Legal citation signals
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Legal citation signals are a set of brief abbreviated phrases or words used to clarify the proposition, authority, or significance of the legal citation. 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: Signal Source of the signal.
[edit] Parenthetical signal
The parenthetical signal provides additional information about the citation. Unlike the other signals, it follows immediately after the full citation. It usually is brief, about one sentence, and provides a quick explanation of how the citation either supports or is in disagreement with the proposition. For example: Source of the material (This is where the explanatory information goes.)
[edit] List of common citation signals
Indicating support:
- [no signal] is appropriate where the cited authority (i) directly states the proposition, (ii) identifies the source of a quotation, or (iii) identifies an authority referred to in the text.
- E.g., means there is more legal authority supporting the same proposition as the original cited authority, but whose inclusion is not helpful, repetitive, or unnecessary.
- Accord usually is used to signify that some persuasive authority also supports the proposition of the quoted authority.
- See signifies that a particular source clearly supports the proposition, but usually not a concise quotation. See is generally the most common signal used in journal articles.
- See also signals support for a given proposition, but not as clearly as see.
- Cf. literally means "compare" and is used to signify significance by analogy. Frequently, Cf. requires parenthetical signals to clarify the importance.
- See generally means that a source provides useful background information. Usually used in the citation of secondary sources.
Indicating contradiction:
- But see means that the original citation supports the proposition and that the following citation supports something else. There does not need to be a direct contradiction.
- But cf. the following citation supports a contrary position by way of analogy.
- Contra means that the following citation is in direct contradiction with the original source.
Suggesting a useful comparison:
- Compare… with is a literal comparison between two or more sources. Like Cf., this signal is usually accompanied by parenthetical signals to clarify any contradiction.
