Referencing Quick Guide - Harvard (Cite Them Right)

Referencing is made up of two elements: In-text citations and full references.

 

Full references always go at the end of your assignment, under a heading of 'References' or 'Reference List', in a list that is arranged alphabetically by author's surname. There should be a full reference for each of the works you cite; the purpose being the reference should have enough information to help a reader locate that source for themselves.

It's important to follow the specific format given in the referencing handbook, and to be consistent with capitalisation, punctuation and italicisation. 

 

Reference List or Bibliography?

 

• A reference list should include only those works which you have cited in your own work.
• A bibliography will also include references for your background reading, and other works you may have consulted but not cited.

 

You should check with your tutors whether they require a reference list or bibliography, or (in some cases) both.

 

Books and eBooks

 

If your eBook is otherwise identical to the print version (same publication details, edition, etc) then it can be referenced in the same way as a physical book. 

 

Format for a book or identical ebook:

Author (Year) Title of work in italics. Edition number (if 2nd or higher). Place of publication: Name of Publisher. Series and volume number (if relevant).

e.g.

Hedley, C. and Shaw, N. (2023) Plant medicine: a collection of the teachings of herbalists Christopher Hedley & Non Shaw. London: Aeon Books.

 

---

Journal Articles

 

When referencing an online article, remember to include the DOI or a URL with an accession date. (Note: you do not need to include an accession date when using a DOI, as this is a permanent link and not liable to change as a URL might.)

Format for a physical journal article:

Author (Year) 'Title in single quotation marks', Title of Journal in italics, volume number (issue number), page range or article number.

Format for an online journal article:

Author (Year) 'Title in single quotation marks', Title of Journal in italics, volume number (issue number), page range or article number. Available at: DOI or URL (Accession date if URL).

e.g.

Dutta, M. and Whittle, C. (2016) 'Intra-country technology transfer', Indian Economic Review, 51(2), pp. 117-127. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1755182X.2010.523145

 

---

Websites

When referencing information on the internet, you should distinguish what you are referring to, as there are all kinds of online sites: personal blogs, wikis, governments sites, organisational sites, etc.

If the webpage has no date of publication/revision, use (no date). If a website has no clear author or date, it is unlikely to be a suitable academic source.

 

Format for a website with a named author:

Author (Year the site was published/last updated) Title of website or page in italics. Available at: URL (Accessed: date)

e.g.

NHS (2023) Covid-19 symptoms and what to do. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/covid-19-symptoms-and-what-to-do/ (Accessed 14 September 2023)

 

Format for a blog:

Author (Year the site was last updated) 'Title of blog entry in single quotation marks', Title of the site in italics, Day and month of posted entry. Available at: URL (Accessed: date)