diff --git a/.clang-format b/.clang-format
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..06ea346a1067b3be65359323067de98211a27851
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.clang-format
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+Language:        Cpp
+BasedOnStyle:  Google
+...
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index c9c89bbc4248e968f48e8b5e3c7cea5b89963011..865da86d7cac065fefa430f08bd352ed4c66fa15 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ will be expected to conform to the style outlined
     made and **why** it was made. Link to a GitHub issue if it exists.
 
 *   Don't fix code style and formatting unless you are already changing that
-    line to address an issue. PRs with irrelevant changes won't be merged. If
+    line to address an issue. Formatting of modified lines may be done using
+    `git clang-format`. PRs with irrelevant changes won't be merged. If
     you do want to fix formatting or style, do that in a separate PR.
 
 *   Unless your PR is trivial, you should expect there will be reviewer comments