Harvard referencing essentials
Based on Cite Them Right, 13th edition (2025)
- In-text(Surname, Year) or (Surname, Year, p. 45).
- Four or more authorsFirst author plus et al. in the text.
- Reference listAlphabetical by surname, at the end.
- No place of publicationDropped for books in the 13th edition.
- Sentence case in referencesTitle case for titles mentioned in your text.
- Check your universityMany institutions use their own Harvard version.
Harvard referencing is one of the most widely used citation styles in the world, especially in business, the social sciences, and universities in the UK, Australia, Africa and Asia. It's simple to learn: you cite the author and year in your text, and list full details at the end. But it has one quirk that confuses many students: there is no single official version of Harvard style.
This guide explains how Harvard works, with examples based on Cite Them Right, one of the most widely used Harvard guides, now in its 13th edition (2025).
Which Version of Harvard Should You Use?
Unlike APA or MLA, Harvard isn't controlled by one organisation. Many universities publish their own Harvard guide, and many others follow Cite Them Right by Richard Pears and Graham Shields. The versions are similar but differ in small details such as punctuation, italics and how online sources are presented.
Always follow your own university's Harvard guide. If none is specified, Cite Them Right is a reliable default.
What Changed in Cite Them Right 13th Edition
- Place of publication removed for most source types, such as books. Include only the publisher, unless the location is essential to identify the source.
- Paragraph numbers can optionally be included in in-text citations where helpful.
- Capitalisation: use title case for titles mentioned in your text and sentence case for titles in the reference list.
- New guidance on AI tools and additional online source types.
Some universities allowed either the 12th or 13th edition during the 2025–26 academic year, so check which one your course expects.
Harvard In-Text Citations
The examples below use invented sources for illustration.
| Source | Parenthetical | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| One author | (Smith, 2024) | Smith (2024) argues... |
| Two authors | (Smith and Lee, 2024) | Smith and Lee (2024) found... |
| Three authors | (Brown, Green and White, 2025) | Brown, Green and White (2025)... |
| Four or more authors | (Brown et al., 2025) | Brown et al. (2025)... |
| Organisation | (World Health Organization, 2025) | The World Health Organization (2025)... |
| Direct quote | (Smith, 2024, p. 45) | Smith (2024, p. 45) states... |
Other in-text rules
- Multiple sources: (Lee, 2023; Smith, 2024).
- Same author, same year: (Smith, 2024a; Smith, 2024b).
- Secondary sources: (Jones, 2010, cited in Smith, 2024), but read the original where possible.
- No date: (Smith, no date).
Formatting the Reference List
- Title it "Reference list" or "References", as your university requires.
- List all sources alphabetically by the author's surname.
- Use initials for first names.
- Italicise the title of the main work: the book, journal or website.
- Include "Available at:" and the URL or DOI for online sources, often with an access date in brackets.
- Use consistent spacing and, if your university requires it, a hanging indent.
Harvard Reference List Examples
Based on Cite Them Right conventions. These use invented sources.
Book
Smith, J. (2023) Modern workplaces. 2nd edn. Example Press.
Journal article
Smith, J. and Lee, M. (2024) 'Remote work and employee wellbeing', Journal of Workplace Studies, 12(3), pp. 45–67. Available at: https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx.
Chapter in an edited book
Lee, M. (2022) 'Supporting remote teams', in Brown, A. and Green, C. (eds) Leadership in practice. Example Press, pp. 101–120.
Webpage
Lee, M. (2026) Five tips for remote teams. Available at: https://www.example.com/remote-tips (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Organisation report
World Health Organization (2025) Title of the report. Available at: https://www.who.int/... (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
YouTube video
Channel Name (2025) Title of video. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxxx (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Generative AI
Cite Them Right 13th edition includes guidance on acknowledging and referencing AI tools such as ChatGPT or Copilot. Many universities also have their own rules, so check your institution's AI and referencing policies before using or citing AI.
Harvard vs. APA
| Harvard (Cite Them Right) | APA 7 | |
|---|---|---|
| In-text | (Smith and Lee, 2024) | (Smith & Lee, 2024) |
| Date in reference | (2024) without a full stop | (2024). with a full stop |
| Article titles | In single quotation marks | No quotation marks |
| Online sources | "Available at:" and often an access date | DOI or URL, usually no access date |
| Official version | None; varies by institution | APA Publication Manual |
Common Harvard Mistakes
- Mixing different Harvard versions in one paper.
- Using "&" in Harvard citations (it's "and" in Cite Them Right).
- Forgetting page numbers for direct quotes.
- Missing access dates for webpages when your guide requires them.
- Including the place of publication when your course expects the 13th edition.
- Not listing sources alphabetically.
Harvard Referencing Checklist
- I'm using my university's required Harvard version.
- Every in-text citation includes author and year (plus page for quotes).
- Every citation appears in the reference list, and vice versa.
- References are alphabetical and consistently formatted.
- Online sources include URL or DOI and an access date where required.
See also our guides to APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago, IEEE and Vancouver, or our complete referencing guide.
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