When a citation needs a pin cite
A pin cite is the specific page, section or paragraph that supports your sentence: the 12 in Smith v. Jones, 500 F.3d 10, 12 (2d Cir. 2007). Give one whenever you quote a source or rely on a specific point. Under the 22nd edition, a citation introduced by any signal except see generally needs one too.
Written for the 22nd edition. Updated .
1 flag in 1 citation: 0 to fix, 1 worth a look.
The warrant requirement applies to the home. See Smith v. Jones, 500 F.3d 10 (2d Cir. 2007).
Writing it
In a full citation, the pin cite follows the first page after a comma, with no at: 500 F.3d 10, 12 (Rule 3.2(a)). In a short form it follows at: Smith, 500 F.3d at 12. If the point is on the first page, repeat it: 500 F.3d 10, 10.
For a span, use a hyphen or an en dash and keep the last two digits: 1024–25, not 1024–1025. For Westlaw and Lexis cases, pin to the star page: 2019 WL 123456, at *3.
- 500 F.3d 10, at 12500 F.3d 10, 12A full cite's pin cite has no at. R 3.2(a)
- Smith, 500 F.3d 12.Smith, 500 F.3d at 12.A short form's pin cite needs at. R 10.9
- 500 F.3d 1020, 1024–1025500 F.3d 1020, 1024–25Drop repeated digits, keep the last two. R 3.2(a)
When it's required
Always for a quotation, and whenever your sentence relies on a specific part of the source. The 22nd edition goes further: any citation introduced by a signal needs a pin cite, except see generally, which points to a source as a whole (Rule 1.2).
Some instructors take a point off for every missing pin cite. If yours does, record it as a house rule for your class and the checker will treat a missing pin cite as an error.
Questions
- Does a citation with see need a pin cite?
- Under the 22nd edition, yes. Only see generally is exempt.
- What if I'm citing a case as a whole?
- That is what see generally is for, and it is the one signal that needs no pin cite. If you rely on a holding, pin to the page where the court states it.
- How do I pin cite a Westlaw case?
- Use the star page after at: Smith v. Jones, No. 18-cv-1234, 2019 WL 123456, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 5, 2019).
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Sources
- Howard W. Hunter Law Library, BYU, Changes to the Bluebook in the new 22nd edition
- Gallagher Law Library, University of Washington, Bluebook 22nd edition: changes to Rules 1–9
- Georgetown Law Writing Center, Basic Bluebook (22nd edition)