To create a footnote:
1. In the text of your work, insert a superscript number at the end of a sentence (or directly after a word or phrase, if more appropriate). Put the superscript number after any punctuation in the text. If referencing text in brackets, place the superscript number before the closing bracket.
2. In the corresponding footnote at the bottom of the page, give a reference to the source (e.g. a book) used. End the footnote with a full stop. If you have more than one reference in the footnote, separate them with semi-colons.
For an assignment, number footnotes continuously (start with footnote '1' and continue in numerical sequence to the end of the assignment). For a dissertation, organize your footnotes chapter by chapter (start each chapter with footnote '1' and continue in numerical sequence to the end of each chapter).
To structure your footnote, use the following guidelines:
UK Law report
case name | [year] OR (year) | volume | report abbreviation | first page | (court)
Footnote and bibliography:
e.g. Barrett v Enfield LBC [2001] 2 AC 550 (HL)
Refer to our pdf guide or cases section for additional guidelines that cover: neutral citations, cases before 1865, unreported cases, judicial opinions, and cases from Europe.
If the case name is given in the text of your work, give only the case citation in a footnote.
If not, give a full reference (including the case name) in a footnote.
If you are referencing the same case more than once in your work, see 'Repeated references'.
If a full reference to the legislation is given in the text of your work, there is no need to create a footnote for the source.
If not, give a full reference to the legislation in a footnote.
If you are referencing the same legislation more than once in your work, see 'Repeated references'.
Secondary sources include: official materials; books; journals; websites and web documents. Give a full reference to the source in a footnote.
If you are referencing the same secondary source more than once in your work, see 'Repeated references'.
You should cite original sources in your work whenever possible. However, if you aren't able to locate an original source, you can cite 'secondhand'.
In a footnote, reference the original source as cited in the secondary source. Then in brackets put ‘as cited in’ and cite the secondary source using OSCOLA, including the page or paragraph number where the original source is mentioned. In a bibliography, reference only the secondary source.
In the above example, I've read a book by Wiener (secondary source) in which he quotes from a book by Clay (original source). I want to use the Clay quote in an assignment, but I couldn't locate the original book by Clay. I can reference the Clay quote in a footnote by citing secondhand.
Are you experiencing issues with footnotes visibility on Microsoft Word? The problem is with Word Online, the browser version of Word in Office365. It does not affect the Desktop App version. If the desktop app version is available to you, it’s best to use that. However, not all devices will have the desktop version available.
Please view our guidance below for solutions to this issue.