Q. Why is MS Word asking me to change “all of” to “all”? Q. Do I have to put boat names in italics? Q. How do I cite a Substack post? We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the September Q&A at CMOS Online.

One of the best ways to understand a rule is to consider its exceptions. Find out more in this newly updated post at CMOS Shop Talk (and be sure to read to the end for links to two more “exceptional” posts).

Q. Can the first defined use of an abbreviation be plural? Q. Does “painters tape” need an apostrophe? Q. How do you cite a book that has a typo on the title page? We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the August Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA

Our online Q&A has been answering your questions about Chicago style since 1997. This month we dig into the archives for some tips and tricks, only at CMOS Shop Talk.

Q. Should “Fortune” be in italics in “Fortune 500”? Q. Is a comma needed after a word like “yesterday”? Q. Does a term following “called” need to be in italics? We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the July Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA

Commas, like people and ducks, are often found in pairs. Read all about it in our latest post—which includes links to five related posts, all newly updated. Only at CMOS Shop Talk.

Q. Should a unit with a fraction like “1/4” be singular or plural? Q. How would Chicago style the AI company name “io”? Q. Why is “due process clause” lowercase in Chicago style? We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the June Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA

What can a book review teach us about automated source citations (and AI)? This updated post explores some of the limits of automation—and the benefits of editorial intervention—only at CMOS Shop Talk.

A Chicago Pope implies the existence of an MLA Pope and APA Pope

Q. Should Winston-Salem be spelled with an en dash? Q. Is it “dogs have a tail” or “dogs have tails”? Q. Why is Southern California capped but not western Arizona? We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the May Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA

It’s often mistaken for a hyphen, but editors know the difference. The subtle but powerful en dash is the subject of this newly updated post at CMOS Shop Talk.

Q. Can you omit a person’s middle initial in running text? Q. Should the word “than” be capitalized in a title? Q. Can “et al.” stand for just one person? We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the April Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA

Sometimes a “the” at the beginning of a proper noun is capitalized—and sometimes it’s not. Read all about it (including updates relative to the 18th edition), only at CMOS Shop Talk.

Grammar Fans Flock to a Film About Participles and Gerunds www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/n...

Q. What is Chicago style for elongated words? Q. Which is preferred, (n + 1)st or (n + 1)th? Q. How should we cite website content that has been removed? We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the March Q&A at CMOS Online.

There’s a new Grammar Table documentary! Join us as Brandt Johnson and Ellen Jovin talk about their “grammarous” adventures in filmmaking, only at CMOS Shop Talk.

Q. Do you have any guidance on the recent name changes for the Gulf of Mexico and Denali? Q. How would I spell out numbers to the right of the decimal point? We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the February Q&A at CMOS Online. cmos.style/QandA

Are you ready for a Weekend Workout? Take our first quiz, “Chicago Style Workout 1: Series and the Serial Comma”—now updated for the 18th edition. Only at CMOS Shop Talk.

Looking for a fun, interactive way to explore the new edition of CMOS? All 81 (and counting) of our “Chicago style” workouts have now been updated to refer and link to the 18th edition. Start taking our quizzes today, only at CMOS Shop Talk.

The 18th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style is in PerfectIt proofreading software! Learn how it works—and what the update entailed—today at CMOS Shop Talk.

Q. Can I change “%” to “percent” in quoted text? Q. Is it wrong to put a space before a question mark? Q. How would I include an ISBN in a source citation for a book? We answer these and other questions about Chicago style in the January Q&A at CMOS Online. Check it out at cmos.style/QandA