Pinpoint References

A pinpoint takes the reader from the source to the exact spot you relied on. Citing a 400 page book without one forces your marker to trust you. Rule 1.1.6 expects a pinpoint whenever you rely on a specific part of a source, and that is almost always.

A page pinpoint is a bare number. A paragraph pinpoint sits in square brackets. When a source carries both page and paragraph numbers you can give both, page first.

Spans of pages or paragraphs are joined with an en dash. Both ends of a paragraph span keep their own brackets.

Legislation pinpoints use abbreviations. Rule 3.1.4 sets them out. The everyday ones are short and predictable.

• s for a section, ss for several sections.
• pt for a part, div for a division, sch for a schedule.
• cl for a clause of a bill or agreement.
• reg for a regulation, r for a rule.
• art for an article of a treaty or constitution.

When a proposition comes from a particular judgment, name the judge in round brackets after the pinpoint. Use the judicial abbreviation, not a first name. CJ marks a Chief Justice, J a single justice, JJ several justices, JA a Justice of Appeal and P a President. Chapter 2 covers judges’ names in detail.

Film, television, radio and podcasts take a time pinpoint in hours, minutes and seconds. A span joins two timestamps with an en dash. See the time pinpoint rules referenced alongside rule 7.14.