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Harvard Style & Format: A 5-Minute Guide + Samples

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The Harvard referencing style is a widely used system for citing and referencing sources in academic writing. It provides a consistent and standardized format for acknowledging the works of others that you have used in your research.

Struggling to remember tricky peculiarities of Harvard style referencing and formatting? Don’t worry, you have come across a helpful material. In this article, you will find the basics of Harvard style formatting which would be useful for your academic progress. This easy but detailed Harvard style guide contains all format requirements for a paper and some structural tips. Besides, it covers general rules on how to cite your sources properly in your text. Feel free to use these guidelines for your academic endeavors. Let us go through details of Harvard style referencing and formatting together!  

Reference Harvard Style: Basics

Harvard style is an author-date system of referencing. It’s similar to an  APA paper format  in terms of general formatting of pages and text. But this style follows its own rules for bibliography and in-text citations formatting. Harvard style is typically used for essays in such academic disciplines:  

• Behavioral Sciences
• Philosophy.

But this doesn’t mean you can’t use this paper format in other areas of study. The general rule is to put references to your sources in round brackets. Specify author’s name and publication year. These references should come after your quotes (direct or indirect) in the end of a respective sentence or paragraph. Full details about all sources you have used should be provided at the end of your work. This section should be named ‘Reference List’. Buy coursework or any other type of research paper that will be referenced for you by our experts. 

Harvard Format: General Requirements

Let us explore some general rules for Harvard formatting:

• Font: Times New Roman or Arial
• Size: 12 pt
• Text: double-spaced and left-aligned
• Indent: first line of a paragraph has indent of 0.5 inch
• Margins: 1 inch from each side

A Harvard style citation  must have a Title page, header (or running head), headings and Reference list. We will take a closer look at formatting each section down below.  

Harvard Style Title Page

What are the requirements for a Harvard style cover page? Title page is otherwise known as front page. This is the first page of your paper to be observed by your reader, i.e. your teacher first of all. Therefore, it is highly important to format it properly. Formatting rules for Harvard Title page:  

• Paper title is fully capitalised and centered. Should be placed at approximately 33% of your page counting from its top.
• Your name as an author, centered and placed at the middle of your page.
• Course name at approximately 66% of the page.
• Instructor’s name on a new line.
• University’s name.
• Submission date.

See the sample of a Harvard title page down below.

Formatting a Header in Harvard

An important detail: you are required to use a header in  Harvard referencing  format. This section is repeatedly shown on all pages of your paper except the title page. You have to configure it once. Then, headers will get automatically added on each new page. Headers in Harvard referencing format contains such information:  

• Page number, right aligned
• Shortened title of your paper, not capitalized, right-aligned, to the left of page number.

It is important to use shortened title because there is not too much space in any header. Also, another requirement is putting exactly 5 spaces between your title and a page number in headers.

Harvard Style Heading

Now let us explore some rules of using subheadings in Harvard style, in detail. Typically there are 2 levels of section headings recommended for use in such papers. They have different formatting. This helps to tell one from another, without using different font sizes for them.

• Level-1 subheadings for a bigger section. They must be centered, capitalized, but at the same time not indented, not bold, not underscored, not italicized.
• Level-2 subheading for any subsection, typically 1-2 paragraphs. They must be capitalized, left-aligned, not indented. Besides, they should be italicized.

The plain text of any paragraph should go on a new line after subheadings in Harvard style, be it Level-1 or Level-2 subheading.

Harvard Reference List

Listing all sources you have used for your research in a proper order is a core element of Harvard style. Reference list should be the last part of your paper but absolutely not the least. Now let us explore some critical rules for a reference list formatting. The Harvard-style reference list section has its own subtitle, namely ‘Reference List’. Similarly to a Level-1 subheading, it should be capitalized and centered. The rest of your content in this section goes from a new line after your title. No extra empty lines are to be added. Your references in this list are numbered and sorted alphabetically. No lines are indented. Each item in this list starts from a new line. Below we will describe a format for referencing in detail.  

Harvard Style Bibliography

Sometimes your professor or instructor might ask you to create a Bibliography section instead of a common Reference list. So what is the Harvard Bibliography format? Harvard style bibliography includes not only those sources you have cited in your text but also. It also includes materials which you have read to get ideas for your research and to better understand the context of a selected problem. So, such section would contain more items than a Reference list. Apart of that, the general Harvard Bibliography format is the same:  

• Heading, ‘Bibliography’ is formatted the same way as a Level-1 subheading
• Sources are put into alphabetical order
• List is double-spaced
• Lines do not have any indent
• Each item of this list starts from a new line.

Harvard Style Citations: General Rules

Another crucial element of Harvard style is referring to your sources inside your essay. That’s why you should know how to cite in Harvard style. Keep in mind that the main purpose of a proper format is to ensure your paper is plagiarizm-free. Sometimes, you should cite ideas from books, magazines or newspapers. But you can only refer to such ideas, otherwise it will be considered a form of plagiarism. Below we will show you how to cite in Harvard style, providing general information about published sources. So let us proceed and learn more about shortened quotes and full references.  

How to Quote in Harvard Style

Here are the rules of Harvard format in-text citation:

• Add them in parentheses, usually at the end of quotes.
• Put an author’s last name and a publication year into round brackets, add page number if needed.

• When quoting a web page, give a paragraph number instead of a page since many websites don’t divide text into pages.
• Direct citation requires quotation marks and a page number is mandatory in parenthesis
• If you have mentioned an author’s name in your quote, do not include it into brackets, just leave a year and a page numbers there.

• Sometimes you might need to quote two different sources at once. In such case include both into the same parenthesis and divide them by a semicolon.

Creating References in Harvard Style

And this is how you should be referencing in Harvard style, providing full descriptions of the sources you have used. Let us start with the general book format:

• Last name of the author followed by comma and initials
• If there are multiple authors, their names are separated with comma, except the last one which must be separated by ‘&’
• Year of publication follows, without a comma
• A full title of the book is given, italicized
• Publisher name
• City and country where this book was published are the last to be provided.

Here are several Harvarvard referencing rules for other source types:

• Refer to an edited book by putting ‘(ed.)’ or ‘(eds)’ after the editor name(s)
• If a book was translated, add ‘trans. I Lastname’
• Refer to an article in any book or journal by adding an article name in quotation marks but not italicized
• Refer to a website by adding ‘viewed’ and the date when you’ve opened it, followed by the URL in angle brackets.

Bottom Line

In this article we have explored the Harvard referencing guide, one of the most popular ones for students in the UK. Feel free to use these tips and proceed to writing a winning essay with flawless formatting! Just keep in mind the following key concepts of the Harvard style:

• Title or cover page
• Headers and their contents
• Subheadings of two levels with different formatting
• Reference list with full-detailed description of sources
• In-text citations with lots of different forms for various quote types.

In conclusion, consider our  custom term paper writing solution if you lack the time or got into writer's block.

If you have questions, please visit our FAQ section or contact our expert writers. They will gladly help you create references in line with all requirements. On top of that, our writers are highly experienced in academic writing and can assist you with any type of formatting.  

