What must a proper Bluebook citation include to identify authorities in legal writing?

• A. Only case name and year.
• B. Only reporter and page.
• C. Case name, reporter, court, year, with pinpoint cites if needed.
• D. Only court and docket number.

Answer: (C)

A proper Bluebook citation must identify the authority unambiguously by including multiple elements: the case name, the official reporter citation (volume, reporter, and starting page), the court and year, and a pinpoint page if you’re referencing a specific part. This combination lets readers locate the exact decision in the published record and know its jurisdiction and date. The case name tells you which case, the reporter and page tell you where it begins in the official source, the court and year place the decision in its legal context, and a pinpoint cite directs readers to the precise part you’re discussing. For example: Smith v. Jones, 123 F.3d 456, 460 (2d Cir. 2000). Other options omit essential pieces (missing the case identity, the source location, or the jurisdiction/date), so they don’t reliably identify the authority.