Crafting a proper title page can feel like a small task, but if you’re submitting an academic paper in Chicago style, it can make a big difference in how your work is received. The Chicago Manual of Style is widely used in history, literature, and the arts, and its formatting requirements are precise. This guide breaks down how to format a Chicago style title page clearly, and how you can do it fast, especially if you’re using WPS Office.
What Is Chicago Style & Title Page?
Before jumping into formatting, let’s clear up what is Chicago style title page, and how the title page fits into it. The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) offers two citation systems, both commonly used in academic writing. Chicago style is a flexible but structured system used for formatting papers, citing sources, and presenting ideas clearly. It’s especially popular in the humanities, including history, literature, and the arts.
Two Main Citation Systems:
Notes and Bibliography (NB): This format uses footnotes or endnotes paired with a full bibliography. It’s most common in historical and literary research.
Author-Date: This format includes in-text citations with the author's last name and year of publication, followed by a reference list. It's used more in social sciences.
What is a Title Page in Chicago Style?
A title page in Chicago style is a stand-alone page at the beginning of your paper. It includes the paper’s title, your name, your course, your instructor’s name, and the due date. The formatting is specific, center-aligned, double-spaced, and positioned properly on the page. It doesn't require page numbers, bold, or unnecessary formatting.
Chicago style title page examples elements:
Title of the paper (centered, in title case)
Your name (centered, a few lines below the title)
Course name or number
Instructor's name
Date of submission
If you’re writing a class paper or thesis in Chicago style, your instructor will likely expect a well-formatted title page following this structure.
How to Format a Title Page in Chicago Style
Formatting a title page in Chicago style can seem tedious at first, especially if you’re not familiar with its specific layout rules. However, once you break it down into clear steps, it’s actually quite manageable. The key elements include centering your text, spacing each section correctly, and placing the title about a third of the way down the page. You’ll also need to include your name, course information, instructor’s name, and the date, all properly aligned. These formatting steps are easy to follow in most word processors, including Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and WPS Office. Here’s how to format Chicago style title page:
Step 1: Open a New Document, start with a blank document with default settings.
Step 2: Set the Font Use a readable, academic font like Times New Roman, 12 pt. Avoid bold or decorative fonts.
Step 3: Center the Text, Click the center alignment option. Everything on the title page should be centered horizontally.
Step 4: Add the Title, Write your paper’s title in title case. Avoid underlining or bolding it. Hit Enter several times to move your name down the page, roughly one-third from the top
Step 5: Type your full name and hit Enter twice to move to the next line.
Step 6: On the next three lines, type your course name and other details
Step 7: Finally, type the full date the paper is due or submitted. Spell out the month fully.
I’ve followed this exact process for several research papers, and once you get the rhythm, it takes less than five minutes to format correctly.
WPS Office – Help You Perfectly Implement Chicago Style
After creating multiple papers using different word processors, I started using WPS Office to handle my academic formatting, and I haven’t looked back. It’s free, works right in your browser, and has smart tools that make formatting papers easier. WPS Office is light on system resources, which means it doesn’t lag, even on older devices. It includes Writer (for documents), Spreadsheets, Presentations, and a PDF tool, all free. I liked how easy it was to center text, manage spacing, and use templates without having to dig through menus.
Formatting Chicago Citations in WPS Word
After generating my citations, I turned to WPS Word to format them without the hassle. It’s a free, user-friendly alternative to Microsoft Word that handles Chicago style Title page formatting surprisingly well. From footnotes to hanging indents, it covers all the essentials. WPS made finalizing my citations quick and easy.
Step 1: Open WPS Writer, go to the “Page Layout” tab, and set all margins to 1 inch by selecting “Normal” or using “Custom Margins.”
Step 2: Go to the “Insert” tab, click “Page Number,” and select “Delete Page Num” to remove numbering from the title page.
Step 3: Insert a “Next Page Section Break” after the title page. On the second page, insert a page number
Step 4: Format the Title, center the text, type your title in title case, and use double spacing or hanging indents, if required
Step 5: After the title, press Enter 3–4 times. Type your name, course, instructor’s name, and date, each on a new line, centered and double-spaced.
While finishing a paper last semester with over 20 Chicago-style citations, my usual word processor kept messing up the layout. Switching to WPS Word saved me time, hanging indents and footnotes were easy to format. Paired with a good citation maker Chicago style, the process was much smoother.
FAQs
Q1: Does a Chicago Style title page need a page number?
No. The title page should not include a page number. Pagination typically begins on the first page of your essay or paper text.
Q2: Should I double-space everything on the title page?
Yes. All elements, title, name, course info, and date, should be double-spaced unless your instructor says otherwise.
Q3: Can I use bold or italics in the title?
Avoid bolding. Italics should only be used if the title of a work (e.g., a book or film) is part of your paper’s title.
Q4: Is there a template for Chicago style in WPS Office?
While there’s no built-in “Chicago template,” you can create one easily by adjusting margins, font, and spacing, then saving it for future use.
Q5: What if my instructor asks for extra info on the title page?
Always follow your instructor’s specific guidelines. Some professors may want additional info like your student ID or department name.
