What is the difference between a footnote and an endnote?

A footnote appears at the bottom of the same page where the superscript number is placed. An endnote places all citations together on a separate page at the very end of the document. Most humanities professors prefer footnotes because they are easier for the reader to check.

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 the difference between a footnote and a bibliography entry?

They have three key differences: 1. Author: Footnotes use 'First Name Last Name,' while the Bibliography uses 'Last Name, First Name.' 2. Punctuation: Footnotes use commas, while the Bibliography uses periods. 3. Indentation: Footnotes indent the first line, while the Bibliography uses a hanging indent.

Can you format my Chicago footnotes 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 .

How to Use Footnotes in Chicago Style (17th Ed.)

A guide to formatting Chicago style footnotes, shortened notes, and “ibid.” for your paper.

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You’re writing a history paper and see a small `¹` at the end of a sentence. This is a footnote, the heart of the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS).

Unlike parenthetical systems, the Notes-Bibliography (NB) system uses superscript numbers to point to citations at the bottom (foot) of the page. This is the preferred style for humanities (like history, literature, and philosophy) because it allows for complex citations without cluttering the text.

This guide is a “micro” resource focusing *only* on footnotes and endnotes. It is a companion to our “macro” Guide to Chicago Style (NB) and our guide to the Chicago Author-Date system.

What is the Notes-Bibliography (NB) System?

The NB system uses two parts to cite sources:

Notes (Footnotes or Endnotes): A superscript number in the text (e.g., `…as one historian argues.¹`) that links to a full citation.
Bibliography: A separate page at the end of the paper listing all sources alphabetically.

Footnotes vs. Endnotes

You have two choices for where to put your “notes.” Your professor will almost always prefer footnotes.

Footnotes (Preferred)	Endnotes
Where: At the bottom of the same page the citation appears on.	Where: On a separate page at the end of the paper (before the bibliography).
Why: Allows the reader to easily check your sources as they read.	Why: Creates a cleaner, less-cluttered page of text.

This guide will use “footnotes” as the standard.

How to Format Footnotes: The 5 Core Rules

Follow these five rules for every footnote.

Rule 1: Superscript Placement

The superscript number (e.g., `¹`) is inserted *after* all punctuation (e.g., after the period or comma).

Correct: The battle was lost, and the war soon ended.¹
Incorrect: The battle was lost¹, and the war soon ended.

Rule 2: Numbering

Footnotes must be numbered consecutively (1, 2, 3…) throughout your *entire* paper. Do not restart the numbering on each page.

Rule 3: Location

The footnote text appears at the bottom of the corresponding page, separated from the main text by a short line.

Rule 4: Indentation

The first line of every footnote must be indented 0.5 inches from the left margin. This is the opposite of a bibliography’s hanging indent.

Rule 5: Spacing

Footnotes themselves should be single-spaced. However, you should leave a blank line between each footnote at the bottom of the page.

For more, see this university guide to Chicago footnotes.

Full Note vs. Shortened Note: A Key Rule

This is the most important concept. You do *not* provide the full citation every time.

Rule 1: Use a Full Note for the First Citation

The *first time* you cite any source, you must use a “full note” with all publication details. Note the use of commas and “First Name Last Name.”

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

Rule 2: Use a Shortened Note for All Subsequent Citations

Every time you cite that *same source* again (after the first time), you use a “shortened note.” This only includes the author’s last name, a shortened title, and the page number.

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

How to Use “Ibid.” (For Consecutive Citations)

“Ibid.” is a Latin abbreviation for *ibidem*, meaning “in the same place.” You use it *only* when you cite the exact same source in two (or more) notes in a row.

“Ibid.” Examples

Imagine this is the footnote section at the bottom of your page:

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, 55”).

4. Michael Pollan, *The Omnivore’s Dilemma* (New York: Penguin, 2006), 100.

5. Dower, *War Without Mercy*, 60. (You cannot use Ibid. here; you must use a shortened note).

Footnote vs. Bibliography Entry

This is a common mistake. A footnote entry is not the same as a bibliography entry. They are formatted differently.

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(s) you cited.	Includes the total page range (for articles) or not at all (for books).

Example: Note vs. Bibliography

Notice the differences in author name, punctuation, and indentation.

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 Footnote Examples (NB System)

Here are formats for common sources. For more, see the official Chicago (NB) 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.
https://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/.

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Chicago Footnote FAQs

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This guide covers Chicago 17th ed. footnotes. By following these rules, you can format your notes and bibliography correctly and professionally.

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How to Use Footnotes in Chicago Style (17th Ed.)