Books are common sources in legal essays, dissertations, research papers, and other academic writing. OSCOLA (Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities) provides a specific format for citing authored books, edited books, translated works, and books with pinpoint references.
Unlike Harvard or APA referencing, OSCOLA is primarily a footnote-based citation system. This means that when you refer to a book in your writing, the citation normally appears in a footnote rather than as an author-date citation in parentheses.
This guide explains how to cite books in OSCOLA, with examples for common situations.
Need an OSCOLA citation? Use the CiteHelp OSCOLA Citation Generator to generate your reference from your book details, then review the result against your university's requirements.
How to Cite an Authored Book in OSCOLA
The basic OSCOLA format for an authored book is:
Author, Book Title (edition, Publisher Year)
For example:
Adrian Briggs, Agreements on Jurisdiction and Choice of Law (OUP 2008).
The OSCOLA Quick Reference Guide provides this example for an authored book.
The main elements are:
- Author's name
- Book title in italics
- Edition, if it is not the first edition
- Publisher
- Year of publication
How to Cite a Book With a Specific Page
If you are referring to a particular page, add the page number at the end of the citation.
For example:
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan (first published 1651, Penguin 1985) 268.
The pinpoint page comes after the publication information.
This allows the reader to locate the specific passage or information you are citing.
How to Cite a Specific Chapter or Paragraph
If the source provides numbered chapters, sections, or paragraphs instead of conventional page numbers, the relevant pinpoint information may be used where appropriate.
The correct pinpoint will depend on the type and edition of the source.
For example, the OSCOLA FAQs explain that ebooks without page numbers may use chapter or section information, and, where available, subsection or paragraph numbers.
How to Cite a Book With a Second or Later Edition
When citing a book that is not the first edition, include the edition information before the publisher and year.
For example:
Adrian Briggs, Agreements on Jurisdiction and Choice of Law (2nd edn, OUP 2015).
The edition is included because it helps identify the exact version of the work being cited.
How to Cite a Translated Book in OSCOLA
When a book has been translated, include the translator's name and the relevant edition information.
For example, the OSCOLA Quick Reference Guide gives:
K Zweigert and H Kötz, An Introduction to Comparative Law (Tony Weir tr, 3rd edn, OUP 1998).
The translator information appears before the edition and publication details.
How to Cite an Edited Book in OSCOLA
An edited book is cited differently from a book written by a single author.
For an individual contribution to an edited collection, the general structure is:
Author, 'Chapter or Contribution Title' in Editor (ed), Book Title (Publisher Year)
For example:
Donal Nolan and John Davies, ‘Torts and Equitable Wrongs’ in Andrew Burrows (ed), Principles of the Law of Obligations (OUP 2015) para 2.87.
This example from the OSCOLA Quick Reference Guide also demonstrates how a pinpoint paragraph can be added when referring to a specific passage.
How to Cite a Book in an OSCOLA Footnote
Suppose you write:
Legal scholarship has examined the relationship between different approaches to comparative law.^1
The footnote could be:
1 K Zweigert and H Kötz, An Introduction to Comparative Law (Tony Weir tr, 3rd edn, OUP 1998).
The footnote contains the full citation information needed to identify the book.
How to Cite a Book in an OSCOLA Bibliography
Longer academic works may also require a bibliography.
Bibliography entries are formatted differently from footnotes. In particular, author names are generally presented with the surname first, followed by initials.
The bibliography should be organized consistently according to OSCOLA requirements.
Always check the current OSCOLA guidance and your university's instructions, especially if you are preparing a dissertation, thesis, or other long-form legal work.
How to Cite an Ebook in OSCOLA
The correct approach depends on the ebook and the information available.
If an ebook provides the same page numbers as the printed edition, it can generally be cited in the same way as the printed book.
If an ebook does not have page numbers, the OSCOLA FAQs indicate that the normal book citation format can be used, with the ebook type or edition included where relevant. For pinpoint references, chapter or section numbers may be used when page numbers are unavailable.
Common Mistakes When Citing Books in OSCOLA
1. Using an author-date citation
Do not automatically use:
(Briggs, 2008)
OSCOLA normally places the citation in a footnote.
2. Putting the book title in quotation marks
Book titles should generally appear in italics.
3. Forgetting the edition
If you are using a second or later edition, include the edition information.
4. Leaving out the publisher and year
The publication details help identify the exact work being cited.
5. Forgetting the pinpoint
If you are relying on a particular page, chapter, or paragraph, include the appropriate pinpoint reference.
6. Treating an edited collection like a single-authored book
If you are citing a specific chapter or contribution, identify the chapter author and the editor appropriately.
Create an OSCOLA Book Citation
If you have several books to cite, formatting each reference manually can take time.
The CiteHelp OSCOLA Citation Generator can help you create an OSCOLA book citation from the bibliographic information you provide.
After generating your citation, review the result and make sure it matches the requirements of your institution or lecturer.
Create an OSCOLA Book Citation with CiteHelp →
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cite a book in OSCOLA?
For an authored book, provide the author's name, book title in italics, edition information where relevant, publisher, and year. Add a pinpoint page or other appropriate locator when needed.
Does OSCOLA use in-text citations for books?
OSCOLA is primarily a footnote-based system. Book citations normally appear in footnotes rather than in author-date parentheses.
How do I cite a book with two authors?
List both authors in the citation, following the OSCOLA format for authored books.
How do I cite an edited book?
If you are citing a specific contribution, give the contribution author, title, the editor, the book title, and publication details.
How do I cite an ebook?
If the ebook has the same page numbers as the print edition, it can generally be cited like the printed book. If it has no page numbers, use an appropriate chapter, section, or other pinpoint where available.
Related OSCOLA Resources
• OSCOLA Citation Generator
• How to Cite a Journal Article in OSCOLA