Documentation
Q. Hi. I’m creating a handout for students that’s kind of a quick guide to simple kinds of citations following CMOS and referring them to their copies of CMOS for more info. I’m having trouble finding your preference for television show citations. I can find info on citing them within a text or for citing reviews, but how about citing the actual program in a bibliography? Answer »
Q. I have a question that I hope you will answer for me. In an academic book, how does one cite a quote that is taken from a book of quotations (such as Bartlett’s)? Does one cite the quote’s original source— Bartlett’s provides scant information about its quotes’ sources—does one cite Bartlett’s, which seems awkward to me, or are quotes found in books of quotations considered to be part of the public domain and, therefore, not in need of citation? Also, are there different rules for whether the quote is placed above the chapter title (a chapter epigraph) or part of the body of a chapter? I am working under a tight deadline and would, therefore, greatly appreciate a prompt response, if possible. Answer »
Q. I have looked high and low for some reference to citing television ads in your manual, and have not found a single one. How would one cite a television commercial as part of an article’s running text, and in the references section as well? Answer »
Q. I would very much like to have software that would automatically format text for Chicago style. Does such a thing exist? Where would I find it? Thank you. Answer »
Q. Using the notes and bibliography style of citation, how does one cite a 1972 reprint of a Government Printing Office publication of a collection of Native American treaties in a freestanding publication entitled Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties, 7 vols.? Charles Kappler served as editor for at least volume 2, which is the only one that I have used. Volumes 1 and 2 were originally published in 1904, though the entire set has a date range of 1904–1980. Answer »
Q. When using the author-date method, how do you cite a special issue of a journal (one that has an issue title and editor)? In particular, how is the title of the special issue formatted: quotation marks, italics, capitalized? Answer »
Q. I am editing a book on a Western painter, and the author insists on including birth and death dates for every person cited, which makes for very bumpy and annoying reading. I’d like to include the dates in footnotes to make the reading smoother, but does this lessen the academic value of the text? Answer »
Q. For title-within-a-title purposes, is a newspaper like a book or like a ship? (I’m comparing CMOS 15, section 8.184, with CMOS 16, section 8.171.) That is, in an imaginary title in italics such as All That Fits: A History of Advertising in the New York Times, would the newspaper’s name be italic and placed within quotes (as a book’s title would) or set roman (i.e., in reverse italics) (as a ship’s name would)? It strikes me that a case can be made for either approach. I had hoped that the 16th edition would settle the question, but, alas, it hasn’t. Answer »
Q. I don’t see anything in your online guide about how to cite art exhibition catalogs. I frequently need to cite them. Did I miss it in the guide? If not, would you consider adding it to your guide? It would be helpful. Thanks. Answer »
Q. For a dissertation using Chicago style (notes and bibliography version), do you recommend that websites be listed in a discrete section of the bibliography, apart from publications? Answer »
Q. I am editing an anthology in which the authors have written essays responding to a document. This document has been previously published as a brochure and now will be published as part of the anthology. How should they cite quotations from the document? Answer »
Q. How do you cite a Gallup poll? I am loath to cite it, but I must. Answer »
Q. My library shelves are full. I need to make some difficult decisions to make space for new arrivals. Is there any reason to keep my CMOS 14th and 15th editions? Answer »
Q. I have scanned a textbook with the information I need for a paper, but I forgot to scan the page numbers. I looked up the book online and found the table of contents, so I can document the page numbers for the entire chapters, but I only scanned selective pages. How can I cite in the footnotes without a page number? Answer »
Q. I edit and proofread exhibition catalogs that contain essays by different authors. Each author submits his/her essay, using his/her preferred style of notes. Many times the styles don’t match from author to author—yet all essays are published in the same catalog. Must the styles match throughout the catalog? Answer »
Q. I am writing a book where I want to mention that material is from a certain article. The author of that article wants my citation to be in line with CMOS guidelines. Could you help me out please? Answer »
Q. I am having a disagreement with an author regarding her quoting of newspaper articles in her paper. I think that all the details of the article quoted should be provided, including the title. She thinks it’s enough to just give the name of the publication and date. Which of us is right? Answer »
Q. On so many levels it seems true journalism is dead, but what required reporters to take out the English language with them? I refer to the constant phrasing similar to the following: “The defendant PLEADED not guilty at the arraignment.” Have these people never seen or heard the word “pled,” or did I miss a memo? Answer »
Q. How do I cite CD liner notes in a bibliography? Answer »
Q. The way sports writers and fans write the hortatory phrase “Go Giants!” (my home team, and no reflection on them) drives me nuts. Shouldn’t it be “Go, Giants”? It’s direct address, after all, and there is a vast difference between the two commands “Kill Bill!” and “Kill, Bill!” The athletic directors whose columns I’ve edited just scoff that it’s accepted “sports English” to write “Go Bears/Giants/Frogs!” but I just “go bananas.” Answer »
Q. How should I index the name Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo? Answer »
Q. How does Chicago treat Twitter handles? Do you lowercase (or capitalize) them consistently, or do you follow the user’s preference? For example, how would you style the following handles in a story: @roseannecash, @ElizabethHurley, @leannrimes. Answer »
Q. If I use an author’s name or a book title in a sentence, does that change the amount of information I must include in the footnote? Answer »
Q. In running text, is it necessary to include a website’s domain extension? “The video on YouTube.com showed a cat,” for example, looks incredibly stilted. The publication I’m working on is scholarly—but not intended specifically for grandmothers. Can I get rid of the “.com” if it’s clear that a website is being referred to? Answer »
Q. I am writing a research paper about a school. How do I cite written histories by individuals that are not published or dated? Thank you. Answer »