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OSCOLA Citation Generator
Paste a DOI or link and get a correct OSCOLA reference plus the in-text citation in seconds. Free for students — no sign-up needed to try it.
What a OSCOLA reference looks like
OSCOLA — the Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities — governs legal writing in the UK. It cites in footnotes with minimal punctuation and has precise forms for cases, statutes and journal articles.
Reference list entry
Lena Berg, 'Climate Adaptation in Coastal Cities' (2023) 18(2) Journal of Urban Studies 101.
In-text citation
superscript ¹ → footnote with the full reference
Key OSCOLA rules
- Cite in footnotes marked by superscript numbers; OSCOLA uses almost no periods.
- Article titles take single quotation marks; the year in (brackets) precedes volume and journal.
- Only the first page of an article is given: …Journal of Urban Studies 101.
- Case names are italicized; statutes are cited by short title and year.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write an in-text citation in OSCOLA?
OSCOLA is a footnote style: instead of a parenthetical reference in the sentence, you place a superscript number pointing to a note. The note looks like this: superscript ¹ → footnote with the full reference
What does a OSCOLA reference look like?
A journal article in OSCOLA style is formatted like this: Lena Berg, 'Climate Adaptation in Coastal Cities' (2023) 18(2) Journal of Urban Studies 101.
What are the main formatting rules in OSCOLA?
Cite in footnotes marked by superscript numbers; OSCOLA uses almost no periods. Article titles take single quotation marks; the year in (brackets) precedes volume and journal. Only the first page of an article is given: …Journal of Urban Studies 101. Case names are italicized; statutes are cited by short title and year.
Which subjects use OSCOLA style?
OSCOLA is most common in law (UK and Commonwealth jurisdictions). Always check your course guide, since departments sometimes use their own variant.
Which OSCOLA edition does CitApp follow?
CitApp follows the 4th edition (2012).
Is the OSCOLA citation generator free?
Yes. You can generate OSCOLA citations free of charge — paste a DOI or URL above and copy the result. A free account saves unlimited sources to projects, and the full reference list is free for everyone.
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