316–7, 316–17, or 316–317? Chicago Style for Number Ranges
Abbreviating number ranges according to The Chicago Manual of Style (per section 9.61 in the 17th ed.) is easy if you can remember these three rules:
Chicago Style Workout 24: Commas with Quotations and Questions
This workout focuses on paragraphs 6.43–45 in CMOS 18. Advanced editors might tackle the questions cold; learners can study that section of the Manual before answering the questions.
Chicago Style Workout 23: Hyphens, Part 3b
This workout, the fourth (and last) on hyphenating compounds, centers on the second half of section 3, “Compounds Formed with Specific Terms,” in our extended hyphenation table under paragraph 7.96 in CMOS 18.
Can This Not Help But Be a Double Negative?
Double negatives come in many flavors in addition to the familiar “we didn’t find no money” type. Our friends at the website Language Log keep an archive of documented cases of “misnegation,” featuring popular head-scratchers like “I can’t help but not be X,” “I don’t doubt
Chicago Style Workout 22: Hyphens, Part 3a
This workout centers on the first half of section 3, “Compounds Formed with Specific Terms,” in our extended hyphenation table under paragraph 7.96 in CMOS 18.
How Long Will My Copyright Last?
How long will your copyright last? The answer depends on a number of factors, including the year it was created, how many authors there were, and where it was published.
Deck the Halls! A Free CMOS 17 Holiday Ornament
Every year at holiday time we’re delighted to send our readers this printable PDF that you can cut and fold to make a miniature decorative edition of The Chicago Manual of Style.
This year we’ve updated the file with
Chicago Style Workout 21: Word Usage, Part 4
This workout returns to the usage list under paragraph 5.254 in CMOS<.em> 18. Today we focus on words beginning with the letter h. Writing and editing are more efficient when you never have to look up harken or dither over hangar versus hanger.
Sections 14.73–74 in the Spotlight
Although it seems simple enough to include the author’s name as the first element of a citation, CMOS users have questions about how to do it. Here are a few pointers from paragraphs 14.73–74 of the Manual.
I Know It’s There—But I Can’t Find It!
We know The Chicago Manual of Style is big. The new 17th edition weighs in at over three pounds and is 1,146 pages long. Something we hear in emails to our Q&A is “I know it’s in there, but I can’t find it!” So here’s a valuable searching tip:
