How to Cite a Book in Bluebook (legal)
In Bluebook a book is cited with the author in ordinary order, the title in large and small capitals or italics depending on context, the pinpoint page, and the year in parentheses, with the edition noted where it is not the first.
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How to cite a book in Bluebook step by step
- Author. Give the author name in normal order; Bluebook uses small capitals for authors in many book citations.
- Title. Cite the book title, set in large and small capitals in law review style.
- Pinpoint page. Give the exact page or section you rely on rather than the whole book.
- Edition. Add the edition if it is not the first, since Bluebook tracks the version you consulted.
- Year. Close with the year of publication in parentheses, with the publisher only where required.
Bluebook book citation format
Bluebook orders a book as author, title, pinpoint, edition, and year in parentheses. Law review style uses small capitals for the author and title, which the worked example reflects.
Common book citation variations
How do I cite a specific section of a treatise in Bluebook?
Use the section symbol and number as the pinpoint, for example ยง 12.3, which is common for treatises organized by section rather than page.
How do I cite an edited or multi-author book in Bluebook?
Name the editor with ed. after the title, or list multiple authors separated by ampersand, following the Bluebook rule for two or more authors.
How do I cite a later edition of a book in Bluebook?
Add the edition number and the year of that edition in the parenthetical, since the edition you cite must match the page you pinpoint.
How do I cite a book chapter by a different author in Bluebook?
Give the chapter author and title, then in the book title, the editor, the pinpoint page, and the year in parentheses.
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Book citation FAQ
Does Bluebook use small capitals for book titles?
In law review style, author and book titles are set in large and small capitals; typewritten court documents use ordinary or underlined type instead.
Do I include the publisher for a book in Bluebook?
Bluebook generally gives the year and edition in the parenthetical, adding the publisher only where the rule requires it for the source type.