Citation Guides

Setting up your title page

Papers written for class using Chicago style will usually include a title page. Some professors may not require one, but they will typically clarify that, as it is not the norm. As always, however, if in doubt, ask them.

These guidelines are summarized for the typical in-class paper, but different rules apply for theses, dissertations, and manuscripts for publishing. 

1. Everything on your title page should be Centered and Double-Spaced.
2. Use No Page Number on your title page.
3. About one third of the way down the page, type your paper's Title. Make sure your title is:
   • Centered on the page,
   • Following the standard Headline Casing (the first letter of the title and all important words are upper-cased, and connecting words like "and" "the" "with" are lower-cased),
   • Using the same font type as the rest of your paper, but bold and two-to-three points larger than your main text, and
   • Not underlined or italicized in any way.
4. If you are using a Subtitle (usually optional, unless your professor specifically requests it), put a colon at the end of the main title and start the subtitle on a new line. Other than being on its own line, the subtitle should be formatted exactly like the title.
5. About two-thirds of the way down the page, you will include whatever Identifying Text your professor requests, with each element on its own line and using the same font type, size and style as the main text of your paper. Typically, these identifiers include:
   • Your Name (first and last fully spelled out, middle name/initial are optional)
   • Your Professor's name (Include their honorific, such as Dr., Professor, or Instructor, as applicable. Ask your professor how they would like to be addressed, if they do not specify themselves. An easy check is to see how they are listed on the class syllabus.)
   • The Class Name (the full name of the class, not the class code)
   • The date of submission (Organize them in order of Day Month Year, with no punctuation)
6. The Body of your paper will begin on the first line of the next page.
   • Tip: Insert a Page Break (keyboard shortcut CTRL+Enter) immediately after the last line in your identifying text to automatically begin the next page instead of hitting enter multiple times.

Formatting the body of your project

1. Follow all of the "Overall Formatting" guidelines on the first tab of this page (justify left, do not hyphenate, double-space everything, etc.).
2. The first line of each paragraph should have a 1/2 inch indent, with subsequent lines lying flush with the left margin.
   • Most word processors will already have this as a default setting, but it can be adjusted if not.
3. Block Quotes are any quote that is long enough to cover five or more lines of text. As they represent a large chunk of someone else's words, it is important to visually distinguish them from the main body of your work.
   • There should not be any extra space before and after a block quote, only a normal double-spaced line (or one blank line).
   • The entirety of block quotes should be indented by 1/2 inch.
   • The whole block of text should be single-spaced.
   • Block Quotes that are long enough to include more than one paragraph should have the first line of each paragraph after the first paragraph indented an additional 1/2 inch.
   • Tip: Block quotes can be a very useful tool, but be careful not to over-use them, as the paper should be in your own voice as much as possible. When considering using a block quote, be sure that the entire quote is necessary.
4. There should only be a single space following punctuation before the next sentence starts.
   • Older typing programs often required two spaces between sentences, and most smart phones have a built-in shortcut to add a period after hitting space twice, so this may take some practice.
5. Internal Headings and Subheadings should be used sparingly, but can be used in longer papers to designate sections within the project's structure and aid in organization. Use the following guidelines for internal headings:
   • Generally, check with your professor before using headings on undergraduate-level projects, as those are typically shorter in length and less complex. Papers longer than twelve to fifteen pages in length may or may not benefit from internal headings. It is up to your best judgement if a project will be improved by using them.
   • There is not a standard formatting system for headings in the Chicago system, but headings should visually indicate their hierarchy through use of size and style. Generally, boldface and/or larger fonts indicate prominence, while smaller fonts, italics, or lack of bold would fall below.
   • Headings should never have a single instance at any level. If a section is not long enough/complex enough to warrant multiple headings, don't use them at all.
   • Use title casing for headings, avoid using all capital letters for readability.
   • Headings may be centered or flush with the left margin.
   • Unless it is a standard within your field, do not use numbers or letters to designate headings.
   • Before typing a new subheading, add an extra double-spaced line after the conclusion of the previous section. After the subheading, there should be no extra space added, and the main text of the section should begin on the very next line.

Footnotes vs. Endnotes

The most widely used form of Chicago style is the Notes and Bibliography system, which makes use of either footnotes or endnotes to cite your sources. Both operate essentially the same way, with a small number known as a "superscript" appearing in your main text at the end of a quote, paraphrase, or any other content that requires a citation. The number used (beginning with 1 and continuing through the entirety of your paper) corresponds to a note with the same number that contains the citation itself. This is intended to provide the maximum uninterrupted readability of your main text, while still being clear about which material owes credit to your sources.

The only major difference between a footnote and endnote is their location. Following their names, footnotes appear at the base, or "foot," of the page to which they reference, and endnotes are collected on a page of their own at the "end" of your paper.

Of those two options, the most commonly used is footnotes, and will far and away be the most likely style that University of Mary professors prefer. If you are instructed to write a paper using the Chicago style, but they don't clarify which specific version, it is usually a safe bet that they mean the Notes and Bibliography style using footnotes. As we like to say again and again, however, when in doubt, ask your professors.

Foot/Endnote General Format

Both foot and endnotes are formatted in almost the same way, with the few differences noted below. The following guidelines can be applied to both footnotes and endnotes.

