A Beginner’s Guide to Harvard Referencing

Your professor (especially in the UK or Australia) asks for “Harvard style.” You search online, but unlike APA or MLA, there’s no single official website. One university guide says one thing, another says something slightly different. This confusion is the #1 problem with Harvard referencing.

Harvard referencing is not a style with one official manual; it is an “author-date” convention. It’s a system with general rules, but small details (like punctuation) can vary between institutions.

This guide is your foundational resource for the most common version of Harvard style. We will cover the “macro” rules (the two-part system) and the “micro” skills (formatting citations) to help you write a consistent paper and avoid plagiarism.

What is Harvard Referencing?

Harvard referencing is an author-date citation system. It uses parenthetical citations in the text to point to a full entry in a reference list at the end of the paper. It is widely used in UK and Australian universities and is common in the social sciences and business.

The Two Parts of Harvard Referencing

1. In-Text Citations: Parenthetical citations in the text, e.g., (Smith 2024, p. 15).
2. Reference List: An alphabetical list of all sources at the end of the paper.

Harvard vs. APA: What’s the Difference?

Harvard is often confused with APA style, as both are author-date systems. The difference is in the details:

The key is consistency. As this guide from Anglia Ruskin University shows, the most important rule is to “be consistent” with whichever variation you choose.

General Paper Formatting (Harvard Style)

Because there is no single manual, formatting rules can vary. However, these are the most common standards for a student paper.

• Margins: 1-inch (or 2.54cm) margins on all sides.
• Font: A readable, standard font like Times New Roman 12pt or Arial 11pt.
• Spacing: Double-spacing for the main body of the text.
• Title Page: Most university papers require a separate title page. This should include your paper’s title, your name, the course, your instructor, and the date.
• Page Numbers: Page numbers are usually placed in the top-right corner.

Harvard In-Text Citations

This is the parenthetical citation in your text. It has three parts: (Author Year, p. #).

Paraphrasing vs. Direct Quotes

You must cite *both*.

• Paraphrasing: When you summarize an idea, you must cite the author and year.

  Example: Research shows that memory is highly fallible (Smith 2024).

• Direct Quotes: When you use the author’s exact words, you must include a page number. Use “p.” for one page or “pp.” for a page range.

  Example: Smith (2024, p. 45) argues that “memory is not a video recording.”

  Example: This was described as “a significant breakthrough” (Smith 2024, pp. 45-47).

Citing by Number of Authors

This is a common point of confusion.

• One Author: (Smith 2024, p. 15)
• Two Authors: (Smith and Jones 2024, p. 15)
• Three Authors: (Smith, Jones and Davis 2024, p. 15)
• Four or More Authors: Use the first author’s name followed by “et al.”

  Example: (Smith et al. 2024, p. 15)

How to Format the Harvard Reference List

Your “Reference List” (or “References”) is the alphabetical list of all sources at the end of your paper.

Core Formatting Rules

1. New Page: Start on a new page after your main body.
2. Title: Center the title “Reference List” at the top (not bold).
3. Alphabetical: Alphabetize all entries by the author’s last name.
4. Hanging Indent: Use a 0.5-inch hanging indent. The first line is flush-left; all subsequent lines are indented.
5. Spacing: The list should be double-spaced or single-spaced with a blank line between entries. Check your university’s guide and be consistent.

Common Harvard Reference Examples

Here are formats for common sources. Remember that minor punctuation (like commas after the title) may vary by institution. As this guide from the University of Leeds shows, there are many variations.

Book with One Author

Journal Article (with DOI)

Note: Article titles are in single quotation marks.

Webpage

How to Handle Missing Information

No Author

Use the title (in italics) in place of the author.

In-Text: (*Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary* 2003)

Reference List: *Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary* (2003) 11th edn. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.

No Date

Use the abbreviation (n.d.) for “no date”.

In-Text: (Smith n.d.)

Reference List: Smith, J. (n.d.) *Title of work*. Publisher.