How to cite a book

Bluebook (22d ed.) citation format, B15 / R15.

Bluebook (22d ed.) citation format for a book, governed by B15 / R15. Worked example, required elements, and the rules that apply.

Example

Antonin Scalia & Bryan A. Garner, Reading Law: The Interpretation of Legal Texts (2012).

Governing rules

B15 / R15

• 3.2(a) — pinpoint pages.
• 15 — books & nonperiodicals.
• 15.1 — book author/editor.

Required elements

• Author
• Title
• Year

Optional elements

• Volume
• Pincite
• Precede the pincite with “at” — B3 drops “at” in practitioner mode; academic mode keeps it (R3.2).
• Editor
• Translator
• Edition
• Publisher
• Place of publication
• Original publication year
• Serial number
• Supplement
• Standard pagination (e-book) — R15.9: an e-book without standard pagination is cited by chapter/section.
• E-book
• Hereinafter short form
• Database citation
• URL
• Perma / archive URL
• Explanatory parenthetical

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