Chicago Manual of Style: A Practical Guide

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) is one of the oldest and most comprehensive style guides in American publishing. Currently in its 17th edition, Chicago style is widely used in history, art history, and many humanities disciplines. ## Two Documentation Systems Chicago style uniquely offers two documentation systems: ### Notes-Bibliography System (Humanities Style) Preferred in history, art history, and literature, this system uses footnotes or endnotes for in-text citations, paired with a comprehensive bibliography at the end. This allows for substantive commentary within notes alongside citation information. ### Author-Date System (Sciences Style) Used primarily in the physical, natural, and social sciences, this system parenthetically cites the author's last name and publication year within the text, paired with a reference list at the end. It resembles APA style in structure. ## Key Formatting Requirements Chicago style papers require: - 1-inch margins on all sides - Double-spaced text - Readable 12-point font (typically Times New Roman) - Page numbers in the upper right corner - A title page or title on the first page - Footnotes or endnotes (notes-bibliography system) - Single-spaced notes with double spacing between notes ## Common Chicago Style Pitfalls 1. Confusing the notes-bibliography and author-date systems 2. Incorrect footnote formatting (first vs subsequent citations differ) 3. Forgetting the shortened citation format after the first reference 4. Bibliography formatting errors (hanging indents, date placement) 5. Misformatting the title page Formatly handles all Chicago style requirements automatically, including proper footnote numbering, bibliography formatting, and system-appropriate citation formatting.