• Whichever form you are using, most word processing programs have automatic note formats in place, and Chicago style generally recommends the specific font type or size of the superscript number in the main text.

Setting up your Reference List

This page is for the visual formatting of your Reference List (or, Bibliography) as a whole. For examples of how to write entries for specific source types, see the "Chicago Citation Examples" page in this guide.

1. Your Reference List should be the very first section after the main text of your project (before tables, indexes, etc.).
2. On the first line of the page, the heading "Reference List" should be centered one inch from the top of the page (the normal margin, do not add extra space). The font type should be the same as the rest of your project, but should be bolded and two to three points larger, similar to how the title of the project is formatted on the title page.
3. Add one extra double-spaced line before your first entry, which will leave two blank lines between the heading and your first entry.
4. The first line of each entry should be flush with the left margin, with each subsequent line indented 1/2 inch. (This is known as a "hanging indent.")
5. Individual entries should be single-spaced, but there should still be a double-spaced line between each.
6. Entries should be organized alphabetically, regardless of the importance they played in your project. Projects that may be an exception would typically be complex works at the doctorate level, and should only be done with the approval of your professor.
7. If there are multiple entries with the same author(s), replace their names with a 3-em dash for every entry after the first. If more than one of these works was also published within the same year, add a lower-case letter to the year to differentiate (1995a, 1995b, etc.).

Tables and Illustrations

1. Visual components like tables and illustrations should appear within the text of the project, and as close to the relevant text as possible. Either immediately after the paragraph that first mentions it (whether it falls on the same page or not), or immediately before the first mention (but only if both will be on the same page). They do not need to be relegated to an index or appendix.
2. The entire item should be single-spaced throughout.
3. Use division lines sparingly and only if necessary for visual distinction between the heading, item, and caption.
4. Label with a caption and/or heading, depending on type:
   • Tables: Labeled with a heading, flush left.
     • The heading should begin with the label "Table" with a number, followed by a period, and continue the numbering throughout the paper. (Do not use alphabetic characters to designate tables).
     • Follow the label with the table's title, in either sentence case or headline style (either option is acceptable, but use only one style throughout the paper, do not go back and forth).
     • Source citation and notes about the data should appear in a caption below the table.
       • To cite the source, begin the line with the word Source or Sources (in italics and followed by a colon) and begin with "Data from" followed by the source citation. Citation should follow the footnote guidelines and formatting for that type of source.
       • If additional notes are needed to provide context to or interpret the data, on a new line below the citation, begin with the word Note or Notes (in italics and followed by a colon), followed by the content of the note.
   • Illustrations: Only use a caption below the image, do not include a header.
     • The caption should start with the label "Figure" (Often abbreviated as "Fig.") with a number, followed by a period, and continue the numbering throughout the paper. Ex: Fig. 1., Fig. 2., etc...
     • The text of the caption may be only a word or two, even an incomplete sentence is fine (and does not require punctuation in that case). Complete sentences of course require full punctuation, and should be capitalized in sentence style.
     • If using locators to identify elements within an illustration (such as above, right, clockwise from left, etc.), they should be italicized, and followed by a comma, or by a colon before an entire list.
     • The source of the item is considered supplementary and should be completely cited within the caption rather than given an entry on the References page. The citation should appear at the end of the caption, distinguished from the caption by either using a different font or putting the information within parentheses (or both). 

Lists

Lists can be done a few different ways in Chicago style. They can be incorporated into the text itself or set vertically in a bullet-style list. Short, simple lists should typically be kept within the text to reduce visual distraction, especially if the introduction to the list and the items form a sentence when read together. Lists that have multiple levels or are otherwise long or complex should be set vertically.

When using a list within the text..

1. Use a colon to introduce the list and separate individual items with a comma. If commas are used within the items themselves, separate items with a semicolon.

   • Though best known for her fiction, Toni Morrison wrote three stage plays in her lifetime: N'Orleans: The Storyville Musical, Dreaming Emmett, and Desdemona.

   • Toni Morrison's most well-known works include The Bluest Eye, Tar Baby, and Beloved.

2. If needed to designate order, you may use numerals or letters in an embedded list. Be consistent in your use of numerals or letters throughout your paper. Use commas to separate items and precede the final item with a conjunction (and/or/but) as you would a typical sentence. Numbers should be enclosed in parentheses, like so:

   • Rather than the American progression of Elementary, Middle, then High School systems, the British school system breaks its students into five categories: (1) Lower School, (2) Middle School, (3) Upper School, (4) Secondary School, and (5) 6th Form or College.

When styling a list vertically...

Vertical, or bullet-style, lists are best used with lengthy lists that would be hard to make sense of as part of a paragraph, or if the information itself is strengthened by separating it from the main text. Vertical lists are either "unordered" (unnumbered or bulleted) or "ordered" (numbered or listed with letters), depending on the purpose of the list. Each has slightly different formatting styles, but both should be introduced with a complete sentence followed by a colon, with the list begun on the next double-spaced line.

1. Ordered Lists
   1. Capitalize each item, even if it is not a complete sentence.
   2. Do not use closing punctuation unless the item is a complete sentence.
2. Unordered Lists
   • Items should begin in lowercase, unless they are complete sentences or proper nouns.
   • Do not use closing punctuation unless the item is a complete sentence