The CMS (Chicago Manual of Style) citation style is a widely used format for citing sources in academic and professional writing, particularly in the humanities, social sciences, and history. Here are the simplified rules for CMS citation style:
In-Text Citations
- Use footnotes or endnotes to cite sources, with a corresponding bibliography at the end of the paper.
- Footnotes are numbered consecutively throughout the paper, with the number appearing at the end of the sentence or clause.
- In-text citations include the author’s name, title of the work, and page numbers (if applicable).
Footnote/Endnote Style
- First footnote: Author’s First Name Last Name, Title of Book (Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication), page numbers.
- Subsequent footnotes: Author’s Last Name, Shortened Title, page numbers.
Bibliography Style
- List all sources cited in the paper, in alphabetical order by author’s last name.
- Include the author’s name, title of the work, publication date, and publication information.
- Use title case for book titles, and sentence case for article titles.
Examples
- Book: John Smith, The History of Chicago (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2001), 23-25.
- Journal Article: Jane Doe, “The Impact of Climate Change,” Journal of Environmental Studies 10, no. 2 (2005): 12-20.
- Website: John Johnson, “The Benefits of Meditation,” Mindful.org, accessed February 10, 2022, https://www.mindful.org/the-benefits-of-meditation/.
Common CMS Citation Style Rules
- Use ibid. to refer to the same source in consecutive footnotes.
- Use idem to refer to the same author in consecutive footnotes, but with a different source.
- Use et al. to abbreviate a list of authors (three or more).
- Use n.d. to indicate no publication date.
- Use forthcoming to indicate a source that is upcoming or not yet published.
Key Differences from Other Citation Styles
- CMS uses footnotes or endnotes, whereas APA and MLA use in-text citations with parentheses.
- CMS includes a bibliography, whereas APA and MLA use a reference list.
- CMS has a more formal tone and is often used in academic and professional writing, whereas APA and MLA are commonly used in social sciences and humanities.
Note: These are simplified rules, and it’s always best to consult the Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition) for more detailed guidelines and examples.
