But See

'But see' is one of the introductory signals used in legal and academic citation to tell the reader that the source about to be cited disagrees with what the writer has just said. It is the counterweight to 'see', which cites supporting authority; 'but see' cites contrary authority. The reader is being warned, honestly, that the case is not settled.

The signal is a small piece of intellectual manners with a large function. By flagging the counter-authority in the writer's own footnote, the writer both preserves credibility (the reader will not be surprised by the source later) and demonstrates familiarity with the field. Judges, in particular, distrust briefs that cite only friendly authority; a well-placed 'but see' can raise a writer's standing with the bench.

Related signals in the Bluebook family include 'but cf.' (contrary authority by analogy rather than direct contradiction), 'contra' (a stronger form, meaning the source flatly holds the opposite), and 'compare … with …' (inviting the reader to weigh two sources). Each has a distinct force, and using them precisely is part of what separates a competent citation apparatus from a decorative one.

Common mistake: burying a fatal counter-authority behind a soft 'but see' when the honest signal would be 'contra'. Citation signals are a code with rules; underplaying the strength of an opposing source is a small deceit that experienced readers detect at once.