The Harvard referencing style is an author-date citation system commonly used in academic writing. It involves two key components: in-text citations and a reference list. In-text citations include the author's last name and the year of publication, sometimes with page numbers, placed within the text to indicate where information was used. The reference list provides full details of all sources cited, organized alphabetically by author surname, allowing readers to locate the original sources easily. Harvard referencing typically includes:
- In-text citation example: (Joyce, 2008)
- Reference list entry example: Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2019) Cite them right: The essential referencing guide. 11th edn. London: MacMillan.
The style is used widely in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences for assignments and publications, with variations depending on the institution or discipline. A bibliography may also be required, listing all consulted sources, not just cited ones. Detailed rules cover how to reference books, chapters, websites, and sources with multiple authors, including how to handle multiple works by the same author or sources without page numbers. Titles are usually italicized in the reference list, and entries are formatted with author names, year, title, publisher, and other relevant details. Harvard referencing helps avoid plagiarism by crediting original authors and provides a clear, consistent format for academic writing.