What is the purpose of a pinpoint cite in a Bluebook reference?

• A. Indicate the exact page or section where the relevant material can be found.
• B. Indicate the year of publication only.
• C. Indicate the court's name only.
• D. Indicate the case's docket number.

Answer: (A)

Pinpoint cites tell you exactly where in a source to find the material you’re relying on. In Bluebook style, after the general citation to a case, statute, or other authority, you add a pinpoint to indicate the specific page, section, or paragraph where the relevant language or proposition appears. This lets readers verify quotes or locate the precise point without scanning the whole document. For example, you might cite a case with the exact page that contains the portion you’re relying on. The year, court name, and docket number establish the source and context, but they don’t indicate where inside the source the material is found. So the pinpoint is about guiding readers to the exact location within the cited source.