Revision of factual

Introduction to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation

Style Guides: A style book or style guide is a resource that directs exactly how to format documents and cite outside sources used for research and writing (for example, MLA, APA). The goal is to create a universal finished product that a practitioner can read through easily. Practitioners read each other’s work so that they can gain a better understanding of their own professional activity. This way, research and writing doesn’t have to start from the very beginning but is just a continuation of the professional conversation about a topic.

Beyond collaboration and the sharing of information, style guides and citation ensure that credit is given when information is obtained from outside sources. Taking information without providing proper citations constitutes plagiarism and a document that lacks evidence or writing that is not researched-based.

The Bluebook: The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is a style guide that is the most widely used system of legal citation in the legal community of the United States. It is typically referred to as the Bluebook. The Bluebook style of citation includes a uniform system used by law practitioners to site case law, statutory law and other legislative materials, state constitutions, the United States Constitution, administrative law, and legal books or reports, journals, magazines, digital/Internet Sources and international materials. While the Bluebook covers both state and federal law, some courts require their own system of citation that takes precedence over the Bluebook system of citation. While the Bluebook includes how to United States Supreme Court cases, the United States Supreme Court writes its opinions using its own system of citation.

The Bluebook can be divided into four sections.

1. Practitioners’ Notes (Blue Pages; Numbered B1, B2, etc.) – If information seems to conflict with the Rules pages, the Rules pages control.

2. Rules of Citation and Style (R.1 – R.9) – These rules cover formatting do’s and don’ts (e.g., capitalization and typeface) as well as general structure.

3. Specific Citation Rules (R.10 – R.21) – These rules contain citation formats for particular sources such as cases, statutes, and law reviews.

4. Tables and Abbreviations (T.1 – T.16) – These pages feature lists of abbreviations for terms that appear in your citation.

The Bluebook must be purchased through the publisher. You can purchase an online subscription that costs about $40.00 per year or the print version which is also about $40.00 for the 20th Edition. In the EGCC Paralegal Program, you will find Bluebook citation information in your course materials for Legal Research and Writing I & II.

Here are a series of podcasts to teach you about the basics of Bluebook citation:

Video Tutorials: INTRODUCTION TO CITATION AND BLUEBOOK:

1. This is a newly updated citation podcast, using the 20th edition of The Bluebook.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jDTTFMejCY#action=share

2. This video is for basic case citation, case name format, and reporter information. Rules 10, 10.2, 10.3.1(b).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9FcW9ILQ-I#action=share 

3. This video explains how to add court, jurisdiction, and date information to a basic case cite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T89EMGr3eNk#action=share

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