The Chicago Manual of Style has released its 18th edition, introducing several updates to reflect changes in language and technology. Since its inception in 1906, the University of Chicago Press has been a leading authority on writing style and citations in publishing, particularly within academic and book publishing.
“These are guidelines more so than rules,” said Mary Laur, executive editor at UChicago Press, who spearheaded the revision effort. She noted that the revisions align with best practices which are “constantly evolving.”
The latest edition addresses shifts brought about by social media and online publishing. It includes advice on inclusive language, referencing AI-generated content, and digital publishing.
One significant change is the endorsement of the generic singular "they." While previous editions recognized "they/them" as personal pronouns, the new edition explicitly supports using "they" when a person's gender is unknown or unspecified. Laur described this update as highly anticipated. Russell Harper, principal reviser for this edition, mentioned that their 14th edition had already shown foresight by supporting singular usage of "they/their," citing authors like Austen and Shakespeare.
Another update involves adding the Bitcoin symbol to currency examples, reflecting contemporary concepts. Other digital-specific changes include removing hyphens from terms such as ebook and esports.
The manual now capitalizes "Indigenous" when referring to people. Similarly, "Black" is usually capitalized while "White" may be capitalized based on author or publisher preference. This shift emerged around 2020 as part of broader cultural changes. Laur explained that while capitalization is currently seen as a gesture of respect, authors should make conscious choices regarding its use.
New guidance has been provided on punctuation relative to emojis—a rare occurrence in formal nonfiction but increasingly relevant in fiction and trade book publishing. Emojis function like words within sentences; if they apply to an entire sentence, they follow the final punctuation mark.
Additionally, book publishers are encouraged to list translators prominently on covers and title pages. This reflects growing recognition for translation's role in literature through initiatives like Booker International and PEN English.
Each revision cycle takes years as editors track linguistic shifts closely. Laur stated that revising is ongoing: “We’re always receiving and collecting feedback on things,” she said. “We already have a decent-sized list of things that we want to consider for the 19th edition.”
The UChicago Library maintains an institutional subscription to the online edition of the Manual.