The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition

“A vital reference for every book and magazine editor . . . the 18th edition [of Chicago] embraces our times, while standing firm on certain fundamental ground rules . . . [Chicago’s] rules are meant not only for those of us who write and edit for a living but for anyone who writes and edits, which is to say everyone.” * The Washington Post *
“Chicago isn’t merely a guide . . . it’s like having a very smart and constantly accessible friend.” * Benjamin Dreyer (Dreyer's English) *
"Citation is hard. How do you cite a dream? How do you cite dance? A musical performance? A piece of a painting? A map? A place in the sky? A thought? The eureka moment in an experiment? A memory? Or someone else’s fantasy? Applying the same apparatus to the posts and tweets and sounds and videos we all now routinely share will take some doing. We’re still working it out. Meanwhile, venerable, time-tested, and indispensable—we can thank our lucky stars for the work they do at Chicago." * Los Angeles Review of Books *

“The New Chicago’s Here! The New Chicago’s Here! After years of waiting, the 18th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style is here, and it brings some big changes. . . Inside, you’ll find new guidance on inclusive language, electronic publishing, self-publishing, editing fiction, AI, new media, and more. Check it out!” * Jonathon Owen (Arrant Pedantry) *
“I don’t mean to brag, but I am probably the only person on the planet who has taken The Chicago Manual of Style to all fifty U.S. states. I have hauled it onto airplanes, down the streets of multiple major metropolitan areas, onto beaches, and even up the side of a mountain in Alaska. I have a traveling pop-up grammar advice stand, called the Grammar Table, which I sit at in public places in order to answer the grammar questions of passersby. I like to have reference materials on the table in order to model the looking-things-up lifestyle I lead, and Chicago is part of that lifestyle. With my extra time, I salute this book!”
  * Ellen Jovin (Rebel With a Clause) *
“Beyond its exhaustive regulations, the Manual provides practical guidance on matters ranging from manuscript preparation to copyright and ethical issues. It acts as a guiding light through the opaque waters of publishing. In essence, The Chicago Manual of Style is the quintessential reference for anyone committed to the serious craft and art of writing and editing.”
  * David Shields (Reality Hunger) *
“The Chicago editor has all the time in the world to convert hyphens to en dashes. Unencumbered by daily deadlines, they breathe as easy as words on either side do with the extra room that the en dash grants them. Readers also feel that airiness and relief. They relax. They absorb. They process. They enjoy. Who’s got time for all that?”
  * Jeffrey Barg (The Angry Grammarian) *
“In high school, I read an anthology called The Voice That Is Great Within Us: American Poetry of the Twentieth Century straight through from beginning to end. Chicago reminds me of that book—it’s nothing less than a poetry anthology, one you can read in sequence or dip into at your pleasure. Yes, of course I use it as a reference book. But isn’t its purpose to help editors free the voice that is great within every author?”
  * Barbara Clark (for Lit Hub) *