MHRA referencing is the standard in many UK humanities subjects, especially English, modern languages, history and cultural studies. It uses footnotes and a bibliography rather than in-text citations. This guide explains how MHRA works, how to format footnotes and the bibliography, and the errors that most often cost marks.
What Is MHRA Referencing?
MHRA, set out by the Modern Humanities Research Association, is a footnote-based style. Instead of author–date brackets in your text, you place a superscript number that links to a footnote at the bottom of the page giving full source details. All sources are then listed again in a bibliography at the end. It is favoured in the humanities because footnotes let you add commentary without interrupting your argument.
How MHRA Footnotes Work
The first footnote for a source gives full details: Author, Title (Place of publication: Publisher, Year), p. number. For a later reference to the same source, use a shortened form — usually the author’s surname and a page number. Unlike some styles, MHRA footnotes place the publication details in brackets and end with a full stop. Each footnote is numbered sequentially through your work.
The MHRA Bibliography
Your bibliography lists every source alphabetically by author surname, with the surname placed first: Last, First, Title (Place: Publisher, Year). The key difference from a footnote is that the author’s name is inverted and there is no page number for a whole book. Bibliography entries do not carry the footnote number. Keeping footnote and bibliography formats distinct is one of the details markers look for.
MHRA Reference Examples
Here are footnote templates for common sources. Book: Author, Title (Place: Publisher, Year), p. x. Chapter in an edited book: Author, ‘Chapter Title’, in Book Title, ed. by Editor (Place: Publisher, Year), pp. x–y. Journal article: Author, ‘Article Title’, Journal, Volume (Year), pp. x–y. Website: Author, ‘Page Title’, Site Name (Year) <URL> [accessed day month year].
Common MHRA Mistakes to Avoid
Frequent slips include inverting the author’s name in footnotes (it should only be inverted in the bibliography), forgetting the access date for online sources, using ‘p.’ when ‘pp.’ is needed for a page range, and inconsistent use of single quotation marks for article and chapter titles. MHRA is precise about punctuation, so following an example closely and staying consistent is essential.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does MHRA use in-text citations?
No. MHRA uses numbered footnotes (or endnotes) for citations, together with a bibliography at the end. There are no author–date brackets in the body of your text.
What is the difference between a footnote and the bibliography in MHRA?
The footnote gives full details the first time you cite a source, with the author’s name in normal order. The bibliography lists all sources alphabetically with the surname first and no page numbers for whole works.
Which subjects use MHRA referencing?
MHRA is common in English literature, modern languages, history, philosophy and other humanities subjects. Always confirm your department’s required style before you begin.
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