Chicago/Turabian Style Editing

Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) and Turabian are the standards for humanities disciplines: history, literature, philosophy, theology, and related fields. Chicago style is notably different from APA or MLA—it uses footnotes or endnotes for citations (not parenthetical in-text citations) and a bibliography. Getting Chicago format right is complex: footnote format differs by source type (book, journal article, website), shortened notes appear after the first full note, bibliography entries organize differently than footnotes, and historical conventions (sic, ibid.) are used strategically. A single incorrect footnote, missing bibliography entry, or malformed citation across dozens of sources signals carelessness. Chicago style editing ensures every note is formatted correctly, the bibliography is complete and alphabetized, all sources are cited consistently, and your paper meets Chicago compliance. Chicago editing is particularly valuable for history papers, literary analysis, philosophy essays, and any humanities work where Chicago is required. This guide covers Chicago format basics, common formatting errors, and what comprehensive Chicago editing includes.

Chicago style fundamentals

Notes (footnotes or endnotes)

• Full note (first citation of a source): Author First Last, Title of Book (Place: Publisher, Year), page number. OR Author First Last, "Title of Article," Journal Name vol, no (year): page.
• Shortened note (subsequent citations): Author Last, Shortened Title, page. (Much shorter than full note)
• ibid.: Use only when citing the same source consecutively. ibid. alone if same page; ibid., page if different page
• Placement: Superscript number in text; corresponding note at bottom of page (footnote) or end of document (endnote)
• Numbering: Sequential throughout document (not restarting per page or chapter, unless chapter-level endnotes)

Bibliography

• Alphabetical order: By author last name (or by title if no author)
• Hanging indent: First line at left margin; subsequent lines indented 0.5 inches
• Format differs from notes: Bibliography entries list Last, First format (not First Last); no page numbers unless chapter in edited volume
• Grouped or ungrouped: Can organize alphabetically OR by type (Primary Sources, Secondary Sources, etc.) depending on paper
• Double-spaced: Like the rest of the paper

Common source types (Chicago format)

• Book: Author, Title (Place: Publisher, Year), page.
• Journal article: Author, "Article Title," Journal Name vol, no (year): page.
• Chapter in edited volume: Author, "Chapter Title," in Book Title, ed. Editor Name (Place: Publisher, Year), page.
• Website: Author/Organization, "Page Title," website name, accessed date, URL.
• Primary source (historical document): "Document Title," archival collection, location, date. (Format varies widely)

Most common Chicago formatting errors

What Chicago editing includes

Note format compliance

• Full note format correct: Author, title, publication information, page—all in proper Chicago order
• Shortened note format applied: All subsequent citations of each source shortened appropriately
• ibid. usage correct: Used only for consecutive citations of same source; properly formatted (not italicized in modern Chicago)
• Page numbers included: All notes include specific page numbers where applicable
• Superscript numbering consistent: Notes numbered sequentially throughout; superscripts match corresponding notes

Bibliography accuracy and completeness

• All cited sources included: Every source cited in notes appears in bibliography; no orphan citations
• Format correct per source type: Books, articles, websites—each type formatted correctly
• Alphabetization accurate: Entries alphabetical by author last name (or by title if no author)
• Hanging indents applied: All entries have correct hanging indentation (first line at margin; others indented)
• Publication information complete: Place, publisher, date all present for books; vol, no, year for journals

Overall Chicago compliance

• Citation consistency: Same source cited identically every time (same shortened form, same page format)
• Primary vs. secondary source distinction: Clear organization if both used (can organize bibliography by type)
• Title formatting: Titles italicized (books, journals) or in quotation marks (articles, chapters) correctly
• Access dates: Website citations include access date and URL

Before submitting for Chicago editing

• Complete your draft: Paper should be finished with all sources cited
• Include all notes and bibliography: Don't submit incomplete citation apparatus
• Choose your format: Let the editor know if you want footnotes or endnotes
• Gather source information: Have publication details ready (place, publisher, date) for all sources
• Know your discipline:**Some humanities disciplines have specialized Chicago conventions. Tell the editor if your field has specific requirements
• Allow time: Chicago formatting is time-intensive. A 15-page paper with 40+ sources needs 5–7 business days