This guide is intended as a quick introduction to Harvard style referencing based on the latest edition of Cite Them Right by Pears and Shields – see https://www.citethemrightonline.com/ for further information.

Why Reference?

Referencing is the method used to ensure that other research influences are recognised within your assignment. Correct referencing helps ensure that you avoid being accused of plagiarism. Most assignments during your time at the University of Wolverhampton will be assessed on the quality of your referencing which will count towards your grade. Referencing also ensures that you can demonstrate which sources you have used and how your ideas build upon the research of others.

Harvard Referencing includes two main parts:

• a citation within the text of your assignment

• a list of references at the end of your assignment

Referencing in Your Text – Citations

When you summarise, refer to, or quote from an author's work in your document, you need to acknowledge your source in the text. This is called an ‘in-text citation’. When using Harvard, you do this by putting the author’s name and publication year. If the name of the author appears naturally in your sentence, only the year should be in brackets. Cite Them Right advises including page numbers for direct quotations and when paraphrasing, although page numbers would not be required when summarising.

In-text citation

Three Authors   (Lloyd, Singh and Alonso, 2018, p. 14)     … research by Lloyd, Singh and Alonso (2018, p. 14) showed that…

Four or more Authors    (Gerrard et al., 2005, p. 8)             Gerrard et al. (2005, p. 8) proved that….

Organisation (HAMNIC Solutions, 2026) Information from HAMNIC Solutions (2026) states…

Examples:

Excellent study skills are fundamental to academic success (Cottrell, 2020, p. 19)

Cottrell (2020, p. 19) argues that excellent study skills are fundamental to academic success.

“The importance of academic skills should not be underestimated” (Cottrell, 2020, p. 19)

The Reference List – Key Examples

Book with one author

Include the following information:

Author (Published Year) Title of book. Edition (if later than 1st). Publisher. Example: Storey, N. (2013) Electronics: a systems approach. 5th edn. Pearson.

Book with four or more authors

Include the following information: Surnames and initials of all authors (Published Year) Title of book. Edition (if later than 1st). Publisher.

Example: Epstein, O., Perkin, G.D., Cookson, J., Watt, I.S., Rakhit, R., Robinson, A.W. and Hornett, G.A.W. (2008) Clinical examination. 4th edn. Mosby Elsevier.

Note: the University’s preference is to name all authors in the full reference, but some subject disciplines may use et al. in the reference list as well as for in-text citations. If in doubt, please check with your tutor.

Chapter in an edited book

Include the following information: Chapter author(s) (Published Year) ‘Title of chapter’, in Editor(s) of book followed by (ed.) or (eds.) Title of book. Publisher, Page numbers of whole chapter or Available at: DOI or URL (Accessed: date)

Example: Tan, J. (2012) 'Education and children’s rights', in P. Jones and G. Walker (eds) Children’s rights in practice. Sage, pp. 109–123.

Journal article Include the following information: Author(s) (Published Year) ‘Title of Article’, Title of Journal, Volume number (issue details), Page numbers of whole article (where available) or article number

Example: Kirwan, B. and Leather, C. (2011) ‘Students’ voices: a report of the student view of dyslexia study skills tuition’, Support for Learning, 29(1), pp. 33-41.

Note: if accessed online, include Available at: DOI or URL (Accessed: Date) at the end of the reference.

Example with DOI: Ratnawati, V., Freddy, D. and Hardi, H. (2018) ‘Ownership structure, tax avoidance and firm performance’, Archives of Business Research, 6(1), pp. 1-7. Available at: https://doi.org/10.14738/abr.61.4011

Example with URL (Accessed: Date): Ratnawati, V., Freddy, D. and Hardi, H. (2018) ‘Ownership structure, tax avoidance and firm performance’, Archives of Business Research, 6(1), pp. 1-7. Available at: https://www.ebsco.com (Accessed: 01 January 2025).

Ref: LS134 | Skills for Learning | August 2025

Web page

Include the following information: Author(s) (Published Year) Title of webpage. Available at: web address (Accessed: date).

Example with named author(s): Greenfield, S. (2018) Women in science. Available at: http://www.susangreenfield.com/science/detail/women-in-science (Accessed: 15 August 2026).

Example with organisation author: Smart Design (2017) Getting a grip: a long-term project that changed kitchens everywhere. Available at: https://smartdesignworldwide.com/projects/oxopartnership (Accessed: 15 August 2025).

Reports

Print copy: Author(s) or organisation (Published Year) Title of report. Publisher.

OR if accessed online: Author(s) or organisation (Published Year) Title of report. Available at: web address (Accessed: date). Example – print copy: Department for Education (DfE) (2017) Early education and childcare: statutory guidance for local authorities. The Stationery Office. Example – accessed online: Department for Education (DfE) (2017) Early education and childcare: statutory guidance for local authorities. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/ uploads/attachment_data/file/596460/early_education_and_childcare_statutory_guidance_2017.pdf (Accessed: 13 April 2024).

Newspaper article

Include the following information:

Author(s) (Published Year) ‘Title of article’, Newspaper name, Day and month published, page number(s) if available.

Example:

Allen, K. (2014) ‘Barratt moves to tailor house designs and locations to older population’, Financial Times, 4 November, p. 1.

Note: add Available at: URL (Accessed: date) at the end for newspaper articles accessed online. If the article has no named author, move the newspaper name in italics to the start of the reference.

UK Statutes (Acts of Parliament)

Include the following information:

Title of Act including year and chapter number. Available at: web address (Accessed: date).

Example:

Health and Social Care Act 2012, c. 7. Available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/7/contents/enacted (Accessed: 17 July 2026).

Note: the in-text citation for an Act would give the Act name and year all in italics, for example: Recent social care legislation (Health and Social Care Act 2012) specifies that …

Items on Canvas

Include the following information:

Author or tutor (Published Year) ‘Title of item’. Module code: Module title. Available at: web address (Accessed: date).

Example: Bernardes, J. (2018) ‘Week 4: problem of studying family living’. 6CF008: Critical debates in social policy. Available at: http://hamnicwritingservices.com (Accessed: 14 July 2026).

Note: add the format or medium in square brackets after the item title if this helps clarify what type of source you’ve used, for example [PowerPoint Presentation].

Further advice about Harvard style referencing can be found in Cite Them Right, available in all of our libraries:

Pears, R. and Shields, G. (2025) Cite them right: The essential referencing guide. 13th edn. Bloomsbury.

We also have guidance on referencing other sources including images, standards and confidential information via our HAMNIC Solutions