Harvard Citation Style: All Examples

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In-text citations

Two or more works cited at one point in the text

If two or more works by different authors or authoring bodies are cited at one point in the text, use a semi-colon to separate them:

(Larsen 2000; Malinowski 1999)

The authors should be listed in alphabetical order.

Two or three authors or authoring bodies

When citing a work by two or three authors or authoring bodies, cite the names in the order in which they appear on the title page:

(Malinowski, Miller & Gupta 1995) 

In-Text & Reference List Examples

(Holt 1997) or Holt (1997) wrote that...

Holt, DH 1997, , Prentice-Hall, Sydney.
(McCarthy, William & Pascale 1997) McCarthey, EJ, William, DP & Pascale, GQ 1997, , Irwin, Sydney.
(Bond et al. 1996) Bond, WR, Smith, JT, Brown, KL & George, M 1996, , McGraw-Hill, Sydney.
(A history of Greece 1994) 1994, Irwin, Sydney.
(ed. Jones 1998) Jones, MD (ed.) 1998, , Academic Press, London.
(eds Bullinger & Warnecke 1985) Bullinger, HJ & Warnecke HJ (eds) 1985, , Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

(trans. Smith 2006)

Colorado, JA 2006, trans. K Smith, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
(Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics 2001) Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics 2001, , ABARE, Canberra.
A number of disturbing facts intrude' (Milkman 1998, p. 25) Milkman, R 1998, 'The new American workplace:high road or low road?' in , eds P Thompson & C Warhurst, Macmillan Press, London, pp. 22-34.
(Drafke, 2009) Drafke, M 2009, , 10th edn, Pearson/Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J
(Aghion & Durlauf 2005) Aghion, P & Durlauf, S (eds.) 2005, , Elsevier, Amsterdam. Available from: Elsevier books. [4 November 2004].
'Historical thinking is actually a Western perspective' (White 2002, p. 112) White, H 2002, 'The westernization of world history' in , ed J Rusen, Berghahn Books, New York pp. 111-119. Available from: ACLS Humanities E-Book. [14 May 2009].
(Bond 1991a) (Bond 1991b)

Bond, G 1991a, , McGraw-Hill, Sydney.

Bond, G 1991b, , Irwin, London.

(Conley & Galeson 1998) Conley, TG & Galeson, DW 1998, 'Nativity and wealth in mid-nineteenth century cities', , vol. 58, no. 2, pp. 468-493.
(Liveris 2011) Liveris, A 2011, 'Ethics as a strategy', , vol. 28, no. 2, pp.17-18. Available from: Proquest [23 June 2011].

(Improve indigenous housing 2007)

Available from: http://www.architecture.com.au/i-cms?page=10220 . [8 February 2009].
(Jones, n.d.) Jones, MD n.d., . Available from: <http://www.architecture.com.au>. [6 June 2009].
(Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources 2006) Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources 2006, , Government of Australia, Available from: <http://www.innovation.gov.au>. [28 February 2009].
(Australian Securities Exchange 2009) Australian Securities Exchange 2009, . Available from: <http://www.asx.com.au/professionals/market_information/index.htm>. [5 July 2009].
(Newton 2007) Newton, A. 2007, Newcastle toolkit. 16 January 2007. . Available from: <https://elgg.leeds.ac.uk/libajn/weblog/>. [23 February 2007].
(OpenOffice.org 2005) OpenOffice.org, computer software 2005. Available from: <http://www.openoffice.org>. [11 January 2005].
(The Lunar Interior 2000) , 2000. Available from: <http://www.planetscapes.com/solar/browse/moon/moonint.jpg>. [28 November 2000].
(Aspect Huntley 2009) Aspect Huntley DatAnalysis 2009, . Available from: Aspect Huntley DatAnalysis. [20 May 2009].
(Datamonitor 2009) Datamonitor 2009, . Available from: Business Source Premier. [20 May 2009].
(Datastream 2009) Datastream, 2009, . Available from: Datastream. [20 May 2009].
(Riley 1992) Riley, D 1992, 'Industrial relations in Australian education', in Contemporary Australasian industrial relations: , ed. D. Blackmur, AIRAANZ, Sydney, pp. 124-140.
(Fan, Gordon & Pathak 2000) Fan, W, Gordon, MD & Pathak, R 2000, 'Personalization of search engine services for effective retrieval and knowledge management', , pp. 20-34. Available from: ACM Portal: ACM Digital Library. [24 June 2004].
(Brown & Caste 1990) Brown, S & Caste, V 2004, 'Integrated obstacle detection framework' Paper presented at the , IEEE, Detroit MI.
(Ionesco 2001) Ionesco, J 2001, 'Federal election: new Chip in politics', 23 October, p. 10.
(Meryment 2006) Meryment, E 2006, 'Distaff winemakers raise a glass of their own to their own', , 7 October, p. 5. Available from: Factiva. [2 February 2007].
(Hilts 1999) Hilts, PJ 1999, 'In forecasting their emotions, most people flunk out', 16 February. Available from <http://www.nytimes.com>. [19 February 2000].
( 7 January 2011, p. 12) Not required.
(Effective performance appraisals 1994) 1994, (video recording), Melbourne, Educational Media Australia.
(Crystal 1993) Crystal, L (executive producer) 1993, (television broadcast) 11 October 1993, New York and Washington DC, Public Broadcasting Service.
(Van Nuys 2007) Van Nuys, D (producer) 2007, 'The anatomy of a lobotomist [Show 84]', (podcast). Available from: <http://www.shrinkrapradio.com/>. [11 April 2007].
(Kloft 2006) Kloft, M (producer/director) 2006, The Nuremberg trials (motion picture), in M.Sameuls (executive producer), (podcast). Available from: <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rss/podcast_pb.xml>. [4 March 2006].

(Shocked 1992) Shocked, M 1992, 'Over the waterfall', on (CD). New York, Polygram Music.
(Norton 2006) Norton, R 2006, 'How to train a cat to operate a light switch' (video file). Available from: <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vja83KLQXZs>. [4 November 2006].
(Cookson 1985) Cookson, AH 1985, , US Patent 4554399.
(Standards Australia 2008) Standards Australia 2008, AS 4758.1-2008. Available from: Standards Australia Online. [1 December 2008].
(Standards Australia/New Zealand Standard 1994) Standards Australia 1994, AS/NZS 3951.10:1994, Standards Australia, NSW.
(Jennings 1997) Jennings, P 1997, 'The performance and competitive advantage of small firms: a management perspective', , vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 63-75. Available from: The University of Western Australia Library Course Materials Online. [1 September 2004].
(Foster 2004) Foster, T 2004, , lecture notes distributed in Financial Accounting 101 at The University of Western Australia, Crawley on 2 November 2005.
(Hos 2005) Hos, JP 2005, Ph.D thesis, University of Western Australia.
(May 2007) May, B 2007, Bristol UK, Canopus Publishing.
(Baril 2006) Baril, M 2006, WU2006.0058. Available from: Australasian Digital Theses Program. [12 August 2008].
pers.comm.
(O'Reilly, cited in Byrne 2008) In the reference list provide the details of the author who has done the citing.
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  • Referencing and plagiarism

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 you refer to 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 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. Alternatively you can see examples of setting out in-text citations in Cite Them Right .

It has been emphasised that good referencing is an important academic skill (Harris, 2015).

OR

It has been emphasised by Harris (2015) that good referencing is an important academic skill.

It has been emphasised (Shah and Papadopoulos, 2015) that good referencing is an important academic skill.

OR

Shah and Papadopoulos (2015) emphasised that good referencing is an important academic skill.

It has been emphasised that good referencing is an important academic skill (Wong, Smith and Adebole, 2015).

OR

Wong, Smith and Adebole (2015) emphasised that good referencing is an important academic skill.

It has been emphasised that good referencing is an important academic skill (Wong , 2015).

OR

Wong (2015) emphasised that good referencing is an important academic skill.

It has been emphasised that good referencing is an important academic skill (The Open University, 2015).

Information from The Open University (2015) emphasises that good referencing is an important academic skill.
 

It has been emphasised that good referencing is an important academic skill ( , 2015).

Information from (2015) emphasises that good referencing is an important academic skill.

You use secondary referencing when you want to refer to a source that is mentioned or quoted in the work you are reading.

To do this, you add the phrase ‘quoted in’ or ‘cited in’ (depending on whether the author of the secondary source is directly quoting or summarising from the primary source) to your intext citation, along with the details of the source that you are reading.

West (2007, quoted in Birch, 2017, p. 17) state that…
Positive identity can be affirmed in part by a supportive family environment (Leach, 2015, cited in The Open University, 2022).

You would then include full references to Birch and The Open University in your reference list as these are the sources that you have read. There is no change to the structure of the full reference for these sources.

You should include page numbers in your citation if you are quoting directly from or using ideas from a specific page or set of pages.

Add the abbreviation p. (or pp. if more than one page) before the page number(s).

Harris (2015, p. 5) argues that…

In the drying process "polyphenol oxidizing reactions" form new flavour compounds (Toker 2020, pp. 585–586)...

Add a lower case letter to the date in the in-text citation and in the matching full reference to distinguish between the sources.

: Snow is formed in part because the temperature drops enough that rain freezes (The Open University, 2022a), however the freezing temperature of water is often below 0°C under certain conditions (The Open University, 2022b).

The Open University (2022a) '1.2 What are clouds?'. . Available at: (Accessed: 22 November 2022).

The Open University (2022b) '1.3.1 Snow and ice'. . Available at: (Accessed: 22 November 2022).

Note: this only applies when you are using multiple different sources with the same author and year – if you are referring to the same source more than once then you do not need to add a letter to the date. The citation will be the same each time and you only need to include the source once in your reference list.

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, reference the original journal article, and do not mention the module materials. If only an extract from an article is included in your module materials that you want to reference, you should use secondary referencing, with the module materials as the 'cited in' source, as described above.

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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  • Free Tools for Students
  • Harvard Referencing Generator

Free Harvard Referencing Generator

Generate accurate Harvard reference lists quickly and for FREE, with MyBib!

🤔 What is a Harvard Referencing Generator?

A Harvard Referencing Generator is a tool that automatically generates formatted academic references in the Harvard style.

It takes in relevant details about a source -- usually critical information like author names, article titles, publish dates, and URLs -- and adds the correct punctuation and formatting required by the Harvard referencing style.

The generated references can be copied into a reference list or bibliography, and then collectively appended to the end of an academic assignment. This is the standard way to give credit to sources used in the main body of an assignment.

👩‍🎓 Who uses a Harvard Referencing Generator?

Harvard is the main referencing style at colleges and universities in the United Kingdom and Australia. It is also very popular in other English-speaking countries such as South Africa, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. University-level students in these countries are most likely to use a Harvard generator to aid them with their undergraduate assignments (and often post-graduate too).

🙌 Why should I use a Harvard Referencing Generator?

A Harvard Referencing Generator solves two problems:

  • It provides a way to organise and keep track of the sources referenced in the content of an academic paper.
  • It ensures that references are formatted correctly -- inline with the Harvard referencing style -- and it does so considerably faster than writing them out manually.

A well-formatted and broad bibliography can account for up to 20% of the total grade for an undergraduate-level project, and using a generator tool can contribute significantly towards earning them.

⚙️ How do I use MyBib's Harvard Referencing Generator?

Here's how to use our reference generator:

  • If citing a book, website, journal, or video: enter the URL or title into the search bar at the top of the page and press the search button.
  • Choose the most relevant results from the list of search results.
  • Our generator will automatically locate the source details and format them in the correct Harvard format. You can make further changes if required.
  • Then either copy the formatted reference directly into your reference list by clicking the 'copy' button, or save it to your MyBib account for later.

MyBib supports the following for Harvard style:

⚙️ StylesHarvard, Harvard Cite Them Right
📚 SourcesWebsites, books, journals, newspapers
🔎 AutociteYes
📥 Download toMicrosoft Word, Google Docs

🍏 What other versions of Harvard referencing exist?

There isn't "one true way" to do Harvard referencing, and many universities have their own slightly different guidelines for the style. Our generator can adapt to handle the following list of different Harvard styles:

  • Cite Them Right
  • Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU)
  • University of the West of England (UWE)

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Daniel is a qualified librarian, former teacher, and citation expert. He has been contributing to MyBib since 2018.

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A publication of the harvard college writing program.

Harvard Guide to Using Sources 

  • The Honor Code
  • In-Text Citation Examples
  • When neither the author nor the page number is mentioned in the body of the sentence, you should include both the author’s last name and the page number in the parenthetical citation.

Colleges and universities need to create policies that foster inclusion for low-income students (Jack 24).

  • When the author’s name is mentioned in the sentence, you should include only the page number in your parenthetical citation.

As Anthony Jack argues, colleges and universities need to create policies that foster inclusion for low-income students (24).

  • If the source you are writing about does not have page numbers, or if you consulted an e-book version of the source, you should include only the author’s name in the parenthetical citation:

Colleges and universities need to create policies that foster inclusion for low-income students (Jack).

  • If you mention the author in the body of the sentence and there is no page number in the source, you should not include a parenthetical citation.

As Anthony Jack argues, colleges and universities need to create policies that foster inclusion for low-income students.

  • If you are referring to an entire work rather than a specific page, you do not need to include a page number.

In The Privileged Poor, Anthony Jack describes many obstacles that low-income students face at selective colleges and universities.

  • If you are referring to a source that has no listed author, you should include the title (or a shortened version of the title) in your parenthetical citation.

Harvard College promises “to educate the citizens and citizen-leaders for our society” (“Mission, Vision, & History”).

  • If you are referring to a source that has two authors, you should include both authors in your parenthetical citation.

The researchers tested whether an intervention during the first year of college could improve student well-being (Walton and Cohen 1448).

  • If you refer to a source that has more than two authors, you should include the first author’s name followed by et al. ( Et al. is an abbreviation for et alia which means “and others” in Latin.) When you use et al. in a citation, you should not put it in italics.

The researchers studied more than 12,000 students who were interested in STEM fields (LaCosse et al. 8).

  • If you refer to more than one source by the same author in your paper, you should include the title (or a shortened version of the title) in your parenthetical citation so that readers will know which source to look for in your Works Cited list. If you mention the author’s name in the sentence, you only need to include the title and page number. If you mention the author and title in the sentence, you only need to include the page number.

Colleges and universities need to create policies that foster inclusion for low-income students (Jack, Privileged Poor 24).

According to Anthony Jack, colleges and universities need to create policies that foster inclusion for low-income students ( Privileged Poor 24).

As Anthony Jack writes in Privileged Poor, colleges and universities need to create policies that foster inclusion for low-income students (24).

  • If you want to credit multiple authors for making the same point, you can include them all in one parenthetical citation. 

Students who possess cultural capital, measured by proxies like involvement in literature, art, and classical music, tend to perform better in school (Bourdieu and Passeron; Dumais; Orr).

  • If you refer to a source that includes line numbers in the margins, numbered paragraphs, numbered chapters, or numbered sections rather than page numbers, you should include the number in your parenthetical citation, along with “line,” “ch./ chs.,” or “sec./secs.”   You can include stable numbering like chapters even when there are no stable page numbers (as in an e-book). You should separate “line” or other designation from the work’s title or author’s name with a comma.  If the source does not include this type of numbering, you should not include it either.

We learn that when he went to the store to buy clothes for his son, “a frantic inspection of the boys’ department revealed no suits to fit the new-born Button” (Fitzgerald, ch.2).

  • If you are citing a play, you should include the act and scene along with line numbers (for verse) or page numbers, followed by act and scene, (for prose).

Guildenstern tells Hamlet that “there has been much throwing about of brains” (Shakespeare, 2.2. 381-382).

Chris is in this mindset when he says, “a couple minutes, and your whole life changes, that’s it. It’s gone” (Nottage, 13; act 1, scene1).

  • If you are referring to a video or audio recording that contains time stamps, you should include the time in your parenthetical citation to make it easy for your readers to find the part of the recording that you are citing.

In the Stranger Things official trailer, the audience knows that something unusual is going to happen from the moment the boys get on their bicycles to ride off into the night (0:16).

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / Harvard Referencing / Harvard Referencing Style Examples / How to reference an article in Harvard referencing style

How to reference an article in Harvard referencing style

What is an article.

Almost all writers and academics reference other people’s writing in their works. Referencing demonstrates that you have researched your topic, are well versed in its arguments and theories, and it also helps avoid charges of plagiarism.  

The Harvard citation system is just one of many referencing styles – and which style you choose is normally guided by the institution or publication you are writing for.

In this article, you will learn how to use the Harvard citation system to reference the following types of articles:

  • journal article
  • newspaper article
  • magazine article

Properly citing article details in the reference list will help the readers to locate your source material if they wish to read more about a particular area or topic.

Information you need:

  • Author name
  • (Year published)  
  • ‘Article title’  
  • Journal/newspaper/magazine name  
  • Day and month published, if available
  • Volume number, if available
  • (Issue) number, if available
  • Page number(s), if available

If accessed online:

  • Available at: URL or DOI  
  • (Accessed: date).

