How do I cite multiple authors in Harvard style?

For two authors, give both surnames in-text, e.g. (Smith and Jones, 2021). For three or more authors, use 'et al.' after the first surname, e.g. (Brown et al., 2022). In the reference list, however, list all authors if your university requires it. Cite Them Right suggests listing up to three authors, then using 'et al.' for more. Always confirm your specific course guidelines.

What if a source has no date?

If you cannot find a publication date, use 'no date' in place of the year. For example: (Smith, no date). In the reference list, write: Smith, J. (no date) Title of book. Place: Publisher. For websites, include the date you accessed it. Be careful: if the source is a website, it often has a copyright year at the bottom. Some prefer to use that. Always try to use a dated version if possible.

How do I reference a chapter in an edited book?

For a chapter, you reference the chapter author, not the editor. Format: Chapter Author, Initial. (Year) 'Chapter title', in Editor Initial. Surname (ed.) Title of book. Edition. Place: Publisher, page range. Example: Jones, P. (2020) 'Urban planning', in Smith, A. (ed.) City Studies. 2nd edn. London: Sage, pp. 45-67. In-text, cite (Jones, 2020).

Is Harvard referencing used across all UK universities?

Harvard is one of the most widely used styles, but not all universities use it. Some prefer APA, MHRA, or OSCOLA for law. Even where Harvard is used, there are local variations. For example, some UK institutions use 'pp.' while others don't. Always check your university's official referencing guide. If they don't specify, Harvard is a safe choice for most social science and humanities subjects.

Harvard Referencing Examples for UK Students (2026 Guide)

15 August 2026

Clear Harvard referencing examples for UK students. Cite books, journals, websites accurately with our 2026 guide. Avoid plagiarism easily.

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What is Harvard Referencing?

Harvard referencing is a style commonly used across UK universities. It uses author-date citations in the text, paired with a full reference list at the end. For example, in your assignment you might write (Smith, 2022) and then provide the full source details in the reference list. The exact format can vary slightly between institutions, so always check your department's guidelines. In the UK, many universities base their Harvard style on Cite Them Right, which is a standard reference guide. This approach makes it easy for readers to locate your sources and demonstrates academic integrity.

Book Example (Print)

For a standard print book, the reference list entry should include: Author surname, Initial(s). (Year) Title of book. Edition (if not the first). Place of publication: Publisher. For instance: Smith, J. (2021) Understanding Sociology. 3rd edn. London: Routledge. In your text, you would cite (Smith, 2021). If you quote directly, include a page number: (Smith, 2021, p. 54). Remember to italicise the book title, and include the edition only if it is not the first. Always double-check the exact punctuation your university uses—some prefer a colon after the place, while others use a comma.

Journal Article Example

Journal articles are referenced with more detail. The format is: Author surname, Initial(s). (Year) 'Title of article', Title of Journal, Volume(Issue), page range. For example: Brown, A. and Green, T. (2022) 'The impact of digital learning', British Journal of Educational Studies, 70(3), pp. 345-361. In-text, cite as (Brown and Green, 2022). Note the use of single quotation marks for the article title and italics for the journal name. If you accessed the article online, you may also need to include a DOI or a URL, depending on your university's guidelines. Always check whether your department requires page numbers or just the article ID.

Website Example

Websites are becoming more common in academic work, but they need careful referencing. Use the format: Author or Organisation. (Year) Title of page. Available at: URL (Accessed: date). For instance: Office for National Statistics (2025) UK unemployment rates. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employment (Accessed: 15 January 2026). In-text, use (Office for National Statistics, 2025). If there is no personal author, use the organisation as the author. If the page has no date, write 'no date' (not 'n.d.' in some styles). Always ensure the URL is accurate and accessible. For news articles, include the title of the website and the date of publication.

Common Mistakes and Tips

A common mistake is forgetting to alphabetise your reference list by author surname. Another is mixing up the order of the year and title. Always remember to be consistent—if you use 'Available at' for websites, do it for all websites. Also, check your in-text citations: every entry in your reference list must be cited in your text, and vice versa. Use a hanging indent for your reference list, and italicise book titles and journal names. Finally, invest in a good style guide or use your university's online referencing tool. Double-checking a few examples before you submit can save you marks and avoid plagiarism accusations.

FAQ

A reference list includes only sources you cited directly in your text. A bibliography also shows sources you read but did not cite. Most UK university assignments ask for a reference list. Check your brief to be sure. In Harvard style, the reference list appears at the end, alphabetically by author surname. If you are unsure, ask your tutor or check your department's referencing guide.

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