Basic Layout
The Bluebook has six discrete parts:
(i) Index - the most important tool in the bluebook. The index provides an in-depth place to find a rule for any element of a citation. If you cannot determine which rule contains the format or rule you are looking for, always go to the index. Over time, you will know instinctively where to look in the bluebook.
(ii) Inside covers - inside the back and front covers have selected examples for law review citation formats for court document and law review typeface conventions,
(iii) Bluepages Rules - these are rules are designed primarily for practitioners and law clerks, which is supplemented by the main body of rules (whitepages).
(iv) Rules 1 to 9 - provides basic building block rules, e.g. capitalization, spacing, etc.
(v) Rules 10 to 21 - the main body of citation rules, divided up by material type.
(vi) Tables 1 to 16 - provide jurisdictional specific rules and preferred material sources, and myriad tables of preferred abbreviations.