Journal articles

Academic or scholarly journals are periodical publications about a specific discipline. No matter what your field is, if you are writing an academic paper, you will inevitably have to cite a journal article in your research. Journal articles often have multiple authors, so make sure you know when to use et al. in Harvard style . The method for referencing a journal article in the reference list is as follows:

Reference list (print) structure:

Last name, F. (Year published) ‘Article title’, Journal name , Volume(Issue), Page(s).

Shepherd, V. (2020) ‘An exploration around peer support for secondary pupils in Scotland with experience of self-harm’, Educational Psychology in Practice, 36(3), pp. 297-312.

Note that the article title uses sentence case. However, the title of the journal uses title case. Additionally, the volume number comes immediately after the journal title followed by the issue number in round brackets.

If the original material you are referencing was accessed online, then the method for citing it in the reference list will be the same as that in print, but with an additional line at the end.  

Reference list (online) structure:

Last name, F. (Year published) ‘Article title’, Journal Name , Volume(Issue), Page(s). Available at: URL or DOI (Accessed: date).  

Shepherd, V. (2020) ‘An exploration around peer support for secondary pupils in Scotland with experience of self-harm’, Educational Psychology in Practice, 36(3), pp. 297-312. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02667363.2020.1772726 (Accessed: 08 October 2020).

In-text citation (print or online) structure:

In-text citations are written within round brackets and start with the last name of the author followed by the year published, both separated by a comma.

You can also mention the author within the text and only include the publication year in round brackets.

Examples:  

In this article (Shepherd, 2020) deals with…  

According to Shepherd (2020), when peer support is available…  

Talking about the secondary education system, Shepherd (2020, p.299) suggests that…

Newspaper articles

Even if you are referring to an incident which is public knowledge, you still need to cite the source.  

The name of the author in a newspaper article is referred to as a byline. Below are examples for citing an article both with and without a byline.  

Reference list (print) structure:  

Last name, F. (Year published). ‘Article title’, Newspaper name , Day Month, Page(s).

Hamilton, J. (2018). ‘Massive fire at local department store’, The Daily Local, 10 August, p. 1.

Last name, F. (Year published). ‘Article title’, Newspaper name , Day Month, Page(s). Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

Gambino, L. (2020) ‘Kamala Harris and Mike Pence clash over coronavirus response in vice-presidential debate,’ The Guardian, 8 October. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/07/debate-kamala-harris-mike-pence-latest-news (Accessed: 8 October 2020).

Reference list structure, no byline:

The basic reference list structure for the reference is the same for both print and online articles. If information isn’t available, simply omit it from the reference.

Newspaper name (Year published) ‘Article Title’, Day Month, Page(s). Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

The Chronicler (2016) ‘Local man wins lottery jackpot twice in one year’, 30 May, p. 14. Available at: https://thechroniclerpaper.com/local-man-wins-lottery-twice (Accessed: 1 October 2020).

In-text citation structure (print or online):

The last name of the author and date are written in round brackets, separated by a comma. The method is similar to referencing journal articles in in-text citations.

(Hamilton, 2018)

In his paper, Gambino (2020) mentioned that…

For articles accessed online which do not have an author, the name of the publication is mentioned in place of the author’s name and is italicized.

( The Chronicler , 2016)

Magazine articles  

The structure of magazine articles is similar to that of a journal article.

Last name, F. (Year published) ‘Article title’, Magazine Name , Volume(Issue), Page(s).

Ornes, S. (2020). “To save Appalachia’s endangered mussels, scientists hatched a bold plan”, ScienceNews, (198), p.2.

Last name, F. (Year published) ‘Article title’, Magazine name , Volume(Issue), Page(s). Available at: URL (Accessed: Date).

Ornes, S. (2020) ‘To save Appalachia’s endangered mussels, scientists hatched a bold plan’, ScienceNews, (198), p.2. Available at: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/endangered-mussels-appalachia-rivers-biologists-conservation-plan (Accessed: 3 October 2020).

  In-text citation (print or online) structure:

(Author last name, Year published)

(Ornes, 2020)

Published October 29, 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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Harvard referencing quick guide: Sample assignment

  • Introduction
  • General guidelines
  • Citing and referencing material

Sample assignment

  • Referencing software

Citing and reference list example

The text to the right shows how citations and the reference list are typically written in the Harvard referencing style.

Note: the text itself is not designed to be a proper example of academic writing and does not use information from the sources cited; it is for illustrative purposes only.

The purpose of this assignment is to show common elements of the Harvard style of referencing in Dundalk Institute of Technology. It is not intended to be an example of good quality academic writing, and indeed may not make sense in general, but it should show you how citations and a reference list are formed in the Harvard style of referencing (Cameron 2021). If you include a “direct quotation from a book you have read” (Giddens and Sutton 2021, p.117) you should include the relevant page number.

You don’t always have to write the author and year in brackets. Cameron (2021) explains that if the author’s name occurs naturally in the text then the year follows it in brackets. If there are two authors you should include both of them in the citation (Levine and Munsch 2021). If there are three or more authors you don’t have to list all of the names in the citation but you should include them all in the reference list (Robbins et al. 2020). The reference list should appear at the end of your assignment and be in alphabetical order based on the first author’s surname (Bruen 2022) rather than the order in which they appear in your assignment ( Papagiannis  2022). If you are using a citation for a second time you do not need to include it twice in the reference list (Cameron 2021).

Referencing an academic journal that you find online requires more information in the reference list but uses the same format for citing as other sources (Tesseur 2022). If referencing a source from a library database you say from which database you found it (Mayombe 2021).

Don’t forget that websites need to be cited too (Dundalk Institute of Technology 2022). We recommend you look at the full version of DkIT’s Harvard referencing guidelines, and contact the Library if you have any questions. Good luck.

Reference list

Bruen, M. (2020). River flows. In: Kelly-Quinn, M. and Reynolds, J., eds.  Ireland’s rivers . Dublin: University College Dublin Press, pp.39-59.

Cameron, S. (2021). The business student's handbook: skills for study and employment . 7th ed. Harlow: Pearson.

Dundalk Institute of Technology. (2022).  Research support  [online]. Available from: https://www.dkit.ie/research/research-support.html [accessed 25 March 2022].

Giddens, A. and Sutton, P.W. (2021).  Sociology . 9th ed. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Levine, L.E. and Munsch, J. (2021).  Child development: an active learning approach  [online]. 4th ed. London: SAGE Publications. Available from: https://books.google.ie/books?id=zlrZzQEACAAJ&dq [accessed 25 March 2022].

Mayombe, C. (2021). Partnership with stakeholders as innovative model of work-integrated learning for unemployed youths.  Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning  [online], 12(2), pp.309-327. Available from: Emerald Insight [accessed 25 March 2022].

Papagiannis, N. (2020).  Effective SEO and content marketing: the ultimate guide for maximizing free web traffic  [online]. Indianapolis: Wiley. Available from: EBSCOhost eBook Collection [accessed 25 March 2022].

Robbins, S.P., Coulter, M.A. and De Cenzo, D.A. (2020).  Fundamentals of management . 11th ed. Harlow: Pearson.

Tesseur, W. (2022). Translation as inclusion? An analysis of international NGOs’ translation policy documents.  Language Problems and Language Planning  [online], 45(3), pp. 261-283. Available from: https://doras.dcu.ie/26151 [accessed 25 March 2022].

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Harvard Style Citation and Referencing: a Detailed Guide from Experts

harvard referencing essays

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:

Feature Description Example
In-text citations For in-text citations, the Harvard citation style adopts a straightforward author-date structure, implying that, after a direct quotation or paraphrase, you should provide the author's last name and the date of publication in parenthesis. This way, your readers can quickly identify your sources of information without looking for a specific reference list. There is considerable debate within the literature on sustainable development about the relationship between sustainable development and economic growth (Mitlin, 1992)
Reference List A full reference list with complete bibliographic details for each work you referenced in your text is included at the conclusion of your paper. Reference lists in Harvard Style must follow a certain structure containing the author's name, the work's title, the year of publication, and other details. Example: Mitlin, D., 1992. Sustainable development: A guide to literature. , (1), pp.111-124.
Consistency Consistency is one of the hallmarks of Harvard Style, which means you should adhere to the same structure for all citations and references and include any relevant information.
Flexibility Books, journal articles, web pages, and other sources can all be formatted in Harvard Style. Depending on the kind of source, it also allows differences in the citation style.

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 Citation

Step 1: Understand the Basics The Harvard style requires a list of references at the end of the document that contains all the information about the sources and a text citation that includes the author's name and the year of publication. Before you begin, be sure you understand these fundamental principles.
Step 2: Collect Your Sources Before you begin, gather all the resources you'll need for the paper, such as books and websites. Make sure to write down all the pertinent details for each source, such as the author's name and title, the publication date, and the publisher.
Step 3: Create In-Text Citations In-text references must be used when using someone else's words or ideas in your writing. Usually, the cited passage or paraphrase is followed by a Harvard style in text citation. As long as it is obvious to whom it refers, it comes at the conclusion of the pertinent phrase. For example, (Neal, 2022).
Step 4: Create a Reference List Make a list of references towards the conclusion where you can discover all the information about each source. The author's last name and first initial appear at the top of the reference entry. Only the first word of the title and any proper nouns are capitalized. Similar to in-text citations, only the first author should be listed when there are four or more; beyond that, add 'et al.' to the end of the list.
Step 5: Check Your Formatting Make sure your references are properly formatted in accordance with Harvard Style Guidelines.

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.

By selecting the button below, you may get a template from our research paper writing services that includes a sample of an essay cover page, headers, subheadings, and a reference list.

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.

harvard citation tips

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?

What is harvard citation and example, is harvard citation mla or apa, how to cite a source with multiple authors in harvard style.

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

Harvard referencing style

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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.

Example of Harvard  title page

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.

Example of in-text citation a quote in Harvard style

  • 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.

Example of Harvard style citation a quote with author’s name

  • 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.

Example of Harvard style citation a quote from two different sources

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.

Example of Harvard style citing  references

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.

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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.  

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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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  • Select style:
  • Archive material
  • Chapter of an edited book
  • Conference proceedings
  • Dictionary entry
  • Dissertation
  • DVD, video, or film
  • E-book or PDF
  • Edited book
  • Encyclopedia article
  • Government publication
  • Music or recording
  • Online image or video
  • Presentation
  • Press release
  • Religious text

What is the Harvard Referencing System?

The Harvard citation style is a system that students, writers and researchers can use to incorporate other people’s quotes, findings and ideas into their work in order to support and validate their conclusions without breaching any intellectual property laws. The popular format is typically used in assignments and publications for humanities as well as natural, social and behavioural sciences.

It is a parenthetical referencing system that is made up of two main components:

  • In-text citations including the author’s surname and the year of publication should be shown in brackets wherever another source has contributed to your work
  • A reference list outlining all of the sources directly cited in your work

While in-text citations are used to briefly indicate where you have directly quoted or paraphrased a source, your reference list is an alphabetized list of complete Harvard citations that enables your reader to locate each source with ease. Each entry should be keyed to a corresponding parenthetical citation in the main body of your work, so that a reader can take an in-text citation and quickly retrieve the source from your reference list.

Note that some universities, and certain disciplines, may also require you to provide a bibliography. This is a detailed list of all of the material you have consulted throughout your research and preparation, and it will demonstrate the lengths you have gone to in researching your chosen topic.

‘Harvard referencing’ is an umbrella term for any referencing style that uses the author name and year of publication within the text to indicate where you have inserted a source. This author-date system appeals to both authors and readers of academic work. Scholars find the format an economical way of writing, and it is generally more accessible to the reader as there are no footnotes crowding the page. Only the name of the author, the publication date of the source and, if necessary, the page numbers are included in the parenthetical citations, for example: (Joyce, 2008).

Use the Cite This For Me Harvard style referencing generator to create your fully-formatted in-text references and reference list in the blink of an eye. Stop giving yourself extra pain and work for no reason and sign up to Cite This For Me today – your only regret will be that you didn’t use our citation generator sooner!

Popular Harvard Referencing Examples

  • Chapter of a book
  • Conference proceedings 
  • Court case 
  • Dissertation 
  • Encyclopedia article 
  • Image online or video
  • Presentation or lecture
  • Video, film, or DVD

Cite This For Me Harvard Referencing Guide

The following guide provides you with everything you need to know to do justice to all your hard work and get a mark that reflects those sleepless nights. If you’re not sure how to format your Harvard style citations, what citations are, or are simply curious about the Cite This For Me citation generator, our guide will answer all of your questions while offering you a comprehensive introduction to the style. Keep reading to find out why you need to use a referencing system, how to add citations in the body of your assignment, and how to compile a reference list.

Sometimes, students do not encounter citing until they embark on to degree-level studies, yet it is a crucial academic skill that will propel you towards establishing yourself in the academic community. It’s a common mistake to leave citing and creating a complete and accurate bibliography until the very last minute, but with the Cite This For Me Harvard referencing generator you can cite-as-you-go.

So, if you need a helping hand with your referencing then why not try Cite This For Me’s automated citation generator ? The generator accesses knowledge from across the web, assembling all of the relevant information into a fully-formatted reference list that clearly presents all of the sources that have contributed to your work. Using this Harvard reference generator to cite your sources enables you to cross the finishing line in style.

It is important to bear in mind that there is a plethora of different citation styles out there – the use of any particular one depends on the preference of your college, subject, professor or the publication you are submitting the work to. If you’re unsure which style you should be using, consult your tutor and follow their guidelines. If your lecturer or department does not ask you to use a particular style, we recommend using the Harvard referencing system because it is simple to use and easy to learn.

The powerful citation generator above can auto-generate citations in 7,000+ styles. So, whether your professor prefers that you use the MLA format , or your discipline requires you to adopt the APA citation or Chicago citation style , we have the style you need. Cite This For Me also provides citation generators and handy style guides for styles such as ASA , AMA or IEEE . To accurately create citations in a specific format, simply sign up to Cite This For Me for free and select your chosen style.

Are you struggling with citing an unfamiliar source type? Or feeling confused about whether to cite a piece of common knowledge? This guide will tell you everything you need to know to get both your parenthetical Harvard citations and reference list completed quickly and accurately.

Why Do I Need to Cite?

Harvard referencing can be a confusing task, especially if you are new to the concept, but it’s absolutely essential. In fact, accurate and complete referencing can mean the difference between reaching your academic goals and damaging your reputation amongst scholars. Simply put – referencing is the citing of sources you have utilised to support your essay, research, conference or article, etc.

Even if you are using our Harvard style citation generator, understanding why you need to cite will go a long way in helping you to naturally integrate the process into your research and writing routine.

Firstly, whenever another source contributes to your work you must give the original author the appropriate credit in order to avoid plagiarism, even when you have completely reworded the information. The only exception to this rule is common knowledge – e.g., Brazil is a country in South America. While plagiarism is not always intentional, it is easy to accidentally plagiarize your work when you are under pressure from imminent deadlines, you have managed your time ineffectively, or if you lack confidence when putting ideas into your own words. The consequences can be severe; deduction of marks at best, expulsion from college or legal action from the original author at worst. Find out more here.

This may sound overwhelming, but using our Harvard citation generator can help you avoid plagiarism and carry out your research and written work thoughtfully and responsibly. We have compiled a handy checklist to follow while you are working on an assignment.

How to avoid plagiarism:

  • Formulate a detailed plan – carefully outline both the relevant content you need to include, as well as how you plan on structuring your work
  • Keep track of your sources – record all of the relevant publication information as you go (e.g., If you are citing a book you should note the author or editor’s name(s), year of publication, title, edition number, city of publication and name of publisher). Carefully save each quote, word-for-word, and place it in inverted commas to differentiate it from your own words. Tired of interrupting your workflow to cite? Use our Harvard referencing generator to automate the process.
  • Manage your time effectively – make use of time plans and targets, and give yourself enough time to read, write and proofread
  • When you are paraphrasing information, make sure that you use only your own words and a sentence structure that differs from the original text
  • Every quote or paraphrase should have a corresponding reference in the text. In addition, a full reference is needed on the final page of the project.
  • Save all of your research and citations in a safe place – organise and manage your Harvard style citations

If you carefully check your college or publisher’s advice and guidelines on citing and stick to this checklist, you should be confident that you will not be accused of plagiarism.

Secondly, proving that your writing is informed by appropriate academic reading will enhance your work’s authenticity. Academic writing values original thought that analyzes and builds upon the ideas of other scholars. It is therefore important to use Harvard style referencing to accurately signpost where you have used someone else’s ideas in order to show that your writing is based on knowledge and informed by appropriate academic reading. Citing your sources will demonstrate to your reader that you have delved deeply into your chosen topic and supported your thesis with expert opinions.

Here at Cite This For Me we understand how precious your time is, which is why we created our Harvard citation generator and guide to help relieve the unnecessary stress of citing. Escape assignment-hell and give yourself more time to focus on the content of your work by using the Cite This For Me citation management tool.

