Citation Signal - Order of Signals

Order of Signals

(See The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation) When one or more signals are used, the signals should appear in the following order:

A. Introductory signals

1. 2. E.g., 3. Accord 4. See 5. See also 6. Cf.

B. Signals that indicate a useful comparison

7. Compare......with...and...

C. Signals that indicate contradiction

8. Contra 9. But see 10. But cf.

D. Signal that indicates background material

11. See generally

When multiple signals are used, the signals must be consistent with the proper order of authorities. Also, signals of the same basic type - supportive, comparative, contradictory, or background - are strung together within a single citation sentence and separated by semicolons. Signals of different types should be grouped in different citation sentences. For example:

"See Mass. Bd. of Ret. v. Murgia, 427 U.S. 307 (1976) (per curiam); cf. Palmer v. Ticcione, 433 F.Supp. 653 (E.D.N.Y 1977) (upholding a mandatory retirement age for kindergarten teachers). But see Gault v. Garrison, 569 F.2d 993 (7th Cir. 1977) (holding that a classification of public school teachers based on age violated equal protection absent a showing of justifiable and rational state purpose). See generally Comment, O’Neill v. Baine: Application of Middle-Level Scrutiny to Old-Age Classifications, 127 U. Pa. L. Rev. 798 (1979) (advocating a new constitutional approach to old-age classifications)."

When "e.g." is combined with another signal, the placement of the combined signal is determined by the non-e.g. signal. For example, the combined signal "see, e.g." should be placed where the "see" signal would normally fall.

However, within a citation clause citation strings can contain different types of signals. These signals are separated by semicolons.