FAQ About Harvard Format

1. is harvard reference style used in colleges.

The Harvard style can be used in colleges as well as in other educational institutions and even by professional researchers. While it is relatively popular in many countries for research paper referencing, Harvard style is most widespread in universities of the UK nowadays. Other styles (APA, MLA and Chicago) dominate the US educational institutions.

2. What is the difference between Harvard and Oxford referencing styles?

The Harvard style format is a typical example of an author-date system as it requires using author’s names and publication dates for in-text referencing. You should create a complete reference list as a separate section in the end of your research paper. The Oxford style on the contrary uses numbered footnotes for citing sources used on your page. In-text citations on this page consist just from numbers of respective notes.  

Emma Flores knows all about formatting standards. She shares with StudyCrumb readers tips on creating academic papers that will meet high-quality standards.

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / Harvard Referencing

Harvard Referencing Style Guide

What is referencing.

Whenever you write, the writings of others will influence your work. Although it is difficult to gauge all the influences, many of your ideas can be traced back to the resources and materials that you have consulted. These might be books, images , articles, reports, or, of course, the internet. These sources help enrich your writing by giving you ideas to build on. It is important always to give credit to the original thinkers and authors.

Referencing is the method that gives credit to the sources you have used in your work. You should provide references whenever you use a direct quote, paraphrase someone else’s idea, or borrow conceptual words and phrases.

Referencing not only allows credit to be given where credit is due, but it also helps track the various influences on any original piece of writing. If you do not cite the sources of the ideas that you have used in your work, you run the risk of plagiarism. Plagiarism is not only unethical but is also an actual crime in some of its forms. But how do you reference?

Elements of Harvard referencing style

Harvard referencing is a popular method of adding citations to your work. Its appeal lies in the simplicity of the basic system it uses – the author-date structure. Along with this, in Harvard style, you only need to mention the source in two locations: in the in-text reference(s) and in the reference list. Both elements together incorporate all the necessary details about a source in the most efficient way.

So, while reading something, when you come across a citation that looks something like this:

Furley (1999) or (Furley, 1999)

it is an in-text reference that follows the author-date system.

This is an entry in the reference list for the same in-text reference.

Furley, D. (1999) Routledge history of philosophy volume II: from Aristotle to Augustine . 1st edn. London: Routledge.

These Harvard referencing examples provide details about the citation formats for different types of sources.

In-text reference/citation

As is obvious from the name, Harvard in-text citations are references included within the text, that is, inside the sentences that make up its content. These can either be direct statements or quotes, or a paraphrasing of the original work. This type of reference helps in precisely pointing out which portions of the text are borrowed from or influenced by which particular source.

In his work, Furley (1999) wrote about… OR …from Aristotle’s works (Furley, 1999).

As you can see, in-text references provide the author’s surname and the year of publication. The year is provided because sometimes two or more works by the same author are referenced. In this case, the year helps in distinguishing between these works. Note that if you are citing a direct quotation, the in-text citation should also include the page number of that quote, for example (Furley, 1999, p. 2).

However, in-text citations don’t provide other important details about these resources. Rather, they are short enough that you don’t get interrupted while reading the text. Other details are presented in the reference list that you include at the end of your paper.

Reference list

A reference list presents the details of all the resources cited throughout the text in the form of a list at the end of your paper. It includes detailed entries about each of the referenced sources.

Citation structure:

Surname, Initial. (Publication year) Name of the document . Place of publication: Publisher.

Every in-text citation corresponds to an entry in the reference list. So, the reference list entry for the in-text citations discussed above would be:

Einstein, M. (2004) Media diversity: economics, ownership, and the FCC. New Jersey: Routledge.

This entry can also include other details like page numbers, editor’s name, edition, URL, access date, etc., depending upon the type of resource. A reference list allows you to provide all the necessary information without crowding your paper. With this list, you can keep track of how many materials you have consulted and even see if you need to include any more or any other kind of references in your text.

The difference between a bibliography and the Harvard referencing system

Typically, you’ll refer to multiple sources and materials for writing a text, and just using a bibliography can be confusing. You can use the Harvard referencing system to point out the exact location of all your references.

By marking the in-text reference, you can easily locate which idea or quote corresponds to which author. This makes your work easy to read and understand. This way, you and your reader can easily trace the specific portions of the work back to the original texts.

You can also show how much of your text uses source material (whether directly or indirectly) and how much of it is your own ideas and thoughts.

Format for Harvard Referencing

Typically, a paper that uses Harvard referencing has the following format:

• 2.5 cm OR 1-inch margins on all sides
• Recommended fonts: Arial 12 pt or Times New Roman, with double-spacing
• Title is in the center of the page just above the text
• Left-aligned text, with the first sentence of every paragraph indented by 0.5 inch
• Last name is at the top-right corner of the header, followed by page number
• Title page is centre-aligned
• Subheadings are in sentence case and left-aligned

Key takeaways

• Referencing is a way of crediting the various resources consulted while writing a text. Harvard referencing is a system that allows you to include information about the source materials. It is based on the author-date system.
• It includes references: 1) as in-text citations and 2) in a reference list (which is different from a bibliography).
• In-text citations: (Author Surname, Year Published).
• Reference list entry: Author Surname, Initial. (Year Published) Title . Place of Publication: Name of Publisher.

For more help creating citations in Harvard style, try the EasyBib Harvard referencing generator !

Published October 25, 2020.

Harvard Formatting Guide

Harvard Formatting

• et al Usage
• Direct Quotes
• In-text Citations
• Multiple Authors
• Page Numbers
• Writing an Outline
• View Harvard Guide

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Quick guide to Harvard referencing (Cite Them Right)

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There are different versions of the Harvard referencing style. This guide is a quick introduction to the commonly-used Cite Them Right version. You will find further guidance available through the OU Library on the Cite Them Right Database .

For help and support with referencing and the full Cite Them Right guide, have a look at the Library’s page on referencing and plagiarism . If you need guidance referencing OU module material you can check out which sections of Cite Them Right are recommended when referencing physical and online module material .

This guide does not apply to OU Law undergraduate students . If you are studying a module beginning with W1xx, W2xx or W3xx, you should refer to the Quick guide to Cite Them Right referencing for Law modules .

Table of contents

In-text citations and full references.

• Secondary referencing
• Page numbers
• Citing multiple sources published in the same year by the same author

Full reference examples

Referencing consists of two elements:

• in-text citations, which are inserted in the body of your text and are included in the word count. An in-text citation gives the author(s) and publication date of a source you are referring to. If the publication date is not given, the phrase 'no date' is used instead of a date. If using direct quotations or if you paraphrase a specific section in the source you also need the page number/s if available, or paragraph number for web pages.
• full references, which are given in alphabetical order in a  reference list at the end of your work and are not included in the word count. Full references give full bibliographical information for all the sources you have referred to in the body of your text.

To see a reference list and intext citations check out this example assignment on Cite Them Right .

Difference between reference list and bibliography

a reference list only includes sources you have referred to in the body of your text.

a bibliography includes sources you have referred to in the body of your text AND sources that were part of your background reading that you did not use in your assignment.