Harvard Referencing Guidelines by School

  • Anglia University Harvard Referencing
  • Anglia Ruskin University
  • Bath University
  • Bournemouth University Harvard Referencing
  • Cape Peninsula University of Technology
  • Cardiff University Harvard Referencing
  • City University London
  • Coventry University Harvard Referencing
  • Cranfield Harvard
  • DMU Harvard Referencing
  • Durham University Business School
  • Edge Hill University Harvard Referencing
  • European Archaeology
  • Imperial College University Harvard Referencing
  • Institute of Physics
  • Leeds University Harvard Referencing
  • King’s College London
  • LSBU Harvard Referencing
  • Manchester Business School
  • MMU Harvard Referencing
  • Newcastle University
  • Northwest University
  • Oxford Brookes University
  • Oxford Centre for Mission Studies
  • SHU Harvard Referencing
  • Staffordshire University Harvard Referencing
  • Swinburne University of Technology
  • The Open University
  • UCA Harvard Referencing
  • University of Abertay Dundee
  • University of Birmingham
  • University of Cape Town
  • University of Gloucestershire
  • University of Greenwich Harvard
  • University of Hull
  • University of Kent – Harvard
  • University of Limerick
  • University of Melbourne
  • University of Northampton
  • University of Sunderland
  • University of Technology, Sydney
  • University of West London
  • UWE Harvard Referencing
  • UWS Harvard Referencing
  • Wolverhampton University Harvard Referencing
  • York University

How Do I Create and Format In-text Harvard Style Citations?

In-text citations are the perfect way to seamlessly integrate sources into your work, allowing you to strengthen the connection between your own ideas, and the source material that you have found, with ease. It is worth noting that in-text citations must be included in your assignment’s final word count.

When adopting Harvard style referencing in your work, if you are inserting a quote, statement, statistic or any other kind of source information into the main body of your essay you should:

  • Provide the author’s surname and date of publication in parentheses right after the taken information or at the end of the sentence

There are many assumptions when it comes to the information processing approach to cognition… (Lutz and Huitt, 2004).

  • If you have already mentioned the author in the sentence, Harvard referencing guidelines require you to only enter the year of publication in parentheses, directly after where the author’s surname is mentioned.

In the overview of these developmental theories, Lutz and Huitt (2004) suggest that…

  • If you are quoting a particular section of the source (rather than the entire work), you should also include a page number, or page range, after the date, within the parenthetical Harvard citation

“…the development of meaning is more important than the acquisition of a large set of knowledge or skills …” (Lutz and Huitt, 2004, p.8), which means that …

  • Note that if the source has four or more authors, you do not need to write out all of their surnames; simply use the first author’s surname followed by the abbreviation ‘et al.’ (meaning ‘and others’).

The results showed that respondents needed to reach out to multiple health agencies in order to cover the costs of their services (Wolbeck Minke et al., 2007).

  • If you are reading a source by one author and they cite work by another author, you may cite that original work as a secondary reference. You are encouraged to track down the original source – usually this is possible to do by consulting the author’s reference list – but if you are unable to access it, the Harvard referencing guidelines state that you must only cite the source you did consult as you did not actually read the original document. Include the words ‘cited in’ in the in-text citation to indicate this.

Fong’s 1987 study (cited in Bertram 1997) found that older students’ memory can be as good as that of young people…

(Fong, cited in Bertram 1997)

Why use a Harvard referencing tool? As well as saving you valuable time, the Cite This For Me generator can help you easily avoid common errors when formatting your in-text citations. So, if you’re looking for an easy way to credit your source material, simply login to your Cite This For Me account to copy, save and export each in-text Harvard citation.

How Do I Format My Reference List?

Utilizing and building on a wide range of relevant sources is one way of impressing your reader, and a comprehensive list of the source material you have used is the perfect platform to exhibit your research efforts. A reference list is always required when you cite other people’s work within your assignment, and the brief in-text Harvard style citations in your work should directly link to your reference list.

As a general rule a reference list includes every source that you have cited in your work, while a bibliography also contains any relevant background reading which you have consulted to familiarise yourself with the topic (even those sources that are never mentioned in the narrative). Your Harvard referencing bibliography should start on its own page, with the same formatting as the rest of the paper and aligned to the left with the sources listed alphabetically. Certain fields ask you to provide an annotated bibliography that includes your full citations with the addition of notes. These notes are added to further analyze the source, and can be of any length.

Many people use the terms ‘reference list’ and ‘bibliography’ interchangeably, and if you are using the Harvard reference style you may be required to provide a bibliography as well as a reference list, so be sure to check this with your tutor.

Follow these guidelines when compiling your reference list:

  • Start your reference list on a new page at the end of your document
  • General formatting should be in keeping with the rest of your work
  • Use ‘Reference List’ as the heading
  • Copy each of your full-length Harvard citations into a list
  • Arrange the list in alphabetical order by the author’s last name (titles with no author are alphabetized by the work’s title, and if you are citing two or more sources by the same author they should be listed in chronological order of the year of publication)
  • When there are several works from one author or source, they should be listed together but in date order – with the earliest work listed first
  • Italicize titles of books, reports, conference proceedings etc. For journal articles, the title of the journal should be printed in italics, rather than the title of the journal article
  • Capitalize the first letter of the publication title, the first letters of all main words in the title of a journal, and all first letters of a place name and publisher

Creating and managing your reference list with the Cite This For Me Harvard referencing generator will help improve the way you reference and conduct research.

Reference list / bibliography examples:

  • Book, one author:

Bell, J. (2010) Doing your research project . 5th edn. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

  • One author, book, multiple editions:

Hawking, S.W. (1998) A brief history of time: From the big bang to black holes . 10th edn. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group.

  • Chapter in an edited book:

Jewsiewicki, B. (2010). ‘Historical Memory and Representation of New Nations in Africa’, in Diawara, M., Lategan, B., and Rusen, J. (eds.) Historical memory in Africa: Dealing with the past, reaching for the future in an intercultural context . New York: Berghahn Books, pp. 53-66.

If all information resembles a book, use the template for a book reference

If a page number is unavailable, use chapter number. URL links are not necessary, but can be useful. When including a URL, include the date the book was downloaded at the end of the Harvard citation:

Available at: URL (Downloaded: DD Month YYYY)

  • More than three authors, journal article*:

Shakoor, J., et al. (2011) ‘A prospective longitudinal study of children’s theory of mind and adolescent involvement in bullying’, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry , 53(3), pp. 254–261. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2011.02488.x.

  • Conference papers:

Drogen, E. (2014) ‘Changing how we think about war: The role of psychology’, The British Psychological Society 2014 Annual Conference . The ICC, Birmingham British Psychological Society, 07-09 May 2014.

  • Web page, by an individual:

Moon, M. (2019) Ubisoft put an official video game design course inside a video game . Available at https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/25/ubisoft-video-game-design-course/ (Accessed 19 November 2019).

  • Web page, by a company or organization:

RotoBaller (2019) NFL player news . Available at https://www.rotoballer.com/player-news?sport=nfl (Accessed 17 September 2019).

For both types of web page references, the date the page was published or updated is placed in parentheses immediately following the author information. If a date is missing from the source, place (no date) next to the author’s name and make sure to include an accessed date at the end of the reference.

Are you struggling to find all of the publication information to complete a reference? Did you know that our Harvard citation generator can help you?

Time is of the essence when you’re finishing a paper, but there’s no need to panic because you can compile your reference list in a matter of seconds using the Cite This For Me Harvard style citation generator. Sign in to your Cite This For Me account to save and export your reference list.

Harvard Referencing Formatting Guidelines

Accurate referencing doesn’t only protect your work from plagiarism – presenting your source material in a consistent and clear way also enhances the readability of your work. Closely follow the style’s formatting rules on font type, font size, text-alignment and line spacing to ensure that your work is easily legible. Before submitting your work check that you have formatted your whole paper – including your reference list – according to the style’s formatting guidelines.

How to format in Harvard referencing:

  • Margins: 2.5cm on all sides
  • Shortened title followed by the page number in the header, aligned to the right
  • Double-space the entirety of the paper
  • ½ inch indentation for every new paragraph (press tab bar)
  • Suggested fonts: Times New Roman, Arial and Courier New for Windows; Times New Roman, Helvetica and Courier for Mac, 12pt size. Ensure that all Harvard citations are in the same font as the rest of the work
  • Reference list on a separate page at the end of the body of your work

Even when using a Harvard citation generator, always check with your professor for specified guidelines – there is no unified style for the formatting of a paper. Make sure that you apply the recommended formatting rules consistently throughout your work.

A Brief History of the Harvard Reference Style

The author-date system is attributed to eminent zoologist Edward Laurens Mark (1847-1946), Hersey professor of anatomy and director of Harvard’s zoological laboratory. It is widely agreed that the first evidence of Harvard referencing can be traced back to Mark’s landmark cytological paper (Chernin, 1988). The paper breaks away from previous uses of inconsistent and makeshift footnotes through its use of a parenthetical author-date citation accompanied by an explanatory footnote.

  • Parenthetic author-year citation, page 194 of Mark’s 1881 paper:

[…] The appearance may be due solely to reflection from the body itself. (Comp. Flemming, ‘78b, p. 310.*)

  • Mark’s rationale for his Harvard citational scheme:

*The numbers immediately following an author’s name serve the double purpose of referring the reader to the list (p. 591) where the titles of papers are given, and of informing him at once of the approximate date of the paper in question.

A tribute dedicated to Mark in 1903 by 140 students credits Mark’s paper with having ‘introduced into zoology a proper fullness and accuracy of citation and a convenient and uniform method of referring from text to bibliography’ (Parker, 1903). Today Harvard referencing is widely considered one of the most accessible styles and, although it originated in biology, these days it is used across most subjects – particularly in the humanities, history and social science.

The Evolution of the Harvard Referencing Style

Due to its simplicity and ease of use, the format has become one of the most widely used citation styles in the world. Unlike many citing styles there is no official manual, but institutions such as colleges offer their own unique Harvard reference style guide, and each has its own nuances when it comes to punctuation, order of information and formatting rules. Simply go to the Cite This For Me website to login to your Cite This For Me account and search for the version you need. Make sure you apply consistency throughout your work.

It is increasingly easy for writers to access information and knowledge via the internet, and in turn both the style’s guidelines and our citation generator are continually updated to include developments in electronic publishing. The Cite This For Me Harvard style citation generator currently uses the Cite Them Right 10th Edition, which has evolved in recent years to match the rapidly advancing digital age. In order to avoid plagiarism, you must be cautious about pulling information from the internet, and ensure that you accurately cite all source material used in your written work – including all online sources that have contributed to your research.

Key differences from previous Harvard referencing Cite Them Right editions:

  • Previous editions required printed books and eBooks to be referenced differently – in the 10th edition, both are now referenced using the same template (if all the necessary information is available). An Ebook is considered to be the digital format of a published book (or a book that is only published in digital format) that is meant for reading on an electronic device.
  • URLs are no longer a requirement for digital media if the information provided in the Harvard citation is sufficient to find the source without it. They should be included if the source is difficult to find, or pieces of source information – such as an author name – are missing.
  • When a source has more than 3 authors, use the abbreviation “et al.” instead of listing each out.

These days students draw on a diverse range of digital sources to support their written work. Whether you are citing a hashtag on Instagram , a podcast or a mobile app, the Cite This For Me generator will take care of your Harvard citations, regardless of the type of source you want to cite. So don’t be held back by sources that are difficult to cite – locating unusual source material will help your work to stand out from the crowd.

How Do I Create Accurate Harvard Citations?

Creating complete and correctly formatted citations can be a challenge for many writers, especially when documenting multiple source types. Our primary goal at Cite This For Me is to offer support to students and researchers across the globe by transforming the way in which they perceive citing. We hope that after using our citation generator and reading this Harvard referencing guide, what was once considered an arduous process, will be viewed as a highly-valued skill that enhances the quality of your work.

Disheartened by the stressful process of citing? Got a fast-approaching deadline? Using the Cite This For Me fast, accessible and free generator makes creating accurate citations easier than ever, leaving more time for you to focus on achieving your academic goals.

Create a free account to add and edit each Harvard citation on the spot, import and export full projects or individual entries. Things get even easier with Cite This For Me for Chrome – an intuitive, handy browser extension that allows you to create and edit a citation while you browse the web. Use the extension on any webpage that you want to cite, and add it to your chosen project without interrupting your workflow.

The Cite This For Me citation management tool is here to help you, so what are you waiting for? Accurate Harvard citations are just a click away!

Reference List

Chernin, E. (1988) The ‘Harvard System’: A mystery dispelled. Available at: http://www.uefap.com/writing/referenc/harvard.pdf (Accessed: 4 July 2016).

Parker, G. (ed.) (1903) Mark anniversary volume. New York: Henry Holt.

harvard referencing essays

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Referencing your work: Harvard 2024

  • Getting started
  • Using sources in writing
  • Harvard Hull
  • Footnotes Hull
  • Referencing videos
  • Harvard 2024
  • Footnotes 2024

Harvard Referencing

*new for 2024-25* this guidance has been updated to reflect how students access many materials. returning students may continue to using previous guidance which can be found here - legacy guidance, please note your tutors may also still be transitioning from earlier guidance so some learning materials may include examples that do not exactly match this style..

If you Google 'Harvard Referencing' you will find that every university has its own guide and that they all differ slightly in terms of punctuation, formatting and the order of information. 'Harvard Referencing' refers to any referencing style that uses the author name and year of publication within the text to indicate that information or ideas have been sourced from elsewhere. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as 'Author Date' referencing. This guide gives University of Hull students definitive examples of how to reference different materials using Harvard referencing for all their submitted work.

Jump to content:

  • Formatting citations
  • Citing figures and tables
  • Referencing anything not in the list

Books (print and electronic)

  • Articles (journal, newspaper or magazine)
  • Official Governmetal and NGO documents

Health documents

Other documents.

  • Web pages, social media and other online sources
  • Computer code or programs

Images, artwork and maps

Audiovisual sources, live performances, personal communications etc, self-translated works.

If you prefer, a pdf version of this information can be downloaded here:

  Harvard Referencing.pdf

A one page guide with the most common sources for your reference list can be downloaded here:

  Quick Reference Guide (Common Reference Types)

Put this guide where you can easily find it:

  Add to your Canvas Dashboard

This is the standardised referencing system to be used by all departments, faculties and schools at the University of Hull who ask their students to use the Harvard referencing system. Use these guidelines when referencing manually. We do, however, recommend that all students learn how to use bibliographic software (EndNote or RefWorks) once they are familiar with the system. Please see our Bibliographic Software pages for more information.

Citing references within your text

Guidance on formatting citations within the body of your work.

When using a Harvard referencing style, the in-text citations need to indicate who was the author or producer of the work you are citing and what year it was published or created. If you have provided a direct quotation, you will also need to include the page number (see direct quotations below). This information is given in parentheses (round brackets) as follows:

Author(s) mentioned directly in sentence (narrative citation):

When an author name is included within your narrative text, the name is followed by date of publication in brackets:

Adichie (2008) explained that when she first arrived at university, she felt her roommates did not think she was African enough.

Author(s) not mentioned in sentence (parenthetical citation):

When the author name is not included in the text, their surname and date of publication are added in brackets (known as parentheses) at the end of the associated point. The author and date need to be separated by a comma. If this is at the end of a sentence, make sure the citation is placed before the full stop:

Storytelling activates the brain’s insular cortex and allows us to experience sensations such as excitement or disgust (Widrich, 2012).

Please click on the appropriate section below for more rules you need to follow for in-text citations:

Two co-authors

For a narrative citation (when two co-authors are mentioned within the text), separate them with the word 'and' rather than using an ampersand (&):

Sharma and Li (2005) suggest that...

When two co-authors are given in the brackets at the end of the sentence their names are separated with an ampersand (&) unlike when the authors are referred to within the text.

All slides should use a full sentence to make an assertion in their title and give the evidence to back up that assertion in the main body of the slide. Where possible this evidence should be visual (Alley & Neeley, 2005).

Several authors in one sentence

When authors of different works are both referred to in a sentence, cite them separately:

Martin (2005) and Rothfuss (2011) both infer that...

If names are not included in the sentence, list citations in chronological order within brackets at the end, separated by semicolons:

(Garcia, 2019; Kheang, 2020).

Group authors

Where no specific author is given, use the name of the organisation or company. If the organisation is known by abbreviations always give the name in full the first time their work is cited.

If the name of the organisation appears in a narrative citation, include the abbreviation before the year:

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2011) have published guidance on professional conduct for nursing and midwifery students.

If the name first appears in a parenthetical citation, include the abbreviation in square brackets, followed by a comma and the year:

(Nursing and Midwifery Council [NMC], 2011)

You can then just use the abbreviation for future in-text references.

Note , the entry in the reference list should use the abbreviation too - so that it matches the in-text citation.

Multiple authors

For two authors, please see the Author name(s) included in text and Author name(s) not in text sections above as the rules are slightly different in each instance.

For more than two authors, in text citations only show the first author followed by et al. (which stands for 'and others' in Latin). This does not need to be italicised.

Brown et al. (2011) indicate that...

This has been confirmed by many different researchers (Chan et al., 2018; Popoola, 2019; White et al., 2021).

