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MHRA Referencing Guide: Classical Works

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.

The Bible

Format

Titles of books from the Bible are not italicised, Book numbers are given in Roman numerals, chapter and verse numbers in Arabic numerals separated by a period.

First Footnote

II Corinthians 5. 13-15.

Second and Subsequent Footnote

Isaiah 22. 17.

Bibliography

The Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version: Containing the Old and New Testaments (Cambridge University Press, 1994).

Notes

  • Publisher location no longer required. 
  • If a specific edition of the Bible is used, include the details in the bibliography as you would for a book with an anonymous author.

A classic work in an edited collection

Format

Author's first name and last name, 'Title of work' in Title of edited collection, ed. by Editor's first name and last name (Publisher, Year Published), page number/s.

First Footnote

Aristotle, extracts from ‘Poetics’, in Tragedy: Developments in Criticism, ed. by R. P. Draper (Macmillan, 1980), p. 41.

Second and Subsequent Footnote

Aristotle, p. 43.

Bibliography

Aristotle, extracts from ‘Poetics’, in Tragedy: Developments in Criticism, ed. by R. P. Draper (Macmillan, 1980), pp. 41-50.

Notes

  • Publisher location no longer required. 
  • Use last name if that is the only name by which author is known.