Many journals have supplement book series associated with them. The abbreviations for these series generally include the journal abbreviation + “Sup” (in roman type). For example, the SBLHS 2 §§8.4.1–2 list the following examples: AbrN Abr-Nahrain AbrNSup Abr-Nahrain Supplements BASOR Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research BASORSup Bulletin of the American Schools of … Continue reading Supplement Series
OTS versus OtSt
Frequent users of SBLHS 2 probably have noticed the following two abbreviations in §§8.4.1–2: OTS Old Testament Studies OtSt Oudtestamentische Studiën Many probably also wondered why a single book series is given two abbreviations that appear to contradict each other: the first abbreviation and title is set roman, which is the proper style for a … Continue reading OTS versus OtSt
Citing Parallel Texts
In addition to clarifying, supplementing, and occasionally correcting the information in SBLHS 2, this blog will sometimes highlight a particular SBLHS 2 guideline, so that those who follow SBL Press style are well-acquainted with its standards and recommendations. One helpful guideline relates to the use of “par.” and “//” in the citation of parallel texts. … Continue reading Citing Parallel Texts
Bibliothèque copte de Nag Hammadi
SBL Press proposes to add several abbreviations to the next edition of SBLHS. Neither the series Bibliothèque copte de Nag Hammadi nor its three divisions are listed in SBLHS 2, but all are listed in Schwertner 2014. We thus propose to adapt the Schwertner abbreviations to SBLHS style as follows: BCNH Bibliothèque copte de Nag … Continue reading Bibliothèque copte de Nag Hammadi
Bleg: Reference Management Software
A number of our readers use reference management software to collect, manage, and format bibliographic material. Popular examples include Endnote, Zotero, and Bookends. Such programs allow users to format references according to the Modern Language Association’s style (MLA), the American Psychological Association’s style (APA), and the Chicago Manual of Style (CMS). They also allow users … Continue reading Bleg: Reference Management Software
State Archives of Assyria
When an author uses the traditional documentation style with notes and bibliography, SBL Press prefers a full citation (author, title, and publication information) the first time each work is referenced. However, in some cases it makes better sense to adopt an abbreviated citation style to avoid cluttering the notes with information that can be conveyed … Continue reading State Archives of Assyria
Indenting Footnotes
Does the SBLHS 2 require the indentation of footnotes? The answer is no. It is common practice to indent the first line of footnotes. However, the decision about indentation lies with the publisher. Works by SBL Press typically indent the first line of a footnote, as we feel that it improves the readibility of the … Continue reading Indenting Footnotes
Chicago Assyrian Dictionary
Individual volumes in The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago (Gelb et al. 1956–2010; = CAD) are sometimes cited by letter (e.g., Š), sometimes by volume number (e.g., 17). Both formats are correct, in that they point readers to the volume in view, but SBL Press prefers the latter for … Continue reading Chicago Assyrian Dictionary
Semeia and Semeia Studies
In 1974, the Society of Biblical Literature launched Semeia, an experimental journal devoted to the exploration of new and emergent areas and methods of biblical studies. A year later, an associated book series debuted with the publication of Robert C. Tannehill’s The Sword of His Mouth: Forceful and Imaginative Language in Synoptic Sayings. The first … Continue reading Semeia and Semeia Studies
Citing Series and Journals
SBL style uses roman type, not italics, for series titles (see §6.2.24). Please be aware that the following series are incorrectly italicized in the SBLHS 2 §8.4.1 and/or §8.4.2: AnOr Analecta Orientalia BaF Baghdader Forschungen BBRSup Bulletin for Biblical Research Supplements BPOA Biblioteca del Proximo Oriente Antiguo Ebib Études bibliques GNS Good News Studies IOS … Continue reading Citing Series and Journals
SBL Handbook of Style 