The following sections on this page form a basic guide to citing and referencing using the Harvard (author-date) system. For more detailed examples consult the Cite Them Right Online Harvard Guide.
The Harvard (author-date) system comprises two elements: an in-text citation and a bibliography at the end of the document. In the text of an assignment, ideas taken from other people are indicated by placing the author's surname and the date of publication in brackets. The bibliography at the end of the document then lists the references in alphabetical order by authors surname.
For further and detailed information on the Harvard referencing style, please use the University-subscribed online resource from Bloomsbury Publishing, Cite Them Right Online, developed from the authoritative Cite Them Right by Pears and Shields (2022).
A citation is an abbreviated indication of the sources that you have used in text. Use the family name of authors or editors and date of publication.
If you want to refer to two or more sources at the same time, separate them with semi-colons and order them chronologically. If more than one work is published in the same year, then they should be listed alphabetically by author/editor.
For example:
A number of different studies (Jamieson, 2011; Hollingworth, 2012; Hatfield, 2013; Rogers, 2015) suggested that…
Citing sources published in the same year by the same author
If you wish to cite an author who has published more than one item in the same year, use a lower case letter to distinguish between them. The letters should be included in the reference list.
For example:
In his study of the work of Dawkins, Harris (2007a) emphasised the use of rationality in the former’s argument. However, it is clear that this was not the only strength of the original author (2007b).
The reference list would look like this;
Harris, S. (2007a) Dawkins: a history. London: Evolutionary Press.
Harris, S. (2007b) Evolutionary thought. London: Evolutionary Press.
When you are directly quoting exact text, or paraphrasing a specific part of a text, then you should also give the relevant page number(s) in your in-text citation. See the example above for No Author/Editor.
The pagination for the whole item (for example with a journal article, or for a chapter in an edited book) containing start and finish pages should then be given as usual in the reference list at the end.
A reference gives the full details of the brief citation you have referred to in the text and is shown at the end of your essay. A reference will include authors, titles, editions, publisher details or journal details.
A note on authors and editors names - these should be listed in your reference list no matter how many there are.
If you require any further help with referencing contact the relevant library team.
In the Harvard (author-date) System the list of references is arranged alphabetically by author's surname, year (and letter, if necessary) and is placed at the end of the work.
A reference list is the detailed list of references that are cited in your work. A bibliography is a detailed list of references cited in your work, plus the background readings or other material that you may have read, but not actually cited. Different courses may require just a reference list, just a bibliography, or even both. It is better to check with your tutor first.
Banerjee, A. and Watson, T.F. (2011) Pickard’s manual of operative dentistry. 9th edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Davidson, A. (2013) ‘The Saudi Marathon Man’, The New Yorker, 16 April. Available at: http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-saudi-marathon-man (Accessed: 22 June 2015).
Guy, J. (2001) The view across the river: Harriette Colenso and the Zulu struggle against imperialism. Charlottesville, Virginia: University Press of Virginia.
Hislop, V. (2014) The sunrise. Available at http://www.amazon.co.uk/kindlestore (Downloaded: 17 June 2015).
Homer (1997) The Iliad. Translated by J. Davies. Introduction and notes by D. Wright. London: Dover Publications.
Knapik, J. J., Cosio-Lima, L. M., and Reynolds, K. L. (2015) ‘Efficacy of functional movement screening for predicting injuries in coast guard cadets’, The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 29 (5), pp. 1157-1162. EDUC 1028: E-learning. Available at: http://intranet.bir.ac.uk (Accessed: 25 June 2015).
Lucas, G. (2004) The wonders of the Universe. 2nd edn. Edited by Frederick Jones, James Smith and Tony Bradley. London: Smiths.
Medicine in old age (1985) 2nd edn. London: British Medical Association.
‘Rush (band)’ (2015) Wikipedia. Available at https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Rush_(band) (Accessed: 18 June 2015).
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (1994) Epi Info (Version 6) [Computer program]. Available at http://www.cdcp.com/download.html (Accessed: 23 June 2015).
Gregory, S. (1970) English military intervention in the Dutch revolt. B.A. Thesis. University of Birmingham. Available at: http://findit.bham.ac.uk/ (Accessed: 18 June 2015).
Jones, B., (1997) Methods in tumour research. National Agency for Tumour Research, volume. 7.
Peart, N. (1976) Something for Nothing. Toronto: Toronto Sound Studios.
Rush (2015) [Bishopthorpe Social Club. 29 March].
The University of Birmingham (2010) The University of Birmingham experience. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLxV5L6IaFA (Accessed: 18 June 2015).
Students who use Harvard referencing and need to cite law cases as part of their social work studies should use the following guidance:
Cite Them Right Online Law reports (cases) (Harvard); see the section on 'Law reports (cases) from 2002 with neutral citations' which describes neutral citations and gives relevant examples.
British and Irish Legal Information Institute (BAILII) neutral citation example https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/2012/18.html.