What is the difference between Chicago Notes-Bibliography and Author-Date?

Chicago Style has two systems. Notes-Bibliography (NB) is used in the humanities (like history and literature) and uses footnotes at the bottom of the page and a Bibliography at the end. Author-Date is used in the sciences and social sciences and uses in-text parenthetical citations , like (Smith 2020), and a 'References' list. This guide covers the NB system.

Do I need a Bibliography if I use footnotes in Chicago style?

Yes. In most student papers, you are required to have both footnotes for each citation and a complete Bibliography at the end of the paper. The footnotes provide the citation at the moment, while the Bibliography shows the full scope of your research.

What is 'ibid.' and how do I use it?

'Ibid.' (from the Latin *ibidem*, 'in the same place') is a special footnote used when you cite the *exact same source* in two consecutive notes. For the second note, you just write 'Ibid.' and the new page number (e.g., 'Ibid., 45.'). This saves space and is a key feature of the NB system.

Can you format my Chicago style paper for me?

Yes. Our formatting and citation service is perfect for this. Our humanities and history experts are masters of the Chicago Notes-Bibliography system and can format your title page, footnotes, and bibliography. You can place an order here .

Chicago Style Guide (17th Ed.): Notes-Bibliography

Learn to format your paper using the Chicago Manual of Style. This guide covers footnotes, bibliographies, and paper setup.

Get Chicago Formatting Help

You’ve finished your history paper, and now you must tackle citations. Unlike MLA or APA, your professor requires Chicago style, which means footnotes *and* a bibliography. What’s the difference? How do you format them?

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) is the standard for history, philosophy, and many humanities fields. It looks complex, but it’s based on a simple, logical system.

This guide is your foundational resource for the Chicago 17th edition. We will cover the “macro” context (what the Notes-Bibliography system is) and the “micro” skills (how to format your paper, footnotes, and bibliography).

What is Chicago Style?

Chicago Style is a citation system from *The Chicago Manual of Style*, published by the University of Chicago Press. It is one of the most comprehensive style guides available. As the official website states, it has been a “trusted source for authors” since 1906.

The Two Chicago Systems: NB vs. Author-Date

Chicago Style has two different systems. It is crucial you know which one your professor wants.

Notes-Bibliography (NB)	Author-Date
Who uses it? Humanities (History, Literature, Philosophy, Art).	Who uses it? Social Sciences (Economics, Criminology, some Sociology).
How it works: Uses footnotes (or endnotes) at the bottom of the page and a Bibliography at the end.	How it works: Uses parenthetical (Author, date) citations in the text, similar to APA.

This guide focuses on the Notes-Bibliography (NB) system, which is the most common one for student papers in the humanities.

Chicago vs. Turabian: What’s the Difference?

You may also hear “Turabian.” They are almost identical. *A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations* by Kate Turabian is just a student-focused version of the main *Chicago Manual of Style*. If your professor asks for Turabian, they are asking for Chicago style.

How to Format a Chicago Paper (General Rules)

Before you write, set up your document with these rules, confirmed by resources like the Purdue OWL.

Margins: 1-inch margins on all sides (or larger, if specified).
Font: A readable, standard font. Times New Roman 12pt is the safest choice.
Spacing: The main body of your paper must be double-spaced.
Page Numbers: Page numbers begin on the first page of *text* (not the title page). They go in the top-right header.
Footnotes: Footnotes at the bottom of the page are single-spaced, with a blank line between them.

The Chicago Title Page

Chicago style requires a separate title page.

The title should be centered about one-third of the way down the page.
Your name, course, and date should be centered about two-thirds of the way down the page.
All text on the title page should be double-spaced.

How to Format Footnotes (The “Notes” System)

The footnote is the heart of the Chicago NB system. It’s how you cite your sources without interrupting the text.

Footnote Basics

Place a superscript number (like this:¹) at the end of the sentence or clause you are citing, *after* the punctuation.
This number links to a citation at the bottom (foot) of the same page.
The first line of the footnote is indented 0.5 inches.
Footnotes are single-spaced.

Full Note vs. Shortened Note

This is a key concept. The *first* time you cite a source, you must use a full, complete note. For all *subsequent* citations of that same source, you use a “shortened note.”

First Footnote:
1. John W. Dower, *War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War* (New York: Pantheon Books, 1986), 45.

Shortened Note:
2. Dower, *War Without Mercy*, 51.

How to Use “Ibid.”

“Ibid.” (from the Latin *ibidem*, “in the same place”) is a special footnote used *only* when you cite the exact same source in two consecutive notes. It saves space.

1. Dower, *War Without Mercy*, 51.

2. Ibid., 55. (This means “the same source as note 1, but on page 55”).

3. Ibid. (This means “the same source as note 2, and the same page”).

How to Format the Bibliography

The Bibliography is your alphabetical list of all sources, which appears on a new page at the end of your paper.

Core Formatting Rules

New Page: Start on a new page.
Title: Center the title “Bibliography” at the top (not bold).
Alphabetical: Alphabetize all entries by the author’s last name.
Hanging Indent: Use a 0.5-inch hanging indent (the *opposite* of a footnote).
Spacing: Entries are single-spaced, with a blank line between them.

Footnote vs. Bibliography Entry

A common mistake is copying the footnote into the bibliography. The format is different.

Element	Footnote (Note)	Bibliography Entry
Author	First Name Last Name	Last Name, First Name
Punctuation	Separated by commas.	Separated by periods.
Indentation	First line is indented 0.5 inches.	Hanging indent (second line is indented).
Page Number	Includes the specific page you cited.	Includes the total page range (for articles).

Footnote:
1. John W. Dower, *War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War* (New York: Pantheon Books, 1986), 45.

Bibliography:
Dower, John W. *War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War*. New York:
Pantheon Books, 1986.

Common Chicago Citation Examples (NB System)

Here are the formats for common sources. For a full list, see the official Chicago citation guide.

Book with One Author

Full Note:
1. Michael Pollan, *The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals* (New York: Penguin, 2006), 99–100.

Short Note:
2. Pollan, *Omnivore’s Dilemma*, 105.

Bibliography:
Pollan, Michael. *The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals*. New York:
Penguin, 2006.

Journal Article (with DOI)

Full Note:
1. Walter Johnson, “On Agency,” *Journal of Social History* 37, no. 1 (Fall 2003): 115. https://doi.org/10.1353/jsh.2003.0125.

Short Note:
2. Johnson, “On Agency,” 117.

Bibliography:
Johnson, Walter. “On Agency.” *Journal of Social History* 37, no. 1 (Fall 2003): 113–24.
httpsCheck://doi.org/10.1353/jsh.2003.0125.

Webpage

Full Note:
1. “MLA 9th Edition: What’s New?,” Smart Academic Writing, accessed November 14, 2025, https://smartacademicwriting.com/mla-9th-edition-changes/.

Short Note:
2. “MLA 9th Edition.”

Bibliography:
Smart Academic Writing. “MLA 9th Edition: What’s New?.” Accessed November 14, 2025.
https://smartacademicwriting.com/mla-9th-edition-changes/.

Note on Access Dates: Chicago 17 requires access dates *only* if a webpage has no publication date.

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This guide covers the Chicago 17th ed. Notes-Bibliography system. By following these rules, you can format your footnotes and bibliography correctly and professionally.

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Chicago Style Guide (17th Ed.): Notes-Bibliography