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.
Q. Is it “password protect” or “password-protect”?
Q. Why aren’t “heaven” and “hell” always capitalized?
Q. How would I cite an unpublished diary entry?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the February Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. Why aren’t “heaven” and “hell” always capitalized?
Q. How would I cite an unpublished diary entry?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the February Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
February 3, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Q. Is it “password protect” or “password-protect”?
Q. Why aren’t “heaven” and “hell” always capitalized?
Q. How would I cite an unpublished diary entry?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the February Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. Why aren’t “heaven” and “hell” always capitalized?
Q. How would I cite an unpublished diary entry?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the February Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Until about a century ago, most publishers did “this.” But many publishers now do ‘this’, or “this”. Find out what happened, and why, in this newly updated post at CMOS Shop Talk.
Commas and Periods with Quotation Marks
In publications that follow Chicago style, commas and periods are placed before a closing quotation mark, “like this,” rather than after, “like this”. This convention has persisted even though it’s no...
cmosshoptalk.com
January 20, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Until about a century ago, most publishers did “this.” But many publishers now do ‘this’, or “this”. Find out what happened, and why, in this newly updated post at CMOS Shop Talk.
Q. “Do the speaker or the characters have any faults?” Or “Does”?
Q. En dash or hyphens in “time clock punching employees”?
Q. Can you have a footnote 1 with no 2?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the January Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. En dash or hyphens in “time clock punching employees”?
Q. Can you have a footnote 1 with no 2?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the January Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
January 13, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Q. “Do the speaker or the characters have any faults?” Or “Does”?
Q. En dash or hyphens in “time clock punching employees”?
Q. Can you have a footnote 1 with no 2?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the January Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. En dash or hyphens in “time clock punching employees”?
Q. Can you have a footnote 1 with no 2?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the January Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Hi! You’re right to question these, but apparently Source Serif 4 (the Google font in the post) has a slightly thinner-than-usual thin space. Had we used Arial (for example), the relative widths would make more sense (see image). We might need to add another footnote!
December 16, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Hi! You’re right to question these, but apparently Source Serif 4 (the Google font in the post) has a slightly thinner-than-usual thin space. Had we used Arial (for example), the relative widths would make more sense (see image). We might need to add another footnote!
The spaces between these words are just one of more than a dozen kinds of spaces. Discover more in this latest update from CMOS Shop Talk, which includes links to several related (and newly updated) posts.
Navigating Spaces in Manuscripts and Beyond
To a copyeditor working on a manuscript, a space is usually just a space, and line breaks are random, fluid occurrences that vary as text is added and deleted and moved around. Designers and typesette...
cmosshoptalk.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:10 PM
The spaces between these words are just one of more than a dozen kinds of spaces. Discover more in this latest update from CMOS Shop Talk, which includes links to several related (and newly updated) posts.
Q. I know about commas and spouses, but what about friends?
Q. Do we refer to fictional characters by first or last name?
Q. Is “four-hundredth birthday” correct?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the December Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. Do we refer to fictional characters by first or last name?
Q. Is “four-hundredth birthday” correct?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the December Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
December 2, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Q. I know about commas and spouses, but what about friends?
Q. Do we refer to fictional characters by first or last name?
Q. Is “four-hundredth birthday” correct?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the December Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Q. Do we refer to fictional characters by first or last name?
Q. Is “four-hundredth birthday” correct?
We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the December Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA
Reposted by The Chicago Manual of Style
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December 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
The end of our sitewide sale (and our holiday shipping deadline) is coming up soon! Enjoy 30% off these stocking-stuffer-sized beauties and more with code HOLIDAY25 through December 3.
🛍️ Shop here: buff.ly/zQhPoCx
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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