Note Unless there are more than eight authors, list them all in the reference list at the end of the document rather than using et al. For more than eight, list the first eight and then use et al.

No date available

Where no date is known, use the abbreviation n.d.:

The amount of Brazilian Atlantic forest remaining is decreasing every year (SOS Mata Atlântica, n.d.).

Direct quotations

For direct quotations, include the page number(s) after the date, following a colon. The abbreviation p or pg is not required:

According to Duarte (2010:53), “Incorporating story into presentations has an exponential effect on outcomes”.

Page numbers are not required when quoting from webpages.

If you have accessed an electronic book with no obvious page numbers (such as earlier Kindle books), location data can be given instead:

Stevensen (2011:loc 211) states that "a story is the best way to help employees 'grasp' an abstract concept”.

Note that if direct quotations are 30 words or more , they should be in a separate paragraph formatted like this (single line spacing, indented 1cm from both sides and no quotation marks (citation afterwards).

Citing different works by the same author

For more than one citation by the same author on the same information with different dates, list all the dates after the name separated by commas:

(Park, 2011, 2014).

Note that you only use semicolons between lists of different authors.

For more than one citation by the same author in the same year put a, b, c etc after the date:

(Park, 2011a)....(Park, 2011b).

Note, in the reference list, works by the same author, published in the same year, should be in alphabetical order by title. It is this position in the reference list rather than the position in the document that determines which letter a citation is given. It is therefore possible that you could cite (Park, 2011b) before (Park, 2011a) in the document itself.

Unknown authors

Where the author name is not known (for instance for some reference books) and a corporate author is not clear, use the title of the work (or web page) as your citation (if this is long you can use a shortened form):

(Concise Oxford Dictionary, 2004).

(Gourmet coffee boom, 2013).

Do not use the abbreviation Anon.

Citing from web pages

Be critical when using web pages as sources. Take extra care to assess the reliability and authority of the author or organisation and use accordingly. Never just give the URL as your in-text citation. Always follow the standard Harvard citation style of (Author, Year).

  • Authors are often companies and organisations: (NHS, 2004).
  • If no author or organisation is clear, give the web page title: (Gourmet coffee boom, 2013).
  • Dates are often found in the copyright information at the bottom of the web page.
  • If a date range is given, use the latest date.
  • If no date is given, use n.d.

Religious texts

Include the name of the religious text, Book, Sura or Chapter:Verse e.g.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" ( The Bible , Philippians. 4:13).

"And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates" ( The Qur'an , Miriam. 19:25).

For other religious texts, adapt to whatever is the conventional numbering system.

Plays and long poems

Plays and poems need more specific citations:

When quoting directly from plays, you should give a concise reference number indicating Act, Scene and line number. For Shakespeare plays, give the play title rather than the author in the citation:

"The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool" ( As You Like It , 5.1.30).

If the play is not divided in such a way, just give page numbers as normal.

When quoting from poems, give the line number(s) after the quotation, separate consecutive lines with a virgule (/):

"According to Ode to a Nightingale , “tender is the night, / And haply the Queen-Moon is on her throne, / Cluster’d around by all her starry Fays” (35-37).

Edited novels

The way you cite an edited novel differs depending on whether you are referring to information given by the editor or text from the novel itself. In this example both citations come from an edition of Jane Austen's 1818 novel Pride and prejudice which was published in 1998 and edited by Gillian Beer:

Editor's text (often the introduction or additional notes)

You cite the editor themselves:

Austen's novel was, for her "and her readers, fraught with moral dangers" (Beer, 1998 in Austen, 1818:xi).

Author's text (the novel itself)

Use the information from the original publication:

Anne's sister Elizabeth "Did not quite equal her father in personal contentment" (Austen, 1818:8).

The entry in the reference list would be listed under Austen, J. (1818) and would include the editor information after the title - see the example given within 'An edited book' in the Books section below.

Computer code

As well as to avoid plagiarism, citing re-used code in your source code is important to give credit to the original creators and, in some cases, ensure legal compliance. It also helps maintain the codebase over time by providing context and acknowledging contributions.

Consider your code like any document and cite as for an in-text citation in the body of the code (before the code) and then, either have a reference list at the end that gives the full details, or if you have written an accompanying report, put the reference list at the bottom of that instead.

Referencing information should always be given as a comment, using whatever syntax your programming language uses:

C++ /*comment*/
Python # in front of every line of comment
Html <!--comment-->

In the in-code citations, it is important to show whether the code is a straight copy or modified in some way. You should also cite algorithms the same way (these examples given for C++ - adapt as indicated in table above):

/*this copied extract is from (Author surname or corporate name, year) */

/*this modified extract is from (Author surname or corporate name, year) */

/*this algorithm is from (Author surname or corporate name, year) */

/* this modified extract is from (Smith, 2011) */

/* this algorithm is from (Source Forge, 2023) */

Secondary references

Sometimes you want to reference something that has been quoted, reproduced or cited in a source you have read (a secondary reference). Here are a few simple rules when dealing with them:

  • If at all possible, find the original source and use that instead.
  • Never pretend you have read the original source.
  • Only include the book/article you have read in the reference list.
  • Always make it clear in your in text citation that it is a secondary reference. Here are some examples:

Sani (2008) cited in Singh (2010) implied that...

Rebecca Bishop, a native American public relations officer (quoted in Sorensen, 2012) believes that...

In a letter to his brother, Rembrandt admitted his reluctance to accept money (Rembrandt, 1880 in Stone, 1995).

Figure 4: Aerial shot of the scene (Patel, 2003 in Justin, 2009).

For the above examples, the entries in the reference list would be for Singh, Sorenson, Stone and Justin (NOT Sani, Bishop, Rembrandt or Patel).

When to include page numbers

Always* use page numbers within your reference when you are quoting directly from your source:

According to Ryan (2004:267) music is the art that "touches, in one form or another, the widest segment of the world's population".

If there is a quite a gap between giving the reference and the quote, you can put the page number by itself in brackets directly after the quotation:

Work by Oliver (2011) found that mechanisms for assuring their development varied from non-existent through vague statements of “opportunities provided” (page 12) to a few well documented quality review processes.

Paraphrased text

Sometimes, especially when using books as sources, it can be helpful to give a page number even when you have paraphrased the text. This is not essential but it is a courtesy to the reader to help them find the part of the book that you are referring to more easily.

According to Gottshcall (2012:111) conspiracy theories are the result of a dark human need to make up stories where they do not exist.

Some disciplines, especially in the Arts, always want page numbers for paraphrased text, so please check with your lecturers or supervisors to see if this is required in your work.

* Unless there are no page numbers, i.e. web pages

Citing figures, tables and data within your work

If you are using an image, diagram, chart, photograph or other figures in your work, you should ensure these are properly referenced. If you made the figure yourself but used data from elsewhere to create it, you should ensure you cite the source of the data used to create your figure.

Citing figures in your work

Citing figures in written work.

In written work, you should always caption your figures with a label, a number and a meaningful title. Standard practice is to put captions underneath figures . You should ensure your figure (or data) citations are included in your bibliography as with any other reference. The punctuation used can vary, but always ensure you are consistent:

FigureNumber – Title (In-text citation)

FigureNumber: Title (In-text citation)

Figure Number. Title (In-text citation)

harvard referencing essays

Figure 1 - The Radcliffe Camera, Bodleian Library, University of Oxford (Whitby, 2005)

Note : For small assignments (essays) the numbers should be sequential (i.e. Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3). For larger assignments (dissertations, projects, thesis) it is standard practice to restart numbering at each chapter and prefix figure numbers with the chapter number. For example, Figure 2.1 would be the first figure in chapter 2 and Figure 4.5 would be the fifth figure in chapter 4.

Citing figures in presentations

For presentations, you don't necessarily need a caption and at a minimum only need to include an in-text citation on or near the figure. You should, however, ensure figures are explained, and this can be done via your narration, by using a caption or by using the slide's title. You should ensure your image citations are included in your bibliography as with any other reference. For presentations, this can be achieved using the slide notes area or a slide towards the end of the presentation.

harvard referencing essays

Citing tables in your work

Citing tables in written work.

If you are using a table in your work, you should ensure the table (or the data within it) is properly referenced. If you made the table yourself but used data from elsewhere to create it, you should ensure you cite the source of the data used to create your table.

In written work, you should always caption your tables with a label, a number and a meaningful title. Standard practice is to put captions above tables . You should ensure your table (or data) citations are included in your bibliography as with any other reference. The punctuation used can vary, but always ensure you are consistent:

Table Number – Title (In-text citation)

Table Number: Title (In-text citation)

Table Number. Title (In-text citation)

Table 1 - United Kingdom population mid-year estimate (data from: Office for national statistics, 2019)

Year Mid-year estimated population
2009 62,260,500
2010 62,759,500
2011 63,285,100
2012 63,705,000
2013 64,105,700
2014 64,596,800
2015 65,110,000
2016 65,648,100
2017 66,040,200
2018 66,435,600

Note: For small assignments (essays) the numbers should be sequential (i.e. Table 1, Table 2, Table 3). For larger assignments (dissertations, projects, thesis) it is standard practice to restart numbering at each chapter and prefix table numbers with the chapter number. For example, Table 2.1 would be the first tble in chapter 2 and Figure 4.5 would be the fifth table in chapter 4.

Citing tables in presentations

For presentations, you don't necessarily need a caption and at a minimum only need to include an in-text citation on or near the table. You should, however, ensure tables are explained, and this can be done via your narration, by using a caption or by using the slide's title. . You should ensure your table citations are included in your bibliography as with any other reference. For presentations, this can be achieved using the slide notes area or a slide towards the end of the presentation.

Remember: Presentations are a visual mode of communication. You should consider presenting any tables you want to include in the form of a chart, graph or other visual.

Compiling the reference list

Guidance on formatting the list and its entries.

The reference list appears at the end of your document and is a full list of the works you have referred to within your written text. It should be in alphabetical order by surname (or citation entry if a corporate author). References should be typed using single line spacing with a clear space between each reference . Indentation in not necessary. Because it will probably contain website addresses, it should also be left-aligned to ensure you don't get large gaps between some words.

Some departments may ask for a full bibliography, which would also include any works that you have consulted in the process of writing the piece but have not referred to directly. However this is not usually the case so please check with them if you are unsure. Sometimes you can just add an "Additional material consulted" section after your reference list to avoid confusion.

You will find below information about how to reference nearly all commonly used information sources. If there is anything missing, please use the advice under 'Referencing anything not listed below' to develop your own reference. If you are struggling, then contact us on  [email protected]  and we will advise you personally. 

Referencing anything not listed below

It is not possible for us to give precise referencing information for everything you could ever need to reference. The sections below give advice on referencing more common source types but if the thing you need to reference is not there, then you will have to make up a sensible reference yourself using the guidelines here:

Anything not listed

If you need to reference anything that is not already included in this guide then follow the basic template below.

Author/Creator (Year) Title or description [Medium if not obvious]. Anything that identifies it specifically. Any other information about where or when you saw it or that can help someone else find it.

Book with single author

Include the following information:

Surname, Initials. (Year) Title of book in sentence case* and italics: subtitle if present . Publisher.

Robinson, K. (2001) Out of our minds: learning to be creative . Capstone Publishing Ltd.

Gartner, M. (1993) Macroeconomics under flexible exchange rates . Harvester Wheatsheaf.

*Sentence case means you only capitalise the first word and any proper nouns.

Book with multiple authors

Give the following information:

Surnames and initials of all authors (Year) Title of book in sentence case: subtitle if present. Publisher.

For two authors use an ampersand (&) between them:

Nunn, C. L. & Altizer, S. M. (2006) Infectious diseases in primates: behavior, ecology and evolution . Oxford University Press.

For more than two authors, list all the names, separated by commas with an ampersand (&) before the last (do not use et al. in reference lists):

Daiches, D., Thorlby, A., Mottram, E., Bradbury, M., Franco, J., Dudley, D. R. & Lang, D. M. (1971) The Penguin companion to literature . Allen Lane.

Not the first edition

Put the edition number after the book title (after a comma). Use the full word 'edition' not an abbreviation (to distinguish it from the abbreviation for editor):

Author(s) (Year) Title of book in sentence case: subtitle if present , N o edition. Publisher.

Lynch, P. J. & Horton, S. (2008) Web style guide , 3 rd edition. Yale University Press.

An edited book

As for an authored book with the addition of (ed) or (eds) after editor name(s) i.e.

Editor (ed) (Year) Title of book in sentence case: subtitle if present . Publisher.

West, D. M. (ed) (2011) The next wave: Using digital technology to further social and political innovation . Washington DC: The Brookings Institution.

Bradley, A. & DuBois, A. (eds) (2010) The anthology of rap . Yale University Press.

An edited novel

These are slightly different as the editor is often only responsible for the introduction and any notes whereas the novel itself is clearly written by the original author. How you cite these within your text will also differ depending on whether you are referring to the work of the editor or the original author (see the entry on this in the 'Citing references within your text' section above).

Original Author (Original Year) Title of book in sentence case . Edited by Editor, year of publication. Publisher.

Austen, J. (1818) Pride and Prejudice . Edited by G. Beer, 1998. Penguin.

A chapter in an edited book

You need to give the title of the chapter and the title of the book. The title of the book, not the chapter needs to be in italics. If the chapter date is different to the book publication date (e.g. for collected articles) put the book date after (ed), before the book title.

Author(s) (Year) Title of chapter. In Editor(s) (ed(s)) Title of book . Publisher, page range of chapter.

Clark, R. E. & Feldon, D. F. (2005) The multimedia principle. In Mayer, R. E. (ed) The Cambridge handbook of multimedia learning . Cambridge University Press, 117-134.

An electronic book (eBook)

There is no need to give information about which provider you accessed the eBook through. It is sufficient to indicate that it is an eBook that you have read by putting [eBook] in square brackets after the book title or edition information. If no place of publication information is available, don't worry, just put the publisher. URLs are not required as these are usually session specific and would not link the reader to the eBook:

Author(s) (Year) Title of book [eBook]. Publisher.

Stein, J. L. & Allen, P. R. (1998) Fundamental determinants of exchange rates [eBook]. Oxford University Press.

Parnell, H. (1805) The principles of currency and exchange , 4 th edition [eBook]. J. Budd.

An eReader book (Kindle, Kobo, Nook etc).

As with other eBooks, it is sufficient to make it clear which version of the book you have read. This information is placed after the book title or edition information. You should include download dates if possible (versions are updated and this should be reflected). Download dates are usually the same as your purchase dates and can be found by looking back at your order history online. If you no longer have access to this information, don't worry, just give what information you have. City or publisher information is often unavailable and can be omitted if this is the case (although can often be found at the end of your eReader book).

Author(s) (Year) Title of book , eReader version. Publisher.[Downloaded date].

Stevenson, D. (2003) Story theater method: strategic storytelling in business , Kindle version. Cornelia Press. [Downloaded 2011].

Sheldrake, R., McKenna, T. & Abraham, R. (2001) Chaos, creativity and cosmic consciousness , Kobo version. Inner Traditions/Bear & Company. [Downloaded 4/8/2014].

Reminder: When quoting directly from eReader books where no page number information is present, location information can be used for in-text citations instead: (Stevensen, 2011:loc 211).

Translated book

You should include details for the translator and an indication of the original language. If the original was a historically significant book, include the date of the original as well as the translation (the original date would then be the one in your in-text citation).

Note if you are self-translating books or articles, please see 'Self-translated works' under 'Further guidance' towards the bottom of these guidelines.

Author(s) (Year) Title of book . Translated from (language) by (name of translator, date if needed). Publisher.

Wolf, C. (2007) One day a year, 1960-2000 . Translated from German by L. A. Bangerter. Europa Editions.

Sartre, J. P. (1946) Existentialism and humanism . Translated from French by P. Mairet, 2007. Metheun.

Audio book (CD or download)

Audio book on cd:.

Author(s) (Year) Title of book [Audio CD]. Version (abridged or unabridged). Publisher.

Tracy, B. C. (2012) Time management made simple [Audio CD]. Unabridged. Gildan Media Corporation.

Audio book via download:

Author(s) (Year) Title of book [Audio download]. Version (abridged or unabridged). Publisher. [Downloaded date].

Tracy, B. C. (2012) Time management made simple [Audio download]. Unabridged. Gildan Media Corporation. [Downloaded 6 Aug 2024].

Articles (journal, newspaper and magazine)

Journal article.

**New for 2024** To enable easy retrieval, you should provide a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) at the end of your reference (if there is one available). This is a string of numbers, letters and symbols used to permanently identify and link to the article online. The DOI can usually be found in the citation information near the top of the landing page for the article, or on the first few pages of an article. If you can't find the DOI, you can look it up on the website  CrossRef.org (use the "Search Metadata" option and search by title).

It's important to note that not all electronic materials will have a DOI. Articles published prior to 2000 are less likely to have one.

Examples with and without DOIs are given below.

