Acquisitions and Divestitures (Divestitures) (Details Textual) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2014	Nov. 03, 2014	Mar. 22, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Aug. 27, 2013
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Pre-tax gain (loss) on dispositions		$ (9)	$ 24
After-tax gain (loss) on sale of business		160	589	0
Pre-tax gain on sale from discontinued operations		289	888	0
Impairment charges, excluding goodwill	26		26
CRISIL Limited [Member] | India Index Services & Products Ltd [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Percent of equity interest sold										49.00%
Data Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Cash proceeds from sale of business					58
McGraw Hill Construction [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Cash proceeds from sale of business						320
After-tax gain (loss) on sale of business		160
McGraw Hill Education [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Cash proceeds from sale of business							2,400
After-tax gain (loss) on sale of business			589
Impairment charges, goodwill and intangible assets				497
Impairment charges, goodwill				478
Impairment charges, excluding goodwill				19
Restructuring costs				39
Workforce reduction, positions				530
Direct transaction costs for legal and professional fees				17
Lease commitment charges				3
Vacation accrual reversal				17
Other (Income) Loss [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Non-cash impairment charge								6
Other (Income) Loss [Member] | Data Center [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
After-tax gain (loss) on sale of business					(3)
Harold W. McGraw III [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Amount of transaction with related party									$ 20