Changing with the Times

When I first started copyediting, the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition, had just been released. Now, a scant seven years later, copy editors are welcoming and reviewing the newly introduced Chicago 18.

Some of the new rules spark joy. For example, Chicago 17 required us to list a publisher’s location in a bibliography if the publisher and/or city were not well-known. For years, I have thought this practice both outdated and elitist, so I am thrilled that Chicago 18 removes the requirement. Another change allows us to use an initial “the” for the titles of newspapers, magazines, and journals if the publication itself uses the article (The Boston Globe, The New York Times). As noted on CMOS Shop Talk, the new rule “favors fidelity to the sources themselves.”

I look forward to applying the new rules, but what should I do with the content on this blog? Reedit it according to Chicago 18 (a great way to review the new rules!), or leave what I have written as it is, an archive of the previous style? This post reminds me to keep things as they are. The posts aren’t wrong; they simply reflect a different style.