When a book is referred to, the author/s’ name/s must be given as follows in both the footnotes and the bibliography: Smith JD, not John D Smith or Smith John D.
In a reference the co-authors of any work (book, article, chapter, whatever) take an ampersand: Smith & Dlamini. Cite up to three authors: Smith, Dlamini & Pillay. Thereafter use ‘et al’. When referring to authors in an ordinary sentence the ampersand is not used: ‘Smith and Dlamini believe that . . .’.
If the named person is the editor, then the abbreviation (ed) or (eds) must appear after the name.
Book titles take the title case and appear in italics.
If the book is in an edition after the first, the number of the edition must appear after the title: 2 ed, 3 ed, 4 ed – but not 2nd or 3rd ed. If it is the first edition of the book, then no edition need be referred to; it will be assumed that it is the first edition.
The year of publication must appear in brackets after the title (first editions) or edition.
The precise page number where the authority was found comes next, if necessary. If the book operates by paragraphs or sections (to be connoted by ‘para’), then this will be a sufficient reference. If it is necessary to refer to both paragraph/section and page, then do so as follows: para 27 160. This latter method should be used only where absolutely necessary. Where the reference is generally to a chapter in the book, this should be indicated by the abbreviation ‘ch’ (unless the word chapter starts the sentence, in which case it must be in full).
Examples:
In footnotes
Smith JD & Dlamini S Hand’s Law of Arbitration 5 ed (2006) 115.
Boberg PQR The Law of Delict: Aquilian Liability (1984) ch 3.
In bibliography: similar, but omit page number and add publisher and place, for example:
Boberg PQR The Law of Delict: Aquilian Liability (1984) Cape Town: Juta
