How to Cite a Journal Article in Bluebook (21st Edition)

This guide explains how to format a journal article 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 journal article in Bluebook (21st Edition):

Template

Author, Title, Volume Abbreviation Page (Year).

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

See footnote 1 (superscript in text).

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Rachel E. Barkow, Prosecutorial Administration: Prosecutor Bias and the Department of Justice, 99 Va. L. Rev. 271 (2013).

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Write the author name
In law review articles, authors appear in small capitals. Write the full name (First Last) followed by a comma.
2
Write the article title
Article titles are italicised in law review footnotes. Use title case.
3
Add volume and journal abbreviation
Write the volume number, then the standard Bluebook journal abbreviation (found in Table T13). The journal abbreviation is in small capitals.
4
Include the starting page
Write the starting page of the article after the journal abbreviation.
5
Add the year
Place the year of publication in parentheses at the end of the citation, followed by a period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Failing to abbreviate the journal name according to Bluebook Table T6.
Omitting the author's full first name (Bluebook uses full first names, not initials).
Placing a comma after the article title instead of ending it without punctuation before the volume number.
Using 'at' for the initial page reference instead of reserving 'at' for pinpoint cites within the article.
Neglecting to include the parenthetical year at the end of the citation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Bluebook law review and practitioner format?

Law review format uses small capitals for authors and journal names, and italicises article titles. Practitioner format (court filings) uses ordinary roman type for most elements. The Bluepages at the front of the Bluebook cover practitioner format.

How do I find the correct journal abbreviation for Bluebook?

Use Table T13 in the Bluebook, which provides abbreviations for periodical names. Many law school library websites also provide searchable Bluebook abbreviation lists.

How do I cite a specific page within an article (pincite)?

After the starting page, add a comma and the specific page: 35 Educ. Psychol. Rev. 112, 120 (2023). This is called a 'pincite' or 'pinpoint citation'.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your journal article:

Author(s)
Year of publication
Article title
Journal name
Volume number
Issue number
Page range
DOI or URL

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Step-by-Step Guide

Write the author name

In law review articles, authors appear in small capitals. Write the full name (First Last) followed by a comma.

Write the article title

Article titles are italicised in law review footnotes. Use title case.

Add volume and journal abbreviation

Write the volume number, then the standard Bluebook journal abbreviation (found in Table T13). The journal abbreviation is in small capitals.

Include the starting page

Write the starting page of the article after the journal abbreviation.

Add the year

Place the year of publication in parentheses at the end of the citation, followed by a period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Failing to abbreviate the journal name according to Bluebook Table T6.

Omitting the author's full first name (Bluebook uses full first names, not initials).

Placing a comma after the article title instead of ending it without punctuation before the volume number.

Using 'at' for the initial page reference instead of reserving 'at' for pinpoint cites within the article.

Neglecting to include the parenthetical year at the end of the citation.