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Examples of in-text citations

You need to include an in-text citation wherever you quote from, summarise, or paraphrase from a source. An in-text citation consists of the last name of the author(s), the year of publication, and a page number if relevant. There are a number of ways of incorporating in-text citations into your work - some examples are provided below. You should include page numbers in your citation if you are quoting directly from, paraphrasing , or using ideas from a specific page or set of pages. You do not need to include page numbers if you are summarising (providing a brief overview of the main topics or points) a complete source, e.g. a whole book. You can see further examples of setting out in-text citations in Cite Them Right .

Example with one author:

Almeroth-Williams, T. (2019) City of Beasts: How Animals Shaped Georgian London . Manchester: Manchester University Press.

RSPCA (2024) Caring for cats and kittens . Available at: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats (Accessed: 1 August 2024).

Example with two or three authors:

Grayling, A. and Ball, B. (2024) ' Philosophy is crucial in the age of AI', The Conversation , 1 August. Available at: https://theconversation.com/philosophy-is-crucial-in-the-age-of-ai-235907 (Accessed: 1 August 2024).

Chu, M., Leonard, P. and Stevenson, F. (2012) ' Growing the Base for Citizen Science: Recruiting and Engaging Participants', in J.L. Dickinson and R. Bonney (eds.) Citizen Science: Public Participation in Environmental Research . Ithaca: Cornell University Press, pp. 69-81.

Example with four or more authors:

Young, H.D. et al. (2015) Sears and Zemansky's university physics . San Francisco, CA: Addison-Wesley.

Note: You can choose one or other method to reference four or more authors (unless your School requires you to name all authors in your reference list) and your approach should be consistent.

Online module materials

(Includes written online module activities, audio-visual material such as online tutorials, recordings or videos).

When referencing material from module websites, the date of publication is the year you started studying the module.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication/presentation) 'Title of item'. Module code: Module title . Available at: URL of VLE (Accessed: date).

OR, if there is no named author:

The Open University (Year of publication/presentation) 'Title of item'. Module code: Module title . Available at: URL of VLE (Accessed: date).

Rietdorf, K. and Bootman, M. (2022) 'Topic 3: Rare diseases'. S290: Investigating human health and disease . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=1967195 (Accessed: 24 January 2023).

The Open University (2022) ‘3.1 The purposes of childhood and youth research’. EK313: Issues in research with children and young people . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=1949633&section=1.3 (Accessed: 24 January 2023).

You can also use this template to reference videos and audio that are hosted on your module website:

The Open University (2022) ‘Video 2.7 An example of a Frith-Happé animation’. SK298: Brain, mind and mental health . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=2013014&section=4.9.6 (Accessed: 22 November 2022).

The Open University (2022) ‘Audio 2 Interview with Richard Sorabji (Part 2)’. A113: Revolutions . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=1960941&section=5.6 (Accessed: 22 November 2022).

Note: if a complete journal article has been uploaded to a module website, or if you have seen an article referred to on the website and then accessed the original version, then you reference the original journal article with no mention of the module materials. If only an extract from an article is included in your module materials that you want to reference you should follow the guidance for extracts on the referencing physical and online module material page.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of message', Title of discussion board , in Module code: Module title . Available at: URL of VLE (Accessed: date).

Fitzpatrick, M. (2022) ‘A215 - presentation of TMAs', Tutor group discussion & Workbook activities , in A215: Creative writing . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/forumng/discuss.php?d=4209566 (Accessed: 24 January 2022).

Note: When an ebook looks like a printed book, with publication details and pagination, reference as a printed book.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) Title . Edition if later than first. Place of publication: publisher. Series and volume number if relevant.

For ebooks that do not contain print publication details

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) Title of book . Available at: DOI or URL (Accessed: date).

Bell, J. (2014) Doing your research project . Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Adams, D. (1979) The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy . Available at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-ebooks (Accessed: 23 June 2021).

Note: Books that have an editor, or editors, where each chapter is written by a different author or authors.

Surname of chapter author, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of chapter or section', in Initial. Surname of book editor (ed.) Title of book . Place of publication: publisher, Page reference.

Franklin, A.W. (2012) 'Management of the problem', in S.M. Smith (ed.) The maltreatment of children . Lancaster: MTP, pp. 83–95.

Note: When referencing a chapter of an edited book, your in-text citation should give the author(s) of the chapter.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Journal , volume number (issue number), page reference.

If accessed online:

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Journal , volume number (issue number), page reference. Available at: DOI or URL (if required) (Accessed: date).

Shirazi, T. (2010) 'Successful teaching placements in secondary schools: achieving QTS practical handbooks', European Journal of Teacher Education , 33(3), pp. 323–326.

Shirazi, T. (2010) 'Successful teaching placements in secondary schools: achieving QTS practical handbooks', European Journal of Teacher Education , 33(3), pp. 323–326. Available at: https://libezproxy.open.ac.uk/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/log... (Accessed: 27 January 2023).

Barke, M. and Mowl, G. (2016) 'Málaga – a failed resort of the early twentieth century?', Journal of Tourism History , 2(3), pp. 187–212. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1755182X.2010.523145

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Newspaper , Day and month, Page reference.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Newspaper , Day and month, Page reference if available. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Mansell, W. and Bloom, A. (2012) ‘£10,000 carrot to tempt physics experts’, The Guardian , 20 June, p. 5.

Roberts, D. and Ackerman, S. (2013) 'US draft resolution allows Obama 90 days for military action against Syria', The Guardian , 4 September. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/04/syria-strikes-draft-resolut... (Accessed: 9 September 2015).

Surname, Initial. (Year that the site was published/last updated) Title of web page . Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Organisation (Year that the page was last updated) Title of web page . Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Robinson, J. (2007) Social variation across the UK . Available at: https://www.bl.uk/british-accents-and-dialects/articles/social-variation... (Accessed: 21 November 2021).

The British Psychological Society (2018) Code of Ethics and Conduct . Available at: https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/bps-code-ethics-and-conduct (Accessed: 22 March 2019).

Note: Cite Them Right Online offers guidance for referencing webpages that do not include authors' names and dates. However, be extra vigilant about the suitability of such webpages.

Surname, Initial. (Year) Title of photograph . Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Kitton, J. (2013) Golden sunset . Available at: https://www.jameskittophotography.co.uk/photo_8692150.html (Accessed: 21 November 2021).

stanitsa_dance (2021) Cossack dance ensemble . Available at: https://www.instagram.com/p/COI_slphWJ_/ (Accessed: 13 June 2023).

Note: If no title can be found then replace it with a short description.

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• Harvard Style Bibliography | Format & Examples

Harvard Style Bibliography | Format & Examples

Published on 1 May 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 7 November 2022.

In Harvard style , the bibliography or reference list provides full references for the sources you used in your writing.

• A reference list consists of entries corresponding to your in-text citations .
• A bibliography sometimes also lists sources that you consulted for background research, but did not cite in your text.

The two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. If in doubt about which to include, check with your instructor or department.

