How To:
Cite and Reference
Using Harvard
- The purpose of referencing
- Ways of introducing references into text
- Quoting
- Using reporting verbs in text
- Bibliographic referencing
- Other sources of help
- Example of bibliography
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Citing and Referencing
Whenever you refer to the work or ideas of someone else, you must acknowledge this in two
places – in the main body of the text (citing) and at the end of your work in the alphabetical
list of references. This practice is called referencing.
Information provided in this document relates to the Harvard System of referencing. The
Harvard System uses the author’s surname and date of publication for referencing
purposes in the text. Information can be drawn from a wide range of sources including:
books, journals, newspapers, videos and the Internet.
Always check the referencing guidelines provided by your Programme Organiser or
Lecturer. If you have a choice to adopt a certain style you must keep to it throughout the
assignment.
The purpose of referencing
Referencing allows the reader to verify quotations and data and consult the sources used.
Referencing ensures that plagiarism is avoided and demonstrates the range of reading
undertaken. Plagiarism is when you use someone’s ideas, thoughts and words without
acknowledging the source.
References are required when you:



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Quote - use someone’s exact words
Summarise - sum up someone else's arguments or ideas
Paraphrase - put another author's material into your own words
Copy - use illustrations such as: diagrams, tables, charts or maps
© Glasgow Caledonian University School of Engineering and Built Environment (LDC) 2012
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Ways of Introducing References into the Text
References can be introduced into the text in various ways and certain rules apply. Ideally
this information should be integrated into the text so that it does not break up the flow of the
writing.
EXPLANATION
Author's name occurs naturally in the
sentence, only use the surname and place
bracket round the year
Author’s name does not appear naturally in
the sentence, place surname and
publication inside bracket
Using two names inside text use ‘and’
Using two names in the bracket use ‘&’
The author is unknown use ‘Anon’
but be wary of unauthored work.
In newspaper articles or websites, if there
is no author, use the name of the
newspaper. In websites where there is no
author use the website host address.
Often websites do not have a date, but
always check the home page of the
website.
Be wary of using unauthored work.
Occasionally the same author will write
more than one article in the same year.
Use ‘a’, ‘b’ etc.
EXPLANATION
When there are more than two authors use:
'et al' (note italics)
NB: All names should appear in the
references.
If you refer to a source in another text,
refer to both sources. For example, you
may mention but you need to tell the reader
that you have not read Freud’s actual work.
If you quote one source in another text, note
the actual page you read
Journals are often published as ejournals.
Cite in text as hard copy using author and
year (refer to page 6, Bibliographic
referencing).
EXAMPLE
Morgan (1997) suggested that ...
A recent study (Smith, 2003) found or
In a recent study it was found… (Smith 2003)
Harris and Jones (2001) have commented on …
(Harris & Jones 2001)
It has been observed ( Anon, 2001) that …
A recent study described ... (The Herald, 2011, p4)
The Health and Safety Executive ( 2011) states that…
In his first article Grayson (1997a) indicates …
Grayson (1997b) further argued that...
EXAMPLE
An additional theory was developed (Hughes et al.,
2002)…
Freud (1888, cited in Smith, 2000)
Porter (1997, cited in Feeley, 2001, p12)
(Murphy, 2001)
© Glasgow Caledonian University School of Engineering and Built Environment (LDC) 2012
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Reporting Verbs



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Make the text more interesting for the reader
Make your meaning clearer
Help establish the discussion
Highlights what the author has done
Note the tense used depends on the context.
EXAMPLE - THE AUTHOR (YEAR)
EXPLANATION
Analyses/analysed
Examine closely
Compares/compared
Discusses in terms of similarities and
differences
Comments/Commented
Give an opinion or reaction
Concludes/Concluded
Bring argument to a close
Criticises/Criticised
Express disagreement
Demonstrates/Demonstrated
Show clearly by giving proof / evidence
Examines
Look at in detail
Discusses/Discussed
Consider and offer opinion
Illustrates/Illustrated
Offer an example/s
Indicates/ Indicated
Offer a explanation
Notes/Noted
Make mention of
Observes/Observed
Note through comments
Points out/Pointed out
Giving an opinion
Suggests/Suggested
Put forward an idea
Summarise/Summarised
Present the main points
Validates/Validated
Prove the accuracy of something
Verifies/Verified
Check the accuracy
Further reporting verbs can be found at http://www.job-analysis.net/G053.htm
© Glasgow Caledonian University School of Engineering and Built Environment (LDC) 2012
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Quotations are the exact words used in the source, whether it be a book, journal,
newspaper or website.
Quotes should be used sparingly to make significant points and should be integrated well
within the text.
EXPLANATION
Short quotations - less than a line, use
single quotation marks and incorporate
quote into text; use author, year and
page number
If you leave words out then indicate by
…
using three dots
Double inverted commas should be used
for reporting direct speech.
