Chicago Footnotes Guide: How to Format Footnotes and Endnotes

Chicago style’s Notes-Bibliography system relies on footnotes or endnotes to document sources. Proper footnote and endnote formatting is essential for academic credibility and reader reference. This comprehensive guide covers formatting, numbering, content, and special cases for both footnotes and endnotes.

Understanding Footnotes vs. Endnotes

Both footnotes and endnotes serve identical citation purposes in Chicago style—the only difference is placement.

• Footnotes: Appear at the bottom of each page, separated from body text by a short horizontal line
• Endnotes: Appear at the end of the document (before bibliography), numbered consecutively throughout

The citation format is identical; choose based on instructor preference or disciplinary convention. Humanities often prefer footnotes for readability; sciences may prefer endnotes for cleaner text pages.

Basic Footnote Format

First Citation (Full Note)

First citations include complete publication information:

1. Author First Last, Title of Book (Place: Publisher, Year), page.

Real-world example:

1. Jennifer Adams, Modern Research Methods (New York: Academic Press, 2023), 45.

Subsequent Citations (Shortened Note)

After the first citation, use shortened form:

4. Adams, Modern Research Methods, 50.

The shortened form includes:

• Author’s last name only
• Shortened title (usually the first significant word)
• Page number

Ibid. for Immediate Repetition

When the same source is cited consecutively, use “Ibid.” (Latin for “in the same place”):

3. Adams, Modern Research Methods, 45.
4. Ibid., 47.

If the page number is identical, “Ibid.” alone suffices without a page number.

Creating Footnotes in Word Processors

Microsoft Word

1. Position cursor where you want the superscript number
2. Go to References tab
3. Click Insert Footnote or Insert Endnote
4. Type your citation in the note pane
5. Word automatically numbers and places the note

Google Docs

1. Click where you want to insert the note
2. Go to Insert menu
3. Select Footnote (appears at page bottom)
4. Type your citation

Other Platforms

LibreOffice and similar programs have similar functionality—check the Insert menu for note options.

Numbering Conventions

Consecutive Numbering

Notes are numbered consecutively throughout the paper, from 1 onwards:

1. First source cited
2. Second source cited
3. Third source cited (different page from source 2)
4. Second source again (shortened form)

Numbering Restarts

Some instructors require numbering to restart on each page (1, 2, 3 on page one; 1, 2, 3 on page two). Check your assignment requirements; most modern usage prefers consecutive numbering throughout.

Superscript Reference Numbers

Footnote reference numbers in the text should appear as superscript:

Smith argues that modern education requires technological integration.¹ This perspective has gained acceptance in recent years.²

The reference number appears:

• After punctuation (period, comma, semicolon)
• Outside parentheses
• Superscript in the text

Content Structure in Notes

Basic Citation Information

Each note must include essential elements:

• Author (first and last name)
• Title (full, in proper format)
• Publication details (place, publisher, year)
• Page number (specific page cited, not page range)

Multiple Sources in One Note

When multiple sources support a single point, cite them together:

3. Adams, Modern Research Methods, 45; Chen, Contemporary Theory, 78.

Separate citations with semicolons.

Combining Citation and Commentary

Notes can include both citation and explanatory content:

5. Adams, Modern Research Methods, 45. Smith later refined this approach by incorporating digital tools.

The citation appears first, followed by additional commentary.

Formatting Specific Source Types

Books

1. Author First Last, Title of Book (Place: Publisher, Year), page.

Journal Articles

2. Author First Last, "Article Title," Journal Name volume, no. issue (Year): page.

Websites

3. Author First Last, "Page Title," Website Name, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.

Newspapers

4. Author First Last, "Article Headline," Newspaper Name, Month Day, Year, page.

For each source type, apply the same full note on first citation, shortened note subsequently.

Special Punctuation in Notes

Quotation Marks and Italics

• Use quotation marks for article titles, chapter titles, webpage titles
• Use italics for book titles, journal titles, website names

Parenthetical Information

• Place of publication and publisher in parentheses: (New York: Academic Press)
• Access date for websites in parentheses if needed

Page Numbers

• Use “p.” for single page, “pp.” for multiple pages
• Abbreviated forms are optional in notes (some use p./pp., others omit)
• In shortened notes, include page number: Adams, Modern Research, 50.