The information you include in a reference varies depending on the type of source, but it usually includes the author, date, and title of the work, followed by details of where it was published. You can automatically generate accurate references using our free reference generator:

Harvard Reference Generator

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Table of contents

Formatting a harvard style bibliography, harvard reference examples, referencing sources with multiple authors, referencing sources with missing information, frequently asked questions about harvard bibliographies.

Sources are alphabetised by author last name. The heading ‘Reference list’ or ‘Bibliography’ appears at the top.

Each new source appears on a new line, and when an entry for a single source extends onto a second line, a hanging indent is used:

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Reference list or bibliography entries always start with the author’s last name and initial, the publication date and the title of the source. The other information required varies depending on the source type. Formats and examples for the most common source types are given below.

• Entire book
• Book chapter
• Translated book
• Edition of a book

Journal articles

• Print journal
• Online-only journal with DOI
• Online-only journal without DOI
• General web page
• Online article or blog
• Social media post

Newspapers and magazines

• Newspaper article
• Magazine article

When a source has up to three authors, list all of them in the order their names appear on the source. If there are four or more, give only the first name followed by ‘ et al. ’:

Sometimes a source won’t list all the information you need for your reference. Here’s what to do when you don’t know the publication date or author of a source.

Some online sources, as well as historical documents, may lack a clear publication date. In these cases, you can replace the date in the reference list entry with the words ‘no date’. With online sources, you still include an access date at the end:

When a source doesn’t list an author, you can often list a corporate source as an author instead, as with ‘Scribbr’ in the above example. When that’s not possible, begin the entry with the title instead of the author:

Though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a difference in meaning:

• A reference list only includes sources cited in the text – every entry corresponds to an in-text citation .
• A bibliography also includes other sources which were consulted during the research but not cited.

In Harvard referencing, up to three author names are included in an in-text citation or reference list entry. When there are four or more authors, include only the first, followed by ‘ et al. ’

In Harvard style referencing , to distinguish between two sources by the same author that were published in the same year, you add a different letter after the year for each source:

• (Smith, 2019a)
• (Smith, 2019b)

Add ‘a’ to the first one you cite, ‘b’ to the second, and so on. Do the same in your bibliography or reference list .

To create a hanging indent for your bibliography or reference list :

• Highlight all the entries
• Click on the arrow in the bottom-right corner of the ‘Paragraph’ tab in the top menu.
• In the pop-up window, under ‘Special’ in the ‘Indentation’ section, use the drop-down menu to select ‘Hanging’.
• Then close the window with ‘OK’.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2022, November 07). Harvard Style Bibliography | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 9 December 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/referencing/harvard-bibliography/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, a quick guide to harvard referencing | citation examples, harvard in-text citation | a complete guide & examples, referencing books in harvard style | templates & examples, scribbr apa citation checker.

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Harvard Citation Style Guide (12th ed.)

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The information, facts, and sources presented in the text have been carefully checked and verified.

You are free to use it with proper referencing.

The Harvard style, named after the university where it originated, is generally considered the most popular university paper style. You will see it a lot in higher-level college and master-level works, but be careful when you use it for citations. Most universities adopt a unique variation of the style, and almost no two facilities will use the same approach. Nevertheless, this guide can serve as a foundation you can use to make the necessary adjustments, as experienced professionals write it.

This guide is developed in line with the book: Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2022) Cite them right: the essential referencing guide . 12th edn. London: Bloomsbury.

General Principles of Harvard Formatting

• Times New Roman, Arial 12 pt. font (unless the instructions require a different font)
• 1” (2.54 cm) margins from all sides
• alphabetical order of sources at the end of a document according to the author’s surname or title (if no author). If you have cited more than one item by the same author, they should be listed chronologically (earliest first), and by letter (1996a 1996b) if more than one item has been published in the same year.
• no indentation required on the harvard reference list
• sentence case capitalization for book/article/chapter titles
• single quotation marks in reference list

• Your title should be inserted in the upper half of the first page.
• You should not use more than 12 words for your title.
• Use UPPER case letters(avoid abbreviations and redundant words).
• Harvard title page should be double-spaced.
• Provide the shortened title in the header.
• Insert the author’s name 3 lines below the title.
• Insert the course name, professor’s name, educational institution, and date 4 lines below the author’s name.

Depending on the instructor’s requirements, you may be asked to provide an outline or a table of contents for your paper.

Table of Contents

Example of a simple outline

As a rule, two types of subheadings are used when formatting a paper in Harvard:

Level 1 – Centered, Capitalized, Not Bold, Not Italicized

Level 2 – Flush Left, Italicized, Capitalized, Not Bold

The reference list is inserted at the end of your paper; any source that you use needs to be included in the reference page and cited in the text.

• Do not indent references.
• Do not forget to invert authors’ names: Last Name, Initials.

Lankshear, C. and Knobel, M.D.S.

• The reference list is always alphabetized by the first word in the reference entry (from A to Z).
• When alphabetizing titles or group names as authors, go by the first significant word (disregard a, an, the )
• In the titles of your sources (except journal, magazine, database titles), use sentence case capitalization.
• Italicization is applied to books and periodical journals’ titles.
• Single quotation marks are used for the titles of articles and book chapters.

Harvard Reference List

Single author.

Last Name, Initials. (Year) Title of book . City: Publisher.

Sebold, A. (2024) The lovely bones . London: Hachette.

Two or three authors

Last Name, Initials. and Last Name, Initials. (Year) Title of book . City: Publisher.

Lankshear, C. and Knobel, M. (2021) New literacies: everyday practices and classroom learning . Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Four or more authors

Last Name, Initials. et al . (Year) Title of book . City: Publisher.

Greenberg, J. et al. (2020) Social psychology: the science of everyday life . New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

List only the first author while others are represented by “ et al .”

Corporate author

Organization Name (Year) Title of book . City: Publisher.

Modern Language Association (2021) MLA handbook . 9th edn. New York, NY: Modern Language Association of America.

Unknown author

Title of book (Year) City: Publisher.

Mosby’s pocket dictionary of medicine, nursing & health professions (2023) New York, NY: Elsevier Health Sciences.

Multiple works by the same author

King, S. (2021) The institute . New York, NY: Pocket Books. King, S. (2023) Fairy tale . New York, NY: Scribner.

On the Harvard Reference list, works by the same author are arranged by the year of publication with the earliest work first.

Multiple works published in the same year by the same author

King, S. (2023a) Fairy tale . New York, NY: Scribner. King, S. (2023b) Holly . New York, NY: Scribner.

Both in the in-text citations and on the Reference list, works published in the same year by the same author should be distinguished by adding an alphabetical designator to the publication date.

Different editions

Last Name, Initials. (Year) Title of book . 1st/2nd/3rd/#th edn. City: Publisher.

Feldman, R.S. (2011) Essentials of understanding psychology. 14th edn. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

When using any edition of the book other than the first one, use the publication date of that particular edition and make sure to add the edition number to the entry on the Reference list.

Author with an editor

Author’s Last Name, Initials. (Year) Title of book . Edited by Editor’s Initials. Last Name. City: Publisher.

Bandura, A. (2023) Social cognitive theory: an agentic perspective on human nature . Edited by D. Cervone. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Write editor(s)’ first name(s)’ initials followed by the last name.

Editor with no author

Editor’s Last Name, Initials. (ed) (Year) Title of book . City: Publisher.

Bandura, A. (ed) (2021) Psychological modeling: conflicting theories . New York, NY: Routledge.

Van Lange, P.A., Higgins, E.T. and Kruglanski, A.W. (eds) (2022) Social psychology: handbook of basic principles . 3rd edn. New York, NY: Guilford Publications.

• Use either (ed) for one editor or (eds) for two or more.

Translated book

Author’s Last Name, Initials. (Year) Title of book . Translated from the Language by Translator’s Initials Last Name. Introduction and notes by Initials Last Name. City: Publisher.

Homer (2022) The Odyssey. Translated from the Greek by R. Fagles. Introduction and notes by B. Knox. London: Penguin Books.

Make sure to mention all contributors, such as translators, editors, co-authors, or illustrators, if mentioned on the book’s cover page.

Multi-volume book

Last Name, Initials. (Year) Title of book (x vols.). City: Publisher.

Ersoy, A., Górny, M. and Kechriotis, V. (2024) Discourses of collective identity in Central and Southeast Europe 1770–1945: texts and commentaries (3 vols.). Budapest: Central European University Press.

If you cite a separate volume, use the following format:

Last Name, Initials. (Year) Title of book. Part x: Title. City: Publisher.

Ersoy, A., Górny, M. and Kechriotis, V. (2024) Discourses of collective identity in Central and Southeast Europe 1770–1945: texts and commentaries. Part 1: Modernism: the creation of nation-states. Budapest: Central European University Press.

Collected works

Last Name, Initials. (Year–Year) Title of book (xx vols.). City: Publisher.

Jung, C.G. (1989–1995) Gesammelte werke (24 vols). Olten: Walter Verlag.

Chapter in an edited book

Author’s Last Name, Initials. (Year) ‘Chapter title’, in Editor’s Initials. Last Name. (ed) Title of book .City: Publisher, pp. xx-xx.

Greco, L. (2023) ‘Hume of shame’, in A. Fussi and R. Rodogno (eds) The moral psychology of shame . Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, pp. 79-102.

• Remember to include chapter page numbers at the end of the entry.

Last Name, Initials. (Year) Title of book . Available at: http://www.link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Boddy, D. (2024) Management: an introduction. Available at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-ebooks (Accessed: 14 April 2024).

Book found online

Last Name, Initials. (Year) Title of book .Available at: http://www.link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Boddy, D. (2024) Management: an introduction. Available at: https://renessans-edu.uz/files/books/2023-11-02-04-24-48_3f0885a960b571da772ca5d747505c35.pdf (Accessed: 14 April 2024).

Bible Version (Year) Available at: http://www.link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Bible Version (Year) Place of publication: Publisher.

King James Bible (2021) Available at: https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/ (Accessed: 14 April 2024).

King James Bible (2021) New York, NY: National Council of Churches.

• Do not forget to mention the version of the Bible.
• You may refer to the print or online versions of the Bible.

The Torah (Year) Place of publication: Publisher.

The Torah (2023) Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America.

Mention “Torah.” first (not in italics), year of publication, and place of publication: publisher.

The Qur’an Version (Year) (Translated by Translator’s First Name Initials Last Name.) Place of publication: Publisher.

The Clear Qur’an (2021) (Translated by M. Khattab.) Arambag: Books Of Signs Foundation.

Mention the version of “Qur’an” first (not in italics), year of publication, translator in brackets, and place of publication: publisher.

Journal article

Last Name, Initials. and Last Name, Initials. (Year) ‘Article title: subtitle’, Journal Title , volume(number), pp. xx-xx.

Schunk, D.H. and DiBenedetto, M.K. (2020) ‘Motivation and social cognitive theory’, Contemporary Educational Psychology , 60(1), pp. 1-12.

• If a journal has no issue, it should be omitted.
• If an article is printed on one page, “p.” should be used instead of “pp.”
• If there is a colon in the title of an article, do not capitalize the subtitle.
• Capitalize all the words except conjunctions and articles only in the journal title.

Journal article (no author)

‘Article title: subtitle’ (Year) Journal Title , volume(number), pp. xx-xx.

Placeholder prescriptions undoing years of progress in fight against antibiotic resistance’ (2021) British Dental Journal, 231(11), p. 668.

Online journal article with doi

Last Name, Initials. and Last Name, Initials. (Year) ‘Article title: subtitle’, Journal Title , volume(number), pp. xx-xx. Available at: https://doi.org/10.000.000

Mökander, J. and Schroeder, R. (2022) ‘AI and social theory’, AI & Society , 37(4), pp.1337-1351. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-021-01222-z

Online journal article without doi

Last Name, Initials. and Last Name, Initials. (Year) ‘Article title: subtitle’, Journal Title , volume(number). Available at: http://www.link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Gunawan, J. (2023) ‘Exploring the future of nursing: insights from the ChatGPT model’, Belitung Nursing Journal , 9(1), pp. 1-5. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10353608/ (Accessed: 12 April 2024).

Magazine article in print

Last Name, Initials. and Last Name, Initials. (Year) ‘Article title: subtitle’, Magazine Title , volume(number), p. xx.

Denworth, L. (2024) ‘Greenery improves body and mind’, Scientific American Magazine , 330(5 May), p. 76.

Enter month(s) in the issue number field in brackets.

Online magazine article

Last Name, Initials. and Last Name, Initials. (Year) ‘Article title: subtitle’, Magazine Title , volume(number). Available at: http://www.link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Silberner, J. (2024) ‘Quiet! Our loud world is making us sick’, Scientific American Magazine , 330(5 May). Available at: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/everyday-noises-can-hurt-hearts-not-just-ears-and-the-ability-to-learn/ (Accessed: 12 April 2024).

Newspaper article in print

Last Name, Initials. and Last Name, Initials. (Year) ‘Article title: subtitle’, Newspaper Title , Date Month, p. xx.

Nanos, J. and Logan, T. (2022) ‘Framingham is reinventing itself. Again’, The Boston Globe , 30 November, p. 10.

• Make sure that you add a full publication date (year, day, and month) with no shortenings. Do not forget that it should be separated by the article and newspaper titles.
• Capitalize all words except conjunctions and articles only for the name of a newspaper.

Newspaper article without author

Newspaper Title (Year) ‘Article title: subtitle’, Date Month, p. xx.

The Times (2022) ‘Covid-19 and economy’, 12 July, p. 10.

When no author is given, the title of the newspaper becomes the author.

Online newspaper / magazine article

Last Name, Initials. and Last Name, Initials. (Year) ‘Article title: subtitle’, Periodical Title: Section , Date Month. Available at: http://www.link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Sweet, K. and Hendrickson, S. (2022) ‘Record number of Americans have bank accounts, gov’t says’, The Seattle Times , 25 October. Available at: https://www.seattletimes.com/business/record-number-of-americans-have-bank-accounts-govt-says/ (Accessed: 12 April 2024).

