Free OSCOLA Citation Generator
Generate free OSCOLA citations instantly — paste a DOI, URL, or search by topic. CiteMe searches 250M+ scholarly sources and formats footnotes and bibliography entries following the Oxford Standard for UK legal writing. No signup required.
Used in UK law, jurisprudence, legal studies, and international law
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Why Use Our OSCOLA Citation Generator?
OSCOLA 4th Edition Compliant
Formatted according to the latest OSCOLA 4th edition rules. Proper footnote formatting for cases, statutes, and secondary sources.
Real Academic Databases
Search 250M+ works from OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, and CrossRef. Every citation is real and verifiable with DOI links.
Footnote Citations
Get properly formatted footnote citations ready to paste. Includes both full and short citation forms for subsequent references.
Bibliography Included
Automatically generates OSCOLA-compliant bibliography entries. Separate formatting for primary and secondary sources.
How to Cite in OSCOLA Format
OSCOLA uses footnotes for in-text citations and a bibliography at the end. Here are the most common templates:
Case (Neutral Citation)
Statute
Book
Journal Article
Website
Key OSCOLA Rules
- Use footnotes, not parenthetical citations
- No full stops after abbreviations (eg, edn, ibid)
- Case names in italics, statute titles in roman
- Use ibid for consecutive same-source footnotes
- Cross-reference earlier footnotes with (n 1) notation
OSCOLA Citation Examples
Case Citation
Footnote: R v Smith [2024] EWCA Crim 123 [15].
Statute Citation
First footnote: Human Rights Act 1998, s 3(1). Subsequent: HRA 1998, s 3(1).
Book Citation
Footnote with pinpoint: Craig and de Búrca (n 1) 245.
Journal Article
Website
EU Legislation
Edited Book Chapter
Examples formatted in OSCOLA 4th edition style
OSCOLA Footnote Formatting
First Citation
Full citation with all details:
Subsequent Citations
Use cross-reference with pinpoint:
OSCOLA vs Harvard: Quick Reference
| Feature | OSCOLA (4th Edition) | Harvard |
|---|---|---|
| In-text format | Footnotes (superscript numbers) | (Author, Year) |
| Bibliography name | Bibliography (grouped by type) | Reference List |
| Used in | UK law, jurisprudence | Social sciences, business, nursing |
| Legal sources | Full support (cases, statutes, treaties) | Limited legal source support |
| Punctuation | No full stops after abbreviations | Standard punctuation rules |
Check your assignment guidelines to confirm which style is required. Try our Harvard generator
Cite by Source Type in OSCOLA
Need help citing a specific legal source? Choose from our specialized OSCOLA citation guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is OSCOLA referencing?
OSCOLA (Oxford Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities) is the citation style used by UK law schools and legal publications. It uses footnotes for citations and a bibliography at the end. The current edition is the 4th edition, published by the University of Oxford.
Which UK universities use OSCOLA?
OSCOLA is the standard citation style for law at Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, UCL, King's College London, Durham, Edinburgh, Bristol, and most UK law schools. It's also used by many UK legal journals, publishers, and courts.
How do I cite a case in OSCOLA?
Case citations include: Case name in italics, [year] or (year), volume number, law report abbreviation, first page. Example: R v Smith [2024] EWCA Crim 123. Our generator handles this formatting automatically.
How do I cite statutes in OSCOLA?
Statutes follow the format: Short title year, jurisdiction (if not UK), chapter number. Example: Human Rights Act 1998, s 3(1). For first citation, use full title, then abbreviate in subsequent footnotes.
Is this OSCOLA citation generator free?
Yes! CiteMe offers free OSCOLA citations on the free tier. For unlimited citations, you can upgrade to our Pro plan. Perfect for essays, dissertations, and legal research papers.
How accurate is this OSCOLA generator?
Very accurate. We search real academic databases (OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, CrossRef) and format citations according to official OSCOLA 4th edition guidelines. Unlike AI chatbots, we never generate fake citations.
How do I cite a website in OSCOLA?
For websites, use the format: Author, 'Title' (Website Name, Date) <URL> accessed Date. Example: Jane Smith, 'Legal Aid Reform' (Law Gazette, 15 March 2024) <www.lawgazette.co.uk/article> accessed 20 March 2024.
What is the difference between footnotes and bibliography in OSCOLA?
Footnotes appear at the bottom of the page and contain full citation details on first use, then shortened cross-references (n 1) for subsequent mentions. The bibliography at the end lists all sources in alphabetical order, grouped by type (primary sources, secondary sources).
How do I use ibid and n references in OSCOLA?
Use ibid when citing the same source as the immediately preceding footnote. Use cross-references (n 1) to refer back to earlier footnotes. Example: ibid 45 (same source, page 45) or Craig (n 1) 145 (back-reference to footnote 1).
What is the difference between OSCOLA and Harvard referencing?
OSCOLA uses footnotes for in-text citations and is designed specifically for legal sources (cases, statutes, treaties). Harvard uses author-date parenthetical citations and is used across many disciplines. UK law courses almost always require OSCOLA, not Harvard.
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