Oxford style referencing mainly involves using a list of references called a bibliography and footnotes. This referencing style was developed by the University of Oxford. Many students find it confusing and often seek online assignment help from expert writers.
According to our experts, once you become familiar with this style, it becomes easier to use in your writing. To help make it easier for you, here is a simple guide to referencing your work in Oxford style.
Let’s begin with the basics:
The main features of Oxford referencing style are:
a- In-text Citations
b- Footnotes
c- Endnotes
d- Annotated Bibliography
Because of these features, this style is known as a documentary-note referencing style. Now, let’s explore them one by one…
How to Write Footnotes in Oxford Style?
Footnotes are simply references to specific sources of information. They are placed at the bottom of the page. When referencing a footnote, follow these steps:
- Put a subscript number (note identifier) on the page right after the source material.
- The subscript number goes above the line of your text.
- Then, cite the source of the information at the bottom of the page. Remember, the note identifier number and the footnote number will be the same.
- Both are then arranged in numerical and chronological order.
- Inserting a Second Footnote in Oxford Style:
In the second footnote, only include enough information to clearly identify the referenced text. For example, if referring to a single author, include essential details in the first footnote. If using the same source again, only include:
- Name of the author
- Title
- Publisher
- Year of publication
- Page number
For Example: 1J.Williams, TITLE, Oxford University, 2005, p.10.
When there are more than two footnotes, according to the Oxford referencing guide, you can abbreviate the references, but you must define them earlier. For instance:
Tips for Using Abbreviations for Footnotes:
- When referencing two consecutive sources, you can use “Ibid” to indicate that the reference is the same as the last one.
- If you have cited a source previously and want to use it again, you can use “op. cit.” Along with this abbreviation, write the name to make the source clearer to the reader.
Alright! This covers how to reference work in your assignment. Sometimes, we also include quotes from others in our writing. To reference quotes in your writing, follow these steps:
How to Present the Quote in Oxford Style?
To present a quote in Oxford style, keep it short, under 30 words. If it’s longer, start a new paragraph. Indent the quote by half an inch from the left side. Summarize it in your own words in a few sentences, following the Oxford style guide. Finally, summarize the entire document, highlighting key points.
Now, let’s move on to the next step: referencing the bibliography in Oxford style.
Oxford Referencing for Bibliography:
The bibliography is a list of the books referred to in a scholarly work and is usually added as an appendix. When making a bibliography, include these details:
- Author Names
- Title
- Publication Date
- Publisher’s Name
- Place of Publication
After listing these details, mention all sources referenced in footnotes. You can also list other sources included in the paper but not directly quoted. According to the Oxford style guide, the bibliography comes after the footnotes but before the appendix.
In the bibliography, describe the used sources in detail. When making a bibliography, keep these in mind:
- Arrange sources alphabetically.
- Number them numerically.
- When citing a book, start with the author’s last name followed by the first initials of the first and middle names.
- After the author’s name, include the book title in italics, edition, publisher name, and publication year.
Wrapping Up
Certainly, learning the Oxford referencing style can be a bit challenging, especially if you’re new to it. However, once you become familiar with the technique, you’ll find it much easier. This guide isn’t just for assignments; you can also apply it to other tasks like essays or reports.
Professors often require essays to be formatted in the Oxford style, particularly those in history, law, and philosophy. So, if you need help with your essays in addition to assignments, feel free to reach out to our experts for essay writing services.