School of Law Logo9:45pm 05/11/2025

2025 Writing Competition Questions

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Q: There are two notes given as examples. However, they both link to the same note written by student 343. Can the other example be provided?

A: Yes, thank you for pointing this out! We will work to get the other example uploaded as soon as possible.

Q: When something is out of place, such as punctuation or formatting, can we cite to an example in the Bluebook that has the right format even if there is not an explicit rule on it?

A: Every correction made needs a Bluebook citation.

Q: Does every table citation need a corresponding bluebook citation? Or can we just cite to the tables if we think it’s the most relevant?

A: Every correction should include a Bluebook rule. If a table citation is appropriate, then you should also provide a Bluebook rule directing you to that table. You should cite both the Bluebook rule and the table (for example, BB 1 / T1).

Q: If the same information is found multiple times in separate rules, can we cite to both rules if we think they are equally good/important?

A: If you think that the same information is found in separate rules, then you should cite the one that is the most specific or relevant to your citation.

Q: When the same Bluebook rule applies to different parts of the same citation, does this count as two different errors? Is it okay to list the rule twice in our explanation?

A: For every correction you make to a citation you should include a Bluebook rule. If the errors you have identified are wrong for different reasons (even if both reasons are found in the same Bluebook rule) then they count as two different errors and you need to provide a Bluebook rule for each correction (see the first example in the Bluebook exam for an illustration of two errors being wrong for the same reason and, thus, being counted as only one error).

Q: If information that is typically required in a citation is omitted from the citation on the exam, do we also omit that information from the answer?

A: The sources in the Bluebook exam are fictious. Because you are not able to look them up, all the information you need can be found in the citation. Please do not make anything up. You are not expected to cite information you have not been given.

Q: The Bluebook Exam instructions say that we can assume all elements in each footnote accurately reflect the source. Does that mean we can assume that the reporters are also accurate? If we can’t, would we just change the reporter while leaving the rest of the surrounding information the same?

A: All the information in the Bluebook exam is accurate. However, the information can be accurate and incorrectly cited at the same time. In the second Bluebook example you are expected to assume that the volume and page numbers as well as the name of the periodical are all correct. However, the name is incorrectly cited. You are not supposed to change any numbers or names, but, as illustrated, you are expected to make changes to ensure that the numbers and names given to you have been correctly cited. This applies to everything, including reporters.

Q: If corrections are needed in a citation that have already been corrected earlier, are they supposed to be repeated?

A: Every error in a citation needs to be corrected. While the same type of error will be counted as one error if it is found multiple times in the same citation (see example one), this is not the case for different citations. So, if example one was in the exam and another citation had the case name appear in italics this would be considered a new error and you would need to correct it again providing the applicable Bluebook rule.