So You Want to Channel Your Inner Chicago? A (Mostly) Painless Guide to Chicago Style in Word
Ah, Chicago style. The name itself conjures images of windy streets, deep-dish pizzas, and gangsters in fedoras (not necessarily helpful for referencing your sources). But fear not, intrepid writer! Formatting your paper in Chicago style doesn't have to be a gangland shootout. With this guide, you'll be navigating the footnotes faster than Al Capone on a tax break.
Formatting Fun: Your Paper's Chic Outfit
- Font Face: Think clean lines, like a mob lawyer's suit. Times New Roman, size 12, is your best bet.
- Double Trouble: Unlike your love life, we want double spacing here. Hit that line spacing button and make it a two-line party.
- Margins: Not the Gambling Kind One inch on all sides is the golden rule. Consistency is key, folks. Imagine your margins as the white picket fence of academic integrity.
Citations: The Art of the Footnote
- Footnote Frenzy: Chicago loves its footnotes like a tourist loves deep-dish (maybe a little too much). Click that "Insert Footnote" button and unleash a flurry of citations.
- Short and Sweet: Remember, footnotes are for brief citations, not your life story. If it gets long, consider moving it to the bibliography (we'll get there).
Here's the tricky part: There are two main footnote styles in Chicago, depending on your edition (16th or 17th). Don't worry, it's not a secret handshake. Just consult your trusty professor or a style guide for the specifics.
The Bibliography: The Grand Finale
- Welcome to the Big Leagues: Here's where all your sources shine. Think of it as the Oscars for your research, with each entry getting its own red carpet moment.
- Alphabetical Antics: List your sources alphabetically by the author's last name. If you don't have an author, use the title and alphabetize by the first word (excluding articles like "a" or "the").
- Hanging Indent: This is where things get fancy. Indent the first line of each entry normally, but leave subsequent lines flush left. It creates a cool, cascading effect, like a well-dressed flapper on the stairs.
Remember: There's more to Chicago style than this. Punctuation, quotations, and specific source formatting all have their own quirks. But this guide should get you started. For the deep dives, consult a style guide or hit up your friendly neighborhood librarian.
With a little effort, you'll be a Chicago style master in no time. Just don't get so caught up in formatting that you forget the actual content of your paper. Unless you're writing a fashion thesis on fedoras, that is.
