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How do you punctuate ibid?

Published in Citation Style 2 mins read

Ibid is primarily punctuated with a period, and when followed by a specific page number, it includes a comma before the number.

Ibid is a Latin abbreviation for ibidem, meaning "in the same place." It serves as a convenient shorthand in academic writing to refer to the source cited immediately prior to it, thereby avoiding repetitive full citation entries in footnotes or endnotes.

Punctuation Scenarios

The punctuation of ibid depends on whether you are referring to the exact same page or a different page within the same source.

  • Same Source and Page:
    When ibid refers to the exact same source and page number(s) as the citation directly preceding it, it is simply followed by a period.

    • Example: Ibid.
  • Same Source, Different Page:
    When ibid refers to the same source as the immediately preceding citation but directs the reader to a different page or range of pages, it is followed by a comma, then the new page number(s), and finally a period.

    • Example: Ibid, 28-30.

Practical Citation Examples

Here's how ibid functions in a sequence of citations:

Citation Context Example Explanation
First Mention of a Source Minow and LaMay, Presidential Debates, 24-25. The complete citation when a source is first referenced.
Subsequent Citation (Same Page) Ibid. Used when the very next citation refers to the identical source and page(s).
Subsequent Citation (New Page) Ibid, 28-30. Used when the next citation refers to the same source but a different page or page range.

It's crucial to use ibid only when the immediately preceding citation refers to the exact same work. If another source intervenes between citations of the same work, a shortened form of the original citation should be used instead of ibid.