General Rules
5 Pinpoints
Overview
Pinpoints identify the specific part of a source (e.g. paragraph, page, or section) that has been relied upon to support arguments, interpretations, and ideas. Pinpoints allow the reader to quickly locate the information you have interpreted and are applying. They prove the authority and credibility of legal writing.
Pinpoints can include:
- A single page, paragraph, or section
- A range of pages, paragraphs, or sections
- Non-consecutive pages, paragraphs, or sections
Pages
Examples: Page Pinpoints
All pinpoints are highlighted in aqua.
Referring to a single page:
- at #.
Full citation to a book with single page pinpoint:
- Ted Tjaden, Legal Research and Writing (Toronto: Irwin Law, 2016) at 121.
Full citation to a case with single page pinpoint:
- R v Dominion Bowling and Athletic Club, 15 CCC 105 at 113, 19 OLR 107 (H Ct J).
Referring to a range of pages:
- at #-#.
Full citation to a book with a page range pinpoint:
- Ted Tjaden, Legal Research and Writing (Toronto: Irwin Law, 2016) at 121–122.
Full citation to a case with page range pinpoint:
- R v Dominion Bowling and Athletic Club, 15 CCC 105 at 112–113, 19 OLR 107 (H Ct J).
Referring to 2 non-consecutive pages:
- at #, #.
Full citation to a book with non-consecutive pages pinpoint:
- Ted Tjaden, Legal Research and Writing (Toronto: Irwin Law, 2016) at 121, 469.
Full citation to a case with non-consecutive pages pinpoint:
- R v Dominion Bowling and Athletic Club, 15 CCC 105 at 112, 127, 19 OLR 107 (H Ct J).
Paragraphs
Examples: Paragraph Pinpoints
All pinpoints are highlighted in purple.
Referring to a paragraph:
- at para #.
Full citation to a case with single paragraph pinpoint:
- R v Telebrico, 2024 ABCJ 180 at para 21.
Referring to a range of paragraphs:
- at paras #-#.
Full citation to a case with paragraph range pinpoint:
- R v Telebrico, 2024 ABCJ 180 at paras 18–21.
Referring to a range of paragraphs and a non-consecutive section:
- at paras #–#, #.
Full citation to a case with non-consecutive paragraph pinpoint:
- R v Telebrico, 2024 ABCJ 180 at paras 18–21, 28.
Sections
Examples: Section Pinpoints
All pinpoints are highlighted in green.
Referring to a single section:
- at s #.
Full citation to a statute with a single section pinpoint:
- Imitation Dairy Products Act, RSNS 1989, c 216, s 2.
Full citation to a regulation with a single section pinpoint:
- Imitation Dairy Products Regulations, NS Reg 32/69, s 1.
Referring to a range of sections:
- at ss #-#.
Full citation to a statute with a section range pinpoint:
- Imitation Dairy Products Act, RSNS 1989, c 216, ss 2–3.
Full citation to a regulation with a section range pinpoint:
- Imitation Dairy Products Regulations, NS Reg 32/69, ss 1–2.
Referring to 2 non-consecutive sections:
- at ss #, #, #.
Full citation to a statute with a section range pinpoint:
- Imitation Dairy Products Act, RSNS 1989, c 216, ss 2, 8.
Referring to a range of sections and a non-consecutive section:
- at ss #–#, #.
Full citation to a regulation with a section range and non-consecutive section pinpoint:
- Imitation Dairy Products Regulations, NS Reg 32/69, ss 1–3, 9.
Footnotes
Examples: Footnote Pinpoints
All pinpoints are highlighted in pink.
Referring to a footnote on a single page:
- at #, fn #.
Full citation to a journal article with a single footnote pinpoint:
- Kate L Fetrow, “Taking Abortion Rights Seriously: Toward a Holistic Undue Burden
Jurisprudence” (2018) 70:1 Stan L Rev 319 at 322, fn 13.
Referring to a range of footnotes on a certain page:
- at #, fnn #-#.
Full citation to a journal article with a footnote range pinpoint:
- Kate L Fetrow, “Taking Abortion Rights Seriously: Toward a Holistic Undue Burden Jurisprudence” (2018) 70:1 Stan L Rev 319 at 322, fnn 12–13.
Common Abbreviations
Pinpoint Abbreviation Table