When referencing a section of a newspaper where page numbers may be the same as in the main part of the paper or absent, mention the section (e.g., Newspaper: Section ).

Full conference proceedings

Editor’s Last Name, Initials. and Last Name, Initials. (eds) (Year) Conference title. Conference at City (Country), Date Month. Place of publication: Publisher. Available at: http://www.link.com

Domenech, J. et al. (eds) (2020) Proceedings of the 6th international conference on higher education advances . Virtual conference at València (Spain), 2-5 June. València: Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. Available at: http://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD20.2020.11787

Paper from a published conference proceedings

Author’s Last Name, Initials. and Last Name, Initials. (Year) ‘Paper title’, Conference proceedings title. Conference at City (Country), Date Month. Place of publication: Publisher, pp. xx-xx. Available at: http://www.link.com

Caviezel, V., Falzoni, A.M. and Galizzi, L. (2020) ‘Motivations and concerns of outgoing Erasmus students’, Proceedings of the 6th international conference on higher education advances . Virtual conference at València (Spain), 2-5 June. València: Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València, pp. 1173–1180. Available at: http://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD20.2020.11230

• Make sure to include location and date of conference followed by place of publication and publisher.

Dissertation/thesis in print

Last Name, Initials. and Last Name, Initials. (Year) Dissertation/thesis title. Degree statement. Degree awarding body.

Bernard, N. (2022) Graduate enrollment management: a case study on enrollment managers . PhD thesis. University of North Texas.

Make sure to include a degree statement and a degree awarding body (for example, “PhD thesis. University of Calgary.”)

Online dissertation/thesis

Last Name, Initials. and Last Name, Initials. (Year) Dissertation/thesis title. Degree statement. Degree awarding body. Available at: http://link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Bernard, N. (2022) Graduate enrollment management: a case study on enrollment managers . PhD thesis. University of North Texas. Available at: https://www.proquest.com/docview/2784394767 (Accessed: 25 April 2024).

If the thesis is available online, provide a current link and fill in the date that you last accessed the document.

Page on World Wide Web

Last Name, Initials. (Year) Page title. Available at: http://link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Be sure not to use quotation marks for the title of a page but make it italicized.

Page on World Wide Web (no author)

Page title (Year) Available at: http://link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Organizational behavior and culture: understanding the impact on employee motivation & productivity (2023) Available at: https://hrshelf.com/organizational-behavior-and-culture/ (Accessed: 23 April 2024).

Web page with no dates

Organization/Author (no date) Page title . Available at: http://link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Flixel (no date) Magical tools for visual storytelling . Available at: https://flixel.com/company/ (Accessed: 15 April 2024).

Web page with neither author, title, nor date

http://link.com (no date) (Accessed: Date Month Year).

https://www.brookes.ac.uk(no date) (Accessed: 24 April 2024).

Image on World Wide Web

Artist’s Last Name, Initials. (Year) Image title [Photograph/Sculpture/Digital art/etc.] . Available at: http://link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Ashmead, J. (2024) Maslow’s hierarchy of needs [Digital art]. Available at: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/maslows-hierarchy-needs-illustration-icons-2190067455 (Accessed: 1 May 2024) .

Last Name, Initials. (Year) ‘Blog post title’, Blog title, Date Month . Available at: http://link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Wang, K. (2023) ‘Organizational culture: definition, importance, and development’, Achievers , 28 June. Available at: https://www.achievers.com/blog/organizational-culture-definition/ (Accessed: 15 April 2024).

Be sure to add the entire date when the blog post was published.

Facebook and other social media

Last Name, Initials. (Year) ‘Post title’ [Social media] Date Month. Available at: http://www.facebook.com/ (Accessed: Date Month Year ).

Martiniello, M. (2021) ‘I learnt very early on that there’s only power to words, if you give power to those words’ [Facebook] 27 February. Available at: https://www.facebook.com/UniversityOfCanberra (Accessed: 6 April 2024).

Films and video recordings

Film title (Year) Directed by First Name Initials. Last Name [Feature film]. Place: Company.

Persuasion (2022) Directed by C. Cracknell. [Feature film]. Santa Monica, CA: Bisous Pictures .

Add either [Feature film] or video record medium in square brackets (for example, [DVD], [Blu-ray])

YouTube videos

Name (Year) YouTube video title. Date Month. Available at: http://www.link.com/ (Accessed: Date Month Year).

ABC News (2021) Signs of child abuse and how to spot it . 29 October. Available at: https://youtu.be/5F5mBsxKCgc (Accessed: 5 May 2024).

Television programs

Show title (Year) Chanel , Date Month, Time.

‘Episode title’ (Year) Show title , series #, episode #. Chanel, Date Month, Time.

The Apprentice (2021) BBC One Television, 20 June, 21:0 0.

‘Don’t forget the sea’ (2020) I may destroy you , series 1, episode 3. BBC One Television. 15 June, 21:00.

If an episode is cited, enter the episode title first in single quotes.

Grand Designs (2021) Channel 4 Television. Available at: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/grand-designs/episode-guide/series-7/episode-30 (Accessed: 24 April 2024).

If you cite a TV show available online or on a streaming service, make sure to provide a link/service title (Available at: Netflix) and state the date of access.

Newspaper interview

Last Name, Initials. (Year) ‘Interview title . ’Interview with First Name Last Name. Interviewed by First Name Last Name for Newspaper title , Date Month, pages.

Riley, B. (2021) ‘The life of Riley’. Interview with Bridget Riley. Interviewed by Jonathan Jones for The Guardian , 5 July p.33.

Television interview

Last Name, Initials. (Year) Interview with First Name Last Name. Interviewed by First Name Last Name for Program , Chanel , Date Month.

Johnson, B. (2020) Interview with Boris Johnson. Interviewed by Emily Maitlis for Newsnight , BBC Two Television, 6 June.

Interview published on the internet

Last Name, Initials. (Year) Interviewed by First Name Last Name for Website , Date Month. Available at: http://link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Obama, B. (2021). Interviewed by Terry Moran for ABC News , 3 March. Available at: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Vote2021/Story?id=4480134 (Accessed: 24 April 2024).

Press releases / announcements

Corporation Name. (Year) Press release title [Press release]. Date Month. Available at: http://link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Google Inc. (2021) Google Maps heads north … way north [Press release]. 23 August. Available at: http://www.google.com/intl/en/press (Accessed: 24 April 2024).

Lectures and course materials

Last Name, Initials. (Year) ‘Lecture title’ [Lecture]. Module code: Module title . University. Available at: http://link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Stellar, V. (2020) ‘Introduction to Java week 5 lecture’ [Lecture]. MIT6_092IAP10: Access control, class scope, packages, Java API . University of Cumbria. Available at: https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-092-introduction-to-programming-in-java-january-iap-2010/download-course-materials/ (Accessed: 24 April 2024).

Module code and title are to be separated by colon and written in Italics.

