Cite Them Right Harvard Style: The Complete UK Guide for 2026
19 August 2026
Master Cite Them Right Harvard referencing with examples for books, journals, websites. UK 2026 guide with in-text and reference list tips.
What Is Cite Them Right Harvard?
Cite Them Right Harvard is a specific version of the Harvard referencing style used widely across UK universities. It is based on the guide 'Cite Them Right' by Richard Pears and Graham Shields, now in its 12th edition and published by Bloomsbury. This style provides exact rules for punctuation, order of elements, and formatting across over 100 source types, from books and journals to websites and social media. Unlike the many institutional variants of Harvard, Cite Them Right offers a consistent, standardised framework that makes referencing easier to apply and verify. It is an author-date system, meaning brief in-text citations point to full references in an alphabetical list at the end. For UK students, it is often the default referencing style taught in universities, and it is particularly strong on citing electronic sources, requiring clear 'Available at' and 'Accessed' details.
In-Text Citations: Formats and Rules
In Cite Them Right Harvard, in-text citations include the author's surname and year of publication in round brackets, e.g., (Smith, 2020). For direct quotes, add a page number after a colon: (Smith, 2020: 45). For paraphrasing, page numbers are recommended but not mandatory. If a work has two or three authors, cite all surnames in the order they appear on the source, e.g., (Smith and Jones, 2020) or (Smith, Jones and Brown, 2020). For four or more authors, use the first author followed by 'et al.', e.g., (Smith et al., 2020). When no author exists, use the title in italics or in quotes depending on source type. Always ensure the in-text citation matches the first element of the reference list entry so readers can easily locate the full source.
Reference List Formats for Key Sources
The reference list in Cite Them Right Harvard is alphabetical by author surname. A standard book is formatted as: Surname, Initial. (Year) Title. Edition. Place of publication: Publisher. For example: Smith, J. (2020) The art of referencing. 2nd edn. London: Academic Press. A journal article uses: Surname, Initial. (Year) 'Article title', Journal Title, volume(issue), pp. page range. For instance: Davies, R. (2022) 'Digital citation trends', Journal of Academic Studies, 15(3), pp. 120-135. A website requires: Surname, Initial. (Year) Title of page. Available at: URL (Accessed: date). For online journal articles, include a DOI if available, e.g., 'doi: 10.1234/example'. Remember to use single quotation marks for article and chapter titles, and italics for book and journal titles, following UK punctuation conventions.
Worked Examples: Books, Chapters, and Websites
To help you apply the style, here are full worked examples that follow Cite Them Right Harvard exactly. Book: Smith, J. (2020) The art of referencing. 2nd edn. London: Academic Press. Chapter in an edited book: Brown, A. (2021) 'Referencing in practice', in Jones, B. (ed.) Modern academic writing. Oxford: University Press, pp. 15-30. Journal article: Davies, R. (2022) 'Digital citation trends', Journal of Academic Studies, 15(3), pp. 120-135. Website: Office for National Statistics (2025) UK employment figures. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employment (Accessed: 12 January 2026). For a chapter, note the use of 'in' before the editor's name and 'ed.' for a single editor. The accessed date for websites is essential in the UK style to show when you viewed the page. These examples match the current Cite Them Right guidance.
Using Cite Them Right Harvard with Tools and Institutional Variations
Many UK university libraries give students free access to the Cite Them Right online tutorial and reference generator. You can also load the Cite Them Right Harvard style into reference managers such as EndNote, Zotero, or Mendeley, which will automatically format your references. However, always check your department's specific referencing guide, as local variants may differ – for example, some institutions require square brackets for publication details or a slightly different punctuation order. The key is to be consistent throughout your assignment. Cite Them Right is updated regularly; in 2026, you should use the latest 12th edition guidance or the online version, which includes new source types like podcasts and AI-generated content. When in doubt, consult your academic skills tutor or library subject guide.
FAQ
Cite Them Right is a specific, standardised version of Harvard used by many UK universities. Standard Harvard is generic and varies by institution, with differences in punctuation, order, and how online sources are cited. Cite Them Right provides consistent rules that cover many source types, making it easier to apply and communicate, but you should always follow your university's preferred version.