Segment and Related Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013 Segment		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013 Segment		Jun. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments	4				4
Segment information
Revenue	$ 1,250		$ 1,072		$ 2,431		$ 2,108
Operating Income (Loss)	436		308		714		590
S&P Ratings [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	599		483		1,161		949
Operating Income (Loss)	277		208		536		394
S&P Capital IQ/S&P Indices [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	287		277		575		551
Operating Income (Loss)	55		58		111		120
Commodities & Commercial [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	123		89		238		168
Operating Income (Loss)	80		42		147		87
McGraw-Hill Education [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	259		240		496		474
Operating Income (Loss)	83		71		145		135
Intersegment elimination [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	(18)	[1]	(17)	[1]	(39)	[1]	(34)	[1]
Operating Income (Loss)	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	1,250		1,072		2,431		2,108
Operating Income (Loss)	495		379		939		736
General corporate expense [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Operating Income (Loss)	(59)	[2]	(71)	[2]	(225)	[2]	(146)	[2]
Restructuring Charges	10		24		54		53
Pretax Legal Settlement [Member] | General corporate expense [Member]
Segment information
Restructuring Charges	$ 77

[1] Revenue for S&P Ratings and expenses for S&P Capital IQ include an intersegment royalty charged to S&P Capital IQ for the rights to use and distribute content and data developed by S&P Ratings.

[2] ncludes Growth and Value Plan costs of $10 million and $54 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively and $24 million and $53 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012, respectively. Also includes pre-tax legal settlements of approximately $77 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013.