
When writing a law review article, it is important to know how to correctly cite your sources. The Bluebook provides a standard guide to legal citation, with specific rules for citing periodicals. Abbreviating periodical titles is acceptable, but there are rules to follow. For example, The Bluebook instructs that periodical titles should be abbreviated following T13, T6, and T10, in that order. This means using one abbreviation per word, and the Bluebook's tables take precedence over any abbreviations used by the periodical itself. The Bluebook also dictates that titles should be in italics and small caps, and that the full title of the periodical should be used, even if it has changed over time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Title of periodical | Always use the title from the title page of the cited issue |
| Title case | Capitalize all words in the title, including those that begin the title or follow a colon. Don't capitalize articles, conjunctions, and prepositions that are four or fewer letters unless they begin the title or follow a colon. |
| Abbreviation | Abbreviate periodical titles following T13, T6, and T10 (in that order). Use the abbreviation list in Table 13 for law journal or review titles. |
| Typeface | Use large and small caps for the name of the law journal or review |
| Author | Use the author's full name when first citing the work. For two authors, list both. For three or more, use the first author's name followed by "et al." or list all authors. |
| Article title | Italicize the article title |
| Page numbers | Indicate the page on which the article begins, followed by a pinpoint citation to specific pages after a comma |
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What You'll Learn

The Bluebook's instructions for abbreviating periodical titles
The Bluebook provides a uniform system of legal citation. It is a style guide that is widely used for citing legal documents and sources. The Bluebook's instructions for abbreviating periodical titles are as follows:
The Full Periodical Title
The full title of the periodical, as it appears on the title page of the cited issue, should be used, even if the title has changed over time. This is an important point to note, as it ensures that the correct and current title is referenced, regardless of any changes that may have occurred.
Typeface and Capitalization
The periodical title should be in italics and capitalized. Rule 8(a) of The Bluebook specifies that all words in the title should be capitalized, including those that begin the title or immediately follow a colon. However, articles, conjunctions, and prepositions of four or fewer letters should not be capitalized unless they start the title or follow a colon.
Abbreviation
The Bluebook instructs that periodical titles should be abbreviated according to the conventions in Tables T13, T6, and T10, in that specific order. These tables provide standardized abbreviations for periodical titles, ensuring consistency and clarity in legal citations. The 21st edition of The Bluebook has aligned these tables, creating a unified set of abbreviations with one standard per word.
Non-English Titles
If the periodical title is not in English, the rules differ slightly. While the title should still be in italics, the capitalization rules may vary. Refer to Rule 20.2.2(b) for specific instructions on how to handle capitalization for non-English titles.
No Abbreviation or Omission
It is important to note that, according to The Bluebook, you should not abbreviate or omit words in the periodical title. The title should be presented in its full form, as it appears in the original source. This ensures that the citation accurately represents the referenced work.
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Rules for citing periodical titles in law reviews
When citing periodical titles in law reviews, there are several rules to follow. Firstly, the title of the periodical should be written in title case and in italics. This applies to both law reviews and magazines. Additionally, according to Rule 8(a), all words in the title should be capitalized, except for articles, conjunctions, and prepositions that are four letters or fewer. However, if the title follows a colon, these shorter words should be capitalized.
The Bluebook, a widely used legal citation guide, instructs that periodical titles should be abbreviated according to T13, T6, and T10, in that specific order. These tables provide a unified set of abbreviations. If the periodical title is not in English, follow R20.2.2(b). The full title of the periodical, as it appears on its title page, should be used, even if the title has changed over time.
When citing an article within a periodical, the author's full name, including any suffixes like "Jr." or "III," should be listed first, followed by the title of the article in italics. If there are two authors, list both authors in the order they appear in the original source, connected by an ampersand. For three or more authors, use "et al." or list all authors.
Finally, after the article title, include the periodical name in small caps, followed by the date of the issue and the specific page number(s) of the article. For example:
> Adam Satariano, Law Bolsters Copyrights in Europe, N.Y. Times, Mar. 27, 2019, at B1.
