Speed Bluebooking
Presented by
University of Baltimore Law Review
&
Office of Academic Support
The Bluebook
• Four Major Parts:
1. Bluepages
2. Rules of Citation & Style
3. Tables
4. Index
Basic Tips
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Remember the function of a citation
Look up every rule, every time
When in doubt, start with the Index
Read the entire rule at least once
Tables contain rules
DON’T COPY A DATABASE CITATION!
The Bluepages
• Use the Bluepages for typeface & style issues
particular to memos
– B1 for typeface
– B2 for citation placement
The Rules (White Pages)
• Use the BB Rules for formatting citations
(punctuation, how to order citations, etc.)
– Rule 1 – Signals
– Rule 4 – Short Citation Form
– Rule 10 – Cases
– Rule 12 – Statutes
– Rule 18 – Internet Sources
Common Errors: Rule 10 – Cases
• Improper Abbreviations
– Use Table 6 & Table 10
– Different in citation vs text
• B4.1.1/Rule 10.2
– Similar abbreviations for different words
• Employee and Employment (Emp. and Emp’t)
• Associate and Association (Assoc. and Ass’n)
• Center and Central (Ctr. and Cent.)
Common Errors: Rule 10 – Cases
• Maryland cases must contain parallel cites
– Rule 10.3.1(a)
• Boy v. Girl, 379 Md. 58, 59, 458 A.3d 38, 41 (2009).
• Reporter spacing
– Rule 6.1(a):
• N.W.2d (no spaces)
• F. Supp. 2d (spaces)
• Use the short form!
– Rule 10.9
Common Errors: Rule 10 – Cases
• Parenthetical information
– Weight of Authority
• Rule 10.6.1
– Boy v. Girl, 123 U.S. 456 (2012) (Stevens, J., dissenting)
– Quoting vs not quoting
• Rule 1.5(a)
– (“The arsonist had oddly shaped feet.”).
– (stating that the arsonist had “oddly shaped feet”).
– Citation within a citation
• Rule 10.6.2  Rule 1.6(c); Rule 2.2(b)(iii)
– Parenthetical containing a case citation
Simplifying Signals: Rule 1.2
• Supportive Signals
– [no signal]
– E.g.,
– Accord
– See
– See also
– Cf.
• Comparative Signals
– Compare … with …
• Contradictory Signals
– Contra
– But see
– But cf.
• Background Signals
– See generally
Simplifying Signals: Rule 1.2
– [No signal] = assertion comes directly from this cited source
• Contradictory signal = Contra
– E.g., = assertion comes directly from multiple sources, one of which is
this cited source
– Accord = text quotes/refers to another source, but assertion is also
stated in/supported by this cited source
– See = assertion is not directly from this source, but is clearly supported
by this cited source
• Contradictory signal = But see
– See also = assertion comes directly from previous source, but it is also
supported by this cited source
– See generally = general background material for assertion can be
found in cited source
– Cf. = a proposition different than but analogous to assertion is
supported by this cited source
• Contradictory signal = But cf.
Simplifying Signals: Rule 1.2
• String Cites
– Multiple sources linked to the same signal or same
TYPE of signal (supportive, comparative,
contradictory, or background) are separated by a
semi-colon
• See UB Law Review v. UMD Law Review, 459 U.S. 268,
271 (2010); Lande v. Breyer, 458 U.S. 11, 12 (2009).
– Be sure to place sources in correct order
• Based on signal  Rule 1.3 and B3.5
• Based on authority  Rule 1.4
Common Errors: Rule 4 – Short Form
• Id.  Rule 4.1
– Italicize the “.” in Id.
– Only add page numbers after “id.” if the pincite is
different
• Id. or Id. at 3.
– Id. § 5. Not: Id. at § 5.
– Do not use id. if you cited more than one
authority in previous cite.
Common Errors: Rule 4 – Short Form
• Short Citation Form for Cases – Rule 10.9
– B4.2 tells you when you can use the short form
– Pick one party’s name and stick with it; make sure
the reader can figure out which case you are
referring to.
• Rule 10.9(b)(ii) for parallel citations with “Id.”
– Id. at 356, 233 A.2d at 563.
• See B4.2 for parallel citations with short forms
– Jones, 435 Md. at 25, 245 A.3d at 38.
Common Errors: Rule 18 – Internet Sources
• Direct citations vs. parallel citations
– Citing CNN.com vs. The Baltimore Sun
• Use “available at” for the latter, never for the former.
• See Rules 18.2.2, 18.2.3 & 16.6(f)
• If the Web site does not list a publication date,
use a “last visited” parenthetical when no
date provided; update this every time you
view the webpage
– Rule 18.2.2(c).
Other Helpful Rules
• Citing a Restatement?  Rule 12.9.5
• Uniform Code?  Rule 12.9.4
• Capitalizing the word “court” B7.3.1
– Only capitalized when referring to SCOTUS or the court that
will receive the document.
• Case names in memos  B1
– Underscore or italicize case names in the text of your memo
• Multiple sections  Rule 3.3(b)
– Use §§ when referring to multiple sections
• Citing a footnote?  Rule 3.2(b)
Other Helpful Rules
• Quotations  Rule 5
– Pay attention to long quotes and alterations
– Do not indicate emphasis in original
• Numbers and Symbols  Rule 6.2
– The first word of any sentence must be spelled out
• Foreign phrases  Rule 7
– Italicizing foreign phrases such as certiorari, res judicata,
etc.
– Don’t italicize the common phrases
• Unreported Opinions B4.1.4; Rules 10.8.1 & 18.3.1
• Court documents/Case record B7
• No bluebook rule for source? Use analogous source
Final Tips & Things to Remember
• When in doubt, use the Index
• Always check the tables for abbreviations
• Check the inside back cover for examples of
commonly used citation forms used in court
documents / legal memos (Bluepages)
• Check the inside front cover for examples of
commonly used citation forms used in
journals (White Pages)