EXAMPLE
Burns (2000, p3) explained that
‘Research is a systematic investigation to
find answers to a problem’.
‘…most reinsurers have consistently lost
money’
At the World Economic Forum 2011,
Gates talked about ‘polio
eradication…which is spearheaded by
the World Health Organisation…’
Graph illustrating natural change
Diagrams, graphs or illustrations should
have a title and include the words
(adapted from, Author's name, date of
publication and page number where
possible)
** No page number here as from website
(Adapted from Office for National
Statistics, 2007)
Bibliographic Referencing
When writing essays or reports you are expected to include Bibliographic information in a list
at the end of the assignment.
You may be asked to produce:



A Reference List - this includes all sources you refer to in your text.
A Bibliography - this lists all materials consulted, including works not cited in the
text.
When using the Harvard System references are listed in bibliographies or reference
lists alphabetically by authors' names.
© Glasgow Caledonian University School of Engineering and Built Environment (LDC) 2012
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EXPLANATION
EXAMPLE
Book
Author's surname, and initials.,
Year of publication.
Title (in italics - you can underline in
handwritten work).
Edition - if not the first.
Place of publication:
Publisher.
Texts by the same author.
List these in chronological order - most recent
year first.
More than one text has been published by
an author in the same year letters should be
added to differentiate - (1997a) (1997b).
Angus, S., 1999. A Study Skills Guide. 2nd ed.
Glasgow: Pierce Press.
Angus, S.,2001, Study Skills Revised.
Glasgow: Pierce Press.
Angus, S., 1999. A Study Skills Guide.2nd ed.
Glasgow: Pierce Press.
Grayson, J. (1997a) ‘Place of residence,
student involvement, and first year marks’. The
Canadian Journal of Higher Education. 27, pp.
1-24
Grayson, J. (1997b). ‘Academic achievement of
first-generation students in a Canadian
university’. Research in Higher Education 38,
pp. 659-676
Reference to a contribution in a book
Contributing author‘s Surname, Initials.,
Year of publication.
Title of contribution followed by In:
Initials. Surname of author or editor of
publications followed by editor(s)
Title of book.
Edition - if not the first.
Place of publication:
Publisher,
Page number(s) of contribution.
Banz.CZ., 1995. Social Dimensions of software
development. In: J.A. ANDERSON, ed. Annual
review of software management and
development. Newbury Park, CA: Sage, pp.
502-510
and/another example is the following:
Barr, T., 1987. Critical Analysis Skills. In: P.W.
HOLLOWAY, ed. Developing Skills for Higher
Education. London: Palmer Print, pp. 45 - 52.
© Glasgow Caledonian University School of Engineering and Built Environment (LDC) 2012
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Government Department or Organisation
Name of body which produced the document.
Year of publication.
Title of publication
Place of publication:
Publisher,
Report No - if relevant.
Scottish Enterprise. 2001. Scottish Economic
Growth. Glasgow: Scottish Enterprise,
(WW40).
Article in a Journal
Author's surname, and initials.,
Year of publication.
Title of Article,
Title of Journal,
Volume number and (part number),
Page numbers of contribution.
O'Brien, M., 2001. Searching the Internet
Successfully. The Internet Journal, 8 (2), pp.
211-219.
Newspaper Article
Author's surname and initials or newspaper
article,
Year of publication.
Title of Article.
Title of Newspaper,
Date - day and month,
Page numbers / Column number.
Full text journal or newspaper article from the
internet
Author’s surname and initials,
Year of publication.
Title of article.
Title of publication.
[Type of medium in square brackets]
Date of publication.
Available from: URL
[Date accessed in square brackets]
Full text journal from a database on the internet
Author’s surname and initials.
Year of publication.
Title of article.
Title of publication.
Volume (Issue Nr).
[Type of medium in square brackets]
Available from: database followed by the URL
[Date accessed in square brackets]
Farrar, S., 2004. Cash crises lead to student
depression. The Times Higher Education
Supplement. 16 April, p. 5
Lyons, W., 2004. The 10 trends that will shape
2005. news.Scotsman.com. [online]. Wednesday
22nd December. Available from:
http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=1456172004
[Accessed 26th August 2005]
Clancy, P. and Goastellec, G., 2007. Exploring
Access and Equity in Higher Education: Policy and
Performance in a Comparative Perspective. Higher
Education Quarterly. 61 ( 2). [online].
Available from:
http://www.swetswise.com/eAccess/viewToc.do?title
ID=92191&yevoID=1946926
[Accessed 10th April 2008]
© Glasgow Caledonian University School of Engineering and Built Environment (LDC) 2012
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Reference for a specific web page
Author’s surname and initials.
Year of publication.
Document title.
[Type of medium in square brackets]
Available from: URL
[Date accessed in square brackets]
Document in pdf format
Author’s surname and initials.
