CMS Format Citation Guide

When citing sources in a content management system (CMS) format, it’s essential to follow a consistent style to ensure clarity and credibility. The CMS format is often used in digital content, and its citation style is a variation of the Chicago Manual of Style. Here’s a comprehensive guide to citing sources in CMS format:

In-Text Citations

In-text citations in CMS format are presented in a footnote or endnote style, where a superscript number is placed at the end of the sentence or clause, corresponding to a footnote or endnote with the citation information.

Example: The impact of climate change on global food systems is a pressing concern¹.

Footnotes or Endnotes

Footnotes or endnotes are used to provide detailed citation information. They are typically presented at the bottom of the page (footnotes) or at the end of the article (endnotes).

Example (footnote): ¹ John Smith, “Climate Change and Food Security,” Journal of Environmental Studies 10, no. 2 (2019): 12-15.

Example (endnote): Endnotes: 1. John Smith, “Climate Change and Food Security,” Journal of Environmental Studies 10, no. 2 (2019): 12-15.

Bibliography

A bibliography is a list of all sources cited in the article, presented in a consistent format.

Example: Smith, John. “Climate Change and Food Security.” Journal of Environmental Studies 10, no. 2 (2019): 12-15. Johnson, Jane. The Impact of Climate Change on Global Food Systems. New York: Routledge, 2020.

CMS Citation Format for Common Sources

• Book: Lastname, Firstname. Title of Book. City: Publisher, Year of Publication.
• Journal Article: Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal Volume, no. Issue (Year of Publication): Page Numbers.
• Website: Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Web Page.” Website Title. Accessed Date. URL.
• Newspaper Article: Lastname, Firstname. “Title of Article.” Newspaper Title, Date of Publication, Page Numbers.

Formatting Guidelines

• Use a clear and legible font, such as Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman.
• Set font size to 12-point for footnotes and endnotes, and 10-point for bibliography entries.
• Use double spacing for footnotes and endnotes, and single spacing for bibliography entries.
• Indent the first line of each footnote or endnote 0.5 inches from the left margin.
• Use a consistent citation style throughout the article.

Example of CMS Format Citation in Use

The following example illustrates how CMS format citations can be used in a digital content article:

The impact of climate change on global food systems is a pressing concern¹. According to a study published in the Journal of Environmental Studies, climate change can lead to decreased crop yields and reduced food availability². A report by the International Food Policy Research Institute found that climate change can increase the risk of food price volatility and reduce access to nutritious food³.

Footnotes: 1. John Smith, “Climate Change and Food Security,” Journal of Environmental Studies 10, no. 2 (2019): 12-15. 2. Jane Johnson, “The Impact of Climate Change on Global Food Systems,” Journal of Environmental Studies 11, no. 1 (2020): 20-25. 3. International Food Policy Research Institute, “Climate Change and Food Security: A Review of the Evidence,” 2020.

By following the CMS format citation guidelines, digital content creators can ensure that their articles are well-researched, credible, and easy to read.