If your instructor just told you to use Chicago style format and you’re feeling confused, don’t worry — you’re not alone. 📚
Unlike APA or MLA, Chicago can be a bit trickier because it offers two different citation systems — but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be citing like a pro.
In this friendly guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Chicago style, including structure, formatting, citations, footnotes, and real examples. Let’s get started! 🖊️
📘 What Is Chicago Style Format?
The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) is a widely used citation style, especially in:
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History
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Literature
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Arts
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Theology
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Social sciences
💡 Chicago Style helps you cite sources and format your academic papers consistently and professionally.
What makes it unique? It offers two distinct citation systems:
📚 The Two Citation Styles in Chicago Format
| System | Best For | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Notes and Bibliography (NB) | Humanities (history, philosophy, literature) | Uses footnotes or endnotes + bibliography |
| Author-Date | Sciences and social sciences | Uses in-text citations + reference list |
Choose the one your professor or department requires — they serve different fields and have different formatting rules.
🧱 General Chicago Style Formatting Guidelines
Here’s how your paper should look:
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Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt
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Line Spacing: Double-spaced throughout
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Margins: 1 inch on all sides
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Page Numbers: Top right corner
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Title Page: Required (unless otherwise specified)
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Indentation: First line of each paragraph indented by ½ inch
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Block Quotes: For quotes over 100 words, use a block quote (indented, single-spaced, no quotation marks)
📄 Pro Tip: Use Microsoft Word’s built-in formatting tools or a Chicago template to save time.
✍️ Notes and Bibliography System (Footnotes)
How It Works:
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Each time you quote or reference a source, add a footnote at the bottom of the page.
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At the end of your paper, include a bibliography with full citation details.
🔢 Example Footnote:
Zadie Smith, White Teeth (New York: Vintage, 2000), 45.
📚 Bibliography Entry:
Smith, Zadie. White Teeth. New York: Vintage, 2000.
Formatting Tips:
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Use superscript numbers in the text
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Footnotes go at the bottom of the page, single-spaced
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Bibliography is alphabetized by the author’s last name
✍️ Author-Date System (In-Text Citations)
How It Works:
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Cite sources using parentheses in the text: (Author Year, Page)
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Include a reference list at the end
🧾 Example In-Text Citation:
(Smith 2000, 45)
📘 Reference List Entry:
Smith, Zadie. 2000. White Teeth. New York: Vintage.
Formatting Tips:
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Use only author’s last name and publication year in the text
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Full details go in the reference list
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Ideal for scientific or data-heavy writing
🔍 Real Example: Using Both Systems
Scenario: You’re writing about climate change in literature
Notes & Bibliography Example:
Amitav Ghosh, The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2016), 102.
Bibliography:
Ghosh, Amitav. The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2016.
Author-Date Example:
(Ghosh 2016, 102)
References:
Ghosh, Amitav. 2016. The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
💡 When to Use Chicago Style Format
Use Chicago Style if you’re writing in:
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History: It’s the gold standard
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Theology or Religious Studies: Preferred due to its detailed referencing
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Literature & Arts: Allows in-depth citation with explanatory notes
Avoid Chicago if your department asks for:
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APA (common in Psychology, Education, Sciences)
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MLA (common in high school and English courses)
🔧 Tools to Help with Chicago Style Citations
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Zotero – Manage sources and auto-generate footnotes
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Citation Machine – Quick bibliography builder
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Scribbr – Chicago citation checker
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Microsoft Word – Built-in citation tool under the “References” tab
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Chicago Manual of Style Online – The official guidebook
🧠 Bonus Tip: Always double-check your citations against your professor’s instructions!
✅ Conclusion: Mastering Chicago Style Is Easier Than You Think
At first glance, Chicago style format can look intimidating—but once you understand the difference between footnotes and in-text citations, it’s actually straightforward and logical.
Whether you’re writing about art, religion, or global history, mastering this format shows professionalism and academic integrity.
🚀 Need Help Formatting Your Paper in Chicago Style?
Struggling with footnotes or citation formatting? You don’t have to go it alone.
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