Bluebook Citation Resources
Most citation tools were developed by and for academics working in the hard or social sciences. As a result, no citation tool can create footnotes or a bibliography in perfect Bluebook format.
Each of the citation tools do offer a Bluebook citation format, with varying degrees of success. As the chart below indicates, Zotero's format is superior to the format offered by RefWorks and EndNote. Mendeley uses the Zotero format and so offers a similar degree of success in proper formatting.
For more information about the Bluebook Citation Syle in general, please see our Bluebook Research Guide.
Citation Tools and the Bluebook, a Comparison
Law Review Article
Note: Citation manually added to RefWorks and EndNote; automatically added to Zotero from HeinOnline
Proper Bluebook Citation
Cass R. Sunstein, Second Amendment Minimalism: Heller as Griswold, 122 Harv. L. Rev. 246 (2008).
| Zotero | RefWorks | EndNote |
|---|---|---|
|
Cass R Sunstein, Second Amendment Minimalism: Heller as Griswold, 122 Harv. L. Rev.246 (2008). Note: Missing Period after R.; Italicization Issues |
Cass R. Sunstein, Second Amendment Minimalism: Heller as Griswold, 122 Harv. Law Rev. 246 (2008). Note: No Small Caps; Italicization Issues; Abbreviation Issues |
Cass R. Sunstein, Second Amendment Minimalism: Heller as Griswold, 122 Harvard Law Review 246 (2008). Note: No Small Caps; Italicization Issues; Abbreviation Issues |
Book
Note: Citation automatically added to Zotero, RefWorks and Endnote from Gulliver
Proper Bluebook Citation
Bill Barnhart & Gene Schlickman, John Paul Stevens: An Independent Life (2010).
| Zotero | RefWorks | EndNote |
|---|---|---|
|
Bill Barnhart, John Paul Stevens: An Independent Life (2010). Note: Missing Second Author |
Bill Barnhart , John Paul Stevens an Independent Life (2010). Note: Missing Second Author; Spacing Issues; Missing Semi-Colon; Capitalization Issues; No Small Caps |
Bill Barnhart, John Paul Stevens : an independent life (2010). Note: Missing Second Author; Spacing Issues; Capitalization Issues; No Small Caps |
Case
Note: Citation manually added to RefWorks and EndNote; automatically added to Zotero from Hein Online
Proper Bluebook Citation
Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights, Inc., 547 U.S. 47 (2005).
| Zotero | RefWorks | EndNote |
|---|---|---|
|
Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, et al. v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights, Inc., et al., 547 U.S. 47 (2005). Note: Extra party information included |
Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights, Inc. 547 Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights, Inc. 2005). Note: A mess! |
Rumsfeld v. Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights, Inc., 547 U.S. 47 (2005). Note: Accurate |
Adding the Bluebook Style to Zotero:
- From the Gear Icon / Action Menu within the Zotero pane, select Preferences
- Click on the Cite Button
- Click on the Styles Tab
- Click on the link to Get Additional Styles
- Find the Bluebook Law Review Style and click Install
- Click OK
Adding the Bluebook Style to RefWorks:
- Click on the Bibliography button
- Access the Output Style Manager
- Select the Bluebook Style and Add it to your favorites
- Go back to the Bibliography screen and select the Bluebook Output Style
Adding the Bluebook Style to Mendeley:
- From the View Menu, select Citation Style: More Styles
- Click on the Get More Styles tab
- Search for Bluebook Law Review
- Click on Install and Use
Related Resource
- Tools for Making Bluebook Citations and Keeping Track of Research (BU Law Library)
