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MHRA Referencing Guide: Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

The MHRA style guide offers detailed examples and formatting guidance for citing sources in humanities research. It covers books, articles, websites, and more using footnotes and bibliographies.

Dictionary or encyclopedia entry (with author)

Format

Author's first name and last name, Title of Book: Subtitle, edition (Publisher, Year Published) in name of database <URL>, [accessed date].

First Footnote

Chris Baldick, The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms, 4th edn (Oxford University Press, 2015), in Oxford Reference <http://www.oxfordreference.com.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/> [accessed 10 December 2016] s.v. abjection.

Second and Subsequent Footnote

Baldick, s.v. metaphor

Bibliography

Baldick, Chris, The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms, 4th edn (Oxford University Press, 2015), in Oxford Reference <http://www.oxfordreference.com.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/> [accessed 10 December 2016]

Notes

  • For a print dictionary omit name of database <URL> and [accessed date].
  • Publisher location no longer required. 
  • s.v. = sub verbo (under the word).

Dictionary or encyclopedia entry (no author)

Format

Title of Book: Subtitle, edition (Publisher, Year Published) in name of database <URL>, [accessed date].

First Footnote

Oxford English Dictionary Online, (Oxford University Press, 2017), <http://www.oed.com.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/view/> [accessed 14 August 2017] s.v. sanction, n.

Second and Subsequent Footnote

OED, s.v. metal, n.

Bibliography

Oxford English Dictionary Online, (Oxford University Press, 2017), <http://www.oed.com.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/view/> [accessed 14 August 2017]

Notes

  • For a print dictionary omit name of database <URL> and [accessed date].
  • Publisher location no longer required. 
  • s.v. = sub verbo (under the word).
  • Even though some OED online entries will not have been updated since an earlier edition, it is acceptable to use the copyright date stated at the bottom of the page.

Online Encyclopedia

Format

Author first and last name (if given), 'Title of entry', in Title: Subtitle, ed. by Editor's first name and last name (if given) (Publisher, Year Published) (if given), <URL> [accessed date].

First Footnote

Robert Consedine, 'Anti-racism and Treaty of Waitangi Activism - Organising Against Racism, 1970s to early 2000s', in Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, <http://www.TeAragovt.nz/en/speed/26677/anti-tour-march-1981> [accessed 10 August 2020].

Second and Subsequent Footnote

Consedine

Bibliography

Consedine, Robert, 'Anti-racism and Treaty of Waitangi Activism - Organising Against Racism, 1970s to early 2000s', in Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, <http://www.TeAragovt.nz/en/speed/26677/anti-tour-march-1981> [accessed 10 August 2020]

Notes

  • Publisher location no longer required.