How to cite in Harvard
- Harvard is selected. Choose the source type: website, book, journal article, newspaper article or online video.
- Fill in the authors (one per line), title, publication details, date and URL or DOI.
- Copy the formatted reference with italics into Word or Google Docs, use the in-text citation shown underneath, and add references to your list, which is sorted alphabetically.
About Harvard referencing
Harvard is an author–date style used by most UK and Australian universities. There is no single official version: many universities follow Cite Them Right, and departments often publish their own small variations, so check your module handbook. In-text citations look like (Smith and Khan, 2024), or (Smith et al., 2024) for four or more authors. A typical reference list entry for a web page looks like: Smith, J. and Khan, A. (2024) How bees choose which flowers to visit. Science Today. Available at: https://www.example.org/bees-flowers (Accessed: 3 June 2025).
Harvard puts the year in brackets after the authors, italicises the main title, and for online sources ends with "Available at:" and the access date. Page numbers go in the in-text citation when you quote, for example (Smith, 2024, p. 12). Always check the result against your institution's style guide, especially for unusual sources. References are generated in your browser and your list is saved on this device only.
FAQ
Which version of Harvard does this use?
A widely used form similar to Cite Them Right. Adjust details to match your university guide.
Do I need an access date in Harvard?
Yes, for online sources most Harvard guides require the date you accessed the page.
How do I cite a source with no date?
Use n.d. (no date) in place of the year, as in (Smith, n.d.).