So You Want to Chicago Up Your Google Doc, Eh? A Guide for the Citationally Challenged
Ah, Chicago style. The land of footnotes and hanging indents, where a bibliography becomes a party with all your sources. But fear not, fellow writer (or should I say, footnote fighter?), because this guide will have you rocking a Chicago-formatted Google Doc like Al Capone rocked a zoot suit.
Formatting Fundamentals: The Nitty Gritty
First things first, let's get that basic formatting down. We're talking double spacing throughout, my friend. Like, seriously, your lines should be social distancing. Font? Times New Roman or Arial at size 10 or 12 – anything smaller and you're basically asking your reader to decipher hieroglyphics. Margins? A cool one inch all around. Easy, right?
Pro tip: Google Docs can be a bit stingy with margins. To get that perfect one-inch all around, head to File > Page setup and set your margins manually. Boom, problem solved.
Paging for Page Numbers: A Numberly Escapade
Now, for the page numbers. Here's where things get a little Chicago-specific. You see, fancy pants Chicago style wants your title page to be numberless, but the rest of your document to be consecutively numbered. To achieve this hocus pocus,
- Double-click on the top of your document to open the header area.
- Click Insert > Page number.
- Choose the option that says "Top right (No number on first page)".
And there you have it! Numberless title page, numbered everything else. You're practically a Chicago style magician.
Footnote Frenzy: Where Citations Take Flight
Alright, let's talk about the heart and soul of Chicago style: footnotes. These little guys live at the bottom of your page, ready to spill the tea on your sources. To insert a footnote, simply put your cursor where you want the citation number to appear in your text, then head to Insert > Footnote. Easy peasy.
But wait! Chicago footnotes are all about brevity. You don't need to write a novel down there. Just include the author's last name, a shortened title (the first few words will do), and the year of publication. That's it!
For example, if you're citing a book by the legendary William Zinsser called "On Writing Well," your footnote might look like this:
Zinsser, On Writing Well, 2006.
Bonus Tip: Don't be a footnote fumblefingers! Google Docs actually has a built-in citation tool (look under Tools > Citations) but it only offers a limited selection of styles. For a truly Chicago-approved experience, you might want to explore some add-ons specifically designed for the Windy City style.
Wrapping Up: You've Got This, Champ!
So there you have it! With these handy dandy tips, you're well on your way to conquering Chicago style in Google Docs. Remember, formatting doesn't have to be a chore. Think of it as adding some extra pizazz to your paper, a little Chicago-style flair! Now get out there and write something amazing, just don't forget to footnote those sources!
