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How to Cite a Dissertation or Thesis in Bluebook (21st edition)

Learn how to cite doctoral dissertations and master's theses in Bluebook format (21st edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Bluebook Bibliography Format

Here is the standard Bluebook format for citing a dissertation or thesis in your bibliography:

Bluebook Example for a Dissertation or Thesis

Bluebook does not give a dissertation or thesis an entry in the bibliography — it is cited in a note only. Here is that note, formatted by the official Bluebook CSL style definition:

Elena Vasquez, Reading Practices in the Digital Archive (2022) (Doctoral dissertation dissertation, State University), https://www.example.org/theses/vasquez.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your dissertation or thesis.
  2. Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Bluebook (21st edition) template shown above.
  3. Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
  4. Add to your bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
  5. Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Bluebook requirements.

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Cite a Dissertation or Thesis in Other Styles

Dissertation or Thesis in APADissertation or Thesis in MLADissertation or Thesis in ChicagoDissertation or Thesis in HarvardDissertation or Thesis in VancouverDissertation or Thesis in IEEEDissertation or Thesis in AMADissertation or Thesis in TurabianDissertation or Thesis in CSEDissertation or Thesis in BibTeXDissertation or Thesis in NatureDissertation or Thesis in ACSDissertation or Thesis in OSCOLADissertation or Thesis in AGLCDissertation or Thesis in ASADissertation or Thesis in APSADissertation or Thesis in AAADissertation or Thesis in NLMDissertation or Thesis in ACMDissertation or Thesis in APSDissertation or Thesis in AIPDissertation or Thesis in CellDissertation or Thesis in ScienceDissertation or Thesis in PLOSDissertation or Thesis in BMJDissertation or Thesis in LancetDissertation or Thesis in JAMADissertation or Thesis in Elsevier HarvardDissertation or Thesis in Springer

Cite Other Sources in Bluebook

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