citation signal

A Legal citation signal or introductory signal is a set of brief abbreviated phrases or words used to clarify the authority or significance of a legal citation as it relates to a proposition. They are used in legal citations to present authorities and show how the authorities relate to propositions in textual statements. Legal writers use introductory signals to tell readers how the legal authority citations support, or do not support their written propositions. Introductory signals organize the writer's citations into a hierarchy of strength and importance so that the reader can quickly determine the relative weight of the citation. Signals help a reader quickly discern meaning or usefulness of a particular reference when the reference itself does not provide adequate information.