How to Cite a Book in Bluebook (21st Edition)

This guide explains how to format a book citation in Bluebook (21st Edition). Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a book in Bluebook (21st Edition):

Template

Author, Title Page (Edition, Publisher Year).

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

See footnote 2 (superscript in text).

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Erwin Chemerinsky, Constitutional Law: Principles and Policies 42 (6th ed., Wolters Kluwer 2019).

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Write the author name
In law review footnotes, the author name appears in small capitals. Write First Last.
2
Write the book title
The title appears in small capitals in law review footnotes. Use title case.
3
Add the page number
After the title, write the specific page (pincite) you are referencing.
4
Include the year
Place the year of publication (and edition if not first) in parentheses. End with a period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not small-capping the author name and title in law review footnotes.
Omitting the specific page (pincite) when citing a particular passage.
Placing the year outside the parentheses.
Including publisher information when not required.
Forgetting to include the edition for works with multiple editions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to include the publisher for book citations in Bluebook?

For most books, the publisher is not required in the standard Bluebook citation. The year of publication in parentheses is sufficient.

How do I cite a book with multiple authors?

List all authors separated by ampersands (&). For more than two authors, you may use the first author followed by 'et al.'

What is the difference between a 'supra' and a full citation?

The first time you cite a source, provide a full citation. Subsequent citations to the same source use 'id.' (immediately preceding source) or 'supra note X' (earlier footnote).

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your book:

Author(s) or Editor(s)
Year of publication
Title
Edition (if not the first)
Publisher
DOI or URL (if electronic)

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Step-by-Step Guide

Write the author name

In law review footnotes, the author name appears in small capitals. Write First Last.

Write the book title

The title appears in small capitals in law review footnotes. Use title case.

Add the page number

After the title, write the specific page (pincite) you are referencing.

Include the year

Place the year of publication (and edition if not first) in parentheses. End with a period.