The Chicago Manual of Style
@chicagomanual.bsky.social
The venerable, time-tested guide to style, usage, and grammar. An indispensable reference, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice at cmos.style/ONLINE. We answer your “Chicago Style” questions at cmos.style/QandA.
Peter B. Kaufman’s new book provides a publisher’s road map for a world in which video has become at least as important as text. The Moving Image: A User’s Manual is the subject of our latest interview at CMOS Shop Talk.
Peter B. Kaufman talks about The Moving Image
Peter B. Kaufman is Associate Director of Development at MIT Open Learning. He is the author of The New Enlightenment and the Fight to Free Knowledge (Seven Stories Press, 2021) and founder of Intelli...
cmosshoptalk.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Peter B. Kaufman’s new book provides a publisher’s road map for a world in which video has become at least as important as text. The Moving Image: A User’s Manual is the subject of our latest interview at CMOS Shop Talk.
The abbreviations “i.e.” and “e.g.” are clearly not the same, so why are they always getting mixed up? And which one can be used with “etc.”? Refresh your knowledge of three common Latin abbreviations, this week at CMOS Shop Talk.
I.e., E.g., Etc.
Latin may be a dead language, but many of its words and phrases flourish in today’s English. The most common Latin borrowing might be an abbreviation: the all-purpose etc., short for et cetera, “and o...
cmosshoptalk.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The abbreviations “i.e.” and “e.g.” are clearly not the same, so why are they always getting mixed up? And which one can be used with “etc.”? Refresh your knowledge of three common Latin abbreviations, this week at CMOS Shop Talk.
Q. Why doesn’t “post-traumatic stress disorder” have an en dash?
Q. Neither I/me nor my dog responded. “I” or “me”?
Q. What’s the best way to style “the f-word”?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the November Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. Neither I/me nor my dog responded. “I” or “me”?
Q. What’s the best way to style “the f-word”?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the November Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
November 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Q. Why doesn’t “post-traumatic stress disorder” have an en dash?
Q. Neither I/me nor my dog responded. “I” or “me”?
Q. What’s the best way to style “the f-word”?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the November Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. Neither I/me nor my dog responded. “I” or “me”?
Q. What’s the best way to style “the f-word”?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the November Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Interruptions can be annoying, especially when you’re not sure where to put the commas. Interrupted conjunctions are the subject of this newly updated post, only at CMOS Shop Talk.
Punctuating Interrupted Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions join pairs of words, phrases, or clauses, but when such a conjunction is interrupted by an intervening phrase or clause, it can be difficult to know where to put the commas.
cmosshoptalk.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Interruptions can be annoying, especially when you’re not sure where to put the commas. Interrupted conjunctions are the subject of this newly updated post, only at CMOS Shop Talk.
Q. Should “little blue heron” be capitalized?
Q. Should it be “sample A” or “Sample A”?
Q. How would you style the title of a playlist?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the October Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. Should it be “sample A” or “Sample A”?
Q. How would you style the title of a playlist?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the October Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
October 7, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Q. Should “little blue heron” be capitalized?
Q. Should it be “sample A” or “Sample A”?
Q. How would you style the title of a playlist?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the October Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. Should it be “sample A” or “Sample A”?
Q. How would you style the title of a playlist?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the October Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Family members may deserve our love and respect, but when do they merit an initial capital? Get the latest advice for capitalizing kinship names and similar words for people, this week at CMOS Shop Talk.
Capitalizing Kinship Names and the Like
A kinship name is a name for a family member, whether close or distant. Such names include mom, dad, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, cousin, and so on.
cmosshoptalk.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Family members may deserve our love and respect, but when do they merit an initial capital? Get the latest advice for capitalizing kinship names and similar words for people, this week at CMOS Shop Talk.
Q. Why is MS Word asking me to change “all of” to “all”?
Q. Do I have to put boat names in italics?
Q. How do I cite a Substack post?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the September Q&A at CMOS Online.
Q. Do I have to put boat names in italics?
Q. How do I cite a Substack post?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the September Q&A at CMOS Online.
The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition
Find it. Write it. Cite it. The Chicago Manual of Style Online is the venerable, time-tested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. ¶ It is the indispensable reference for ...
www.chicagomanualofstyle.org
September 9, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Q. Why is MS Word asking me to change “all of” to “all”?
Q. Do I have to put boat names in italics?
Q. How do I cite a Substack post?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the September Q&A at CMOS Online.
Q. Do I have to put boat names in italics?
Q. How do I cite a Substack post?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the September Q&A at CMOS Online.
One of the best ways to understand a rule is to consider its exceptions. Find out more in this newly updated post at CMOS Shop Talk (and be sure to read to the end for links to two more “exceptional” posts).
A Few Exceptions Worth Noting
Even the most straightforward rule will be subject to an exception sooner or later. That’s why CMOS qualifies so many of its rules with usually or generally. But some exceptions are so common that the...
cmosshoptalk.com
August 12, 2025 at 4:16 PM
One of the best ways to understand a rule is to consider its exceptions. Find out more in this newly updated post at CMOS Shop Talk (and be sure to read to the end for links to two more “exceptional” posts).
Q. Can the first defined use of an abbreviation be plural?
Q. Does “painters tape” need an apostrophe?
Q. How do you cite a book that has a typo on the title page?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the August Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. Does “painters tape” need an apostrophe?
Q. How do you cite a book that has a typo on the title page?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the August Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
August 5, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Q. Can the first defined use of an abbreviation be plural?
Q. Does “painters tape” need an apostrophe?
Q. How do you cite a book that has a typo on the title page?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the August Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. Does “painters tape” need an apostrophe?
Q. How do you cite a book that has a typo on the title page?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the August Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Our online Q&A has been answering your questions about Chicago style since 1997. This month we dig into the archives for some tips and tricks, only at CMOS Shop Talk.
Inside the Q&A: Tips and Tricks
The Chicago Manual of Style Q&A first went online in 1997. According to a page from June of that year at the Wayback Machine, one early question was about submitting manuscripts on disk, which back th...
cmosshoptalk.com
July 23, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Our online Q&A has been answering your questions about Chicago style since 1997. This month we dig into the archives for some tips and tricks, only at CMOS Shop Talk.
Q. Should “Fortune” be in italics in “Fortune 500”?
Q. Is a comma needed after a word like “yesterday”?
Q. Does a term following “called” need to be in italics?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the July Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. Is a comma needed after a word like “yesterday”?
Q. Does a term following “called” need to be in italics?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the July Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
July 1, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Q. Should “Fortune” be in italics in “Fortune 500”?
Q. Is a comma needed after a word like “yesterday”?
Q. Does a term following “called” need to be in italics?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the July Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. Is a comma needed after a word like “yesterday”?
Q. Does a term following “called” need to be in italics?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the July Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Commas, like people and ducks, are often found in pairs. Read all about it in our latest post—which includes links to five related posts, all newly updated. Only at CMOS Shop Talk.
When Commas Come in Pairs
Commas, like the two in this sentence, often come in pairs. When they do, they’re usually acting like miniature parentheses. In fact, whenever you’re tempted to omit the second of two commas, convert ...
cmosshoptalk.com
June 10, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Commas, like people and ducks, are often found in pairs. Read all about it in our latest post—which includes links to five related posts, all newly updated. Only at CMOS Shop Talk.
Q. Should a unit with a fraction like “1/4” be singular or plural?
Q. How would Chicago style the AI company name “io”?
Q. Why is “due process clause” lowercase in Chicago style?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the June Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. How would Chicago style the AI company name “io”?
Q. Why is “due process clause” lowercase in Chicago style?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the June Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
June 3, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Q. Should a unit with a fraction like “1/4” be singular or plural?
Q. How would Chicago style the AI company name “io”?
Q. Why is “due process clause” lowercase in Chicago style?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the June Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. How would Chicago style the AI company name “io”?
Q. Why is “due process clause” lowercase in Chicago style?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the June Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
What can a book review teach us about automated source citations (and AI)? This updated post explores some of the limits of automation—and the benefits of editorial intervention—only at CMOS Shop Talk.
Citing Book Reviews
Chicago-style source citations are designed to be both concise and informative. Ideally, readers should be able to tell what a citation refers to despite its abbreviated nature.
cmosshoptalk.com
May 20, 2025 at 6:05 PM
What can a book review teach us about automated source citations (and AI)? This updated post explores some of the limits of automation—and the benefits of editorial intervention—only at CMOS Shop Talk.
Reposted by The Chicago Manual of Style
A Chicago Pope implies the existence of an MLA Pope and APA Pope
May 8, 2025 at 5:36 PM
A Chicago Pope implies the existence of an MLA Pope and APA Pope
Q. Should Winston-Salem be spelled with an en dash?
Q. Is it “dogs have a tail” or “dogs have tails”?
Q. Why is Southern California capped but not western Arizona?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the May Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. Is it “dogs have a tail” or “dogs have tails”?
Q. Why is Southern California capped but not western Arizona?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the May Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
May 6, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Q. Should Winston-Salem be spelled with an en dash?
Q. Is it “dogs have a tail” or “dogs have tails”?
Q. Why is Southern California capped but not western Arizona?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the May Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. Is it “dogs have a tail” or “dogs have tails”?
Q. Why is Southern California capped but not western Arizona?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the May Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
It’s often mistaken for a hyphen, but editors know the difference. The subtle but powerful en dash is the subject of this newly updated post at CMOS Shop Talk.
En Dashes, the Editor’s Mark
An en dash can function either as a strong hyphen or as an ordinary dash. As a strong hyphen, it can connect numbers or words. As an ordinary dash it’s nothing special.
cmosshoptalk.com
April 15, 2025 at 3:55 PM
It’s often mistaken for a hyphen, but editors know the difference. The subtle but powerful en dash is the subject of this newly updated post at CMOS Shop Talk.
