Harvard referencing is the dominant citation style in UK higher education, but it is not one style. Almost every university uses its own variant. Here's how to navigate it.
Cite Them Right Harvard (most common)
Used by the majority of UK universities. In-text format: (Author, Year, p. X). Reference list entries follow Author, Initial. (Year) Title in italics. Edition. Place: Publisher.
Manchester / Leeds variants
Subtle differences in punctuation and ordering. Always check your module handbook before you start citing, using the wrong variant consistently still loses marks.
Common mistakes
- Missing page numbers on direct quotations
- Inconsistent author formatting (initials vs. full names)
- Broken links between in-text citations and bibliography entries
- Hanging indent missing in reference list
- Using 'et al.' for first citation when fewer than 4 authors
Reference management software
Zotero, Mendeley and EndNote all support Harvard. We recommend Zotero for free use and its Word/Google Docs integration. Configure the specific Harvard variant your university requires.
