How to Add Chicago 15th B Citation Style in Word
Question details
The user needs to add the Chicago 15th B citation style (Author-Date format) to their word processor because it is missing from the default bibliography options.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Formatting academic or professional documents requiring a specific historical citation style (Chicago 15th Edition, variant B).
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Word provides newer Chicago editions (like 16th or 17th) and lacks the B variant where the publication year is placed immediately after the author's name.
Ensure you have administrative access to your computer's program files, as adding custom citation styles requires modifying system folders. Back up your existing bibliography folder before making any changes.
Create a Custom Chicago 15th B Style via XSL Files
Manually edit the existing Chicago style sheet in the Office installation folder to create a new "B variant" style.
Microsoft Word handles bibliography styles using XSL files. Since the B variant of the 15th edition is not included by default in newer versions, you can manually duplicate and adjust the default Chicago style sheet.
Open File Explorer and navigate to the Office Bibliography folder. This is typically located at '%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Bibliography\Style' or 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\OfficeXX\Bibliography\Style' depending on your installation version.
Locate the default Chicago XSL file (e.g., CHICAGO.XSL). Copy this file and paste it onto your Desktop to edit it safely.
Open the copied XSL file using an XML editor or a plain text editor like Notepad. Locate the style definition headers and change the style name to 'Chicago 15th B'.
Search the XML code for the author and publication year tags. Adjust the code logic to display the publication year immediately following the author's name, conforming to the Author-Date format.
Save your changes and move the newly named file back into the original 'Bibliography\Style' folder. Restart Microsoft Word, go to the 'References' tab, click the 'Style' drop-down, and select your new Chicago 15th B style.
Use WPS Office for Seamless Academic Formatting
If manually configuring XML style sheets in Microsoft Word is too complex, consider trying WPS Office. WPS Writer is a free, lightweight, and fully compatible word processor that supports a variety of standard document templates, popular reference add-ins, and native formatting options to streamline your academic writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Chicago 15th B style missing from recent Word versions?
Microsoft Office typically updates its default citation styles to match the latest editions. Newer versions of Office bundle the Chicago 16th or 17th editions, removing the older 15th edition to stay current with modern academic standards.
What is the difference between Chicago A and Chicago B citation styles?
Chicago A uses a Notes and Bibliography system, which relies on footnotes or endnotes. Chicago B is an Author-Date system, where the publication year immediately follows the author's name in the reference list and in-text citations.
Can I download custom citation styles instead of creating them manually?
Yes, there are open-source repositories online where users share custom XSL bibliography style sheets. You can download the required `.xsl` file and paste it directly into your Office Style folder.
Will my custom citation style be visible to others if I send them the document?
The existing citations will remain formatted as text in the document. However, the custom style name in the References ribbon won't appear on their computer unless they also install the identical custom XSL file in their own software directory.