DOI available

Author(s) (Year) Title of article in sentence case 1 .  Journal Title (in italics, main words capitalised) , Issue information 2 , page range 3 . https://doi.org/DOI 4

Ceylan B., Gunes U., Baran L., Ozturk H. & Sahbudak G. (2020) Examining the hand hygiene beliefs and practices of nursing students and the effectiveness of their handwashing behaviour. Journal of Clinical Nursing , 29(21-22), 4057-4065. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15430

de Moraes, K.F., Santos, M.P.D., Gonçalves, G.S.R., de Oliveira, G.L., Gomes, L.B. & Lima, M.G.M. (2020) Climate change and bird extinctions in the Amazon. PLoS ONE , 15(7). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236103

No DOI available

Author(s) (Year) Title of article in sentence case 1 .  Journal Title (in italics, main words capitalised) , Issue information 2 , page range.

Keech, J.M. (1974) The survival of the gothic response. Studies in the Novel , 6(2), 130-144.

1. Sentence case means you only capitalise the first word and any proper nouns.

2. Issue information is usually volume and issue but can sometimes be volume only or include supplement information. Occasionally it is a season (Spring, Summer etc), month or date (do not repeat the year if this is the case).

3. If a journal is an online only journal then all articles usually start with page 1. There is no need to give a page range if this is the case. Alternatively, provide the article number (starting with an 'e') if one is present.

4. The DOI should be a clickable link and therefore in the format https://doi.org/xxxxxxxxx . Note that there is no full stop following the DOI - this is to ensure it does not interfere with the URL.

Book review in a journal

The name of the reviewer is given first (and should be used in your in-text citation) rather than the author of the reviewed book. Please see the section for a journal article above for an explanation of DOIs if needed.

Surname of reviewer, Initials (Year) Review of Book title in Italics , by Author of book. Journal Title in italics , Issue information, page range, https://doi.org/DOI

Braash, M. (2015) Review of Principles of GNSS, inertial, and multisensor integrated navigation systems , 2nd edition, by Groves, P. D. IEEE A&E Systems Magazine, 30(2), 26-27, https://doi.org/10.1109/maes.2014.14110

Some book reviews will have a title of their own, that is different to the book. If this is the case, add it as you would for a journal article title:

Goldthorpe, J. H. (1973) A revolution in sociology? Review of Understanding everyday life: Towards the reconstruction of everyday knowledge , by Douglas, J. D. (ed) Sociology , 7(3), 449-462.

Newspaper article (print or archived online)

As with journals, it is not necessary to give the online information if you are referring to a printed article, or one that only came out in print originally:

Author if known or newspaper title if not (Year) Title of the article or column heading. Title of the newspaper , Day and Month, Page number.

Gunn, J. (1984) Why London will have to go international. The Times (London), 28 November, 17.

Cardiff Times (1910) Clydach Vale Disaster. Cardiff Times , 14 May, 10.

Newspaper article (online only or internet edition)

Internet editions of newspaper articles are often slightly different to the printed articles (information may be added or excluded). It is therefore important to make it clear that you have accessed the article online:

Author if known or newspaper title if not (Year) Title of the article. Title of the newspaper , Internet edition. Day and Month. URL [Accessed date].

Karim, N. (2014) Giant penguin fossil shows bird was taller than most humans. The Guardian, Internet edition. 4 August. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/aug/04/giant-penguin-fossil-antarctica [Accessed 5 Sep 2022].

Magazine/comic article

These are similar to printed newspaper or journal articles:

Author if known or magazine/comic title if not (Year) Title of the article or comic strip. Title of the Magazine/Comic , Issue or date, page number if relevant. URL if available online. [Accessed date if online].

Evans, L. & Winkler, D. (2011) Equador: into the fungal jungle. Fungi , 4(4) Fall, 10-12.

Parr, F. (2021) Stephen Sondheim memories: leading musicians and composers share their reflections on the Broadway legend. BBC Music Magazine , 2 December. https://www.classical-music.com/articles/stephen-sondheim-memories-leading-musicians-and-composers-share-their-reflections-on-the-broadway-legend [Accessed 15 Aug 2024].

Beano (2000) Minnie the Minx. The Beano , No 3000, 15 January, 2.

Cooper, C. (1998) T'Priell Revealed Pt 2. Star Trek, Starfleet Academy , February 1998.

Official Governmental and NGO documents

Act of parliament.

The way we reference Acts changed in 1963. Before that, the year of reign of the monarch (regnal year) needs to be included.

Prior to 1963

Name of Act (short title in italics with key words capitalised) (Year) Regnal year, Chapter Number. URL [Accessed date].

Friendly Societies Act (1955) 4 Elizabeth II, Chapter 19. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/4-5/19 [Accessed 20 Aug 2024].

Name of Act (short title, in italics with key words capitalised) (Year) Chapter Number. URL

Criminal Justice Act (2003) Chapter 44. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/44 [Accessed 10 Jul 2024].

If you wish to refer to a particular section (known as a schedule) or paragraph (these are numbered) you can add that extra information to your in-text citation:

( Criminal Justice Act , 2003:s35(122))

Parliamentary debate (Hansard)

Note that column numbers are displayed in the right-hand pane of the Hansard website when viewing a debate. You may find older debates do not contain column numbers. You may need to look at debates in full screen on your device; otherwise, columns may not be visible.

If the abbreviations HC for House of Commons and HL for House of Lords are common in your discipline, you may use these abbreviations in your reference (see the first example).

These guidelines assume you are accessing the debate online. If you accessed a printed copy, just omit the URL.

House of debate or committee (Year) Title of session or debate. Hansard Parliamentary Debates . Date in full, volume, col/cols column range if available. URL [Accessed date].

HC (1965) Royal Air Force (Valiant Aircraft). Hansard Parliamentary Debates . 1 February 1965, cols 724-727. https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1965-02-01/debates/501c2576-94bc-44a2-a94f-76eaebe40d3e/RoyalAirForce(ValiantAircraft) [Accessed 3 Mar 2024].

Delegated Legislation Committee (2011) Draft Legal Services Act 2007 (Approved Regulator) Order 2011. Hansard Parliamentary Debates . 31 March 2011, 672, cols 1-4. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmgeneral/deleg7/110331/110331s01.htm [Accessed 23 Jan 2024].

House of Lords (2020) Smart motorways. Hansard Parliamentary Debates . 17 March 2020, 802, cols 1372-1374. https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2020-03-17/debates/119AD084-E4CF-4BE3-BA98-AD0032873AC7/SmartMotorways [Accessed 3 Apr 2024].

Statutory Instrument

The title of Statutory Instruments includes a date which is why this looks a little different to other references.

Title with key words capitalised (including bracketed information if present) (SI Year and Number). URL

The Criminal Justice (Sentencing)(Licence Conditions) Order 2003 (SI 2003/3337). https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/3337/made [Accessed 4 Oct 2023].

The Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 (SI 2014/2095). https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2014/9780111113554 [Accessed 28 Nov 2023].

Note The in-text citation for Statutory Instruments is the short title including year, maintaining italics. ( The Criminal Justice Order, 2003 )

Law report/case

Legal citation takes a particular format, not part of the Harvard system. We suggest you do add a URL if you accessed the source online.

Names of the parties involved (these could be letters if anonymised) . Year of reporting - in square brackets or round brackets* Volume number Abbreviation of the law report series, First page of reference. URL [Accessed date].

Callery v Gray (No 2) [2001] 4 All ER, 1. https://vlex.co.uk/vid/callery-v-gray-no-793304177 [Accessed 7 Jul 2024].

F v Leeds City Council [1994] 2 FCR, 428. https://vlex.co.uk/vid/f-v-leeds-city-792936693 [Accessed 4 Aug 2024].

Brown v Board of Education of Topeka (1954) 347 U.S., 483. https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/347/483/ [Accessed 23 Dec 2023].

In the example above All ER = All England Law Reports, FCR = Family Court Reports and U.S. = United States Reports

Note In-text citations just use the names and date i.e. (Callery v Gray, 2001).

*Square brackets are used when the date is the primary method for finding the case (in the examples above there are more than one volume 4 and 2 in those report series). Round brackets are used when the date is not necessary to find the case (there is only one volume 347 in the United States Reports).

Command papers (including White Papers and Green Papers)

You need to include the official number of the paper (usually found at the bottom left of the front cover):

Authorship (Year) Title of document (Official number). URL [Accessed date].

The British Museum (2014) Report and accounts for the year ended 31st March 2014 (HC 436). https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a75857040f0b6360e474c12/41272_HC_436_British_Museum_print_ready.pdf [Accessed 2 Feb 2024].

HM Government (2012) Open Data White Paper: Unleashing the potential (Cm 8353). https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/open-data-white-paper-unleashing-the-potential [Accessed 7 Sep 2024].

British and International Standards

You need to include the identifying letters and numbers, they come before the title:

Standards Institution (Year) Letters and numbers of standard: Full title of standard in italics . Edition if given (i.e. not the first). URL [Accessed date].

International Standards Office (2018) ISO 50001:2018: Energy management systems: requirements with guidance for use. Edition 2. https://www.iso.org/standard/69426.html [Accessed 16 Mar 2024].

British Standards Institution (2021) BS ISO 690:2021 - TC: Information and documentation. Guidelines for bibliographic references and citations to information resources . https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/information-and-documentation-guidelines-for-bibliographic-references-and-citations-to-information-resources-1 [Accessed 23 Nov 2023].

Patents are generally accessed online, either on official governmental websites (like the UK's Intellectual Property Office) or worldwide on espacenet.

Inventer name (Year) Title of patent . Country granting patent, Patent number. URL.

Borgen, E. (2013) Wind turbine rotor with improved hub system . UK Patent GB2495084B. https://www.ipo.gov.uk/p-ipsum/Case/PublicationNumber/GB2495084 [Accessed 24 Mar 2024].

Karsten, S. (2014) Wind turbine tower and method of production thereof . US Patent US2014237919 (A1). https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?DB=EPODOC&II=47&ND=3&adjacent=true&locale=en_EP&FT=D&date=20140828&CC=US&NR=2014237919A1&KC=A1 [Accessed 11 Jul 2024].

European Union documentation

Many European Union bodies are commonly known by their initials. You can use these as long as you have given the name IN FULL in the main body of the document. For example, Commission of the European Communities (CEC). Include the following information in your reference:

Name of institution - common abbreviations acceptable (Year) Title of document (Official number). URL [Accessed date].

CEC (2005) Communication. Further guidance on allocation plans (COM(2005)703 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2005:0703:FIN:en:PDF [Accessed 27 [Jun 2024].

European Council (2014) Special meeting of the European Council (16 July 2014) (EUCO 147/14). https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/european-council/2014/07/16/ [Accessed 8 Aug 2024].

United Nations documents and publications

The United Nations produce both internal documents and external publications. These include resolutions, statements, reports etc. Titles could be long, sometimes (as for statements) the actual document does not say what they are about in their title but the initial link to them does. It is hard to produce a template that covers them all, but use the basic one below as guidance, adapting it as needed for the document in question.

Name of institution/committee - common abbreviations acceptable (Year) Title of document (Full date of document, Official number). URL [Accessed date].

UN Secretary General (2017) Progress on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases: report of the Secretary-General (21 December 2017, A/72/662). https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/1474584 [Accessed 5 Apr 2024].

UN Security Council (2010) Statement by the President of the Security Council on the Middle East (22 December 2010, S/PRST/2010/30). https://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/PRST/2010/30 [Accessed 22 Aug 2024].

UN Security Council (2014) Security Council Press Statement on Terrorist Attack in Mali (18 August 2014, SC/11523, AFR/2951, PKO/426). https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2014/sc11523.doc.htm [Accessed 22 Aug 2024].

Other Governmental documents and webpages

First, make sure your source is not actually one of the document types shown above (Acts, Command papers etc). If not, follow the guidance below.

If you are accessing information from a GOV.UK website it will either be a downloadable document (usually pdf) or information on the page itself. They are generally referenced like any other pdf or website:

Downloadable documents

Documents are often written by sub-sections of the Government and it is best to use these as the author rather than simply HM Government if applicable. If there is a common abbreviation for the department etc, you can use this as long as you have written it IN FULL followed by the abbreviation in brackets in the main body of the document i.e. Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The basic template below can be used:

Name of department/agency/commission - common abbreviations acceptable (Year) Title of document in sentence case (More specific date of document if relevant). URL [Accessed date].

Environment Agency (2019) Weekly rainfall and river flow summary (1-7 May 2019). https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/800875/Rainfall_and_river_flow_summary_1_to_7_May_2019.pdf [Accessed 15 May 2024].

DEFRA (2018) Notifiable avian disease control strategy for Great Britain . https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/737992/notifiable-avian-disease-control-strategy-2018.pdf [Accessed 15/5/2019].

HM Government (2011) 2050 pathways analysis: Response to the call for evidence, Part 1 (March 2011). https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/68821/2050-pathways-analysis-response-pt1.pdf [Accessed 15 Apr 2024].

Many GOV.UK pages show which department or agency has written the guidance and this should be used as the author if present. If not, use HM Government. Follow the same principles as for the downloadable documents above regarding common abbreviations of departments etc. There is usually a published date or last updated date at the bottom of the webpage. Use whichever year is the later. If no date is given, use the abbreviation n.d.

Name of department/agency/commission - common abbreviations acceptable (Year) Title of web page in sentence case . URL [Accessed date].

BEIS (2014) Policy impacts of prices and bills: How costs to the consumer are affected by changes in energy and climate policy. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/policy-impacts-on-prices-and-bills [Accessed 15 Jun 2024].

HM Government (n.d.) Foster carers: Types of foster care. https://www.gov.uk/foster-carers/types-of-foster-care [Accessed 15 Jul 2024].

Other NGO documents

There are so many different non-governmental organisations that a fixed template is difficult to create. Adapt the one below as necessary, trying to keep the styling consistent:

Name of organisation - common abbreviations acceptable (Year) Title of document (Full date of document, Official number if given). URL [Accessed date].

UNESCO (2014) Teaching and learning: achieving quality for all; EFA global monitoring report, 2013-2014 . https://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002256/225660e.pdf [Accessed 22 Aug 2024].

The World Bank (2014) Brazil: Implementation Status and Results, Development Policies for the State of Sergipe (P129652, Report No ISR15802). https://www‑wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/LCR/2014/08/18/090224b082652070/1_0/Rendered/PDF/Brazil000Devel0Report000Sequence003.pdf [Accessed 22 Sep 2023].

Danish Refugee Council (2014) Strategic Programme Document - DRC/DDG in Libya and Tunisia . https://drc.dk/fileadmin/uploads/pdf/IA_PDF/North_Africa/2014.04.09_SPD_-_Libya_Tunisia_-_2014.pdf [Accessed 22 Nov 2023].

Note that common abbreviations for health organisations such as NHS or NMC should only be used as author names if they have been written in full within the text of the document and the abbreviation given. For example Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2015) or (Nursing and Midwifery Council [NMC], 2015). Generally, if you are only referring to an organisation once, use the full title in your in-text citation and your reference list; if you are repeating it, use the abbreviation after the first occurrence and in your reference list.

Code of practice

Most codes of practice are available online and you will give a URL. If you do happen to access a paper copy, just omit that and give the name of the publisher instead (this is often the author organisation in full - if you have already given it in full, you don't need to give it again).

Name of institution - common abbreviations acceptable (Year) Title of code . URL [Accessed date].

Name of institution - common abbreviations acceptable (Year) Title of code . Publisher.

NMC (2023) The code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/nmc-publications/nmc-code.pdf [Accessed 10 Dec 2023].

HSCIC (2014) Code of practice on confidential information. Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Policy document

Name of institution - common abbreviations acceptable (Year) Title of policy document. URL [Accessed date].

NHS England (2015) Safeguarding policy. https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/safeguard-policy.pdf [Accessed 21 Mar 2024].

RCN Scotland (2015) Going the extra mile. https://www.rcn.org.uk/-/media/royal-college-of-nursing/documents/news/going-the-extra-mile.pdf [Accessed 6 Oct 2023].

Name of institution - common abbreviations acceptable (Year) Title of document (Official number if present). URL [Accessed date].

NICE (2016) Tuberculosis (NG33). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng33/resources/tuberculosis-1837390683589 [Accessed 21 Apr 2024].

World Health Organisation (2017) Integrated care for older people: Guidelines on community-level interventions to manage declines in intrinsic capacity. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550109 [Accessed 12 Jun 2024].

Reports are often written by named individuals, in which case you give the author just like you would with a book or journal article. If no named author is available, use the institutional name as for other documents above.

Authorship (Year) Title of report (Official number if provided). URL [Accessed date].

Francis, R. (2013) Report of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust public inquiry (HC 898-1). https://www.midstaffspublicinquiry.com/report [Accessed 27 Mar 2024].

Niche Health and Social Care Consulting (2012) An independent investigation into the care and treatment of a mental health service user (L) in Greater Manchester. https://www.england.nhs.uk/north/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/11/independent-investigation-into-the-care-and-treatment-of-a-mental-health-service-user-l-gm.pdf [Accessed 27 Mar 2024].

Other official health-related document

There are several other types of official publication from the NHS and associated bodies. Just follow the basic guidelines below.

Note that Department of Health documents will come under Official Governmental documents above.

