Legal citation signals are a set of brief abbreviated phrases or words used to clarify the authority or significance of a legal citation as it relates to a proposition. Signals help a reader quickly discern meaning or usefulness of a particular reference when the reference itself does not provide adequate information.
Most citation signals are placed in front of the citation to which they apply. For example, in the paragraph
When writing a legal argument, it is important to refer to primary sources. To assist readers in locating these sources, it is desirable to use a standardized citation format. See generally Harvard Law Review Association, The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (18th ed. 2005). Note, however, that some courts may require any legal papers that are submitted to them to conform to a different citation format.
the signal is the phrase "see generally," which indicates that the citation "The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (18th ed. 2005)" provides general background information on the topic.
Read more about Legal Citation Signals: Parenthetical Signal, List of Common Citation Signals
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