Principle: Once a full citation to a case, statute, regulation, book or journal article has been provided, subsequent references within the same discussion can be less complete. The less complete or "short form" citation must clearly identify the referenced work. Short form citations should only be used where the reader will find it easy to return to the full citation.
Short form examples:
| Cases | Constitutions and Statutes | Regulations | Books | Journal Articles |
Full Citation
Brown v. Helvering, 291 U.S. 193, 203 (1934).
Short Form Citations
Brown, 291 U.S. at 203.
291 U.S. at 203.
Id. at 203.
The short form should include an identifiable portion of the case name unless it appears in the passage supported by the citation.
Full Citation
Opticians Ass'n of Am. v. Ind. Opticians of Am., 920 F.2d 187 (3d Cir. 1990).
Short Form Citation
Opticians Ass'n, 920 F.2d at 187.
Full Citation
United States v. Wilson, 503 U.S. 329 (1992).
Short Form Citation
Wilson, 503 U.S. at 334-36.
not:
United States, 503 U.S. at 334-36
Do NOT use the name of a governmental or other common litigant the short form name.
Full Citation
Hansen v. Ohio Cas. Ins. Co., 239 Conn. 549, 687 A.2d 1262 (1995).
Short Form Citation
Hansen, 239 Conn. at 551, 687 A.2d at 1269.
239 Conn. at 551, 687 A.2d at 1269.
Id. at 551, 687 A.2d at 1269.
In cases of parallel citation include both in the short form.
Full Citation
U.S. Const. art. III, § 2, cl. 2.
Short Form Citation
Id.
Full Citation
Narcotics Penalties and Enforcement Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-570, § 1002, 100 Stat. 3207-2 (1986).
Short Form Citations
§ 1002.
Narcotics Penalties and Enforcement Act § 1002.
§ 1002, 100 Stat. 3207-2.
Full Citation
15 U.S.C. § 1414 (2000).
Short Form Citations
15 U.S.C. § 1414.
§ 1414.
Full Citation
Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 9A, § 1-101 (current through Dec. 31, 2004).
Short Form Citations
Title 9A, § 1-101.
§ 1-101.
Full Citation
H.R. 3957, 101st Cong., 2d Sess. 2 (1990).
Short Form Citation
H.R. 3957.
Full Citation
46 C.F.R. § 292 (2004).
Short Form Citations
46 C.F.R. § 292.
§ 292.
Full Citation
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Occupant Crash Protection, 57 Fed. Reg. 26,609 (1992).
Short Form Citation
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, 57 Fed. Reg. 26,609.
Full Citation
E. Allen Farnsworth, Contracts § 9.3 (1982).
Short Form Citations
Id.
Id. § 9.4.
Use supra if not referring to the immediately preceding authority.
Full Citation
Henry J. Abraham, Justices and Presidents 351-56 (3d ed. 1992).
Short Form Citations
Abraham, supra.
Abraham, supra at 350.
Use id. if the authority is the same as the immediately preceding authority. Use supra if not referring to the immediately preceding authority.
Full Citation
Stephen J. Legatzke, Note, The Equitable Recoupment Doctrine in United States v. Dalm: Where's the Equity, 10 Va. Tax Rev. 861 (1991).
Short Form Citations
Id.
Id. at 862.
Legatzke, supra.
Legatzke, supra at 862.
Use id. if the authority is the same as the immediately preceding authority. Use supra if not referring to the immediately preceding authority.