Handling Missing Information

No Author Listed

Begin with the title:

1. "Article Title," Journal Name, Year.

No Publication Date

Include access date for online sources:

1. Author First Last, "Page Title," Website, accessed Month Day, Year, URL.

No Place of Publication

Use “n.p.” (no place):

1. Author, Title (n.p.: Publisher, Year).

Shortened Note Variations

Multiple Works by Same Author

When you cite different works by the same author, the shortened note must distinguish them:

1. Jennifer Adams, Modern Research Methods (New York: Academic Press, 2023), 45.
2. Jennifer Adams, Educational Innovation (Boston: University Press, 2022), 78.
3. Adams, Modern Research Methods, 50.
4. Adams, Educational Innovation, 85.

Very Short Titles

For short titles, the full short title remains clear:

1. Jennifer Adams, Change (New York: Press, 2023), 45.
2. Adams, Change, 50.

Corporate Authors

1. Organization Name, Document Title (Place: Publisher, Year), page.
2. Organization, Document Title, page.

Common Note Formatting Mistakes

1. Including full publication details in shortened notes (use short form only after first citation)
2. Inconsistent title capitalization between first and shortened notes
3. Omitting page numbers in the first citation
4. Using “et al.” with only one author (only use with multiple authors)
5. Misplacing superscript numbers in relation to punctuation
6. Repeating source information unnecessarily across consecutive notes
7. Failing to distinguish between multiple works by the same author

When to Use Notes Beyond Citations

Chicago style allows substantive notes—additional content beyond citations:

Explanatory Notes

Provide additional context or elaboration:

5. Adams, Modern Research Methods, 45. Recent studies (Chen 2023; Williams 2024) have challenged this interpretation.

Evaluative Notes

Comment on source quality or relevance:

7. Thompson, Educational Policy, 156. While authoritative, this source predates recent technological developments.

Cross-Reference Notes

Direct readers to related information:

9. See also note 3 for additional discussion of this methodology.

Formatting Considerations

Font and Size

• Notes should match body text font (Times New Roman, Arial, etc.)
• Font size typically 10 point, one size smaller than body text
• Maintain consistent spacing throughout

Spacing

• Single spacing within notes
• Double spacing between notes
• Consistent spacing between body text and footnotes

Indentation

• First line of note indented (typically 0.5 inch)
• Superscript number appears before indentation
• Subsequent lines of same note are flush left

Using Word Processor Features

Modern word processors automate most footnote formatting:

• Automatic numbering: Numbers update if you add, delete, or rearrange notes
• Automatic placement: Footnotes move to correct page; endnotes accumulate at end
• Automatic formatting: Font size, spacing, and indentation are preset

Check your word processor’s settings to ensure Chicago format is selected (many default to different styles).

Practice Examples

Example 1: First and Shortened Citations

First citation:

1. Elizabeth Thompson, Digital Transformation in Organizations (San Francisco: Business Press, 2024), 123.

Later shortened citation:

4. Thompson, Digital Transformation, 128.

Example 2: Multiple Sources in One Note

3. Thompson, Digital Transformation, 123; Chen, Modern Technology, 156; Adams, Organizational Change, 89.

Example 3: Note with Commentary

5. Thompson, Digital Transformation, 123. However, this perspective does not account for organizational resistance, a point addressed by Chen (Modern Technology, 160).

Example 4: Website Citation

2. Jennifer Park, "Future Workplace Trends," Business Today, accessed March 16, 2026, https://businesstoday.org/workplace-trends.

Mastering Footnote and Endnote Format

Proper footnote and endnote formatting demonstrates attention to academic conventions and makes your paper appear polished and professional. Whether you choose footnotes or endnotes, consistent formatting throughout your paper reflects scholarly care.

Use your word processor’s built-in footnote features to automate numbering and placement, allowing you to focus on content. With these guidelines, your notes will meet Chicago style standards while providing clear documentation of your sources.

Explore our Chicago citation guide for detailed format requirements for specific source types, and use our citation generator to verify your note formats for accuracy.