style guide
Appendix 3: Additional style rules for university work
This is designed as a beginning point from which individual institutions may require students to depart. We have left a space for students to write in additional local requirements. It may especially need alteration for students writing legal opinions as opposed to research essays.
This guide is not intended to be a guide to correct grammar. Many excellent grammar texts exist, such as Fowler's Modern English Usage (Oxford University Press). Of particular note are the rules pertaining to the use of apostrophes, specifically plural and group possessives. Recourse should be made to a grammar text to remedy any uncertainty.
A Template available
For a Microsoft Word template to assist with formatting, users are encouraged to visit the Victoria University of Wellington Law Review website at www.victoria.ac.nz/law/research/VUWLR.
B Font
Times New Roman font should be used.
The following font sizes should be used:
C Margins and Justification
All text should be justified.
The default margins on most word processors will be acceptable, but wider margins may be required for a specific piece of work.
D Headings
I Major Headings
Major headings are indicated by roman numerals, and italicised, but ought to be in 14 point font. The first letter of each word, other than prepositions and articles, should be in capitals.
A Minor Headings within Major Headings
Minor headings are bold and italicised, and should be in 12 point font. The first letter of each word, other than prepositions and articles, should be in capitals.
1 Sub-headings within minor headings
Sub-headings are indicated by arabic numerals and are italicised. Only the initial letter of the first word should be in capitals. Font should be in 12 point.
(a) Paragraph headings
Paragraph headings are indented and indicated by a lower case letter. Only the initial letter of the first word should be in capitals. Font should be in 12 point.
(i) Sub-paragraph headings
The same as paragraph headings, but using small roman numerals.
The use of headings is largely a discretionary matter, though paragraph and sub-paragraph headings should be used sparingly.
Where a case name, or other phrase that is required to be italicised, is included in a heading that is also required to be italicised, that phrase is not italicised.
E Bibliography and Tables of Cases and Statutes
Many papers require a bibliography, a table of cases, or table of statutes to be included with written work.
Bibliographies perform a different function to footnotes. Footnotes are used to demonstrate authority for a particular statement or to acknowledge the source of a particular idea; a bibliography notes all the sources used in the preparation of a piece, whether they are cited in the footnotes or not.
A table of cases lists all the cases cited in the piece. These should be divided by jurisdiction and order alphabetically.
A table of legislation should list all legislation, again broken down by jurisdiction.
Sources listed in a bibliography should be grouped according to type: while the categorisation used will be different depending on the subject area of the piece, it will usually include separate sections for books and journal articles. Where relevant a bibliography may also feature sections for international agreements or treaties, parliamentary material, and so on.
The normal style rules should be followed. However the bibliography should be alphabetically ordered by last name of the author. In multi-author works all author names should be reversed so that the last name comes first followed by the first name or initials separated by a comma.
For example:
Dissertations
Dorsett, Shaunnagh "Thinking Jurisdictionally: A Genealogy of Native Title" (PhD, UNSW 2005).
Journal Articles
Reitz, John C "Political Economy as a Major Architectural Principle of Public Law" (2001) 75 Tul L Rev 1121.
Roberts-Wray, Kenneth "Human Rights in the Commonwealth" (1968) 17 ICLQ 908.
Rosenthal, Lawrence "A Theory of Governmental Damages Liability: Torts, Constitutional Torts, and Takings" (2007) 9 U Pa J Const L 797.
Monographs and Books
Prendergast, Harris The Law Relating to Officers of the Navy (Parker, Furnivall, and Parker: Military Library, Whitehall, London, 1852).
Preston, Antony and Major, John Send a Gunboat: a Study of the Gunboat and its Role in British Policy, 1854-1904 (Longmans, Green and Co, London, 1967).
Roberts-Wray, Kenneth Commonwealth and Colonial Law (Fredrick A Preager, New York, 1966).
style guide
| NEW ZEALAND law style guide
NEW ZEALAND law style guide |
8
CASES FROM SPECIFIC JURISDICTIONS
9.3 CANADA |
Appendices
Index