How to Do Chicago Style Footnotes
Overview of Chicago Style Footnotes
To do Chicago style footnotes, place a superscript number after your punctuation at the end of a sentence. At the bottom of the same page, provide the corresponding citation. This guide covers inserting numbers, formatting the first full note, using shortened citations for subsequent mentions, and organizing your page layout.
Step 1: Place the superscript number
Start by identifying the specific claim, quote, or paraphrase that requires a citation. Place a superscript number immediately following the punctuation at the end of the relevant sentence. If the citation applies to a specific clause within a sentence, place the number after the comma or semicolon. Avoid placing the number before a period or in the middle of a phrase. Most word processors, like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, have an 'Insert Footnote' function that automates this numbering process. Ensure the numbers are consecutive throughout the entire essay, starting with 1.
Step 2: Format the first full footnote
The first time you cite a source, you must provide a full note. This includes the author’s full name (First Last), the title of the work, publication details, and the specific page number. Unlike a bibliography entry, footnote authors are not inverted. Use commas to separate elements rather than periods. Indent the first line of the footnote by 0.5 inches from the left margin. Place the footnote number (regular size, not superscript) followed by a period and a space before beginning the citation text.
Step 3: Use shortened notes for subsequent citations
For every mention of a source after the first full note, use a shortened citation. This prevents the bottom of your pages from becoming cluttered with repetitive information. A shortened note typically consists of the author’s last name, a shortened version of the title (if the original title is longer than four words), and the page number. This format remains consistent regardless of whether the source was cited on the previous page or several pages earlier. Note that the 17th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style now prefers these shortened notes over the traditional use of 'Ibid.'
Step 4: Manage footnote layout and spacing
Properly format the physical appearance of the footnotes at the bottom of the page. Footnotes should be single-spaced, but you must add a blank line (double-space) between individual footnote entries. Use a font that is one or two points smaller than your main body text - typically 10-point Times New Roman if your essay is in 12-point. Ensure a short separator line (about 1.5 inches) exists between the last line of your essay text and the first footnote on the page. Most modern writing software handles this line automatically.
Chicago Footnote Examples
Here is how footnotes appear in a standard history or humanities essay: **Body Text Excerpt:** Scholars argue that the industrial revolution was not merely a technological shift but a social upheaval.¹ This transformation redefined the domestic sphere and labor relations in the late nineteenth century.² **Footnotes at Bottom of Page:** `1. Robert J. Gordon, The Rise and Fall of American Growth (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2016), 42.` `2. Gordon, American Growth, 55.` *Note: The first entry is a full citation, while the second is a shortened citation for the same source.*
Common Footnote Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these frequent errors when formatting your Chicago style footnotes:
- Incorrect Placement: Placing the superscript number before the period. Always place it outside the punctuation.
- Inverting Names: Writing the author as 'Last, First' in the footnote. Use 'First Last' for footnotes and 'Last, First' only for the bibliography.
- Duplicate Numbering: Restarting footnote numbering on every page. Numbers must be continuous (1, 2, 3...) throughout the entire paper.
- Missing Page Numbers: Forgetting the specific page reference. Footnotes are designed to show exactly where information was found, not just the general source.
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