How to mhra reference a book chapter

Overview

Referencing a book chapter correctly is crucial for academic integrity and allows your readers to locate the exact source of information you've used. The Modern Humanities Research Association (MHRA) style is widely used in arts and humanities subjects, particularly in the UK. This guide will walk you through the process of citing a book chapter according to MHRA guidelines, covering both footnotes/endnotes and the bibliography.

MHRA Referencing for Book Chapters: A Detailed Guide

MHRA referencing has two main components: footnotes or endnotes for in-text citations and a bibliography at the end of your work. The specific format for a book chapter citation differs slightly between these two, but the core information remains the same.

In-Text Citations (Footnotes/Endnotes)

When you refer to a specific part of a book chapter, you will typically use a footnote or an endnote. The first time you cite a particular chapter, the footnote/endnote should contain full details. Subsequent citations of the same chapter can be shortened.

First Reference

The general format for the first footnote/endnote citation of a book chapter is:

First Name Last Name, ‘Chapter Title’, in Book Title, ed. by First Name Last Name (Place of Publication: Publisher, Year), pp. Page Numbers.

Example:

1. Jane Smith, ‘The Evolution of Renaissance Art’, in A History of European Painting, ed. by John Doe (London: Art History Press, 2018), pp. 45-62.

Key elements to note:

• The chapter author’s full name (first name then last name).
• The chapter title enclosed in single quotation marks (‘ ’).
• The word ‘in’ follows the chapter title.
• The book title is in italics ().
• If the book has an editor, their name follows ‘ed. by’. The editor’s name is also in First Name Last Name format.
• The place of publication (city).
• The publisher’s name.
• The year of publication.
• The specific page numbers of the chapter (pp. for multiple pages, p. for a single page).

Subsequent References

For subsequent citations of the same chapter, you can use a shortened form:

Last Name, ‘Chapter Title’, p. Page Number.

Example:

2. Smith, ‘The Evolution of Renaissance Art’, p. 50.

If you are referring to the immediately preceding footnote/endnote, you can use ‘Ibid.’ (Latin for ‘in the same place’), followed by the new page number if necessary.

Example:

3. Ibid., p. 55.

Bibliography

The bibliography at the end of your work lists all sources cited. The format for a book chapter in the bibliography is similar to the first footnote/endnote but with some key differences:

• The chapter author’s surname comes first, followed by their first name.
• The chapter title is in single quotation marks.
• The book title is in italics.
• The editor(s) information follows the book title.
• The publication details (place, publisher, year) are presented, often preceded by ‘Published by’ or similar phrasing depending on the specific MHRA guide variation.
• The page range of the chapter is included, usually preceded by ‘pp.’.

Bibliography Format

Last Name, First Name. ‘Chapter Title’. In Book Title. Edited by First Name Last Name. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year. pp. Page Numbers.

Example:

Smith, Jane. ‘The Evolution of Renaissance Art’. In A History of European Painting. Edited by John Doe. London: Art History Press, 2018. pp. 45-62.

Variations and Special Cases

• No Editor: If the book has no editor and is a collection of essays by different authors, you would cite it as a standalone book by the chapter author. However, if it's a collection edited by someone, the editor is crucial.
• No Place of Publication: If no place of publication is listed, you can use ‘n.p.’ (no place).
• No Publisher: If no publisher is listed, you can use ‘n.p.’ (no publisher).
• No Date: If no date is listed, use ‘n.d.’ (no date).
• Multiple Editions: If it's not the first edition, include the edition number (e.g., 2nd edn.).
• Online Chapters: If citing a chapter accessed online, include the URL and the date you accessed it. The format might look like: Last Name, First Name. ‘Chapter Title’. In Book Title. Edited by First Name Last Name. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year. pp. Page Numbers. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

It is always best to consult the official MHRA style guide or your institution's specific guidelines, as minor variations can exist. However, the core principles of providing clear and complete information for the chapter author, chapter title, book title, editor, publication details, and page numbers remain consistent.