Authorship (Year) Title of document (Official number if present) [Type of document if not standard]. URL [Accessed date].

RCN (2016) The needs of people with learning disabilities: What pre-registration students should know. https://www.rcn.org.uk/-/media/royal-college-of-nursing/documents/publications/2017/february/pub-005769.pdf [Accessed 8 Apr 2024].

Monitor (2013) About Monitor: an introduction to our role . https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/326396/About_Monitor___July_2014.pdf [Accessed 20 Mar 2024].

Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (2016) Abdominal pain (Ref No HEY-825/2016) [Patient leaflet]. https://www.hey.nhs.uk/patient-leaflet/abdominal-pain/ [Accessed 20 Mar 2024].

MHRA (n.d.) Mefanamic Acid 500g Tablets (Ref No 5/L/x/3) [Patient Information Leaflet]. https://mhraproducts4853.blob.core.windows.net/docs/6a8c1ffb5a169a1d809881d0c9393962e6ec9f4a [Accessed 28 Aug 2024].

Conference paper/session/poster

You may have attended a conference in person or be accessing resources shared online. Always give links to online materials if possible, even if you attended personally and are using your own notes or photographs, as this aids access.

Conference paper:

Author(s) (Year) Title of paper in sentence case*. Title of conference: subtitle if present [Conference paper] , Location and date of conference, page range if given. DOI or URL (if there is one) [Accessed date - if URL, not needed if DOI].

Saidin, K. (2017) Insider researchers: Challenges & opportunities. International Seminar on Generating Knowledge Through Research , Universiti Utara Malaysia, 25-27 October 2017. https://doi.org/10.21070/picecrs.v1i1.563 [Accessed 21 Jul 2024].

Conference session:

These could be any session at a conference not described as a paper, for example workshops, panel discussions, keynote speeches etc. Just put an appropriate description in square brackets after the session name. If a keynote speech has no separate title, use Keynote speech as the title and omit the descriptor.

Author (Year) Title of session [Descriptor]. Title of conference: subtitle if present , Location and date of conference. DOI or URL (if there is one) [Accessed date - if URL, not needed if DOI]

Gould, O.(2023) Improving international EFL/EAL students' reading comprehension via teaching and implementing multimodalities [Keynote speech] . Global Conference on Education , Dubai, 7-8 December 2023. https://www.gcedu.org/dubai-2023/ [Accessed 22 Jul 2024].

Conference poster

Author/Creator (Year) Title of poster [Conference poster]. Title of conference: subtitle if present , Location and date of conference. URL if available online [Accessed date].

Cardoso, V. & Plesca, L. (2023) Natalizumab - Real World Data - Switching from IV infusions to Subcutaneous injection. Patient experience [Conference poster]. Multiple Scleroses Trust Annual Conference , Hinckley Island, 26-28 March. https://mstrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-06/conference-2023-poster-natalizumab-switching-iv-sub-injection.pdf [Accessed 20 Sep 2024].

Company/organisational report

Printed report.

Author/Organisation (Year) Full title of report . Publisher if not same as author.

BT Group plc (2014) Annual report and Form 20-F 2014 . BT Group plc.

Online report

Author/Organisation (Year) Full title of report . URL [Accessed date].

NHS England (2013) Everyone counts: planning for patients planning for patients 2014/15 to 2018/19 . NHS Commissioning Board. https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/5yr-strat-plann-guid.pdf [Accessed 12 Sep 2024].

Government/NGO Reports

These are slightly different - see section above.

Dissertation or thesis

Give the following information.

Author (Year) Title of dissertation/thesis . Document type. Name of University. URL (if it can be accessed online) [Accessed date].

Stern, B. H. (2013) The impact of leadership on school improvement . EdD thesis. The University of Hull. https://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:8431 [Accessed 20 Aug 2024].

Walsh, R. J. (1977) Charles the Bold, last Valois Duke of Burgundy 1467-1477 and Italy . PhD thesis. The University of Hull.

Religious text

When referencing texts such as the bible, Qur'an or Torah, include the following information:

Title of the version you have used (Year) Translated by name of translater (if given). Publisher.

The Holy Bible: Authorised King James Version (2011) Harper Collins.

The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics) (2004) Translated by M. A. S. Abdel Haleem. Oxford University Press.

The Torah: the five books of Moses (2000) Translated by J.P.S. and Moshe Greenberg. The Jewish Publication Society.

PDF document

PDF documents are nearly always accessed online, and so you can point readers to the URL along with other information. If the URL is unavailable (for instance if you have been emailed it) just give as much information as you have or can find.

Author(s) (Year) Title of document . Publisher if known. URL [Accessed date].

Godin, S. (2012) Stop stealing dreams: what is school for? Do You Zoom, Inc. https://www.sethgodin.com/sg/docs/stopstealingdreamsscreen.pdf [Accessed 6 Aug 2024].

H. M. Government (2010) The coalition: our programme for government . Cabinet Office. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/78977/coalition_programme_for_government.pdf [Accessed 6 Aug 2024].

Informal document (leaflet, in-house publication)

For leaflets, handouts, flyers etc just provide what information you can:

Author/organisation (Year) Title of document . Other useful details.

University of Hull (2012) Learning, Teaching and Student Experience Strategy 2012-15 [Booklet]. University of Hull.

The Deep (2014) The Deep: for conservation not profit [Leaflet].

Archive material

Archive material is often unique: books could be annoted etc which means that the collection that they came from is equally as important as the document details.

Author/organisation (Year) Title of document , Edition and publisher information if relevant [Medium]. Whatever collection details are available (i.e. name of collection, reference numbers, location, name of library/archive).

Larkin, P. A. (1950) Workbook No 1 [Manuscript]. Papers of Philip Arthur Larkin, U DPL/1/1, Hull University Archives, Hull History Centre.

Smyth, R. & Thuilier, H. E. L. (1855) A manual of surveying for India: detailing the mode of operations on trigonametrical, topographical and revenue surveys of India , 2nd Edition. W. Thacker and Co. [Book]. Monograph, mg NO2/24Z3, Royal Geographical Society/Institute of British Geographers Archive. London.

Wilberforce, W. (1816) Letter to James Thomson Esq [Letter]. William Wilberforce letters, L DFWW/1/10, Hull Local Studies Library, Hull History Centre.

Working paper/Briefing paper

Working papers may also be known as briefing papers, discussion papers or research papers. They are created to generate discussion within a particular community (research area, business area etc). They are often the pre-publication versions of papers that are waiting to be accepted in journals but some are written purely for circulation as they are. Note that they are not peer-reviewed.

Some working papers do not give a lot of information - just give as much as you can following this basic format.

Author (Year) Title of the working paper (Series title and number if there is one). Publisher (if given). URL [Accessed date].

Kaplan, R. S. (2018) Reverse the curse of the top-5 (Harvard Business School General Management Unit Working Paper No. 19-052). https://ssrn.com/abstract=3274782 [Accessed 24 Feb 2024].

Harrison, R. & Thomas, R. (2019) Monetary financing with interest-bearing money (Staff Working Paper No. 785). Bank of England. https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/working-paper/2019/monetary-financing-with-interest-bearing-money [Accessed 22 Mar 2024].

Web pages, social media and other online resources (see also Datasets, Audiovisual etc below)

First, please note that a website URL is NEVER a suitable reference on its own . Dates can often be found in copyright information at the bottom of the page. If a range is given, use the later year. Use n.d. if no date is given at all.

Author(s) or company name (Year) Title of web page in sentence case* . URL [Accessed date].

Individual Author(s)

Reynolds, G. (2021) Design tips . https://www.garrreynolds.com/design-tips/ [Accessed 27 Mar 2024].

Group or company author

University of Hull (2024) Model publication scheme . https://www.hull.ac.uk/legal/model-publication-scheme [Accessed 26 Mar 2024].

Blogs are often unsubstantiated opinions and should be used with appropriate criticality as academic references. However, some reputable, published authors have their own blogs which can provide useful, up to date comments and insights. Include the following information:

Author (Year) Title of blog post [Blog post]. Title of website or blog . Day and month of post. URL [Accessed date].

Thompson, P. (2020) Reading against the literatures [Blog post]. Patter . 13 June. https://patthomson.net/2020/01/27/im-writing-a-journal-article-what-literatures-do-i-choose/ [Accessed 8 Aug 2024].

Reynolds, G. (2021) Presentation advice from Master Yoda [Blog post]. Garr Reynolds Blog . 10 November. https://www.garrreynolds.com/blog/presentation-advice-from-master-yoda [Accessed 6 Aug 2024].

Note - Some bloggers give permalinks to individual posts and these should be used for URLs if possible.

Forum entry

Quite often you are referring to an answer rather than a question in a forum, however, it is the question that you reference in this case. Always check the expertise of the answerer and use with caution and criticality. Author names are usually aliases, type them as they appear.

Author (Date) Title of post (often a question). Title of Forum . Day and Month of post. URL [Accessed date].

jlawler (2014) Can the term "homorganic" be applied to vowels and glides? Linguistics Stack Exchange . 8 August. https://linguistics.stackexchange.com/questions/8764/can-the-term-homorganic-be-applied-to-vowels-and-glides [Accessed 8 Aug 2024].

YouTube video

When referencing a YouTube video, it is the name of the person who posted the video, not who made it that you reference (these can be the same or different). Use the URL that you get when you click the 'Share' link as it is often shorter than the one in the address bar (you can even delete everything after the '?' in the link):

Name of person posting video (Year uploaded) Title of video , Series title if relevant [Video]. URL [Accessed Date].

Tunalioglu, M. E. (2011) Richard Phillips Feynman - The Last Journey of a Genius [Video]. https://youtu.be/Mn4_40hAAr0 [Accessed 8 Aug 2024].

Harvard University (2009) Episode 02: Putting a price tag on life , Justice: What's the right thing to do? [Video]. https://youtu.be/0O2Rq4HJBxw [Accessed 9 Aug 2024].

Social media

For other social media, adapt whichever of the following is most appropriate.

If your reader needs to register (and be accepted) to see the entries you are referring to, and you are not quoting them in full within your text, it is wise to include a copy of the actual text as an appendix to your work.

Author (Year) Title of Page (could just be author's timeline) [Facebook]. Day and month posted. URL [Accessed date].

Reynolds, G. (2024) Garr Reynolds Timeline [Facebook]. 17 July. https://www.facebook.com/garr.reynolds [Accessed 13 Aug 2024].

RSPB (2024) How to put up a swift nest box [Facebook]. 31 July. https://www.facebook.com/TheRSPB [Accessed 9 Aug 2024].

Author (Year) Full text of post (as written) [X]. Day and month posted. URL [Accessed date].

Glass, N. (2009) wondering just how far this moment is from dreams I've had. it all feels vaguely familiar yet completely foreign. resisting tears. so tired [X]. 30 March. https://twitter.com/noah/status/1422661056 [Accessed 13 Aug 2024].

Mailing list

If your reader needs to subscribe to see the entries you are referring to, and you are not quoting them in full within your text, it is wise to include a copy of the actual text as an appendix to your work. In this case, add 'see appendix n' after your in-text citation.

Author (Year) Subject line. Title of mailing list . Day and Month of message. URL [Accessed date].

Keenan, C. (2014) Peer led academic learning and disability. Learning Development in Higher Education Network . 8 August. [email protected] [Accessed 13 Jul 2024].

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Always check first that referring to AI generated text or images is permitted in your work. If it is, include the following information:

Communicator (Year) Description of communication [Communication type]. Prompted by name/handle (if not self). Date and time of communication.

Hotpot (2023) Monkey fighting a crab [AI generated image]. Prompted by Li Chen. 18 April 2023, 15:10.

Data citation allows you to reference data in the same way as you would reference bibliographic research outputs such as journal articles and books.

When you use any form of secondary data in your assignment, you need to reference the data source. In your reference list, give as much of the following information as is relevant (you can find a lot of the information when you view your basket):

Creator/Producer (Year) Data or dataset title [data format], Product or database or repository or website name , version or date or identifier. Publisher. DOI if present.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2022) Japan: Gross domestic product, expenditure approach [Table], National Accounts of OECD Countries , 2022(2). OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/3e073951-en

Gallup, G. H. (ed) (1976) 1943, January, Bread rationing [Book]. The Gallup international public opinion polls, Great Britain 1937-1975 , 71, Random House.

Citing data as part of a self-made graph, chart or other visual

If you have used secondary data to produce a graph, chart or other visual, you should cite both the data and the tool(s) you used. Caption your figure with 'Created with (Software), data from (Producer, Year: page number(s))'.

Data [online source]

Creator/Producer (Year) Data or dataset title [data format] Product or database or repository or website name, , version or date or identifier. URL or DOI [Downloaded date].

University of Hull (2018) Raw dune PIV data [MATLAB], University of Hull Hydra Digital Repository, hull:16477. https://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:16477 [Downloaded 18 Jul 2024].

Pearson, L. F. (1981) Hull Low Energy Housing Project: Social survey [Data collection], UK Data Service , SN: 1589. https://doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-1589-1 [Downloaded 18 Jul 2024].

Office for National Statistics (2024) Gross domestic product: quarter on quarter growth: CVM SA % [Excel spreadsheet]. Census 2021 , Release 28 June 2024. https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/timeseries/ihyq/qna/previous [Downloaded 18 Jul 2024].

Geospatial data (GIS software)

When you create a map that you include in your assignment, you only need to reference the data source and the tool you used (it is your own work after all). Caption your figure with 'Created with (Software), data from (Producer, Year)'. In your reference list, give as much as the following information as is relevant (you can find a lot of the information when you view your basket):

Producer (Version Year) Scale, Tile(s) [data format]. Product name, date. https://edina.ac.uk/digimap [Downloaded date].

Ordnance Survey (2013) 1:50 000, Tiles SE7954, SE7955, SE8054, SE8055 [DWG geospacial data]. OS MasterMap, December 2013. https://edina.ac.uk/digimap [Downloaded 21 Aug 2024].

British Geological Survey (2013) 1:50 000, Tile TA41 [Shapefile geospacial data]. Onshore Geology, 2013. https://edina.ac.uk/digimap [Downloaded 21 Aug 2024].

Computer Code or Programs

If you use or modify code from elsewhere as part of a project, you should credit the original code creator. You should always do this within the source code and you may also need to do so in any report you write related to the code.

There is some excellent general advice on citing sources in your code from MIT here: Academic Integrity at MIT .

In source code

When referencing as part of your code, the information should be put as a comment using whatever syntax your programming language needs:

/*References Author (Year) Title of source code (code version) [Type i.e. Source code or Program]. URL [Accessed date].*/

/*References

Smith, J (2011) GraphicsDrawer source code (Version 2.0) [Source code]. http://www.graphicsdrawer.com [Accessed 5 Jun 2024].

SourceForge (2023) LZ4 [Fast compression algorithm]. https://sourceforge.net/projects/lz4.mirror/ [Accessed 3 May 2024].*/

Using Python

#References #Author (Year) Title of source code (code version) [Type i.e. Source code or Program]. URL [Accessed date].

#References

#Smith, J (2011) GraphicsDrawer source code (Version 2.0) [Source code]. http://www.graphicsdrawer.com [Accessed 5 Jun 2024].

#SourceForge (2023) LZ4 [Fast compression algorithm]. https://sourceforge.net/projects/lz4.mirror/ [Accessed 3 May 2024].

<!--References Author (Year) Title of source code (code version) [Type i.e. Source code or Program]. URL [Accessed date].-->

<!--References

SourceForge (2023) LZ4 [Fast compression algorithm]. https://sourceforge.net/projects/lz4.mirror/ [Accessed 3 May 2024].-->

In a report or paper

The only difference is that you should put the title of the code in italics to maintain consistency with other sources:

Author (year) Title of source code (code version if relevant) [Type i.e. Source code or Program], URL [Accessed date].

SourceForge (2023) LZ4 [Algorithm]. https://sourceforge.net/projects/lz4.mirror/ [Accessed 3 May 2024].

You should reference every photograph you use unless you took it yourself. Give the following information:

Online photographs

Photographer (Surname, Initials if available, username if not) (Year) Title of photograph (or description if none available) [Photograph]. URL [Accessed date].

keithhull (2009) Hull is the new UK City of Culture for 2017 [Photograph]. https://www.flickr.com/photos/21506908@N07/3478651395 [Accessed 14 Sep 2024].

Harrop, P. (2012) Plinth and Maritime Museum, Hull [Photograph]. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2843877 [Accessed 14 Sep 2024].

Prints, slides or negatives (in known collections)

Photographer (Year) Title of photograph in italics [Photograph]. Whatever collection details are available (i.e. name of collection, reference numbers, location, name of library/archive).

Larkin, P. A. (1970s) Negative of [Monica Jones] on a ferry [Photograph]. Photographs of Philip Arthur Larkin, U DLV/2/1/30, Hull University Archives, Hull History Centre.

Watson, R. T. (1906) Hull City Football Team 1906-7 taken at Anlaby Road Hull the City football ground [Photograph]. Records of the Copyright Office, Stationers' Company, Copy 1/506/148, The National Archives, Kew.

