Chicago Format Style Guide

Paper Layout

General Formatting Guidelines

• Font: Use a readable font such as Times New Roman, 12 pt.
• Line Spacing: Double-space the entire document, including block quotes and references.
• Margins: Set margins to 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.
• Alignment: Use left-aligned text; do not justify.
• Indentation: Indent new paragraphs by 0.5 inches (1.27 cm).
• Page Numbers: Place page numbers in the top-right corner of each page, starting from page 1 of the body (not the title page).

Title Page (Notes & Bibliography)

If your instructor requires a title page, center the following elements vertically and horizontally:

• Title of the paper
• Your name
• Course name
• Instructor’s name
• Date of submission

Heading Levels

Chicago style allows flexibility in heading levels. Use consistent formatting throughout. Here’s a suggested outline:

• Level 1: Centered, bold or italicised
• Level 2: Left-aligned, bold or italicised
• Level 3: Run-in heading in bold or italics, followed by a period and the paragraph text

Citation Systems

These examples show both how to cite a source within the text . The citation system you use will determine whether sources appear as superscript footnotes (Notes & Bibliography) or in parentheses (Author–Date).

1. Notes and Bibliography (NB)

This system uses numbered footnotes or endnotes in the text, accompanied by a full bibliography at the end of the document. It is most commonly used in the humanities.

📌 Where Do Citations Appear?

In-text citations are placed at the exact point where you use information from a source:

• Footnote: 1. Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers , 9th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018), 132.
• Bibliography: Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers . 9th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018.

2. Author–Date

This system uses in-text citations with the author's last name and the year of publication, followed by a reference list at the end. It is commonly used in the sciences and social sciences.

• In-text citation: (Turabian 2018, 132)
• Reference list entry: Turabian, Kate L. 2018. A Manual for Writers . 9th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Choose the system that aligns with your discipline or instructor’s preference. This guide provides examples for both throughout.

Citation Examples

The following examples show how to cite common sources using both the Notes and Bibliography (NB) and Author–Date systems in Chicago style.

These examples show how to format its full entry in your bibliography or reference list. The citation system you use will determine whether sources appear as superscript footnotes (Notes & Bibliography) or in parentheses (Author–Date).

Book

• NB (Footnote): 1. Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude (New York: Harper & Row, 1970), 88.
• NB (Bibliography): García Márquez, Gabriel. One Hundred Years of Solitude . New York: Harper & Row, 1970.
• Author–Date (In-text): (García Márquez 1970, 88)
• Author–Date (Reference): García Márquez, Gabriel. 1970. One Hundred Years of Solitude . New York: Harper & Row.

Journal Article

• NB (Footnote): 2. Naomi Klein, "Climate Rage," The Nation 289, no. 20 (2009): 11.
• NB (Bibliography): Klein, Naomi. "Climate Rage." The Nation 289, no. 20 (2009): 11–15.
• Author–Date (In-text): (Klein 2009, 11)
• Author–Date (Reference): Klein, Naomi. 2009. "Climate Rage." The Nation 289 (20): 11–15.

Website

• NB (Footnote): 3. Pew Research Center, “Social Media Use in 2021,” April 7, 2021, https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/04/07/social-media-use-in-2021/.
• NB (Bibliography): Pew Research Center. “Social Media Use in 2021.” April 7, 2021. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/04/07/social-media-use-in-2021/.
• Author–Date (In-text): (Pew Research Center 2021)
• Author–Date (Reference): Pew Research Center. 2021. “Social Media Use in 2021.” April 7, 2021. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/04/07/social-media-use-in-2021/.