Real-world examples of Chicago style table layout for research papers

Examples of Chicago style table layout in a student research paper

Let’s start with a straightforward classroom scenario, because that’s where most people first need examples of examples of Chicago style table layout. Imagine a history term paper using Chicago notes-and-bibliography style. You’re comparing population changes in three cities from 1900 to 1950.

Here’s how a clean Chicago-style table layout might look on the page (in plain text):

Table 1. Population of Selected U.S. Cities, 1900–1950

Note: Population counts rounded to nearest whole number.

This first example of a Chicago style table layout demonstrates several things the Manual expects:

• The table number appears in bold or regular type (your choice, but be consistent), followed by a period.
• The table title is in headline-style capitalization and appears on the line after the table number.
• The table itself appears below the title, with clear column headings and simple, readable alignment.
• A general note appears directly beneath the table, starting with “Note:” in italics or small caps (again, be consistent with your style choices).

If your instructor wants you to cite the data source directly in the note, you can adapt this example of layout like so:

Note: Data from U.S. Census Bureau, Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970.

This is one of the best examples of how Chicago prefers you to keep citations close to the table when the data are central to the argument.

More detailed examples of Chicago style table layout with source notes

As you move into upper-level courses, instructors often expect more detailed examples of Chicago style table layout that distinguish between different types of notes: general notes, specific notes, and source notes.

Take a political science paper analyzing voter turnout. You might have a table like this:

Table 2. Voter Turnout in U.S. Presidential Elections, 2000–2020

Note: Percentages rounded to one decimal place.
a Includes in-person and mail-in ballots.
Source: U.S. Elections Project, accessed January 5, 2025.

This layout is one of the best examples of how to stack different kinds of notes:

• The general note explains the rounding rule.
• A specific note (marked by a superscript letter like a) clarifies a particular column or row.
• A source note identifies where the data came from.

The Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed.) explicitly encourages using this kind of layered note structure under tables. For a quick overview of note types, see the CMOS Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide.

Examples of Chicago style table layout in author-date papers

If you’re using Chicago author-date style (common in social sciences), the examples of examples of Chicago style table layout look similar on the surface, but the way you handle sources changes.

Let’s say you’re writing a sociology article on health behavior and you pull statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Your table might look like this:

Table 3. Adult Cigarette Smoking in the United States, 2010–2022

Note: Percentages refer to adults aged 18 and older.
Source: CDC (2024).

In Chicago author-date, this example of a table layout uses a parenthetical-style source note (CDC 2024) or a shortened author-date reference (CDC 2024) that matches a full reference in the reference list, such as:

CDC. 2024. “Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults in the United States.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed January 10, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/index.htm.

Here, the table layout itself stays consistent with other examples of Chicago style table layout, but the referencing system shifts to match author-date conventions.

Real examples of Chicago style table layout for multi-page tables

Sometimes your table is long enough that it runs over to a second page. This is where real examples become very helpful, because the rules can feel abstract.

Imagine a long economics table tracking quarterly GDP over ten years. Chicago recommends repeating the column headings on each page the table occupies and indicating that the table continues.

On the first page, you might have:

Table 4. Quarterly U.S. Real GDP Growth, 2015–2024

If the table continues, the next page might show:

Table 4 (continued)

The note structure appears once, at the end of the final segment of the table:

Note: Data are seasonally adjusted annual rates.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, accessed March 3, 2025.

This is one of the most practical real examples of Chicago style table layout for long tables: keep the table number, repeat the headings, and place your notes at the end of the full table, not at each page break.

Best examples of Chicago style table layout with explanatory notes

In many disciplines, the best examples of table layout are the ones that explain just enough without turning the notes into a second essay.

Consider a psychology paper reporting an experiment. You might have a table summarizing participant demographics:

Table 5. Participant Demographics by Experimental Condition

Note: Participants recruited from a large public university in the Midwest during fall 2024. Age reported as self-reported years at time of participation.

This is one of the best examples of a Chicago-style table layout for quantitative research because:

• The title clearly states what the table shows and how the data are grouped.
• The columns are labeled with both the variable and units where relevant.
• The note gives just enough context (recruitment source, time frame, and how age is measured) without repeating information already in the text.

