Harvard Referencing Guide
Introduction to Harvard Referencing
Harvard referencing, often called the "author-date" style, is a system used in academic writing to acknowledge the sources of information you have used. It is one of the most common citation styles used by universities around the world, especially in the United Kingdom and Australia.
The entire system is built on two key parts that work together:
- In-Text Citations: When you refer to a source in your writing, you include a brief citation in parentheses that typically includes the author's last name and the year of publication, e.g., (Sharma 2022).
- A Reference List: At the end of your document, you provide a full list of all the sources you cited, ordered alphabetically, with complete details for each source.
Note: Unlike APA or MLA, there is no single, official guide for Harvard. Conventions may vary by university or publisher. Always check your institution's guidelines.
Harvard In-Text Citations: A Guide
In-text citations are brief references you place in your writing whenever you quote, paraphrase, or summarize a source. These citations point to the full reference in your reference list.
Core Principles
- Basic Format: (Sharma 2023)
- Including Page Numbers: (Sharma 2023, p. 45) or (Verma 2022, pp. 112-115)
- Narrative vs. Parenthetical: Sharma (2023) argues... / (Sharma 2023)
Parenthetical Example
Recent economic analysis shows a significant trend (Sharma 2023).
Narrative Example
Sharma (2023, p. 19) states that 'all targets were met'.
Handling Different Author Configurations
| Number of Authors | Rule | In-Text Citation Example |
|---|---|---|
| One Author | Surname and year | (Gupta 2021) |
| Two or Three Authors | All surnames, 'and' before last | (Gupta and Kumar 2022) (Gupta, Kumar and Rao 2023) |
| Four+ Authors | First surname + et al. | (Gupta et al. 2020, p. 77) |
| No Author | Title in italics, year | A guide to Indian history 2022 |
| Corporate Author | Organization name; abbreviate after first | (Reserve Bank of India 2024) (RBI 2024) |
Special Cases
- Citing Multiple Sources: (Kumar 2020; Sharma 2023)
- Same Author, Same Year: (Sen 2021a), (Sen 2021b)
- Secondary Sourcing: Rao's 2015 study (cited in Sharma 2023, p. 50)