How to Reference in Harvard Style (UK)
Quick answer: Harvard referencing uses an author–date system: cite the author’s surname and year in the text, e.g. (Smith, 2020), and give full details in an alphabetical reference list at the end. There is no single official Harvard manual, so always follow your university’s specific Harvard guide.
What is Harvard referencing?
Harvard is an author–date referencing style widely used across UK universities in business, social sciences, sciences and the humanities. Every idea, quote or fact taken from a source is acknowledged twice: with a short in-text citation, and with a full entry in the reference list.
Because Harvard is a style rather than a single published standard, small differences (punctuation, italics, capitalisation) exist between universities. Cite Them Right Harvard is the most common UK variant — but your department’s guide always takes priority.
In-text citations
Place the author’s surname and year of publication in brackets at the relevant point:
- Paraphrase: Motivation improves retention (Smith, 2020).
- Direct quote: add the page number — (Smith, 2020, p.14).
- Two authors: (Smith and Jones, 2020).
- Three or more: (Smith et al., 2020).
- No date: use (Smith, no date).
Reference list format
List every source alphabetically by author surname at the end. Common formats:
| Source | Format |
|---|
| Book | Surname, Initial. (Year) Title. Edition. Place: Publisher. |
| Journal article | Surname, Initial. (Year) ‘Article title’, Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pp. page range. |
| Website | Author/Organisation (Year) Title of page. Available at: URL (Accessed: date). |
Worked examples
Book: Kotler, P. (2019) Marketing Management. 4th edn. Harlow: Pearson.
Journal: Deci, E. and Ryan, R. (2000) ‘Self-determination theory’, American Psychologist, 55(1), pp. 68–78.
Website: NHS (2023) Mental health services. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk (Accessed: 12 July 2024).
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing Harvard with numbered styles like Vancouver.
- Forgetting page numbers on direct quotes.
- A reference list that doesn’t match the in-text citations (every citation must appear in both).
- Inconsistent punctuation and italics — pick your university’s variant and apply it throughout.
Need your Harvard referencing checked or your essay written to standard?
Projectsdeal’s UK academics reference every piece in your exact required style, with a Turnitin report — for reference, guidance and academic support.
Get expert help
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there one official Harvard style?
No. Harvard is a family of author–date styles with no single governing body. UK universities publish their own Harvard guides — always follow yours.
What is the difference between a citation and a reference?
A citation is the short in-text acknowledgement (Smith, 2020); a reference is the full entry in the reference list with all publication details.
Do I need page numbers in Harvard?
Page numbers are required for direct quotes and recommended when you refer to a specific idea; they are optional for general paraphrasing.
How do I reference a source with no author?
Use the organisation or the title in place of the author, followed by the year, e.g. (NHS, 2023) or (‘Title’, 2023).
Where does the reference list go?
At the very end of your work, on a new page, headed ‘Reference List’ or ‘References’, ordered alphabetically by author surname.