Skip to Main Content

Referencing

Need help with referencing styles? Start with this helpful guide.

Footnotes

AGLC4 is a footnoting style. Part 1 General Rules outlines footnoting rules.

Footnotes should be used to:

  • Provide authority
  • Provide other information that is not appropriate to include in the text
  • Provide other information available (see Rule 1.1.1)

General Format of Footnotes (Rule 1.1)

This is only a summary - for a more detailed list of rules see 1.1 General Format of Footnotes

  • A footnote should always follow the relevant portion of text - generally after the punctuation at the end of a sentence. However, footnote numbers may be placed directly after the relevant portion of the text if this is necessary for the sake of clarity. (Rule 1.1.2)
  • Footnotes must start with a number corresponding to the number in text. This number is also superscript. e.g. 22
  • Multiple sources in footnotes - a semicolon should be used to separate the sources.
  • Pinpoint reference - whenever you quote, paraphrase or refer to a section of a source. The pinpoint for a page number should appear as a number with no prefix.
  • Pinpoint for a paragraph should appear as a number in [ ]

Subsequent References (Rule 1.4)

Note Rule change - the rule has been broadened to apply to all source types.

  • Style - now '(n[Footnote Number]) and applies to all source types. (Rule 1.4.1)
Author Surname n(Footnote Number) Pinpoint.
  • For subsequent references to cases, use the Case Name or Short Title. (Rule 1.4.4)
Case Name n(Footnote Number) Pinpoint.
  • For subsequent references to legislation, a Short Title may be used (Rule 1.4.4)
Legislation title n(Footnote Number) Pinpoint.
  • Above n / Below n  - only used when referring to parts within a text. However "Above n" should NOT be used for case and legislation citations. (Rule 1.4.2)
  • Ibid -  use to refer to a source immediately preceding the footnote. However 'ibid' should not be used where there are multiple sources in the preceding footnote. (Rule 1.4.3)

Bibliography

Bibliography rules are outlined in Rule 1.13

The Bibliography may be divided into sections:

  • A Articles/Books/Reports
  • B Cases
  • C Legislation
  • D Treaties
  • E Other

Rules

  • An author's first name and surname should be inverted and separated by a comma.
  • There is no full stop at the end of a bibliography entry.
  • Sources should be listed in alphabetical order according to:
    • the surname of the first-listed author
    • where the author is an institution, the first word of the name of the institution (excluding ‘the’)
    • where there is no author, the first word of the title
  • Where two authors have the same surname, the authors should be sorted alphabetically according to their first names.
  • Where more than one work of an author is listed, the works should be listed in chronological order.

See the sample bibliography at the end of Part 1 General Rules (page 36).