How do I cite a poem in OSCOLA?

To cite a poem in OSCOLA (4th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for a poem in OSCOLA?

In OSCOLA, the in-text citation for the example above is Iris Whitcombe, “Reading Room at Dusk” in Owen Pratt (ed), Collected Poems, 1990-2010 (Lakeshore Press 2012).

How to Cite a Poem in OSCOLA (4th edition)

Learn how to cite poems, verse, and poetry from anthologies or collections in OSCOLA format (4th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

OSCOLA Bibliography Format

Here is the standard OSCOLA format for citing a poem in your bibliography:

OSCOLA Example for a Poem

A complete OSCOLA reference for a poem, formatted by the official OSCOLA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

Whitcombe I, “Reading Room at Dusk” in Owen Pratt (ed), Collected Poems, 1990-2010 (Lakeshore Press 2012)

Matching in-text citation: Iris Whitcombe, “Reading Room at Dusk” in Owen Pratt (ed), Collected Poems, 1990-2010 (Lakeshore Press 2012).

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your poem.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the OSCOLA (4th edition) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match OSCOLA requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model.

CSL style record: oscola.csl

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a poem in OSCOLA?: To cite a poem in OSCOLA (4th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the OSCOLA format for a poem citation?: The OSCOLA format for a poem is: Whitcombe I, “Reading Room at Dusk” in Owen Pratt (ed), Collected Poems, 1990-2010 (Lakeshore Press 2012)
What does the in-text citation look like for a poem in OSCOLA?: In OSCOLA, the in-text citation for the example above is Iris Whitcombe, “Reading Room at Dusk” in Owen Pratt (ed), Collected Poems, 1990-2010 (Lakeshore Press 2012).