Harvard Referencing and Citations System

Manual Referencing is an essential skill that university students must learn to be successful.

The Harvard referencing system, also known as the author-date system, is a widely used citation style in academic writing. It requires the inclusion of in-text citations within the body of the text, consisting of the author’s surname and the publication year in parentheses. These in-text citations link to a detailed list of references at the end of the document, which provides full information about the sources cited, including author names, publication titles, and publication details. The correct use of a referencing system is an essential element of academic writing.

The following paragraph is an example of Harvard Referencing:

“Cats, beloved companions in many households, have long captured the fascination of researchers and pet enthusiasts alike. These enigmatic creatures are the subject of various studies, with a particular focus on their behavior, physiology, and evolution. According to Bradshaw (2013), cats’ independent nature and unique communication styles make them intriguing and sometimes mysterious pets. Additionally, Clutton-Brock (1999) suggests that the domestication of cats can be traced back to ancient civilizations, with their role evolving from pest control to cherished companionship in modern times. The Harvard referencing system allows us to acknowledge the contributions of these scholars to our understanding of these captivating and beloved animals (Foldberg & Sharwood 1977, p.5).”

Citations list:

1. Bradshaw, J. W. (2013). The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat. CABI.
2. Clutton-Brock, J. (1999). A Natural History of Domesticated Mammals. Cambridge University Press.
3. Foldberg, B & Sharwood, SW 1977, ‘Behaviour of cats’, The Journal of Cat Physiology September 28, Vol. 333, No. 3, pp. 1-56, viewed 18 October 2023,  https://fakelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.100013/jphysiol.1977.sp005175.

For example, in a Harvard reference, a book written by John Smith in 2019 would be cited within the text as (Smith, 2019), and the corresponding entry in the reference list would include Smith’s full name, the title of the book, the year of publication, the publisher, and other pertinent details. This system offers clarity and precision in acknowledging the sources of information in scholarly works while facilitating the easy retrieval of cited materials by readers.