THE HARVARD REFERENCE SYSTEM (Simplified)

Your essays may use ideas or facts from other authors. Even if you put their ideas into your
own words, you must name them in your text. Below is a simple example, with the relevant
authors cited at the end of both sentences. Other examples exist in most books in the
library. You must cite the author(s) surname(s) and the year of their publication. Use
“quote marks” to identify any word for word quotes, and also include the page number after
the year of publication. For example;

The Brayford Pool swan population at Lincoln was always in danger whenever
grants were delayed (Duck, 2004). Studies show that “Students will eat anything”
(Lester, 1999b:47). In addition, McComish (2004, p. 21) claimed that…Cotton
(2001, para. 10) says…

At the end of any essay you must include a References section that includes every item
you’ve referred to in your essay. If you mention two books written by one author in the
same year, distinguish them as 2000a, 2000b, and so on. Items in the References section
are usually written in the following style:

Source Examples below show how items look when listed in your References
item type: section:

A book Duck, D. (2004) A Study of Swans, Lincoln, University Press.

Chapters Lester, P. (1999a) ‘Just an Ugly Duckling?’ In: J. Barrowman et al (eds.) Meals on
in edited a Budget, Oxford, Dart Publications.p.5-22.
books

Article in a Lester, P. (1999b) ‘Diet and Nutrition: Students and Protein’, Nutritional Studies
journal 12 (3), 46–49.
Explanation: This shows an article by P. Lester called ‘Diet and Nutrition:
Students and Protein’ published in the journal Nutritional Studies, volume
12, issue number 3, on pages 46 to 49. This journal issue was published in
1999. The article is shown as ‘(1998b)’ because it’s the second of two
articles by Peter Lester, which we have cited, that were published in 1999.

Article in a McComish, S. (2004) ‘Brit Birds See Off Oz Invaders’, The Mirror,
newspaper 18 October 2004, News section: 21.

Article Always state the date you visited the website.

from the Wherever possible, identify the author first, so you can have a reference like this:
Internet
Cotton, A. (2001) ‘I love Lincoln’ [online]. Available from
http://www.hero.ac.uk/uk/studying/archives/2001/i_love_lincoln1272.cfm
[accessed: 26 October 2004].

If you don’t know the author, then show who hosts the website (e.g. the BBC).

BBC Online (2004) ‘Society helps uncover swan illness’ [online]. Available from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/asop/places/swan_society.shtml [accessed: 26
October 2004].

Verbs that help with author-prominent referencing

• state, point out, describe, remark, add, suggest, maintain, assert,

affirm, agree, claim, clarify, disagree, contest, contend, highlight,
find, show, imply, theorise, offer, predict, question, dispute, justify,
confirm, reason, according to