivering a eulogy at the National Cathedral and referred to O’Connor as “gracious and principled” (@potus, December 19, 2023).

1. NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb), “👀 Sneak a peek at the deepest & sharpest infrared image of the early universe ever taken—all in a day’s work for the Webb telescope. (Literally, capturing it took less than a day!),” Twitter (now X), July 11, 2022, https://twitter.com/NASAWebb/status/1546621080298835970.

2. Chicago Manual of Style, “Is the world ready for singular they? We thought so back in 1993,” Facebook, April 17, 2015, https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoManual/posts/10152906193679151.

3. NASA Webb Telescope, “👀 Sneak a peek.”

4. Michele Truty, April 17, 2015, 1:09 p.m., comment on Chicago Manual of Style, “singular they.”

Chicago Manual of Style. “Is the world ready for singular they? We thought so back in 1993.” Facebook, April 17, 2015. https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoManual/posts/10152906193679151.

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.106 .

Video or podcast

1. Vaitea Cowan, “How Green Hydrogen Could End the Fossil Fuel Era,” TED Talk, Vancouver, BC, April 2022, 9 min., 15 sec., https://www .ted .com /talks /vaitea _cowan _how _green _hydrogen _could _end _the _fossil _fuel _era.

2. Eric Oliver, “Why So Many Americans Believe in So Many ‘Crazy’ Things,” moderated by Andrew McCall, virtual lecture, February 23, 2022, posted March 21, 2022, by University of Chicago, YouTube, 1:01:45, https://youtu.be/hfq7AnCF5bg.

3. Lauren Ober, host, The Loudest Girl in the World, season 1, episode 2, “Goodbye, Routine; Hello, Meltdown!,” Pushkin Industries, September 13, 2022, 41 min., 37 sec., https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/loudest-girl-in-the-world.

1. Cowan, “Green Hydrogen,” at 6:09–17.

2. Oliver, “Why.”

3. Ober, “Goodbye, Routine.”

Unless it is clear from context, “video” or the like may be specified in the bibliography.

Cowan, Vaitea. “How Green Hydrogen Could End the Fossil Fuel Era.” TED Talk, Vancouver, BC, April 2022. Video, 9 min., 15 sec. https://www .ted .com /talks /vaitea _cowan _how _green _hydrogen _could _end _the _fossil _fuel _era.

Ober, Lauren, host. The Loudest Girl in the World. Season 1, episode 2, “Goodbye, Routine; Hello, Meltdown!” Pushkin Industries, September 13, 2022. Podcast, 41 min., 37 sec. https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/loudest-girl-in-the-world.

Oliver, Eric. “Why So Many Americans Believe in So Many ‘Crazy’ Things.” Moderated by Andrew McCall. Virtual lecture, February 23, 2022. Posted March 21, 2022, by University of Chicago. YouTube, 1:01:45. https://youtu.be/hfq7AnCF5bg.

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.167–69 .

Personal communication

Personal communications, including email and text messages and direct messages sent through social media, are usually cited in the text or in a note only; they are rarely included in a bibliography.

1. Sam Gomez, Facebook direct message to author, August 1, 2024.

For more details and examples, see CMOS 14.111 .

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Quick Content Tips for Cover Letters

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If you want a short guide to writing cover letters, this is it! Be sure to examine the " Quick Formatting Tips for Cover Letters " for helpful information about your cover letter's page design. Please refer to the more in-depth cover letter handouts and the cover letter online workshop for explanations and more ideas.

There are four basic parts to a cover letter: heading , introduction , argument/body , and a closing . Here are some tips on what to include in each section:

• Provide your contact information.
• Include the date you are writing the letter.
• Include the address of the company.

Introduction

• Greet the specific person with whom you are corresponding.
• State the position you are applying for and where you heard about it.
• Name drop if you have a good connection.
• State why you believe you are a good match for the position and the organization, including 2-3 key qualifications that you will address in the rest of the letter (these items should match up with your resume).

Argument/Body

• Tailor cover letter for each job application.
• Focus each paragraph on one qualification that shows you are a good match for the job and organization.
• Give specific examples to prove where you got these skills and how you have used them before.
• Tell a story; do not just list your skills.
• Refer to your resume; do not repeat it.
• Do not use contractions.
• Close with a strong reminder of why you are a good match for the job and the organization.
• Request an interview in some way.
• Provide contact information.
• Thank the person for reading your material.
• Sign your name and print it underneath.

Chicago style guide: Letter/memo

• Chicago style page formatting
• Sample pages
• Artificial Intelligence
• Image/chart
• Indirect source
• Legal/Government
• Letter/memo
• Reference source
• Social Media (Microblogs)
• Speech/lecture
• Research center
• Library home page

Citing a letter, memo, or other correspondence

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