PowerPoint presentations

Last Name, Initials. (Year) ‘Lecture title’ [presentation slides]. Module code: Module title . University. Available at: http://link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Booth, L. (2020) ‘History of radiography’ [Presentation slides]. MISR4004: Patient care skills: an introduction to human sciences . University of Cumbria. Available at: https://mylearning.cumbria.ac.uk (Accessed: 30 April 2024).

• Add [Presentation slides] as supplement after the title
• If no author, put title in the first place

Messages from course discussion boards

Last Name, Initials. (Year) ‘Title’. Title of discussion board , in Module code: Module title . Available at: http://link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Thomas, D. (2020) ‘Word count and referencing style’, Frequently asked questions discussion board, in SOCI2011: Housing studies . Available at: http://duo.dur.ac.uk (Accessed: 30 April 2024).

Lectures / seminars / webinars / PowerPoint presentations / videoconferences

Last Name, Initials. (Year) ’ Lecture title’ [Lecture], Module code: Module title . University. Date Month.

Brown, T. (2021) ‘Banking regulation’ [Lecture]. BUS316: BSc Economics . Northumbria University. 21 February.

Electronic discussion groups and bulletin boards

Last Name, Initials. (Year) ’Electronic discussion post’, Discussion list, Date Month. Available email: [email protected] .

Peters, W.R. (2021) ‘International finance questions’, British Business School Librarians Group discussion list , 11 March. Available email: [email protected] .

Mention “Available email: email address”.

Entire discussion groups or bulletin boards

Discussion list (Year) Available email: [email protected] (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Photography news Iist (2022) Available email: [email protected] (Accessed: 24 April 2024).

Acts and statutes

Act Title and Year , c. xx . Available at: http://link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Fire Safety Act 2021, c. 7 . Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ ukpga/2021/24/contents/enacted (Accessed: 1 May 2024 ).

Legal material papers

Government Body (Year) Legal material title. Series. Available at: http://link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Public Health England (2021) Health inequalities dashboard: statistical commentary, March 2021 . CDF1289. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/health-inequalities-dashboard-march-2021-data-update/health-inequalities-dashboard-statistical-commentary-march-2021 (Accessed: 18 April 2024).

Law Commission reports and consultation papers

Government Body (Year) Legal material title. (Number). Available at: http://link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Law Commission (2024) Disabled children’s social care . (Law Com No 232). Available at: https://lawcom.gov.uk/project/disabled-childrens-social-care/ (Accessed: 1 May 2024).

Departmental publications

Government Body (Year) Legal material title . Available at: http://link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (UK) (2021) Industrial decarbonisation strategy . Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrialdecarbonisation-strategy (Accessed: 1 May 2024).

Legal reports (cases)

‘Case Title’(Year), Title of law report, volume. Database title . Available at: http://link.com (Accessed: Date Month Year).

‘ R v K (M) (R v Gega, MK v R) ’ (2018) EWCA Crim, 667 . BAILII . Available at: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2018/667.html (Accessed: 7 April 2024).

One author/editor

A personal tone is established on the very first page: “In my junior high yearbook I had a quote from a Spanish poet” (Sebold, 2022, p. 5).

The narrator reveals a lot of personal details throughout the story (Sebold, 2022).

Use page numbers only when summarizing an idea from a particular page.

Two or three authors/editors

Lankshear, Smith, and Knobel (2023, p. 17) argue that “The cultural and critical facets of knowledge integral to being literate are considerable”.

Literacy encompasses many aspects of knowledge (Lankshear, Smith and Knobel, 2023, p. 17).

Four or more authors/editors

Evans et al. (2023, p. 137) state that the Australian colonists aimed “to eliminate the political rights of Aborigines” in the late 19th century.

Between 1870 and 1890, many efforts have been made to constrict the rights of the indigenous populations (Evans et al ., 2023, p. 137).

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand (2023, p. 18) claims that “the relief in AASB 128 should apply to the ultimate Australian entity”.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand (2023, p. 18) explains the use of the relief in AASB 128.

Source with no author/editor

The Oxford dictionary of abbreviations (2020, p. ix) explains that in the pronunciation guide, “Unstressed syllables are not preceded by stress marks”.

It is common for unstressed syllables not to be preceded by stress marks ( The Oxford dictionary of abbreviations, 2020, p. ix).

Multiple sources

In both works, the author uses remote locations to emphasize the feeling of helplessness (King, 2020; King, 2021).

Same year/same author

In both works, the author uses remote locations to emphasize the feeling of helplessness (King, 2021a; King, 2021b).

Same work, different editions

Despite the structural similarities between the two editions, there are still some differences in the topics covered (Feldman, 2021; 2023).

Source quoted in another work

Green’s study (2020) (cited in Farmer, 2023, p. 13), unlike many of its predecessors, “explores the “macro-logics of power” without sacrificing ethnographic depth”.

You can either use a direct quote from the later work that quotes the earlier source or use a paraphrase to summarize the original idea from the primary source that is addressed in the secondary source. Both cases require you to acknowledge the use of a secondary source in the work you are using for reference.

(King James Bible, 2021, Matthew 5: 3–12).

(The Torah, 2021, Shernot 3: 14).

(The Qur’an, 2021, Qur’an 20: 24).

“Despite the lack of solid research evidence to date, ICTs hold promise in addressing the challenges of mental health care” (Breslau and Engel, 2021, p. 17).

Breslau and Engel (2021, p. 17) state that, in the future, ICTs could be used to diagnose and treat patients with mental dysfunctions and illnesses.

The DUP leader states that the upcoming Assembly election “should not be seen as a referendum on her handling of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme” (‘Assembly election: most important vote since 1998’, 2023, para. 2).

The Independent (2023) states that …

“The key sign of central diabetes insipidus is extreme thirst and excessive urination” (Smith, 2023, para. 3).

It is a common misconception that the disease called central diabetes insipidus is related to diabetes and caused by metabolic dysfunction (Smith, 2023, para. 3).

Video or film

“The front lines of the invasion moved west to the nations of the Ohio Valley: The Lenape, Shawnee, Miami and others” ( 500 nations, 1995).

As stated by Stellar (2023, p. 13), the classification of public and public class “applies to any field or method”.

The main reason for the importance of imposing access control is the need to protect the private information of students and staff (Stellar, 2023, p. 16).

Government publication

A recent review of the cooperation practices used in PFRAs and the local universities revealed that “about half of the research users indicated that they obtained a high or very high level of value from the collaboration” (Department of Education, Science and Training, 2024, p. 4).

The review outlines the opportunities to enhance the cooperation between PFRAs and the universities (Department of Education, Science and Training, 2024).

When using the Harvard style, you can insert tables and figures in the middle of the text without the need to move them to a special appendix. As such, you do not have to refer the reader to the end of the paper and can write more naturally. You should provide the full reference to the source of the object you will be using in your bibliography. Then, when inserting the table of the figure, provide them with a heading of “Table (Figure) #: Name (Normal Author-Date In-Text Reference).

If you are trying to refer to a source such as print, which does not allow you to copy and paste the object directly, you can refer to it as you would to a text citation, though you should make sure to mention the page. Some books will have plates with images inserted between pages, and in this case, you will have to cite the plate number, using “plate #” instead of “page #.”