Prints, slides or negatives (not in collections)

Photographer (Year) Title of photograph (or description if none available) [Photograph]. Publisher (if available/relevant).

Bartram, J. A. (2012) Bluebells in North Cliffe Woods [Photograph].

Book illustration, figure or table

If the illustration/figure/table is created by the author (basically not attributed to anyone else) then just cite the book as normal, giving the appropriate page number. If the image is attributed to someone else, the in-text citation would include both the person responsible for the image and the author(s) of the book:

Michel Eienne Turgot and Louis Bretez's Plan de Paris (in Tufte, 1990:36) is a classic example of ...

The reference list entry would then just be for the book itself:

Tufte, E. R. (1990) Envisioning information . Graphics Press.

Give as much as the following information as you can find (online information optional):

Artist (Year) Title of cartoon [Cartoon]. Title of publication , Day and Month. URL [Accessed date].

Rawson, M. (2014) Wealth inequality [Cartoon]. The Guardian , 29 July. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cartoon/2014/jul/29/martin-rowson-rich-wealth-good-inequality-cuts [Accessed 14 Aug 2024].

Painting, drawing or poster

Give as much of the following information as you can find. If available online, add URL [Accessed date]:

Artist (Year) Title of work [Medium]. Institution/collection, City (or Location, Exhibition, dates of exhibition).

Denison, T. (n.d.) Clippers on the Humber [Original Watercolour]. Myton Gallery, Hull.

Cook, B. (2008) Tommy Dancing [Oil]. Hull Maritime Museum, Working Hard, Playing Hard, 5 April - 8 June 2014.

Gold, B. (1979) Alien [Poster]. https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/05/most-iconic-movie-posters-of-all-time/alien [Accessed 15 Aug 2024].

Sculpture or installation

Include as much of the following information as you can find:

Artist (Year) Title of the work (exclude year if given) [Medium]. Name of collection/exhibition information or Location (include date seen for temporary installations).

Moore, H. S. (1968) Large Totem Head [Bronze Sculpture]. Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Producoes, S. (2013) Colourful Canopies of Umbrellas [Installation]. Agueda, Portugal, July 2013.

Printed map

Ordnance survey map.

Ordnance Survey (Year) Title of map , Edition if not first [Map]. Map/sheet number, Scale. Map series if appropriate. Publisher if different from author.

Ordnance Survey (2006) Kingston Upon Hull , C2 edition [Map]. 107, 1:50 000. Landranger series.

Map producer (Year) Title of map , Edition if not first [Map]. Map/sheet number, Scale. Publisher (if different from author).

International Travel Maps (2008) South America, , 5 th edition [Map]. ITM.875, 1:4 000 000. Richmond, BC: ITMB Publishing.

Max, M. D., Long, C. B. & MacDermot, C. V. (1992) Bedrock Geology of North Mayo [Map], Sheet 6, 1:100,000. Geological Survey of Ireland.

Reference as a standard book, giving scales if relevant. For a specific page, include the page number at the end of the in-text citation only.

Butler, R. (1959) Atlas of Kenya . Survey of Kenya.

Bossard, L. (2009) Regional atlas on West Africa [eBook]. OECD Publishing.

Digimap (viewed, annoted or printed)

Digimap does have a citation generator, but this provides a citation that is not consistent with the rest of our scheme so we do not recommend you use it (although it can sometimes be useful to confirm information).

Digimaps are generated by you, so you will have to give a description of the the map that makes it clear what it is showing as its title. Other information can be found by clicking on Map Information on the left of your screen or for some services, clicking the Sheet Information button (i) and then clicking on the map. The publisher is usually the copyright holder (check the bottom of the map). The citation year should be from the map date, if no map date is available, use the copyright date.

Map publisher (Year) Title/description of map [Map]. Scale. Source (Map Product). URL [Created on date].

Ordnance Survey (2014) Kingston upon Hull [Map]. 1:100 000. EDINA Digimap (OS Strategi). https://edina.ac.uk/digimap [Created 18 Sep 2024].

Landmark Information Group (1971) Barmby Moor, East Yorkshire [Map]. 1:2 500. National Grid Tile SE7748. EDINA Historic Digimap Service. https://edina.ac.uk/digimap [Created 18 Sep 2024].

Natural Environment Research Council (2014) Vale of Pickering [Map]. 1:50 000. EDINA Geology Digimap Service (British Geological Survey). https://edina.ac.uk/digimap [Created 18 Sep 2024].

Map created using GIS software

Producer (Version Year) Scale, Tile(s) [Data format]. Product name, version/date. https://edina.ac.uk/digimap [Downloaded date].

British Geological Survey (2013) [Shapefile geospacial data] 1:50 000, Tile TA41. Onshore Geology, version: 2013. https://edina.ac.uk/digimap [Downloaded 21 Aug 2024].

Google maps/Bing maps

URLs can be found for specific map views by clicking the Share button in each case. In Bing maps the URL is shown, in Google maps you will need to right-click on the Google Maps link (if you have searched, the link may be your search term) and and choose to copy the link address.

Map provider (Copyright date) Description of map [Map], View information. URL [Accessed date].

Google Maps (2014) Humber Dock Marina [Map], Satellite view. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.73926,-0.3387019,622m/data=!3m1!1e3 [Accessed 22 Aug 2024].

Bing Maps (2014) The University of Hull campus [Map], Bird's eye view. https://binged.it/1tkVlri [Accessed 22 Aug 2024].

DVD/Video/Blu-ray

Many referencing systems suggest that you need to include a place of distribution. However, this is rarely available on DVDs etc so we suggest you just put the distributor/studio which can usually be found on the reverse. If a place is available, include it before a colon as with publisher information.

Title in italics (Year of release) Directed by Director name [Medium]. Studio/Distributer.

Good Morning, Vietnam (1988) Directed by Barry Levinson [DVD]. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

Good Will Hunting (2011) Directed by Gus Van Sant [Blu-ray]. Lions Gate Home Entertainment.

TV programme

Title (Year of distribution). Directed by Director name. Written by Writer name (if known) [Medium]. Distributer.

In the Wild: Dolphins with Robin Williams (1998) Directed by Nigel Cole [VHS]. NTV.

Episode of a TV programme

Episode title (Year of distribution) Programme title , series and episode numbers. Directed by Director name. Written by Writer name (if known) [Medium]. Place of distribution: Distributer.

Old Fears (1979) Mork & Mindy , season 2, episode 12. Directed by Howard Storm. Written by April Kelly [DVD]. Los Angeles: Paramount.

Extra commentaries

If extra commentaries by directors/producers/actors etc are given on a DVD/Blu-ray you would reference using the person's name rather than the title:

Commentator (Year) Director's (or other) commentary. Title of Film . Version if needed. Directed by Director name [Medium]. Studio/Distributer.

Snyder, Z. (2009) Director's commentary. Watchmen , Director's Cut, Special Edition. Directed by Zach Snyder [Blu-ray]. Warner Bros.

McCarthy T., Powers, J. & Thompson, D. (2004) Critics' commentary. The Ultimate Matrix Collection . Directed by the Wachowski Brothers [DVD collection]. Warner Bros.

Broadcasts and streaming (TV, Radio, Netflix, BoB etc)

Dates given in brackets should be the original broadcast year (the copyright year given at the end of the programme). You may be able to find this and information such as writers etc on something like IMDb if you do not have the credits recorded. The broadcast date is the broadcast that you actually watched (except for online subscription-only programmes, in which case it is the release date).

Title (Year of first broadcast). Directed by Director name (if known). Written by Writer name (if known) [TV Programme]. TV channel (or service if online only), broadcast day and month, time.

Scotland decides: Salmond versus Darling (2014) [TV Programme]. BBC TWO, 25 August, 20:30.

If you are quoting a specific person on a programme, you can include their name first and cite them directly in the text instead of the programme name i.e. (Salmond, 2014):

Salmond, A. (2014) Scotland decides: Salmond versus Darling (2014) [TV Programme]. BBC TWO, 25 August, 20:30.

Episode title (Year of first broadcast) Programme title , series and episode numbers. Directed by Director name. Written by Writer name (if known) [TV Programme]. TV channel (or service if online only). Broadcast day and month, time.

The Empty Chair (2014) The Honourable Woman , season 1, episode 1. Directed by Hugo Blick. Written by Hugo Blick [TV Programme]. BBC TWO. 3 July, 21:00.

Chapter 2 (2014) House of Cards , season 1, episode 2. Directed by David Fincher. Written by Beau Willimon [TV Programme]. Netflix, 1 February.

Programmes/episodes watched via Box of Broadcasts

Please DO NOT cite these using the information given in the How to cite this tab underneath the broadcast window. Instead, just add the URL and access information as with other online resources:

Scotland decides: Salmond versus Darling (2014) [TV Programme]. BBC TWO, 25 August, 20:30. https://bobnational.net/record/236557 [Accessed 30 Aug 2024].

Radio programme

This is the same as for TV programmes but use [Radio Programme] instead:

In Tune (2014) [Radio Programme]. BBC Radio 3, 18 August, 16:30.

Skomer (2006) Afternoon Play . Written by Mike Akers [Radio Programme]. BBC Radio 4, 30 October, 14:15. https://bobnational.net/record/215 [Accessed 18 Aug 2024].

If you are quoting a specific person on the programme, you can include their name first and cite them directly in the text instead of the programme name i.e. (Rafferty, 2014):

Rafferty, S. In Tune (2014) [Radio Programme]. BBC Radio 3, 18 August, 16:30.

Film (cinema release, TV or BoB)

Film, cinema release or tv.

Title in italics (Year of release) Directed by Director name [Film]. Studio/Distributer.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) Directed by Matt Reeves. 20th Century Fox.

Film, seen on Box of Broadcasts

Please DO NOT cite these using the information given in the How to cite this tab underneath the broadcast window. Instead, just add the URL and access information as with other online resources. If distributer information is cut off the end by the TV channel, try looking on IMDb (Company Credits link):

Title in italics (Year of release) Directed by Director name [Film]. Studio/Distributer. URL [Accessed date].

The Birds (1963) Directed by Alfred Hitchcock [Film]. Universal Pictures. https://bobnational.net/record/234816 [Accessed 15 Sep 2024].

If the author or presenter of the podcast is not known, use the organisation or website name instead. Sometimes you need to work out the year as it may give the last updated information as '4 years ago' or something similar.

Author/Presenter (Year last updated) Title of podcast. Name of Web page [Podcast]. Day and month of post if shown. URL [Accessed date].

Harford, T. (2014) Student loans. More or Less: Behind the Stats [Podcast]. 15 August. https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/moreorless/moreorless_20140815-1655c.mp3 [Accessed 19 Aug 2024].

Heaversedge, J. (2010) What is mindfulness? Mental Health Foundation [Podcast]. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/content/assets/audio/what-is-mindfulness-mp3.mp3 [Accessed 19 Aug 2024].

Fearless Social (2014) How to use magazines to write better Facebook ads. Fearless Social: Social Marketing Evolved [Podcast]. 7 August. https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/fearless-social-social-marketing/id904864342?mt=2 [Accessed 19 Aug 2024].

When referencing a YouTube video, it is the name of the person who posted the video, not who made it that you reference (these can be the same or different). Use the URL that you get when you click the 'Share' link as it is shorter than the one in the URL box :

Harvard University (2009) Episode 02: Putting a price tag on life , Justice: What's the right thing to do? [Video]. https://youtu.be/0O2Rq4HJBxw [Accessed 8 Aug 2024].

PowerPoint (or other) presentation

Most presentations you will reference will be accessed online, so reference as follows:

Author(s) (Year uploaded). Title of presentation [Presentation]. URL [Accessed date].

Brenman, J. (2008) Thirst [Presentation]. https://www.slideshare.net/jbrenman/thirst [Accessed 8 Aug 2024].

Duarte, N. (2014) Slidedocs: spread ideas with effective visual documents [Presentation]. https://www.duarte.com/slidedocs [Accessed 8 Aug 2024].

If you accessed the presentations via other means, omit the URL and accessed date.

Video games

If accessed online, include the URL – otherwise just give publisher information.

Author/Creator (Year). Title [Video game]. Publisher (if there is one). URL [Accessed date] (if appropriate).

Galactic Café (2013) The Stanley Parable [Video game]. https://store.steampowered.com/app/221910/The_Stanley_Parable [Accessed 8 Aug 2024].

Musical score

Year should be the copyright year on the score itself, not the date the composition was written. If no year is given on scanned online scores (for instance on IMSLP), use (n.d). If no date is given on modern works, use the uploaded or last updated date. Editor or arranger information is not always relevant.

Individual score (print)

Composer (Year of publication) Title of score including work number if known [Musical score]. Editor or arranger information. Publisher.

Stravinsky, I. (1967) Rite of spring: pictures from pagan Russia in two parts [Musical score]. Boosey & Hawkes.

Rimsky-Korsakoff, N. (1955) Trombone Concerto [Musical score]. Reduction for tenor trombone and piano by Harold Perry. Boosey & Hawkes.

Individual score (online)

Composer (Year) Title of score including work number if known [Musical score]. Editor or arranger information. Publisher (if given). URL [Accessed date].

Bach, J. S. (2008) Canon for Walther, BWV 1073 [Musical score]. Edited by Alfred Dorffel. Leipzig: Breitkopf & Hartel. https://imslp.org/wiki/Special:ImagefromIndex/188975 [Accessed 20 Aug 2024].

Raboud-Theurillat, M. (2005) Saisons, op 40 [Musical score]. https://www.free-scores.com/PDFSUP_EN/raboud-theurillat-marie-christine-saisons-saisons-flute-67951.pdf [Accessed 20 Aug 8 2024].

Scores that are part of collected works

Composer (Year of publication) Title of score, Title of collection [Musical score]. Publisher. URL [Accessed date] (if relevant).

Britten, B (1960) How sweet the answer (The Wren), Folksong Arrangements, Vol 4 , Moore's Irish Melodies [Musical score]. Boosey & Hawkes.

Scores that are part of anthologies

Composer (Year of publication) Title of score. In Editor name (ed) Title of anthology [Musical score]. City published: Publisher. Available online: URL [Accessed date] (if relevant).

Handel, G. F. (1902) Deborah. In Spicker, M. (ed) Anthology of sacred song, Vol 1 (Soprano) [Musical score]. G. Shirmer. https://conquest.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/e/e9/IMSLP38723-PMLP85325-VA_-_Anthology_of_Sacred_Songs._Vol1-soprano.pdf [Accessed 20 Aug 2024].

Classical music recording

Cd, audio cassette or vinyl.

If dates are not available on older vinyl recordings, use (n.d.)

Composer (Year of release) Title of work . Title of Album if different to work. Performer/orchestra conducted by Conductor name (if relevant) [Medium]. Distributor/Label.

Elgar, E. (1995) Cello Concerto, Op 85, Enigma Variations. Philadelphia Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Jacqueline Du Pré conducted by Daniel Barenboim [CD]. Sony Music Classical.

Bach, J. S. (2012) Variato 8. A 2 Clav. Glenn Gould plays Bach, Goldberg Variationen [Vinyl]. Membran Media.

Streamed or downloaded

It is necessary to give specific information about where you streamed music from if it is ONLY available through that method. Otherwise, just give as much of the above information as your streaming service gives or you can find elsewhere (the same recording may be available on Amazon for instance). Downloaded music should always give a URL.

Debussy, C. (2005) La Mer . Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Simon Rattle [Streamed]. EMI Records Ltd.

Sibelius, J. (n.d.) Valse Triste . Erik Helling [Download]. https://d19bhbirxx14bg.cloudfront.net/sibelius-valsetriste-helling.mp3 [Accessed 28/ Aug 2024].

Other recorded music

Single artists have names that are reversed (Surname, Initials). Band names are unchanged. Single artists with non-standard names (Lady Gaga, Jessie J, P Diddy etc) should be treated as band names:

Artist (Year) Title of album [Media]. (Version if needed.) Label.

Gaye, M. (1971) What's Going On [Vinyl]. Tamla Records.

Iron Maiden (1998) Powerslave [Audio CD]. Enhanced, original recording remastered. EMI.

Album track

Artist (Year) Title of track. Title of album [Media].(Version if needed.) Label.

Blondie (1978) Hanging on the telephone. Parallel Lines [Vinyl]. Chrysalis Records.

Smith, S. (2014) Like I can. In the Lonely Hour [Audio CD]. Deluxe Edition. Capitol Records.

Artist (Year) Title of track. Title of album or equivalent [Media]. Label. URL [Accessed date] (if relevant).

Davis, M. (2005) Rouge, Boblicity: Original recordings 1949-1953 [Streamed]. Naxos Rights International Ltd.

Macklemore & Lewis, R. (2013) Starting Over, Spotify Sessions [Streamed]. https://play.spotify.com/album/3LwV3QIDQopbgERx5XJnBz [Accessed 28 Aug 2024].

Lyrics or libretto

Songwriter(s) (Year) Title of Song [Lyrics]. Track and album information if relevant. Distribution company or label if known. URL [Accessed date].

