Harvard Referencing: The Complete Author-Date Citation Guide

Harvard referencing is the dominant citation style in UK higher education. Harvard format uses an author-date system that's similar to—but distinct from—APA format. Understanding Harvard formatting is essential when formatting a document for UK universities.

The Harvard Format Author-Date System

According to Cite Them Right (used by 75%+ of UK universities):

• Parenthetical: (Smith, 2023) or (Smith, 2023, p. 45)
• Narrative: Smith (2023) argues that...
• Always use 'and' between authors, never '&'
• Use a comma between author and year

Multiple Authors

• Two authors: (Smith and Jones, 2023)
• Three or more: (Smith et al., 2023) — note: 'et al.' is not italicized

The Reference List

• Heading: "References" (centered, bold)
• Order: Alphabetical by author surname
• Spacing: Double-spaced throughout
• Indentation: Hanging indent (0.5 inches)

Key Harvard Formatting Features

• Single quotation marks for direct quotes (not double)
• Spell out 'no date' instead of 'n.d.'
• No running head required

Harvard Format Made Easy

SimpleFormat Pro applies Harvard formatting rules automatically, including the single quotation marks and 'and' between authors that distinguish Harvard format from APA formatting.