Ibid. is an abbreviation derived from the Latin word "ibidem," which translates to "in the same place." It is commonly used in legal writing to refer to a source that has been cited immediately before. When you see "Ibid." in a citation, it indicates that the information comes from the same source as the previous citation, making it easier for readers to track references without repeating full citations.
Ibid. is primarily used in legal documents, including briefs, memoranda, and scholarly articles. It helps streamline citations, allowing legal professionals to reference cases, statutes, or other legal texts efficiently. This abbreviation is particularly useful in areas such as:
Users can manage their citations effectively with the help of legal templates from US Legal Forms, which provide structured formats for legal documents.
Here are a couple of examples of abatement:
Example 1: In a legal brief, if a lawyer cites a case in footnote one and then cites it again in footnote two, they might write "Ibid." in footnote two to indicate that it refers to the same case as footnote one.
Example 2: A law review article may cite a statute in one footnote and then use "Ibid." in the next footnote to refer back to that statute without restating the full citation.
| Term | Definition | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Ibid. | Refers to the immediately preceding citation. | Used specifically for the same source as the last citation. |
| Id. | Abbreviation for "idem," meaning "the same." | Can refer to the same source as well, but is less common than Ibid. |
| Op. cit. | Short for "opus citatum," meaning "the work cited." | Refers to a source previously cited but not immediately before. |
If you encounter Ibid. in legal writing, ensure you understand the source it refers to by reviewing the preceding citation. If you are drafting legal documents, consider using US Legal Forms for templates that help you structure your citations correctly. If your case is complex, consulting a legal professional may be beneficial.
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Ibid. is used to refer to the last cited source in a legal document.