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Rules for citing periodical titles in law books
The Bluebook contains rules that prescribe how to cite a variety of legal documents. The following are some rules for citing periodical titles in law books:
Author's Name
Always cite an author's full name when first citing their work (first name, followed by last name). Include any "Jr." or "III," etc. If there are two authors, list them as they appear on the work, separated by an ampersand. If there are more than two authors, either use the first author's name followed by "et al." or list them all.
Italicize the title of the work. Do not abbreviate or omit words in the title.
Periodical Name
Use small caps for the periodical name. If the periodical is in English, follow the abbreviation conventions listed in The Bluebook, specifically T13, T6, and T10. If the title is not found in Table 13, structure the abbreviation by employing words already abbreviated in the list. The full periodical title should be cited as it appears on its title page.
Date and Page Number
Include the date of the issue as it is on the cover, followed by the word "at," and then the first page of the work. If the journal is consecutively paginated, also include the specific pages cited. If the journal does not indicate the volume number but has continuous pagination across issues, use the year as the volume number. Volume numbers should always be given as Arabic numerals.
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Rules for citing periodical titles in law articles
The Bluebook contains rules that prescribe how to cite a variety of legal documents. The Bluebook suggests that you should always use the abbreviations listed in Table 13 for the law journal or review title. This abbreviation list takes precedence over any abbreviations used by law journals or reviews themselves. If the title is not found in Table 13, then the Bluebook suggests that you structure the abbreviation by employing words already abbreviated in the list. The Bluebook instructs to abbreviate periodical titles (in English-language publications) following T13, T6, and T10 (in that specific order). Many individual journals differ in their preferred abbreviation conventions from those listed in The Bluebook’s tables. The abbreviation conventions listed in The Bluebook are geared towards a national audience to clearly indicate the cited source.
For a consecutively paginated journal article, the citation should include the following six elements: author, title of work (in italics), periodical name (in small caps), date of issue as it is on the cover, the word at, and the first page of the work. If there is no author, you should begin the citation with the title. The title of the periodical appearing on the title page of the cited issue will always be used, even if the title of the periodical has changed over time. The title will be capitalized in accordance with R8(a), and it will be in italics. However, if the title is not in English, follow R20.2.2(b). Importantly, do not abbreviate or omit words in the title.
Authors of periodical articles are cited in much the same way as the Bluebook rule for authors of books and treatises. When citing an author's name for the first time, always cite their full name (first name then last name). Include any "Jr." or "III," etc. When there are two authors, list them as they appear on the work, connected by an ampersand. If there are three or more authors, it is permissible to either give the first author's name followed by "et al." or list all authors as they appear.
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Rules for citing non-consecutively paginated periodicals
The Bluebook provides rules for citing non-consecutively paginated periodicals, which include many magazines and newspapers. Here are the key rules for citing such sources:
Author
When citing a periodical, always cite the author's full name when first mentioning their work. Include any suffixes like "Jr." or "III." If an article has two authors, list both connected by an ampersand in the order they appear in the source. For three or more authors, use the first author's name followed by "et al." or list all authors.
The title of the periodical should be capitalised and italicised, following Rule 8(a). The Bluebook instructs that periodical titles should be abbreviated following T13, T6, and T10. If the title is not in English, follow R20.2.2(b). Do not abbreviate or omit words in the title.
Date and Page Number
For non-consecutively paginated periodicals, the citation should include the date of the issue as it appears on the cover and the specific page(s) being referenced. If there is no author, begin the citation with the title.
Volume and Issue Information
If the periodical is volume-based, indicate the volume number before the author's name. If no volume is given but the volumes are arranged by year, use the year of publication as the volume number. If necessary to avoid confusion, include volume information in square brackets.
Online Sources
Rule 18.2 permits citation to online sources that are exact copies of printed sources. Rule 16.6(f) covers citations to online newspapers, which may be cited instead of print versions.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can abbreviate periodical titles when citing for law review. The Bluebook instructs you to abbreviate periodical titles (in English-language publications) following T13, T6, and T10 (in that order).
If the title is not found in Table 13, the Bluebook suggests that you structure the abbreviation by employing words already abbreviated in the list.
The citation should be in large and small caps. For example:
> Matthew J. Wilson, Hiroshi Fukurai & Takashi Maruta, Japan and Civil Jury Trials: The Convergence of Forces 45 (2015).






























