Navigating The Bluebook becomes easier when you learn to find the relevant information. The following table provides a quick breakdown of the current edition of The Bluebook.
The first section contains the “Bluepages,” providing information on basic legal citations generally used by practitioners for briefs and legal memoranda. The Bluepages present condensed versions of the full rules, providing easy-to-comprehend directions for general citation needs.
The second section, also known as the "Whitepages," provides the full rules on citation and style. These rules present standard conventions for law journal footnotes.
The third section contains 16 Whitepages tables, providing information on the proper citation authorities and several lists of abbreviations. The current edition of The Bluebook is 183 pages lighter than the previous edition. Table 2, covering Foreign Jurisdictions, is now provided online.
Finally, The Bluebook's table of contents (pp. IX – XVI) and index (pp. 329 – 65) help locate the applicable rules and pertinent tables.
|
Bluepage Rule |
Pages |
Topic |
|
|
B1 |
3-6 |
Structure of Legal Citations |
|
|
B2 |
6-7 |
Typeface for Court Documents |
|
|
B3 |
7 |
Subdivision |
|
|
B4 |
8 |
Short Citation Forms |
|
|
B5 |
8-9 |
Quotations |
|
|
B6 |
9 |
Abbreviations, Numbers & Symbols |
|
|
B7 |
9 |
Italicization for Style and in Unique Circumstances |
|
|
B8 |
10 |
Capitalization |
|
|
B9 |
10 |
Titles of Judges |
|
|
B10 |
11-18 |
Cases |
|
|
B11 |
18 |
Constitutions |
|
|
B12 |
18-21 |
Statutes, Rules & Restatements |
|
|
B13 |
21-22 |
Legislative Materials |
|
|
B14 |
22 |
Administrative & Executive Materials |
|
|
B15 |
22-23 |
Books & Other Nonperiodic Materials |
|
|
B16 |
23-24 |
Periodical Materials |
|
|
B17 |
24-26 |
Court & Litigation Materials |
|
|
B18 |
26-27 |
The Internet |
|
|
B19 |
27-28 |
Services |
|
|
B20 |
28 |
Foreign Materials |
|
|
B21 |
28-29 |
International Materials |
|
|
BT1 |
29-30 |
Court Documents |
|
|
BT2 |
30-60 |
Jurisdiction-Specific Citation Rules & Style Guides |
|
|
For a summary of the Bluepages, see the last page and inside back cover of The Bluebook. |
|||
|
Whitepage Rule |
Pages |
Topic |
|
|
R1 |
61-68 |
Structure & Use of Citations |
|
|
R2 |
68-72 |
Typeface for Law Reviews |
|
|
R3 |
72-79 |
Subdivisions |
|
|
R4 |
79-82 |
Short Citation Forms |
|
|
R5 |
83-87 |
Quotations |
|
|
R6 |
87-90 |
Abbreviations, Numerals & Symbols |
|
|
R7 |
90-91 |
Italicization for Style & in Unique Circumstances |
|
|
R8 |
91-94 |
Capitalization |
|
|
R9 |
94-95 |
Titles of Judges, Officials & Terms of Court |
|
|
R10 |
95-118 |
Case Citation |
|
|
R11 |
119-20 |
Constitutions |
|
|
R12 |
120-34 |
Statutes |
|
|
R13 |
135-41 |
Legislative Materials |
|
|
R14 |
142-47 |
Administrative & Executive Materials (Regulatory Materials) |
|
|
R15 |
147-56 |
Books, Reports, & Other Nonperiodic Materials |
|
|
R16 |
157-69 |
Periodicals |
|
|
R17 |
169-74 |
Unpublished & Forthcoming Sources |
|
|
R18 |
174-86 |
Citation for Internet & Electronic Resources |
|
|
R19 |
186-88 |
Services |
|
|
R20 |
188-94 |
Foreign Materials |
|
|
R21 |
195-226 |
International Materials |
|
|
For a summary of the Whitepages, see the inside front cover and initial page of The Bluebook. |
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|
Table |
Pages |
Topic |
|
|
T1 |
227-98 |
Federal & State Sources & Abbreviations |
|
|
T2 |
Foreign Jurisdictions |
||
|
T3 |
299-302 |
Intergovernmental Organizations |
|
|
T4 |
302-03 |
Treaty Sources |
|
|
T5 |
303 |
Arbitral Reporters |
|
|
T6 |
304-07 |
Abbreviations for Common Words |
|
|
T7 |
307-10 |
Court Names |
|
|
T8 |
310 |
Explanatory Phrases |
|
|
T9 |
311 |
Legislative Documents |
|
|
T10 |
312-18 |
Geographical Terms |
|
|
T11 |
319 |
Judges & Officials |
|
|
T12 |
319 |
Months |
|
|
T13 |
320-22 |
Institutional Names in Periodical Titles |
|
|
T14 |
323 |
Publishing Terms |
|
|
T15 |
323-27 |
Services |
|
|
T16 |
327-28 |
Subdivisions |
|
|
The Index follows from pp. 329-65. |
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