Year of publication.
Title of document.
[Type of medium in square brackets]
Available from: URL
[Date accessed in square brackets]
E-Book
Author’s surname and initials,
Year of publication.
Title of Book
Edition – if not the first
Place of publication:
Publisher
[Type of medium in square brackets]
Available from: URL
[Date accessed in square brackets]
Monash University. 2008. Essay Writing. Language
and Learning Online. [online]. Available from:
http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/writing/genera
l/essay/index.xml
[Accessed 17TH April 2008]
University of New South Wales. 2007. Transition
Signals in Writing. The Learning Centre Homepage.
[online]
Available from:
http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/onlib/pdf/transsig.pdf
[Accessed 17th April 2008]
Chalker, S. and Weiner, E., 1998. The Oxford
Dictionary of English Grammar. Oxford: University
Press. [online]
Available from:
http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html
?subview=Main&entry=t28.e1353
[Accessed on 04.April 2008]
Email Communication
Author’s surname and initials.
Title of the Email
Type of medium in square brackets
Message to: Recipient
Date sent [date accessed]
Personal Communication
Wilson, Margaret. Essay Writing Tips for Students.
[online]. Message to: Esther Smith. 03.07.07.
[02.02.08]. Personal Communication
Blog
Lisa. 2008. Book Review: the Longman Practical
Stylist. 30.01.08 Book Reviews. Humanities and
Social Science Library. [online]. Available from:
Author’s surname and initials.
Year.
Title of the blog entry.
Date when the blog was written
Title of the Blog
[Type of medium in square brackets]
Available from: URL
[Date accessed]
http://blogs.ntu.edu.sg/library/hss/index.php/archive
s/category/book-reviews
[Accessed on: 04.03.08]
© Glasgow Caledonian University School of Engineering and Built Environment (LDC) 2012
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If there is no author, either corporate or individual, try to avoid using the example as it is
difficult to establish authenticity.
Useful sources of additional information
CGU’s website on Refworks
http://www.refworks.com/rwathens/help/Refworks.htm#QuickStartGuide.
pdf
Harvard and Numeric explanations, University of Sussex
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/library/infosuss/referencing/index.shtml
Guidelines on reference listing, the Harvard system, University of
Thames Valley
http://www.tvu.ac.uk/lrs/guides/harvard.html#further
Guide to citing references (Harvard, Numeric, Footnotes) and
Referencing Software, University of Birmingham
http://www.i-cite.bham.ac.uk/
Citing references – The Harvard System and Legal Material,
Bournemouth University
http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/library/using/harvard_system.html
© Glasgow Caledonian University School of Engineering and Built Environment (LDC) 2012
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Example Bibliography
Baren-Cohen, S., 2003. The essential difference: men, women and the extreme male brain.
London: Allen Lane.
Barnes, S., 2001. Questionnaire design and construction. Bristol Institute of Learning and
Technology.
[online] http://www.cros.ac.uk/question_design.pdf#search=%22belief%20questions%20%
20Barnes%202001%22 Accessed on 30 August 2006.
Clancy, P. and Goastellec, G., 2007. Exploring Access and Equity in Higher Education:
Policy and Performance in a Comparative Perspective. Higher Education Quarterly. 61 ( 2).
[online]. Available from:
http://www.swetswise.com/eAccess/viewToc.do?titleID=92191&yevoID=1946926.
[Accessed 10th April 2008]
Cottrell, S., 2005. Critical thinking skills. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Effective Learning Service, 2003. Annual questionnaire, 2002/3. Glasgow: Glasgow
Caledonian University.
Farrar, S., 2004. Cash crises lead to student depression. The Times Higher Education
Supplement. 16 April. p 5
Field, J., 2004. Articulation and credit transfer in Scotland: taking the academic highroad or
a sideways step in a ghetto? Journal of Access Policy and Practice. 1 (2), pp. 85-99 [online]
Available from: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/niace/japp. Accessed on 18 August
2006
Gillett, A., 2008. Writing Paragraphs. Using English for Academic Purposes Website.
[online]. Available from: http://www.uefap.com/writing/writfram.htm [Accessed 10th April
2008]
Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), 2002. Good practice guidance for
senior managers and practitioners. (November 2002/48) [online]. Available from:
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/Pubs/hefce/2002/02_48.htm#exec. [Accessed on 2nd March 2006]
Illeris, K., 2006. What is special about adult learning? In: P. Sutherland and J. Crowther,
eds. Lifelong Learning. London: Routledge, 15-24
Wilding, R. and Morelli, A., 2006. Preparing for Dissertations. 22th November. 2008. Study
Zone Blog. [online]. Available from:
http://mycommunity.newport.ac.uk/blogs/studyzone/archive/2006/11/22/2201.aspx.
[Accessed 17th April 2008]
© Glasgow Caledonian University School of Engineering and Built Environment (LDC) 2012
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