The Chicago Manual of Style

The Chicago Manual of Style
source
Name	The Chicago Manual of Style
Author	University of Chicago Press
Country	United States
Language	English
Subject	Style guide, Publishing
Genre	Reference work
Publisher	University of Chicago Press
Pub date	1906 – present
Media type	Print, DOI

The Chicago Manual of Style. Often abbreviated as Chicago or CMOS, it is a comprehensive style guide for American English that has become a foundational authority in publishing, scholarly communication, and general writing. First published in 1906 by the University of Chicago Press, it provides detailed guidelines on grammar, punctuation, citation, document formatting, and the editorial process. Its two primary documentation systems—the notes and bibliography style favored in the humanities and the author-date style common in the sciences and social sciences—have made it an indispensable resource for authors, editors, publishers, and students across numerous disciplines.

History and development

The manual originated from a single sheet of typographic standards distributed by the University of Chicago Press in the 1890s. The first official edition, a 200-page guide, was published in 1906 to standardize the increasingly complex process of typesetting and proofreading for the university's own publications. Subsequent editions expanded significantly in scope and detail, responding to evolving practices in scholarly publishing and the broader publishing industry. Key figures in its development have included longtime editors such as John Grossman and the successive editorial staff of the University of Chicago Press, who have overseen its transformation from a in-house printers' guide to a globally recognized standard. Its evolution mirrors changes in technology, from hot metal typesetting to the digital age, continually adapting its advice for new media like websites and electronic publishing.

Content and organization

The manual is traditionally divided into three main parts: the publishing process, style and usage, and documentation. The first part covers the entire lifecycle of a manuscript, from acquisition and contract negotiation through copyediting, design, and production. The extensive second part serves as a definitive guide on American English conventions, addressing grammar, punctuation, capitalization, italicization, numbers, and quotations. The third and often most-referenced section details its two citation systems: the notes and bibliography system, which uses footnotes or endnotes often paired with a bibliography, and the author-date system, which employs parenthetical in-text citations linked to a reference list. This logical structure allows users to navigate from broad publishing principles to granular stylistic details.

Key guidelines and usage

Among its most influential rules are its specifications for formatting block quotations, its detailed guidance on the use of the serial comma, and its clear distinctions between dashes such as the em dash and en dash. Its chapter on names and titles provides conventions for citing everything from classical works and sacred texts to modern film and social media. The manual is the preferred style for many prominent university presses, including its own University of Chicago Press, as well as for numerous academic journals in history, art history, and literary criticism. It is also widely adopted in trade publishing for nonfiction works. The associated Chicago Manual of Style Online features the full text, a popular Q&A forum, and customizable citation quick guides.

Editions and publication

The first edition was published in 1906, with major revised editions following in 1969 (12th), 1982 (13th), 1993 (14th), 2003 (15th), 2010 (16th), and 2017 (17th). Each edition incorporates thousands of changes, clarifications, and new examples, with the 17th edition notably expanding advice on digital publishing, website citations, and gender-neutral language. The manual is published in both hardcover and, since 2006, a continuously updated online subscription version by the University of Chicago Press. This digital edition allows for ongoing revisions and additions between major print editions, ensuring its recommendations remain current with rapid changes in technology and usage.

Influence and reception

Widely regarded as the "editor's bible," the manual exerts profound influence on American publishing standards and English-language style guides globally. It is routinely cited in court rulings, style guide debates, and academic settings as a definitive authority. While it coexists with other major guides like the Associated Press Stylebook and the Modern Language Association's MLA Handbook, its unparalleled depth and scholarly focus have secured its prestige. The manual has been the subject of dedicated conferences and is a cornerstone of professional training for editors through organizations like the Editorial Freelancers Association. Its reception is overwhelmingly positive within its core audiences, praised for its comprehensiveness, clarity, and authoritative voice, though its complexity can be daunting for new users.

Category:Style guides Category:University of Chicago Press books Category:American English