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The Chicago Manual of Style provides formatting information for a manuscript, but does not address formatting of student papers. This page provides basic information about components/format of the CMS Notes-Bibliography system.
If you have questions about Chicago Style, please contact IWU Online Campus Library Services (OCLS).
- Chicago Style TemplateStudents are welcome to use this Chicago Style Paper Template (Microsoft Word Document). Please make sure that you check all Chicago Style format, footnotes, shortened notes, Bibliography entries, and other style elements against the Chicago Manual of Style.
- Chicago Style Guide, for 17th Edition (Western Oregon University)We recommend students look closely at this guide. Click on Paper Formatting under the Home button.
- Chicago Manual of Style Online
The online companion to the print version, citation quick guide, answers to common questions, tutorials, and more.
Always find out whether your instructor has specific requirements when you are writing a paper. Basic elements of a paper using Chicago style are as follows:
- A title page that contains:
- the title of your paper
- your name
- the class, the professor, and the date.
- Body of the paper.
- Footnotes on pages where references occur OR an Endnotes page on a new page after the body of the paper. To create a footnote in Microsoft Word press ATL + CTRL + F on your keyboard.
- A Bibliography. Online Campus Library Services has been told that Wesley Seminary students will use the Notes and Bibliography Style (footnotes on pages and a Bibliography following the paper's body).
Margins, Indents
- Leave uniform margins of at least 1 inch (2.54 cm.) at the top, bottom, left and right of every page.
- Indent all paragraphs in the body of the paper 1/2".
- Indent notes (footnotes or endnotes) 1/2".
- Use a hanging indent of 1/2" for Bibliography entries.
- Block indent long quotations 1/2".
Spacing
- Double-space the body of the paper.
- Double-space block quotes.
- Single-space each note (whether using endnotes or footnotes) and bibliography, but double-space between each entry.
Fonts: The Chicago Manual of Style does not specify a particular font. We suggest using a readable serif font, like Times New Roman, 12 pt.
