Updated July 21, 2026

CMOS 9.63 in the Spotlight

In Chicago style, the answer to the headline’s question is 316–17 (with an en dash, although a hyphen is fine if an en dash isn’t handy).

Abbreviating number ranges according to the system recommended by The Chicago Manual of Style is easy if you can remember three basic rules (illustrated here with page numbers, which don’t require commas in Chicago style):

1. For numbers up to 100 and for multiples of 100, use all the digits.

3–10
71–72
96–117
100–104
1100–1113

2. For 101 through 109, 201 through 209, etc., show only the changed part.

101–8
808–33
1103–4

3. For everything else, use two digits unless you need more digits to show the changed part.

321–28
498–532
1087–89
1496–500
11564–615*
12991–3001

Another option: You can always give number ranges in full (101–108), a foolproof approach that can be converted to Chicago style if needed.

Bonus rule: Roman numerals are always given in full, as in xxv–xxviii or cvi–cix.

* Five-digit page numbers are rare but not unheard of, as in certain academic journals that are paginated continuously across multiple issues of a single volume.

Assorted metal numbers by adimas / Adobe Stock.

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