Q. Can you omit a person’s middle initial in running text?
Q. Should the word “than” be capitalized in a title?
Q. Can “et al.” stand for just one person?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the April Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. Should the word “than” be capitalized in a title?
Q. Can “et al.” stand for just one person?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the April Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
April 1, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Q. Can you omit a person’s middle initial in running text?
Q. Should the word “than” be capitalized in a title?
Q. Can “et al.” stand for just one person?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the April Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. Should the word “than” be capitalized in a title?
Q. Can “et al.” stand for just one person?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the April Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Sometimes a “the” at the beginning of a proper noun is capitalized—and sometimes it’s not. Read all about it (including updates relative to the 18th edition), only at CMOS Shop Talk.
When to Capitalize an Initial “The”
A “the” at the beginning of a word or phrase that would normally be capitalized—including the name of an organization or the title of a work—presents a dilemma. When is the “the” capitalized? In Chica...
cmosshoptalk.com
March 18, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Sometimes a “the” at the beginning of a proper noun is capitalized—and sometimes it’s not. Read all about it (including updates relative to the 18th edition), only at CMOS Shop Talk.
Grammar Fans Flock to a Film About Participles and Gerunds www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/n...
Grammar Fans Flock to a Film About Participles and Gerunds
“Rebel With a Clause” celebrates the improbable cross-country journey of a woman who gently imparts grammar rules to strangers.
www.nytimes.com
March 10, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Grammar Fans Flock to a Film About Participles and Gerunds www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/n...
Q. What is Chicago style for elongated words?
Q. Which is preferred, (n + 1)st or (n + 1)th?
Q. How should we cite website content that has been removed?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the March Q&A at CMOS Online.
Q. Which is preferred, (n + 1)st or (n + 1)th?
Q. How should we cite website content that has been removed?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the March Q&A at CMOS Online.
The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition
Find it. Write it. Cite it. The Chicago Manual of Style Online is the venerable, time-tested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. ¶ It is the indispensable reference for ...
www.chicagomanualofstyle.org
March 4, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Q. What is Chicago style for elongated words?
Q. Which is preferred, (n + 1)st or (n + 1)th?
Q. How should we cite website content that has been removed?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the March Q&A at CMOS Online.
Q. Which is preferred, (n + 1)st or (n + 1)th?
Q. How should we cite website content that has been removed?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the March Q&A at CMOS Online.
There’s a new Grammar Table documentary! Join us as Brandt Johnson and Ellen Jovin talk about their “grammarous” adventures in filmmaking, only at CMOS Shop Talk.
Filmmaker Brandt Johnson and grammar guru Ellen Jovin chat about Rebel with a Clause, a new docu-comedy about Ellen’s pop-up grammar advice stand on a road trip across America
Rebel with a Clause follows the adventures of Ellen’s Grammar Table and will have its New York City premiere on March 4 at the SVA Theatre in Manhattan. A book with the same title was published in 202...
cmosshoptalk.com
February 25, 2025 at 5:18 PM
There’s a new Grammar Table documentary! Join us as Brandt Johnson and Ellen Jovin talk about their “grammarous” adventures in filmmaking, only at CMOS Shop Talk.
Q. Do you have any guidance on the recent name changes for the Gulf of Mexico and Denali?
Q. How would I spell out numbers to the right of the decimal point?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the February Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. How would I spell out numbers to the right of the decimal point?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the February Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
February 4, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Q. Do you have any guidance on the recent name changes for the Gulf of Mexico and Denali?
Q. How would I spell out numbers to the right of the decimal point?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the February Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. How would I spell out numbers to the right of the decimal point?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the February Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Are you ready for a Weekend Workout? Take our first quiz, “Chicago Style Workout 1: Series and the Serial Comma”—now updated for the 18th edition. Only at CMOS Shop Talk.
Chicago Style Workout 1: Series and the Serial Comma
This workout is the first in a series of dozens of workouts at Shop Talk, each of which has now been updated to refer and link to the 18th edition of CMOS. Whether you’re a beginner or an old pro, the...
cmosshoptalk.com
January 31, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Are you ready for a Weekend Workout? Take our first quiz, “Chicago Style Workout 1: Series and the Serial Comma”—now updated for the 18th edition. Only at CMOS Shop Talk.
Looking for a fun, interactive way to explore the new edition of CMOS? All 81 (and counting) of our “Chicago style” workouts have now been updated to refer and link to the 18th edition. Start taking our quizzes today, only at CMOS Shop Talk.
Chicago Style Workouts Now Updated for the 18th Edition
As many of you know by now, the 18th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style was published last September. To find out what’s new, you can check out “What’s New in the 18th Edition?” But now there’s an...
cmosshoptalk.com
January 28, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Looking for a fun, interactive way to explore the new edition of CMOS? All 81 (and counting) of our “Chicago style” workouts have now been updated to refer and link to the 18th edition. Start taking our quizzes today, only at CMOS Shop Talk.