How to Cite a Encyclopedia Entry in Bluebook (21st edition)
Learn how to cite an encyclopedia article or entry 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 encyclopedia entry in your bibliography:
Bluebook Example for a Encyclopedia Entry
Bluebook does not give a encyclopedia entry an entry in the bibliography — it is cited in a note only. Here is that note, formatted by the official Bluebook CSL style definition:
Marta Sinclair, Bibliography, 2 Encyclopedia of Scholarly Practice 410 (Daniel Hobbs ed., 3 ed. 2020).
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your encyclopedia entry.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Bluebook (21st edition) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Bluebook requirements.
Evidence and review notes
Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model.
CSL style record: bluebook.csl
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a encyclopedia entry in Bluebook?
- To cite a encyclopedia entry in Bluebook (21st edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the Bluebook format for a encyclopedia entry citation?
- The Bluebook format requires specific elements like author, title, date, and source location arranged in a particular order.
- What does the in-text citation look like for a encyclopedia entry in Bluebook?
- In Bluebook, the in-text citation for the example above is Marta Sinclair, Bibliography, 2 Encyclopedia of Scholarly Practice 410 (Daniel Hobbs ed., 3 ed. 2020).
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