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In-text citations and reference lists in the UK's most common author-date style.
8 min read · Written by UK academic writers
Harvard is an author-date referencing style. You cite the author surname and year in the text, and list full source details alphabetically in a reference list. Exact punctuation varies slightly between universities, so always check your department's guide.
Harvard is the most widely used referencing style in UK universities. Getting it right protects you from accidental plagiarism and shows academic care. This guide covers the essentials, but always confirm the exact format your department expects.
Harvard uses author-date citations in brackets: (Smith, 2021). For a direct quotation, add the page number: (Smith, 2021, p. 14). If the author is named in your sentence, only the year and page go in brackets.
The reference list appears at the end, ordered alphabetically by author surname. Every in-text citation must have a matching entry, and every entry must be cited in the text.
Different sources follow different patterns.
Watch for missing page numbers in quotations, inconsistent punctuation, mismatches between citations and the reference list, and missing access dates for web sources.
There is no single official Harvard standard, so small details differ between institutions. Use your university's referencing guide as the final authority and apply it consistently.
An author-date referencing style where you cite the author and year in the text and give full details in an alphabetical reference list.
For direct quotations, yes. For paraphrased ideas, page numbers are good practice and sometimes required.
No. Harvard varies between universities, so always follow your own department's guide.
A reference list contains only sources you cited; a bibliography may also include works you read but did not cite.
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