Chicago Style is one of the major academic referencing systems that are extensively used in the fields of history, literature, arts, and some social sciences. Chicago Style might seem to be more complicated than Harvard or APA to the students in the UK as it is a method that mainly points to the footnotes or endnotes along with a bibliography.
Anyway, after you get the idea of its format and the reasoning behind it, Chicago Style turns out to be a very neat, logical, and powerful method of academic writing services.
This blog is a complete, student, friendly guide to formatting footnotes, endnotes, and bibliographies in Chicago Style, which is a perfect fit for university students in the UK. No mention of Chicago is necessary in advance.
What Is Chicago Style?
Chicago Style, officially known as The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), offers two main documentation systems:
- Notes and Bibliography System (NB) – most common in humanities
- Author–Date System – more common in sciences and social sciences
UK students are most often required to use the Notes and Bibliography system, which uses:
- Footnotes or endnotes for in-text citations
- A bibliography at the end of the assignment
This article focuses entirely on the Notes and Bibliography system, as it is the one most UK universities expect when they ask for “Chicago Style.”
Footnotes vs Endnotes: What’s the Difference?
Before learning how to format citations, it’s important to understand the difference:
- Footnotes appear at the bottom of the same page as the reference
- Endnotes appear at the end of a chapter or the entire document
Both are formatted in the same way. The only difference is their placement. Most UK lecturers prefer footnotes, but always check your module handbook.
When Do You Use Footnotes in Chicago Style?
You must insert a footnote whenever you:
- Quote directly from a source
- Paraphrase someone else’s ideas
- Refer to specific facts, statistics, or arguments
Each footnote corresponds to a superscript number in the text.
Example in text:
Chicago Style is widely used in historical research.¹
The number appears after punctuation and links to the footnote at the bottom of the page.
How to Format Footnotes in Chicago Style
General Footnote Formatting Rules
For UK students, Chicago footnotes follow these key rules:
- Superscript numbers in the text
- Numbers restart from 1 in each chapter (unless instructed otherwise)
- Footnotes are single-spaced
- A blank line separates each footnote
- The first line is indented
First Citation of a Source (Full Footnote)
The first time you cite a source, you must give full details.
Book (First Footnote)
Format:
Author First Name Last Name, Title of Book (Place of Publication: Publisher, Year), page number.
Example:
¹ Peter Burke, History and Social Theory (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2005), 42.
Journal Article (First Footnote)
Format:
Author First Name Last Name, “Title of Article,” Title of Journal volume, no. issue (Year): page number.
Example:
² Sarah Richardson, “Feminism and History,” Journal of Modern History 87, no. 2 (2015): 310.
Website (First Footnote)
Format:
Author (if available), “Title of Webpage,” Website Name, publication date, URL.
Example:
³ British Library, “Using Historical Sources,” British Library, accessed March 2024, https://www.bl.uk.
Shortened Footnotes (Subsequent Citations)
After the first full citation, Chicago Style uses shortened notes.
Shortened Footnote Format
- Author’s surname
- Shortened title
- Page number
Example:
⁴ Burke, History and Social Theory, 58.
This avoids repetition and keeps your notes concise.
Using “Ibid.”
“Ibid.” (from ibidem, meaning “in the same place”) can be used only if the citation is exactly the same as the one immediately before it.
Example:
⁵ Ibid., 61.
However, many UK universities now recommend avoiding ibid. for clarity and consistency, especially in digital submissions.
How to Format Endnotes
Endnotes follow exactly the same formatting rules as footnotes. The only difference is where they appear.
Key points:
- Superscript numbers in text
- Notes collected at the end of the document
- Same citation structure as footnotes
If you are using Microsoft Word, you can easily switch between footnotes and endnotes using the “References” tab.
What Is a Bibliography in Chicago Style?
A bibliography is a complete list of all sources you have cited in your work. In Chicago Style, it is:
- Placed at the end of the assignment
- Titled “Bibliography”
- Alphabetised by authors’ surnames
Unlike footnotes, bibliography entries use a different format.
General Bibliography Formatting Rules
UK students should follow these rules carefully:
- Double-spaced entries
- Hanging indentation (second and subsequent lines indented)
- Alphabetical order by surname
- No numbering
- Full publication details
Bibliography Format for Common Sources
Book (Bibliography Entry)
Format:
Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year.
Example:
Burke, Peter. History and Social Theory. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2005.
Journal Article (Bibliography Entry)
Format:
Author Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal volume, no. issue (Year): page range.
Example:
Richardson, Sarah. “Feminism and History.” Journal of Modern History 87, no. 2 (2015): 295–320.
Website (Bibliography Entry)
Format:
Author or Organisation. “Title of Webpage.” Website Name. Publication or access date. URL.
Example:
British Library. “Using Historical Sources.” British Library. Accessed March 2024.
Key Differences Between Footnotes and Bibliography Entries
Many UK students lose marks because they copy footnotes directly into the bibliography. This is incorrect.
| Feature | Footnote | Bibliography |
| Name order | First name first | Surname first |
| Punctuation | Commas | Periods |
| Spacing | Single-spaced | Double-spaced |
| Page numbers | Specific page | Page range (if relevant) |
Understanding these differences is crucial for accurate Chicago referencing.
Chicago Style Formatting Tips for UK Students
Here are some practical tips to help you score higher:
- Always check your department guidelines, as some UK universities modify Chicago rules slightly
- Use referencing tools in Word carefully and double-check formatting
- Keep punctuation exactly as required (commas and italics matter)
- Be consistent throughout the assignment
- Proofread footnotes separately from the main text
Common Mistakes UK Students Make
Avoid these frequent errors:
- Mixing Chicago Style with Harvard or APA
- Missing page numbers in footnotes
- Incorrect italics for book and journal titles
- Not using shortened footnotes after first citation
- Alphabetising bibliography incorrectly
Even small referencing mistakes can reduce your overall grade.
When Should UK Students Use Chicago Style?
Chicago Style is commonly required for:
- History essays
- Literature reviews
- Art and cultural studies
- Theology and philosophy
- Some postgraduate dissertations
If your lecturer specifies “Chicago,” they almost always mean the Notes and Bibliography system.
Final Thoughts
Working with Chicago Style footnotes and bibliographies might appear difficult at the beginning, particularly to students from the UK who are used to Harvard referencing. Nevertheless, after getting to know the layout, it turns into a very reasonable and consistent way which a student can rely on to show his/her academic credibility.
By:
- Correctly formatting a footnote
- Using shortened notes appropriately
- Having an accurate bibliography
you will be able to make your writing more clear, of a higher standard and of a better academic quality.
Once you consistently practise and follow the rules set by your university, Chicago Style will be one of the most effective academic writing tools in your skillset.
