Bluebook Guide: Abbreviations

In textual sentences, whether in the main text or footnote text, abbreviate only widely known acronyms under R6.1(b), pp. 87-89, and the following eight words:  “&,” “Ass’n,” “Bros.,” “Co.,” “Corp.,” “Inc.,” “Ltd.,” and “No.”  However, if one of these eight begins a party’s name, do not abbreviate it.  See R10.2.1(c), p. 99.

When constructing an abbreviation for a law journal, knowing how to abbreviate University is important.  T6 provides for the abbreviation "Univ.", but this is for case names and institutional authors in citations.  One would think T13, with abbreviations for institutional names in periodical titles, would contain a concrete rule, but it only provides specific abbreviations for a few institutions.  The Bluebook tucks information for abbreviating university in T6, p. 304:  Abbreviate “University” as “U.” (“U. Chi. L. Rev.”).

• Bernadette Atuahene, “Our Taxes are Too Damn High”: Institutional Racism, Property Tax Assessments, and the Fair Housing Act, 112 Nw. U.L. Rev. 1501, 1516 (2018).
• See, e.g., Abraham Gutman et al., Health, Housing, and the Law, 11 Ne. U. L. Rev. 251, 257-59 (2019).

Abbreviations

• The many tables at the end of The Bluebook contain lists of specific abbreviations (so many abbreviations).
  • Lists of reporters and corresponding abbreviations, courts and corresponding abbreviations, and preferred sources to cite for federal courts and each state’s courts (T1, pp. 227-98).
  • Instructions for several foreign jurisdictions, including abbreviations (T2, available online).
  • Abbreviations for intergovernmental organizations (note the typefaces) (T3, pp. 299-301). 
    • United Nations Documents = U.N. Docs.
    • E.U. Common Market Reports = Common Mkt. Rep.
  • Arbitral reporters (T5, p. 303).
  • Case names, institutional author names, and periodical titles (T6, pp. 304-07).
    • America[n] = Am.
    • Association = Ass’n
    • University = Univ.
  • Court names (T7, pp. 307-10).
  • Explanatory phrases (in italics) (T8, p. 310).
    • aff’d
    • cert. dismissed
    • rev’d
  • Legislative documents (T9, p. 311).
  • Geographical terms (T10, pp. 312-18).
    • Illinois = Ill. (some states have three letters, others have two letters)
    • Chicago = Chi.
    • Slovenia = Slovn.
  • Judges and officials (T11, p. 319).
  • Months (T12, p. 319).
  • Periodicals (T13, pp. 320-22).
  • Publishing terms (T14, p. 323).
  • Services (T15, pp. 323-27).
  • Subdivisions (T16, pp. 327-28).
• Stay mindful of spacing and periods for abbreviations.
• Refer to the multitude of examples in this section (R6.1, pp. 87-89) 

Numerals

• As a general rule, spell out the numbers zero to ninety-nine in text and footnotes; for larger numbers, use numerals.
• The following exceptions apply to the afore-referenced general rule.
  • Any number that begins a sentence must be spelled out.
  • “Hundred,” “thousand,” and similar round numbers may be spelled out if done consistently.
  • When a series includes numbers less than 100 and greater than or equal to 100, numerals should be used for the entire series.  (For example, "The plaintiffs gained, respectively, 117, 6, and 28 pounds.")
  • Numerals should be used if the number includes a decimal point.
  • Where material repeatedly refers to percentages or dollar amounts, numerals should be used for those percentages or amounts.
  • Numerals should be used for section or other subdivision numbers.
  • In numbers that appear in text and citations, use commas to separate groups of three digits when those numbers contain four or more uninterrupted digits.  
• Importantly, do not cite this convention in citations to pages, statutes, volume numbers, internet database locators, docket numbers, the U.S. Code, or other sources whose classification systems do not include commas.

Ordinals

• Unless part of a citation, ordinal numbers appearing in text and footnotes are controlled by the standard above for "numerals" (R6.2(a), pp. 89-90).
• If part of a citation, numerals are used for all ordinal numbers.
• Do not use superscripts.
• When to use 2nd or 2d?
  • In textual sentences, where rule 6.2(a) requires that the numeral be used, use “2nd” or “3rd” for figures representing ordinal numbers ending in two or three.  (For example, "The 102nd Congress could not pass a rule that would bind the 103rd Congress.")
  • In citations, for figures representing ordinal numbers ending in the number two or three, use “2d” or “3d,” not “2nd” or “3rd.”  For example, "103d Cong." or "2d ed." or "2d Cir."
  • As always, do not use superscripts in any case.

Section (§) and Paragraph (¶) Symbols

• The first word of any sentence must be spelled out; thus, "Section" or "Paragraph" (either in main text or footnote text).
• There is an exception to those above when referring to a provision in the U.S. Code (R12.10(c), p. 134) or a federal regulation (R14.5, pp. 146-47).
• Generally, in citations, the symbols should be used (subject to an exception per R12.4(d), p. 126).
• When using symbols, insert a space between “§” or “¶” and the numeral.
• When citing multiple sections or paragraphs, refer to R3.3(b) and (c), pp. 76-77).

Dollar ($) and Percent (%) Symbols

• These symbols should be used wherever numerals are used.
• However, the words should be spelled out wherever numbers are spelled out.
• Importantly, a symbol should never begin a sentence.
• Moreover, a space should not exist between “$” or “%” and the numeral.