The Chicago title page, line by line.

What goes where

1. Start about a third of the way down the page and center the title in headline-style capitals: every major word capitalized.
2. If there is a subtitle, end the title line with a colon and put the subtitle on the next line.
3. Leave several blank lines, then center your name.
4. Under your name, each on its own line: the course (number and name), the instructor if your instructor wants it, and the date.
5. Use the font and size of the paper, usually Times New Roman 12. Bold for the title is common but not required; plain text is always correct.

Turabian leaves the exact spacing to you, so the page should simply look balanced: title in the upper third, details in the lower half. The rest of the paper follows the rules in Chicago style.

Page numbers

The title page counts as a page but shows no number. Schools differ on what the first page of text shows: many number it 2, some restart at 1. Ask, or follow your department’s guide. Numbers go at the top right or bottom center, the same on every page.

Google Docs

1. Open Insert, then Page numbers, then More options.
2. Choose Header or Footer, and clear Show on first page.
3. To make the first page of text 1 instead of 2, set Start at to 0, then click Apply.

Microsoft Word

1. On the Insert tab, choose Page Number, then Top of Page or Bottom of Page, and pick a plain number.
2. On the Header & Footer tab that opens, tick Different First Page. The number disappears from the title page.
3. To make the first page of text 1, choose Page Number, then Format Page Numbers, and set Start at to 0.

Word on a Mac has the same commands in the Insert menu and the Header & Footer tab.

When there is no title page

Some instructors skip the title page for short papers. Then put the title, centered, at the top of the first page, with your name, course and date on separate lines under it or wherever your instructor asks, and start the text two lines below. That page is page 1 and can show its number.

A paper in MLA works differently: it has a heading block instead of a title page. If you are switching styles, see MLA title page. APA’s student title page is set out in APA title page.

Common mistakes

1. A page number on the title page. It counts, but the number is hidden.
2. The title at the very top. Turabian places it about a third of the way down.
3. A running head or an APA-style byline. Chicago has neither. Name, course and date are enough, plus the instructor if asked.
4. A larger font or decorative type. Same font and size as the paper.

Let Format set it up

Pick Chicago in Format and the paper starts with its title page, built from the title and details you type, with the numbering set. Export to Word or PDF and it comes out the same. Chicago is part of Pro, $4 a month or $29 a year.

Make a Chicago footnote free

Questions