For current reporting practices in psychology, you can compare this layout with guidelines from the American Psychological Association, then adapt to Chicago’s numbering and note conventions.

Examples of Chicago style table layout for qualitative data

Not every table is about numbers. Strong examples of examples of Chicago style table layout also include qualitative or mixed-methods tables.

Imagine a literature paper where you’re comparing themes in three novels. Your table might look like this:

Table 6. Major Themes in Selected Twentieth-Century Novels

Note: Themes based on the author’s interpretation of primary texts assigned in ENG 402, fall 2024.

This example of a Chicago style table layout shows how you can:

• Use italics for book titles inside the table, just as you would in running text.
• Keep the table concise by using short, parallel phrases instead of long sentences.
• Use a note to clarify the scope of your interpretation.

For qualitative work, tables like this often support, rather than replace, your argument. Chicago’s layout rules stay the same; you just adjust the content.

Real examples of Chicago style table layout in theses and dissertations

Graduate theses and dissertations often need more polished examples of Chicago style table layout, especially when you have many tables across chapters.

Here’s how a table might appear in a chapter of a history dissertation:

Table 7. Immigration to the United States by Region of Origin, 1980–2020

Note: Percentages refer to lawful permanent residents by region of birth.
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics, 2024.

In a thesis, this table would also appear in a separate list of tables near the front of the document. That list would show the table number, title, and page number. Your graduate school’s formatting guide will usually specify spacing and indentation; many U.S. universities base their rules loosely on Chicago, then add their own requirements. For examples, see institutional guides like Harvard University’s formatting instructions for dissertations.

This kind of dissertation table is one of the best examples of Chicago style layout in a real research environment: clear title, consistent numbering across chapters, and a concise source note that points to a government publication.

Practical tips drawn from the best examples of Chicago style table layout

Looking across all these examples of Chicago style table layout, a few patterns emerge that you can safely copy into your own work:

• Keep titles descriptive but not wordy. “Quarterly Sales, 2020–2024” is better than “Table of Company Sales Data Over Time.”
• Use sentence-style notes that read like normal prose, not fragments crammed with abbreviations.
• Align numbers by decimal where possible for easier comparison.
• Avoid vertical rules unless your instructor or publisher specifically requests them; Chicago generally prefers minimal ruling.
• Place tables as close as possible to the paragraph where you first mention them, unless your department requires grouping them at the end.

If you’re working in fields like public health or medicine, you can check how professional authors apply Chicago-like conventions in reports from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health or Mayo Clinic. Their tables are not strictly Chicago, but they embody the same priorities: clarity, consistency, and clear sourcing.

These practical habits, combined with the real examples above, give you a reliable mental template. Any time you create a new table, ask yourself: does it look and read like the best real examples of Chicago style table layout I’ve seen here?

FAQ: examples of Chicago style table layout

How many tables should I include in a Chicago-style paper?
Chicago doesn’t set a fixed number. Use a table when it genuinely clarifies patterns or comparisons that would be harder to follow in prose. If you find yourself explaining a long list of numbers or categories in a paragraph, that’s a strong example of a situation where a table might work better.

Do I need to cite the source under every table in Chicago style?
If the table presents data or text you didn’t create yourself, you should include a source note under the table and a full citation in your notes or bibliography. The examples of Chicago style table layout above show both notes-and-bibliography and author-date ways to do this.

Can I reuse the same data in both a figure and a table in Chicago style?
You can, but it’s usually unnecessary. Chicago encourages you to avoid redundancy. A stronger approach is to pick one format—table or figure—that best communicates the information. The best examples of published research typically choose one or the other.

Should I single-space or double-space my tables in a Chicago-style manuscript?
For student papers, many instructors prefer single-spaced tables with double spacing before and after the table. For theses, dissertations, or journal submissions, follow the local style guide. The Chicago Manual allows flexibility here, which is why real examples of Chicago style table layout in published books and articles often use tighter spacing than a student paper.

Where can I see more real examples of Chicago style table layout?
You can browse the Chicago Manual of Style’s own examples (if you have access), examine tables in history and humanities journals that cite Chicago, or review graduate theses from universities that specify Chicago style. Many institutional repositories, especially at U.S. universities, provide PDFs you can search and skim for tables.