Introduction
The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) provides comprehensive guidance on manuscript preparation, publication, grammar, usage, and documentation, earning its reputation as the “editor’s bible.”
This resource primarily focuses on the Notes-Bibliography (NB) System, commonly used in literature, history, and the arts. The alternative Author-Date System, preferred in the social sciences, follows similar citation principles but differs in formatting—such as the placement of dates within citations.
While both systems ensure accurate source documentation, they vary in how they reference and format citations. For research paper examples using each system, refer to:
- Author-Date Sample Paper
- Notes-Bibliography (NB) Sample Paper
Additionally, students may find Kate L. Turabian’s Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (8th edition) helpful. Known as the “Turabian” style, it follows CMOS documentation principles with slight modifications tailored for academic writing.
Notes and Bibliography (NB) in Chicago Style
The Chicago Notes and Bibliography (NB) system is commonly used in the humanities, offering a structured approach to citing sources through footnotes, endnotes, and a bibliography. This system provides flexibility in citation while also allowing writers to include commentary on their sources when necessary.
Using the Notes and Bibliography system correctly enhances a writer’s credibility by demonstrating accountability to their sources. Additionally, it helps safeguard against plagiarism—whether intentional or accidental—by ensuring proper attribution of external material.
Introduction to Notes
In the Notes and Bibliography (NB) system, a footnote or endnote should be included whenever a source is referenced—whether through a direct quote, paraphrase, or summary.
- Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page where the source is cited.
- Endnotes are compiled either at the end of each chapter or at the conclusion of the entire document.
In both cases, a superscript number is placed in the text after the sentence or clause where the source is used, corresponding to a note that contains the bibliographic details.
If the work includes a bibliography (which is typically preferred), the notes do not need to provide full publication details—only the author’s surname, a shortened version of the title (if it exceeds four words), and the page number(s). However, if a bibliography is not included, the first note for each source must provide the full citation, including the author’s full name, source title, and publication details. If the source is cited again later, a shortened version of the reference should be used. In works without a bibliography, the full citation should be repeated when first cited in a new chapter.
In recent CMOS updates, if a source is cited multiple times consecutively, a shortened citation should be used, consisting of the author’s name, the source title, and the page number(s). Subsequent consecutive citations of the same work may omit the title, listing only the author’s name and page number(s).
Although CMOS discourages the use of “Ibid.”, it remains an option for consecutive citations of the same source and page number(s). If referring to a different page from the same source, use “Ibid.” followed by a comma and the new page number(s).
In the NB system, the footnote or endnote begins with a full-sized number followed by a period and a space before the citation details.
Introduction to Bibliographies
In the Notes and Bibliography (NB) system, the bibliography is an alphabetical list of all sources used in a work. Typically titled “Bibliography,” this section is placed at the end of the document, just before the index. It includes all cited sources and may also list additional relevant materials for further reading, even if they were not directly referenced in the text.
Bibliographic entries vary in format depending on the source type (books, articles, websites, etc.), but all are arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name. If a source lacks an identifiable author or editor, the title or, as a last resort, a descriptive phrase may be used for alphabetization.
While bibliographies are highly recommended, they are not required in works that already provide full bibliographic details within the notes.
Common Elements
A bibliography entry in the Chicago Notes and Bibliography (NB) system typically includes the author’s name, title of the work, and publication details.
Author Names
- The author’s name is inverted, meaning the last name appears first, followed by a comma and the first name.
- Example: John Smith → Smith, John.
Titles
- Books and journal titles are italicized.
- Titles of articles, chapters, and poems are placed in quotation marks.
Publication Information
- The year of publication is listed after the publisher’s name or journal title.
Punctuation
- Each major element in the bibliography is separated by a period for clarity.
For further details on formatting entries for books and periodicals, refer to their respective sections.
This resource provides basic guidance on bibliography formatting. For in-depth information on selected bibliographies, annotated bibliographies, and bibliographic essays.
Here is an example of a Chicago (Notes and Bibliography) style citation for a book:
Footnote (First Citation in the Text):
¹ John Smith, The Art of Academic Writing (New York: Oxford University Press, 2020), 45.
Footnote (Subsequent Citation):
² Smith, The Art of Academic Writing, 78.
Bibliography Entry:
Smith, John. The Art of Academic Writing. New York: Oxford University Press, 2020.