In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(9)H(9)NO(3), there are strong intramolecular O-H...N and intermolecular O-H...O hydrogen bonds which, together with weak intermolecular C-H...O hydrogen bonds, lead to the formation of infinite chains of molecules. The calculated intermolecular hydrogen-bond energies are -11.3 and -2.7 kJ mol(-1), respectively, showing the dominant role of the O-H...O hydrogen bonding. A natural bond orbital analysis revealed the electron contribution of the lone pairs of the oxazoline N and O atoms, and of the two hydroxy O atoms, to the order of the relevant bonds.