When referring to the table or figure in the text, you should consider it part of the document and write something similar to “As can be seen in table #.” Remember to follow the basic format guidelines for online sources, such as the access date and the URL, enclosed in angle brackets.

Figure 1: Glass world (Environmental Science, 2021).

Reference List

Environmental Science (2021) Glass world [Photograph]. Available at: https://www.environmentalscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/NEPA-CEQA-640×425.jpeg (Accessed 25 April 2024) .

• A Separate Peace by John Knowles
• Alice Walker’s The Color Purple
• Fences: On Stubbornness and Baseball
• Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter: Resilience and Redemption
• In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
• King Lear: Summary of the Plot, Analysis of Characters, Main Themes, and Personal Opinion
• Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
• Racial Profiling in America
• The Main Causes and Effects of Youth Violence
• The Road by Cormac McCarthy
• The Tempest: Characters, Theme, and Personal Opinion
• The Three Approaches to the Talent Development Reporting
• Training and Development in International Organizations
• Violence and Justice in The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell
• Chicago (Notes-Bibliography) Citation Style Guide (17th ed.)
• Bluebook Citation Style (21st ed.)
• APA Citation Style Guide (7th ed.): Referencing & Citing with Examples
• OSCOLA Citation Style (4th ed.)
• Vancouver Citation Style Guide (2nd ed.)
• Chicago (Author-Date) Citation Style Guide (17th ed.)
• MLA Citation Style Guide (9th ed.): Referencing & Citing with Examples
• AMA Citation Style Guide (11th ed.)

Harvard Style Citation and Referencing: a Detailed Guide from Experts

Defining What is Harvard Citation Style and Referencing

From the first time we put our pen on paper, we're taught how important it is to give credit where it's needed. Whether a research paper outline or a doctoral dissertation, proper references, and citations are the foundation of academic work in any field. And when it's time to cite sources, there's one style that stands out: Harvard style. In this article, we will explore the nuances of Harvard style citations and help you navigate the complexity of this important academic tool.

Developed by the Harvard Graduate School for Education, the Harvard style citation is a Ferrari of citations designed for the ultimate advantage of your research. Harvard Style, like a sports car, is streamlined, precise, and designed for speed. From its inception at Harvard at the beginning 20th century, this style has become a standard of academic reference and has been praised for its clarity and sophistication.

Intended to be simple and accessible to all, the Harvard style quickly became popular in the mid-20s and is based upon using the date-author citation in the document text, together with the detailed list of references at the document's end. Nowadays that it has gained universal acknowledgment, Harvard referencing is a critical instrument for scientists in multiple disciplines, owing to its simple yet tasteful design that has endured for many years.

Importance of Using Harvard Style Citation Properly

Using Harvard style citations and references correctly is like putting a hidden weapon in the arsenal of your academics. It'll be more than just following rules; it'll be about proving your credibility and that your work is grounded in solid evidence and reliable sources. Therefore, proper citations and references are crucial for a wide range of purposes:

• First, by acknowledging your sources, you avoid plagiarism and demonstrate that you've taken the necessary precautions and are not attempting to pass on someone else's work as yours.
• Secondly, Harvard citation style and references allow readers to track their sources and verify their assertions. This is especially relevant in fields in which precision and accuracy are important, e.g., in the fields of science and technology.
• Thirdly, using Harvard style citations and references shows you belong to a larger academic community and know their standards and norms. By conforming to the customary citation and referencing guidelines, you can communicate that you are a reliable and trustworthy scholar who values their work.

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Key Features of Harvard Style Citation and Referencing

Below are a few of the principal characteristics of Harvard Style that make it such a popular choice among scholars:

How to Use Harvard Style Citation and Referencing

As was already established, references and citations in the Harvard style are commonly accepted. Therefore, you should take the required actions to ensure accurate citation. Let's adhere to these basic guidelines to give credit where credit is due:

Harvard Style Guidelines include:

• Use a standard font such as Times New Roman or Arial in size 12.
• Set margins to 1 inch on all sides.
• Use double spacing throughout the document, including the reference list.
• Place a header on each page, which should include the title of your paper and the page number, located in the top right-hand corner.
• Make sure to include a title page with your paper title, your name, the name of your institution, and the date of submission. Or you can always find out more on how to title an essay from our expert writers!
• Use headings as a way to organize and simplify your paper with bold or italic letters.
• Include in-text citations
• Include a reference list at the end of your paper.

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How to Reference Sources Without an Anchor on Date

In Harvard referencing, if you're citing a source without an explicit date, you can still provide as much information as possible to identify the source and omit the date. Here's how you could format it:

Author(s) Last name, Initials. (Year, if available). Title of the work. Publisher. (if applicable) URL or DOI (if available).

For example, let's say you're citing a web page authored by John Smith, but there's no publication date available:

Smith, J. (n.d.). Title of the Web Page. Retrieved from http://www.example-website.com

In this example, "n.d." stands for "no date." This indicates to your reader that the publication date is unknown. It's important to include as much information as possible to help your readers locate the source themselves. If you're citing a printed source with no date, you can simply omit the date and provide the rest of the information as usual.

Common Errors and Pitfalls in Using Harvard Style

While the Harvard Style citation may seem straightforward, there are several common errors and pitfalls that students and researchers should be aware of to ensure they are using the style correctly.

One common error is forgetting to include page numbers when referencing a source. Harvard style requires that page numbers be included when citing a direct quote or paraphrasing from a source. Failing to include page numbers can make it difficult for readers to locate the information being cited and can result in lost points on an assignment or paper.

Another pitfall is the improper formatting of references. Harvard style requires specific formatting for different types of sources, such as italicizing book titles and using quotation marks for article titles. Failure to follow these guidelines can result in a loss of points and confusion for readers.

Another common mistake is inconsistency in formatting and citation styles. It is important to use the same style throughout a document, including in-text citations and the reference list. Mixing different styles can make the document difficult to read and may result in a lower grade. And, if this problem sounds familiar and you wish 'if only somebody could rewrite my essay ,' get our essay writing help in a flash!

Finally, another pitfall to avoid is relying too heavily on online Harvard referencing generator tools. They can be useful for creating references, although they are not always reliable and might not adhere to the exact rules of Harvard style. To guarantee that the references produced by these tools are accurate and in the right format, it is crucial to carefully review and adjust them.

Meanwhile, if you're not really feeling like dealing with the nitty-gritty of referencing your character analysis essay using Harvard style, no sweat! We've got your back on that one too.

Key Takeaways

In conclusion, knowing what is Harvard citation style and how to properly cite sources using this style is an essential ability for any student or researcher writing academically. The main lesson to be learned is that accurate citation not only shows academic honesty but also strengthens the authority of your work and backs up your claims. You may make sure that your writing is correctly referenced, structured, and accepted in the academic world by including these important lessons in it.

And if you feel like you need extra help, our expert paper writing services will provide you with a high-quality Harvard style citation example paper that demonstrates correct citation and formatting, giving you the knowledge and confidence to cite sources effectively in your own work!

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How Do You Format a Citation in Harvard Style?

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is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.