How to cite a looseleaf service
Bluebook (22d ed.) citation format · B19 / R19 · Regulations & agencies
Example
Carr, [1990-1992 Transfer Binder] Comm. Fut. L. Rep. (CCH) ¶ 24,933 (Oct. 2, 1990).
More examples
Each of these is checked against the rules on every change to the tool.
- SEC v. Tex. Int’l Airlines, 29 Fed. R. Serv. 2d (West) 408 (D.D.C. 1979).
- Defs. of Wildlife, Inc. v. Watt, [1982] 12 Envtl. L. Rep. (Envtl. Law Inst.) 20,210 (D.D.C. May 28, 1981).
What the citation needs
Required
- Service — The looseleaf service’s name, abbreviated per T15 (R19.1).
- Publisher — The publisher (R15.4).
- Paragraph / section — The article, section or paragraph cited, abbreviated per T16 (“art.”, “§”, “¶”).
When they apply
- Case or document name — The source’s name, as the rule for this type gives it.
- Volume — The volume number, which comes before the reporter, code or periodical name.
- Page — The page the source begins on. The page you are citing goes in the pincite.
- Transfer binder — A transfer binder, where the material has moved to one: “1990-1992 Transfer Binder” (R19.1).
- Date — The date the rule for this source calls for, with the month abbreviated per T12 (“Nov. 24, 1978”).
- Pincite — The exact page (or section, or paragraph) your point is on — not the first page. R1.2(f): pincites are required except after “see generally”.
- Bound form (if it differs) — The bound form’s name, where looseleaf material will be bound under a different one (R19.1).
- Database parallel — Another reporter or source printing the same material, cited after the first (R10.3.1).
In a brief and in a law review
The Bluebook sets citations two ways: the Bluepages for court documents and legal memoranda, the Whitepages for law review footnotes. Here is the first example above as each one prints it, in its typeface.
Court documents (Bluepages)
Carr, [1990-1992 Transfer Binder] Comm. Fut. L. Rep. (CCH) ¶ 24,933 (Oct. 2, 1990).
Law review footnotes (Whitepages)
Carr, [1990-1992 Transfer Binder] Comm. Fut. L. Rep. (CCH) ¶ 24,933 (Oct. 2, 1990).
For this source the two are set the same way.
Common mistakes
Each of these is a citation the checker refuses, with what it says is wrong and the corrected form.
Wrong
Carr, [1990-1992 Transfer Binder] Comm. Fut. L. Rep. ¶ 24,933 (Oct. 2, 1990).
Why
Could not classify (case, statute, regulation, uniform/model act, article, book, or website).
Right
Carr, [1990-1992 Transfer Binder] Comm. Fut. L. Rep. (CCH) ¶ 24,933 (Oct. 2, 1990).
Wrong
SEC v. Tex. Int’l Airlines, 29 Fed. R. Serv. 2d 408 (D.D.C. 1979).
Why
Reporter “Fed. R. Serv. 2d” not in T1.1 as written.
Right
SEC v. Tex. Int’l Airlines, 29 Fed. R. Serv. 2d (West) 408 (D.D.C. 1979).
Wrong
Defs. of Wildlife, Inc. v. Watt, 12 [1982] Envtl. L. Rep. (Envtl. Law Inst.) 20,210 (D.D.C. May 28, 1981).
Right
Defs. of Wildlife, Inc. v. Watt, [1982] 12 Envtl. L. Rep. (Envtl. Law Inst.) 20,210 (D.D.C. May 28, 1981).
Governing rules
B19 / R19
- 19 — services.
- 19.1 — citation form for services (publisher named parenthetically).
- T15 — services & their abbreviations.
Build this citation with the generator, check one you have already written, or paste a whole list of footnotes to check them in order.
Related source types
Regulations & agencies: