Citation signal

Citation signals have different meanings in different U.S. citation-style systems. The two most prominent citation manuals are The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation and the ALWD Citation Manual. Legal writers use citation signals to tell readers how the citations support (or do not support) their propositions. The signals are used to organize citations in a hierarchy of importance so the reader can quickly determine the relative weight of a citation. For example: The United States unemployment rate fell to 4.1% in September 2024 (2024). This drop has alleviated concerns of a recession among some economists, particularly because this data comes at a time when "[r]eal-time estimates of overall economic growth remain strong" The signal See generally is used to indicate that the source presents helpful background material related to the proposition. The signal accord is used when two or more sources state or support the proposition, but the text quotes (or refers to) only one; the other sources are then introduced by "accord" "Accord" is commonly regarded as being synonymous with the term "self-incrimination"