Cite Them Right Referencing: The UK Student's Guide (2026)
15 August 2026
Master Cite Them Right referencing with our 2026 UK guide. Learn Harvard style, examples, tools, and FAQ to cite perfectly.
What Is Cite Them Right Referencing?
Cite Them Right is a referencing system widely used across UK universities to help students cite sources consistently and avoid plagiarism. Originally created by Richard Pears and Graham Shields, it has become the standard guide for many institutions. The system covers over ten referencing styles, but the most popular is the Harvard-based 'Cite Them Right Harvard' format. It provides detailed rules for citing books, journal articles, websites, legal documents, and even social media. In 2026, the online version of Cite Them Right is legally required by many UK universities, offering interactive tutorials and examples you can copy directly into your work. If you're studying in the UK, chances are your department will ask you to follow this exact style.
Key Elements of the Cite Them Right Harvard Style
The Cite Them Right Harvard style uses in-text author–date citations alongside a full alphabetical reference list. Each in-text citation includes the author's surname and the year of publication, such as (Smith, 2020) or Smith (2020) for narrative citations. For direct quotes, add the page number – for example (Smith, 2020, p. 45). The reference list entry gives full details: author, year, title, edition, publisher, and place of publication for books. For journal articles, you also include volume, issue, and page range. A key difference in Cite Them Right is that the publisher's location is required for print books, unlike some other Harvard formats. Formatting matters: references should be in alphabetical order by surname, and each subsequent line indented.
How to Cite Books, Journals, and Websites Correctly
In Cite Them Right Harvard, a standard book reference looks like this: Surname, Initial. (Year) Title of book. Edition. Place of publication: Publisher. For example: Bryman, A. (2016) Social research methods. 5th edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press. For a journal article: Surname, Initial. (Year) 'Title of article', Title of Journal, Volume(Issue), pp. pages. Example: Jones, L. (2021) 'UK higher education trends', Education Review, 45(2), pp. 123–139. Websites require the author or organisation, year, page title, 'Available at' URL, and 'Accessed' date (e.g., Accessed: 1 June 2026). Always check your university's specific guide, as minor variations exist. Using the Cite Them Right online generator can save hours, but learning the rules helps you catch errors automatically.
Cite Them Right vs Other Referencing Styles
Cite Them Right is not a single style but a comprehensive manual covering Harvard, APA, MLA, IEEE, OSCOLA, and numeric systems. However, the phrase 'Cite Them Right referencing' usually refers to their Harvard interpretation, which is distinct from pure Harvard. Differences include punctuation, use of 'edn' for edition, and the requirement for place of publication in book references. For example, APA omits the publisher location, while Cite Them Right lists it. In contrast, OSCOLA is legal and uses footnotes, while IEEE uses numbered citations. Understanding these differences is crucial because UK courses may demand a specific variant. Check your module handbook – if it says 'Cite Them Right Harvard', follow that exact format, not generic Harvard guides online. This precision prevents lost marks and academic misconduct issues.
Top Tools and Resources for Cite Them Right in 2026
The official Cite Them Right website is your first stop – it offers interactive examples for every source type, with PDF guides and tutorials. Many UK universities provide free access through your library login. Use referencing software like EndNote, Zotero, or Mendeley, which often have Cite Them Right output styles pre-installed. For quick fixes, the Cite Them Right online generator creates references from URLs or book details, but always cross-check. Additionally, your university's library service runs workshops and drop-in sessions. In 2026, AI tools can help, but be cautious: referencing mistakes are common, and you're responsible for accuracy. A practical tip is to keep a running reference list as you research, rather than trying to compile it at the last minute.
FAQ
Cite Them Right is a referencing guide created by Richard Pears and Graham Shields, widely used as a standard by UK universities. It teaches how to cite sources correctly in various styles, with the Harvard-based version being most common. It includes examples for books, journals, websites, and more. Many universities provide online access to help students avoid plagiarism and produce accurate reference lists.