Chicago has two systems of citation:

• The Notes & Bibliography system uses notes (footnotes, endnotes, or both) and a bibliography. It is used in history, literature, and the arts.
• The Author-Date system uses parenthetical references in the text and a bibliography. It is used in the sciences and social sciences.

At UMW, Notes & Bibliography is the more popular of the two systems, so some instructors may use "Chicago style" or "Chicago/Turabian" as shorthand for "Chicago Notes & Bibliography System." Ask your instructor which system is preferred for your class.

The 18th edition of the Chicago Manual of Style was released in 2024. Many instructors prefer that you use the 17th edition, which was released in 2017. If you're not sure which edition to use, ask your instructor.

Both of the Chicago citation systems are described in these manuals: