As an author, you know the importance of avoiding plagiarism claims by properly citing references within your research documents, and you are also aware of possible setbacks and/or rejection by not adhering to the publisher’s guidelines. One of the most difficult style guides to learn is Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS). CMOS includes two different citation styles including the Author-Date system, which is most often used in the humanities within subjects such as literature, history, and the arts. There is also the Notes-Bibliography (NB) system, which is preferred in the science and social science realms of academia.
As with any citation style, the complexity is in the details, and it can take a significant amount of focus to master the format for your manuscript. Fortunately, there are many professional copy editors who specialize in CMOS, including the editors at eContent Pro. Due to the complexity of CMOS, utilizing a professional editor or service will help you avoid publication delays and potential accusations of plagiarism. Find below key guidelines from eContent Pro’s expert editorial team on how to properly format CMOS.
When it comes to the general formatting of your manuscript, CMOS has basic guidelines to follow including:
Unlike other formatting guidelines, CMOS provides more flexibility in the stylistic aspects of your paper. For instance, there is no required font choice or font size. CMOS recommends a legible font size and style, however it is important to note many publishers have their own guidelines, so be sure to consult the publisher in addition to the overarching style guide.
The title page is an important requirement in CMOS. The title page will include the title of the manuscript, author name(s), course/journal/publisher (if required), and the date. This page should be formatted as follows:
Within the main text of a research paper or manuscript, some authors need or choose to include long quotes from another body of work or research. Any quote of prose that is five or more lines long, or more than 100 words, or an excerpt of poetry longer than two lines, should be formatted as a block quote in order to stand out from the rest of the author-written text. To format a block quote, you should:
By following these guidelines, it makes it easy for readers to understand that the quoted text is not the work of the author, but instead the work of another source material.
Special headings are highly recommended in CMOS to split up long papers that would otherwise appear cumbersome. The CMOS guidelines for headings are as follows:
Note: The levels indicate the order of headings and subheadings. Level 1 is your main heading, level 2 is the first subheading, and so on.
The Author-Date format for in-text citations looks traditional and reminiscent of other popular formatting styles with its use of parenthetical citations. These citations are inserted into the body of the text wherever an outside source material is referenced, paraphrased, or quoted. These parenthetical citations include the authors last name, year of publication, and page number (when applicable). Find below an example of standard citations:
These CMOS standard citations can vary depending on the sources used. Variances of these citations can include:
In-text citations look very different in the Notes-Bibliography format of CMOS. Rather than parenthetical citations, footnotes are used. This form of citation is less disruptive to the reader because it adds no additional words to the body of the text and instead features a small superscripted number where a parenthetical citation would otherwise be. These numbers start at 1 and continue in order through the body of the work with corresponding footnotes being labeled at the bottom of the page. Below are some additional guidelines for how the footnotes should be styled.
When it comes to fully citing all your sources, an in-depth list of references is required. In CMOS those using the Author-Date format create a “References” page and those using the Note-Bibliography format create a “Bibliography” page. It is important to note that some places do not require a full bibliography when footnotes are used. If you are unsure about the requirements for your work, it is always best to include the full bibliography.
While the titles for the reference lists of the two CMOS formats are different, their content is organized in the same manner.
Find below the general format for CMOS citations.
The above guidelines are only the beginning to understanding CMOS. Due to the challenges of formatting manuscripts in CMOS, and to assist scholars in easily implementing and following publisher guidelines,
The above guidelines are only the beginning to understanding CMOS. Due to the challenges of formatting manuscripts in CMOS, and to assist scholars in easily implementing and following publisher guidelines eContent Pro (eCPro) has an incredible team of professional copy editors who can help make sure your document adheres to the necessary style and formatting guidelines. Our native English-speaking copy editors and certified proofreaders are highly experienced and specialize in over 10 research areas, ensuring that your document is in good hands.
We take pride in providing top-notch editorial services that are tailored to meet the needs of our clients. With over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, we have earned a reputation for delivering high-quality work that is error-free and polished to perfection at the quickest turnaround time.
In addition, we use Microsoft Word's Track Changes feature to perform edits, allowing you to easily review and manage the changes made to your document. We also follow various style guides, including APA 7th edition, MLA, AP, Harvard, Chicago, and more, to ensure that your document adheres to the standards set by your academic institution or publisher.
eCPro is committed to providing excellent service at a competitive price. Our English Language Copy Editing and Proofreading service costs just US $0.06 per word, with a turnaround time of 2-3 business days at no extra cost. Your total cost of copy editing will also benefit from our current 10% academic discount.
Contact us today to learn more about our editorial services and how we can help you achieve your publishing goals. With our team of experts by your side, you can be confident that your document will be polished to perfection and ready to stand out in the competitive publishing landscape.
