Proofreading
Case Names
Common Errors
Important Local Issues
Abbreviations
100

How many spaces should go between sentences? 1 or 2?

The correct answer is OBVIOUSLY 1 
100

What is wrong with this case name:

Sessions v. Dimaya, 138 U.S. 1204, 1244 (2018).

Italicize

100

Are either underlines or italics acceptable for case names?

Yes -- as long as the document is internally consistent

100

In a case name, this is the proper abbreviation for the Northern District of Iowa

N.D. Iowa

100

It's the abbreviated version of "District" according to the Bluebook, as in "District Court"

Dist.
200

Which is the proper format for ellipses? "..." or ". . . "

". . . "

200

What is wrong with this case name:

Wersba v. Seiler, 393 F.2d 937 (8th Circuit 1968)

8th Cir.

200

Does a case need to be cited "in full" every time it is cited?

No -- "short cites" are acceptable after an initial full citation

200

This is the Chief of the Iowa Supreme Court

Justice Susan Christianson
200

It's the abbreviated version of "Second Circuit"

2d Cir.
300

What is the error in this quote? 

“Where the evidence of waiver is so convincing . . . the court (may) declare a waiver . . . .”

[may]

300

What is wrong with this case name:

Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Greystone III Joint Venture, 995 F.2d 1274, 1280 (5th Cir. 1992).

Phoenix Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Greystone III Joint Venture, 995 F.2d 1274, 1280 (5th Cir. 1992).

300

This is the proper abbreviation for Iowa, according to the Bluebook

Iowa

300

In a case name, this is the proper abbreviation for the Iowa Court of Appeals

Iowa Ct. App.

300

It's the abbreviated version of "Deposition"

Dep.

400

What is the error in this case name?

United States v. Boots, 816 F.3d 971, 975 (8th Cir. 2016)

8th 

400

What is wrong with this case name:

Sessions v. Dimaya, 138 U.S. 1204, 1244 (2018) (Justice Thomas, dissenting).

Should be: (Thomas J., dissenting).

400

If you have multiple cases cited in a "string cite," this is the proper punctuation to put in between them.

;

400

This is how many Justices sit on the Iowa Supreme Court

7

400

It's the abbreviated version of "Hearing Transcript" according to the Bluebook

Hr’g Tr.

500

What is the error in this case name?

United States v. Boots, 816 F.3d 971, 975 (8th Cir. 2016) (Meloy, J., concurring)

"Melloy"

500

What is wrong with this case name:

Johnson v. U.S., 135 U.S. 2551, 2556–57 (2015).

United States should be spelled out
500

This is the difference between supra and infra.

Supra = prior internal reference; infra = upcoming internal reference.

500

This is the amount of judges that sit on a "panel" of the Iowa Court of Appeals to hear each case

What is 3
500

It's the abbreviated version of "Bankruptcy" as in "Bankruptcy Court"

Bankr.

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