Taupin, B. (1973) Candle in the wind [Lyrics]. Track 11, Diamonds (Deluxe). MCA Records. https://genius.com/Elton-john-candle-in-the-wind-lyrics [Accessed 13 Aug 2024].

Geldof, B. & Ure, M. (1984) Do they know it's Christmas? [Lyrics]. https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/bandaid20/dotheyknowitschristmas.html [Accessed 28 Aug 2024].

These are usually published separately so have publisher details:

Author name(s) (Year) Title of publication [Libretto]. Edition or version if necessary. Publisher.

Sondheim, S. & Wheeler, H. (1991) Sweeney Todd [Libretto]. NHB Libretti, new edition. Nick Hern Books.

Liner notes/album cover notes etc

Liner notes are text found on the covers or inner sleeves of vinyl albums or on the little booklets that come inside CDs etc. These can be physical or electronic (for instance if you download an album). Sometimes they do not have individual titles, in which case just leave this out and move the [Liner notes] label to after the recording title.

Author (Year) Title of notes [Liner notes], Title of recording [Media]. Label. URL [Accessed date] (if relevant).

The Damned (1977) Thanks to no-one [Liner notes], Damned Damned Damned [Audio CD]. Stiff Records.

Cott, J. (2013) Stravinsky: Le Sacre du Printemps. Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic [Audio CD]. Sony Masterworks.

Bowie, D. (1972) [Liner notes]. Aladdin Sane . RCA Records. http://albumlinernotes.com/Aladdin_Sane.html [Accessed 24 Aug 2024].

Composer (Year of performance) Title . Name of orchestra/musician. Conducted by Conductor (if relevant). Place of performance, Date of performance.

Strauss, R. (2014) Elektra . BBC Singers and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conducted by Semyon Bychkov. Royal Albert Hall, 31 August 2014.

Composer or choreographer (Year of performance) Title . Dance company. Location, Date seen.

Bourne, M. (2014) Lord of the Flies . New Adventures Dance Company. Sadler's Wells, London, 8 October 2014.

In contrast to other live performances, the title of the play is given first, not the playwright.

Title by Author (Year of performance) Directed by Director (or Theatre Company). Location, Date seen.

That's All You Need to Know by Idle Motion (2014) Hull Truck Theatre, 19 September 2014.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (2014) Directed by Lucy Bailey. Harold Pinter Theatre, 18 July 2014.

Speeches often have their transcripts published online or are available on YouTube, in which case you can also give the appropriate URL. Omit this if you do not have it.

Speaker (Year) Title of speech [Speech or Speech Transcript]. Date of speech, Location of speech (if not given in title). URL [Accessed date].

Johnson, B. (2020) PM speech in Greenwich [Speech transcript]. 3 February. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-in-greenwich-3-february-2020 [Accessed 28 Mar 2024].

Obama, B. (2008) A perfect union [Speech]. 18 March, National Constitution Centre, Philadelphia. https://youtu.be/zrp-v2tHaDo> [Accessed 28 Mar 2024].

For emails from distribution lists, see electronic resources. Be careful about including personal email addresses and respect confidentiality. It is usualy to keep copies and include them in appendices.

Sender Name (Year) Message subject line [Email]. Message sent to Recipient's name (email address if appropriate). Date and time sent.

Heseltine, R. (2014) Reflective writing [Email]. Message sent to J. Bartram ([email protected]). 22 April 2014, 20:49.

Interview or conversation (including telephone or Skype)

Recorded interviews/conversations (including focus groups).

Name of person spoken to (Year) Description of communication [Conversation type]. Date and time of conversation/interview. Place if relevant.

Harlow, J. (2014) The relevance of employability to academic staff [Recorded Conversation]. 27 December 2014, 12:50. University of Hull.

Some supervisors will like you to provide a transcript as an appendix and cite the appendix and line number in your in-text citations - check with them individually.

Non-recorded interviews or conversations

Check with your tutor/supervisor to see if these are usable (they are not considered recoverable data and some academics will not accept them as evidence within your written work). If they are acceptable, give the same information as for recorded interviews/conversations. i.e.

Fallin, L. (2015) Liberal Democrat volunteering opportunities in Hull [Skype interview]. 14 June 2015, 18:30.

Use a description of the letter's contents if it has no obvious title:

Author (Year) Title/description of letter [Letter]. Personal communication, Date on letter.

Smith, J. (2013) Request for help with proofreading [Letter]. Personal communication, 23 January 2013.

Lecture notes

Always check with your tutor that they accept lecture notes or other course material in a reference list (many do not). It is always better to read the original sources of the material if available and reference these. Otherwise reference as follows:

Lecturer (Year) Title of lecture, Module title and code [Lecture]. Institution, unpublished.

Bartram, J. (2014) Effective Presentations, Enhanced Information and Research Skills 05056 1314 [Lecture]. University of Hull, unpublished.

See PowerPoint (or other) presentation above if you have access to the actual presentation used rather than relying on your own lecture notes (but still check that it is acceptable to reference this).

Further guidance

If you speak different languages and have referenced non-English-language works that you have translated yourself then follow the guidance below.

Author(s) (year) Title in original language (if possible) [Title translated into English]. Publication name in original language (if possible) [Publication name translated into English]. Volume/issue/page information (according to type of publication). [In ‘language’]

Krenke, A.N. and Khodakov, V.G. (1966) O svyasi povercknostnogo tayaniya lednikov s temperaturoy vozdukha [On the relationship between melt of glaciers and air temperature]. Materialy Glyatsiologicheskikh Issledovaniy [Data of Glaciological Studies], 12. 153–163. [In Russian]

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  • Referencing Books in Harvard Style | Templates & Examples

Referencing Books in Harvard Style | Templates & Examples

Published on 12 May 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 7 November 2022.

To reference a book in Harvard style , you need an in-text citation and a corresponding entry in your reference list or bibliography .

A basic book reference looks like this:

Reference template Author surname, initial. (Year) . City: Publisher.
Reference example Szalay, D. (2017) . London: Vintage.
In-text citation example (Szalay, 2017, p. 24)

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Table of contents

Edition or volume of a book, edited or translated book, book chapter, dictionary or encyclopedia, frequently asked questions about harvard referencing.

If the book you’re citing is a second or later edition (i.e. when the edition is stated on the title page or cover), specify this in your reference. Abbreviate ‘edition’ to ‘edn’ or ‘revised edition’ to ‘rev ed’.

Harvard referencing: Edition of a book
Template Author surname, initial. (Year) . Edition edn. City: Publisher.
Example Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2019) . 11th edn. London: MacMillan.

When referencing a book published in multiple volumes, include the total number of volumes in your reference.

Harvard referencing: Multi-volume book
Template Author surname, initial. (Year) (number of volumes vols). City: Publisher.
Example Leggiere, M. V. (2015) (2 vols). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

If you’re just referencing one volume, omit the total number but include the number and subtitle of the particular volume you’re referencing as part of the title.

Harvard referencing: Single volume of a multi-volume book
Template Author surname, initial. (Year) . City: Publisher.
Example Leggiere, M. V. (2015) . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

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If a book specifies an editor and/or translator, this information should be included in the reference.

When a book has an editor in addition to the main author, the editor’s name is included later in the reference.

Harvard referencing: Book with author and editor
Template Author surname, initial. (Year) . Edited by Editor surname, initial. City: Publisher.
Example Alcott, L. M. (2008) . Edited by Alderson, V. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

When the editor is the main author (i.e. when it’s their name on the cover), their name comes first. Use “ed.” for a single editor and “eds.” if there are multiple editors.

If you use a specific chapter or work from an edited collection, follow the format for referencing a book chapter instead.

Harvard referencing: Editor as author
Template Editor surname, initial. (ed./eds.) (Year) . City: Publisher.
Example Danielson, D. (ed.) (1989) . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

When you reference a book that has been translated from another language, include the original language and the translator’s name.

Unlike other names, the translator’s name is not inverted: the initial comes first.

Harvard referencing: Translated book
Template Author surname, initial. (Year) . Translated from the Language by Translator initial and last name. City: Publisher.
Example Nádas, P. (1998) . Translated from the Hungarian by I. Sanders and I. Goldstein. London: Vintage.

If a book contains chapters or works by various different authors, such as a collection of essays or an anthology of short stories, reference the specific chapter or work, followed by details of the book.

The chapter title appears in quotation marks, while the book title is italicized. At the end of the reference, specify the page range on which the chapter appears.

If a book is entirely written by one author, always reference the whole book, even if you only discuss one chapter.

Harvard referencing: Book chapter
Template Author surname, initial. (Year) ‘Chapter title’, in Editor surname, initial. (ed./eds.) . City: Publisher, pp. page range
Example Greenblatt, S. (2010) ‘The traces of Shakespeare’s life’, in De Grazia, M. and Wells, S. (eds.) . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 1–14.

Dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other reference works very often don’t list specific authors. In these cases, they are cited and referenced using their titles in the author position:

Harvard referencing: Dictionary (no author)
Template (Year) Edition edn. City: Publisher.
Example (2019) 8th edn. Glasgow: Collins.
In-text citation ( , 2019, p. 45)

Where a reference work does have an author, it can be referenced like a normal book. Where different sections of a reference work are attributed to different authors, they can be referenced like chapters in an edited book.

When an ebook is presented like a printed book, with page numbers and publication details included, you can reference it in the same format as you would the print version.

Otherwise, the ebook format differs slightly: I nclude a link to where you found or purchased it online instead of publisher information. This link is generally just to the store or database you used, not the specific book.

In addition, in-text citations will have to use something other than page numbers when necessary, such as a percentage or location number. Use whatever marker is available on your device.

Harvard referencing: Ebook
Template Author surname, initial. (Year) . Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
Example Le Guin, U. K. (2017) . Available at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kindle-eBooks-books/b?ie=UTF8&node=341689031 (Accessed: 8 May 2020).
In-text citation example (Le Guin, 2017, 85%)

A Harvard in-text citation should appear in brackets every time you quote, paraphrase, or refer to information from a source.

The citation can appear immediately after the quotation or paraphrase, or at the end of the sentence. If you’re quoting, place the citation outside of the quotation marks but before any other punctuation like a comma or full stop.

In Harvard style , when you quote directly from a source that includes page numbers, your in-text citation must include a page number. For example: (Smith, 2014, p. 33).

You can also include page numbers to point the reader towards a passage that you paraphrased . If you refer to the general ideas or findings of the source as a whole, you don’t need to include a page number.

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-text citation Reference list
1 author (Smith, 2014) Smith, T. (2014) …
2 authors (Smith and Jones, 2014) Smith, T. and Jones, F. (2014) …
3 authors (Smith, Jones and Davies, 2014) Smith, T., Jones, F. and Davies, S. (2014) …
4+ authors (Smith , 2014) Smith, T. (2014) …

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 .

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). Referencing Books in Harvard Style | Templates & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 30 August 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/referencing/harvard-book-reference/

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  5. Harvard Referencing: 15 Amazing Tips You Need to Know

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  6. In text Referencing (also known as ‘Harvard’…

    harvard referencing essays

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  1. Referencing made easy

  2. Harvard Style Referencing Made Easy Part Two. By Leonard Miller

  3. Harvard style format

  4. Harvard Referencing

  5. Manual Harvard Referencing

  6. HARVARD style Referencing a BOOK

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  1. A Quick Guide to Harvard Referencing

    When you cite a source with up to three authors, cite all authors' names. For four or more authors, list only the first name, followed by ' et al. ': Number of authors. In-text citation example. 1 author. (Davis, 2019) 2 authors. (Davis and Barrett, 2019) 3 authors.

  2. Harvard Referencing Style Guide

    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 ...

  3. Harvard Style Bibliography

    Formatting a Harvard style bibliography. 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: Harvard bibliography example.

  4. Harvard Citation Style: All Examples

    In-text citations. Two or more works cited at one point in the text. If two or more works by different authors or authoring bodies are cited at one point in the text, use a semi-colon to separate them: (Larsen 2000; Malinowski 1999) The authors should be listed in alphabetical order. Two or three authors or authoring bodies.

  5. Quick guide to Harvard referencing (Cite Them Right)

    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 ...

  6. What Is Harvard Referencing Style? Tips and Formatting

    The Harvard citation format uses parenthetical author-date citations embedded within the text. In this style, the citation places the last name of the author and the year of publication within parentheses. Keep in mind, you'll also need a full citation at the end of the paper in the reference list. In-text citations come after a sentence ...

  7. Harvard In-Text Citation

    In Harvard style, citations appear in brackets in the text. An in-text citation consists of the last name of the author, the year of publication, and a page number if relevant. Up to three authors are included in Harvard in-text citations. If there are four or more authors, the citation is shortened with et al. Harvard in-text citation examples.

  8. Free Harvard Referencing Generator [Updated for 2024]

    A Harvard Referencing Generator is a tool that automatically generates formatted academic references in the Harvard style. It takes in relevant details about a source -- usually critical information like author names, article titles, publish dates, and URLs -- and adds the correct punctuation and formatting required by the Harvard referencing style.

  9. Harvard Referencing Style Examples

    Reference example for the above in-text citation: Author Surname, Initials. (Publication Year) Title of the text in italics. Place of Publication: Publisher. Bloom, H. (2005) Novelists and novels. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers. Below are Harvard referencing examples of in-text citations and reference list entries for the different ...

  10. How to Cite Sources in Harvard Citation Format

    Contents. 1. Harvard Referencing Basics: Reference List; 2. Harvard Referencing Basics: In-Text; 3. How to Cite Different Source Types; 4. Ultimate Citation Cheat Sheet

  11. In-Text Citation Examples

    If you refer to a source that has more than two authors, you should include the first author's name followed by et al. ( Et al. is an abbreviation for et alia which means "and others" in Latin.) When you use et al. in a citation, you should not put it in italics. The researchers studied more than 12,000 students who were interested in ...

  12. How to reference an article in Harvard referencing style

    The name of the author in a newspaper article is referred to as a byline. Below are examples for citing an article both with and without a byline. Reference list (print) structure: Last name, F. (Year published). 'Article title', Newspaper name, Day Month, Page (s). Example: Hamilton, J. (2018).

  13. LibGuides: Harvard referencing quick guide: Sample assignment

    Sample assignment. Sample assignment. The purpose of this assignment is to show common elements of the Harvard style of referencing in Dundalk Institute of Technology. It is not intended to be an example of good quality academic writing, and indeed may not make sense in general, but it should show you how citations and a reference list are ...

  14. Complete Guide to Harvard Style Citation: Tips, Examples

    Harvard citation is a referencing style commonly used in academic writing to acknowledge the sources of information used in research papers and essays. In Harvard citation, each in-text citation includes the author's last name and the year of publication, allowing readers to locate the full bibliographic details in the reference list easily.

  15. Example Essay with Harvard Referencing

    Butler et al (2010) assert that in this scenario, the Harvard referencing system stipulates that the citation should be listed alphabetically to avoid confusion. An example of this is as follows; Bach & Edwards (2012a) assert that human resource management is an essential core function and/or support function in any modern organisation.

  16. Harvard Referencing Style & Format: Easy Guide + Examples

    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: Humanities

  17. Reference a Website in Harvard Style

    Revised on 7 November 2022. To reference a website in Harvard style, include the name of the author or organization, the year of publication, the title of the page, the URL, and the date on which you accessed the website. In-text citation example. (Google, 2020) Reference template. Author surname, initial.

  18. Harvard Referencing Guide

    Harvard is a referencing style which is used widely across a range of disciplines; it could arguably be deemed the "most commonly used" style. It is primarily used in the humanities and social sciences subjects, though some sciences and business subjects use it, too. Learn how to reference in the Harvard style of academic citation with the ...

  19. FREE Harvard Referencing Generator

    When adopting Harvard style referencing in your work, if you are inserting a quote, statement, statistic or any other kind of source information into the main body of your essay you should: Provide the author's surname and date of publication in parentheses right after the taken information or at the end of the sentence

  20. Free Harvard Referencing Generator

    How to reference in Harvard style. Harvard referencing is a widely used referencing style (especially in UK universities) that includes author-date in-text citations and a complete reference list at the end of the text.. There are many versions of Harvard referencing style. Our guidance reflects the rules laid out in Cite Them Right: The Essential Referencing Guide (12th edition) by Richard ...

  21. Harvard 2024

    When using a Harvard referencing style, the in-text citations need to indicate who was the author or producer of the work you are citing and what year it was published or created. ... Note: For small assignments (essays) the numbers should be sequential (i.e. Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3). For larger assignments (dissertations, projects, thesis ...

  22. Free Referencing Generator

    Referencing your sources is important because it: The most common citation styles in the UK are APA, MLA, Harvard, Vancouver, MHRA, and Oscola. Each citation style has specific rules for formatting citations. Scribbr's free Reference Generator can generate perfect references and in-text citations in both APA and MLA styles.

  23. Referencing Books in Harvard Style

    To reference a book in Harvard style, you need an in-text citation and a corresponding entry in your reference list or bibliography. A basic book reference looks like this: Author surname, initial. (Year) Book title. City: Publisher. Szalay, D. (2017) All that man is. London: Vintage. (Szalay, 2017, p. 24)