Cite Them Right 12th Edition (2026): The Complete UK Referencing Guide
19 August 2026
Explore Cite Them Right 12th edition (2026): updated Harvard referencing rules, AI citation examples, online access, and common mistakes to avoid.
What Is Cite Them Right 12th Edition?
Cite Them Right is the standard referencing guide used across UK universities, written by Richard Pears and Graham Shields and published by Bloomsbury Academic. The 12th edition, released in 2022, is the latest print version as of 2026. It covers more than 100 source types – from books and journal articles to YouTube videos, social media posts, and even generative AI tools. The book uses a clear colour-code system to distinguish between referencing styles like Harvard, APA, Chicago, IEEE, and OSCOLA. Most UK institutions either recommend or require Cite Them Right for coursework, and many include it on reading lists. The print edition costs around £20 at major UK retailers, but many students never need to buy it because their university library provides free access to the online version. Whether you are a first-year undergraduate or a postgraduate researcher, this guide gives you a practical framework for producing accurate references and avoiding accidental plagiarism.
What's New in the 12th Edition Compared to Earlier Versions?
The 12th edition caught up with the digital age by adding and updating guidance for online and multimedia sources. The most notable addition is a dedicated section on citing generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot, and Google Gemini. It explains how to treat AI-generated content, what to include in the reference (tool name, version, and date of access), and how to acknowledge AI assistance in your work. Other updates include new examples for webinars, online images, preprints, and short-form video platforms like TikTok. The layout has also been redesigned for easier navigation, with clear tabs and a more logical flow. Compared with the 11th edition (2019), the 12th edition reflects the rapid growth of social media and open-access research. However, the online version of Cite Them Right is updated even more frequently than the print book, so always check the online platform for the very latest examples and rules.
How To Use Cite Them Right for Harvard Referencing
Harvard is the most widely used referencing style in UK universities, and Cite Them Right Harvard is a specific interpretation of that style. The basic formula for a book reference is: Author surname, Initial(s) (Year) Title. Edition. Place of publication: Publisher. For example: Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2022) Cite them right: The essential referencing guide. 12th edn. London: Bloomsbury Academic. In-text citations use the author and year: (Pears and Shields, 2022). If you quote directly, add a page number: (Pears and Shields, 2022, p. 57). The guide shows similar templates for journals, websites, and other sources, along with notes on when to include URLs, DOIs, and access dates. It also covers tricky situations like secondary referencing, multiple authors, and missing publication dates. Follow the examples exactly and you will produce polished, consistent Harvard citations that meet most departmental guidelines.
Cite Them Right Online: Access, Tools, and Features
Cite Them Right Online is the interactive version of the same guide, available through an institutional subscription. If your UK university subscribes, you can log in for free with your student credentials – usually via the library website or your institution's virtual learning environment. The online platform includes a searchable database of examples, so you can quickly find the template you need. It also has a 'cite this' tool that generates references in multiple styles, though you should always double-check these against the official guidance. Tutorials and quizzes help you test your understanding of referencing rules. The online version is updated more regularly than the print 12th edition, making it particularly useful for new AI and social media examples. If your institution does not subscribe, you can purchase a personal online subscription or the print book from booksellers like Blackwell's, Waterstones, or Bloomsbury directly.
Common Referencing Mistakes and How Cite Them Right Helps
Even with a good guide, students make mistakes. The most common include putting the author surname after the initial, forgetting to italicise book titles, missing the date of access for online sources, and not including page numbers for direct quotes. Another frequent error is using AI-generated text without acknowledging it – a serious academic offence. Cite Them Right addresses each of these with clear, side-by-side examples of correct and incorrect references. It also clarifies when to use 'et al.' for multiple authors, how to cite an author who appears in a collected work, and what to do when no author or date exists. By following the templates in the 12th edition, you can ensure your reference list is consistent and complete, which helps you avoid plagiarism penalties and maintains your academic integrity. Keep the guide open while you write – it works best as a constant companion rather than a last-minute fix.
FAQ
Yes, as of 2026 the 12th edition, published in 2022, is the most recent print edition. However, Cite Them Right Online is updated far more often, so it may contain newer examples not yet in the book. Always use the online version if your university provides access.