An Introduction to The Bluebook

This guide introduces selected citation rules found in The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (22nd ed.) and provides citation examples tailored to law students working on academic law journals. These examples are provided for instructional purposes only. Consult The Bluebook directly and follow its rules when preparing citations for publication. The Bluebook's online Quick Style Guide also offers formatting tips for commonly cited sources.

The Bluebook is available for purchase in print or online at legalbluebook.com. A limited number of print copies are also available on reserve at the law library for short-term use. 

The Mabie Law Library reference librarians can help locate specific Bluebook rules and identify example citations. Contact the reference librarians for assistance. 

The 22nd edition of The Bluebook was released in mid-2025. Notable changes from the 21st edition are summarized below and in the linked resource. 

Key revisions in the 22nd edition include the addition of the "contrast" signal in Rule 1.2, expanded guidance on citing tribal and archival sources (Rules 22 and 23), and a substantial rewrite of Rule 18 to better address digital and AI-generated sources. Several Bluepages rules were updated or clarified, and new Bluepages rules (B22, B23) were added. Multiple citation tables -- especially Tables T1.3, T2, and T10 -- were revised to reflect jurisdictional changes, streamline abbreviations, and include new citation formats. Table T1.5, listing all federally recognized Tribal Nations, has been added and is freely available online. Users are encouraged to consult the online version of The Bluebook for the most current updates and corrections. 

The Bluebook is organized into three primary sections:

• Bluepages (front): Rules for citing authority in non-academic legal documents, such as court filings.
• Whitepages (main body): Rules for citing sources in academic legal writing, such as journal articles. This guide focuses on Whitepages content.
• Tables (back): Jurisdiction- and source-specific citation formats that supplement the rules in the Whitepages.

Several built-in finding aids can help you navigate the print version of The Bluebook:

The online version of The Bluebook also contains a Quick Guide, search bar, and searchable Index.