Chicago Style (CMS)

Online resources

But what does it mean?

When an assignment directs you to format a paper in Chicago style, it means that you need to follow formal guidelines provided in the Chicago Manual of Style; you can also find this information on certain reliable websites, like those listed above. These guidelines include style choices like line-spacing, page numbering, and punctuation, as well as conventions for documenting sources (like books and articles) that you consult in your research.

Citing sources

Documenting (or citing) your research sources has two basic parts:

• In-text citations – signals in the body of your paper that you're introducing information from an outside source
• A Bibliography or References list – a list at the end of your paper that includes all the sources you cited in the text

CMS formats

The Chicago manual describes two formats for documenting sources: Notes and Bibliography or Author-Date. Notes and Bibliography uses footnotes and a list titled "Bibliography". Author-Date uses parenthetical citations somewhat similar to MLA or APA style, plus a list labeled "References." The two formats are substantially different, so make sure to use the style your instructor requires.

Citing your sources is part of your assignment, so allow yourself enough time to do it correctly. If you need help, don't hesitate to ask the library staff!

A note on automatic citations

You may be able to find citations ready-made, either in article databases or from commercial sites like EasyBib or BibMe. While somewhat helpful, these citations are machine-generated, aren't edited, and may contain errors. Always double-check them for accuracy and adherence to style guidelines.

Style guides at JSCC

The current CMS manual is available for in-library use from the reference desk.

These other books may also help you with history research and documentation: