The chapter abbreviation used most today is ch., as in ch. 4, and the plural is chs., as in chs. 4 and 5. An older and longer form, chap. (plural chaps.), still turns up in some books, legal citations and older class notes. Both mean the same thing: a numbered section of a book, a report or a code of laws.
Students meet the short form most often in reading assignments and citation styles. Lawyers and clerks see it in references to state laws, and members of clubs and fraternities see it on the names of local groups. Here is how each one is written.
Quick facts
Abbreviation
ch.Plural
chs.Older form
chap. (plural chaps.)Period
YesCapital
Ch. at the start of a sentence or headingUsed in
Syllabi, citations, footnotes, laws, club namesNot to be confused with
ch. as an old short form for church
Chapter abbreviation forms at a glance
| Form | Meaning | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| ch. | One chapter | Read ch. 7 tonight. |
| chs. | Two or more chapters | Quiz on chs. 7 to 9. |
| chap. | One chapter, older style | See chap. XII. |
| Ch. | Opening a line or heading | Ch. 3: The River |
Ch. is the safest pick for school and everyday notes, since it is short and most readers know it. Other shortcuts common in homework and office work are gathered under common abbreviations.
Ch. in school assignments and citations
Teachers write ch. on syllabi and homework boards to save space. In formal citations, the rules depend on the style your class uses.
- MLA style: lists ch. among its standard abbreviations, so a note might read "ch. 2" when you point to a chapter instead of page numbers.
- APA style: generally spells the word out in the text, as in "(Chapter 4)."
- Footnotes in history and other fields: often use chap. or ch. when citing a whole chapter.
Reading log line: "Mon: chs. 1 and 2, pp. 1 to 38." The student read two chapters, which run from page 1 through page 38. Pp. is the plural short form for pages.
Chapters in laws and codes
Many state laws and city codes are arranged in chapters, then sections. Citations may write "ch." before the chapter number and the section sign before the section. A clerk might list a rule as "ch. 90, § 7." Some official books still use chap.
The best known example in daily news is bankruptcy. Chapter 7, Chapter 11 and Chapter 13 are chapters of the federal bankruptcy law, and each sets out a different process for handling debts. In those names the word is almost always spelled out, so you will rarely see "Ch. 11" in a news story.
Chapter as a group, not a section
Chapter also names a local branch of a larger group: a student honor society, a service club, a fraternity or sorority, or a professional association. Signs and letterheads may shorten it to Ch., as in "Riverside Ch. No. 14." College Greek chapters are often named with Greek letters, such as the Beta chapter.
In these cases the short form usually stays capitalized because it is part of a name.
Chapter and verse in religious texts
Bible and other scripture references usually skip the word chapter entirely. A colon splits the chapter number from the verse number: 3:16 means chapter 3, verse 16. Book names are shortened instead, as shown on the Philippians abbreviation page. The phrase "chapter and verse" also means exact details in everyday speech: "She can quote the rule book chapter and verse."
Quick rules for ch. and chs.
- Always add the period, since ch. is a shortened word.
- Put the number after it with a space: ch. 5, not ch.5.
- Use chs. for more than one, not chs or ch's.
- Roman numerals are fine if the book uses them: ch. IV.
- Spell out "Chapter" in titles of the chapters themselves, as in "Chapter One: Home."
- If a chapter runs onto the next page of your notes, write cont. for continued. See the continued abbreviation.
Questions people ask
What is the abbreviation for chapter?
It is ch., with a period. The plural is chs., and you may also see the older form chap.
What is the plural abbreviation for chapters?
Use chs., as in chs. 3 to 5. Some older books use chaps.
How do you abbreviate chapter in MLA?
MLA uses ch. as its short form for chapter. Write it in lowercase in the middle of a citation and add the number after a space.
Is chap. or ch. correct?
Both are correct. Ch. is more common today, and chap. is an older form still found in some legal and academic writing.
What does Ch. mean on a club sign?
On a club or society sign, Ch. means chapter, a local branch of a larger group. It is usually followed by a name or a number.