how to reference dissertation harvard

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How to Cite a Dissertation in Harvard Style

Published by Alaxendra Bets at August 27th, 2021 , Revised On September 25, 2023

What is a Dissertation?

In the UK, countries of Western Europe, as well as New Zealand and Australia, the term ‘ dissertation ’ is used instead of a ‘thesis.’ The majority of the remaining countries in the world prefer to use ‘thesis’ instead of ‘dissertation.’

Both represent the same thing, though: a full-length, academic piece of writing that students must submit after their undergraduate, post-graduate (Master), or PhD studies.

More specifically, a dissertation can refer to:

• Large-scale research as part of a degree.
• An article based on a small-scale study as part of a degree.
• A review of another study, research or an accumulation of both.
• Other full-length body texts are a requirement of the student’s degree program, no matter which level it is.

1.    Basic Format

In Harvard, the following in-text citation format is used for the dissertation:

(Author Surname, Year Published)

For example, ‘Occasionally the talent for drawing passes beyond mere picture-copying and shows the presence of a real artistic capacity of no mean order. (Darius, 2014)’

In Harvard, the following reference list entry format is used for the dissertation:

Author Surname, Author Initials. (Year Published). Title of the dissertation in italics. Level. Institution Name.

For example, reference list entry for the above source would be:

Darius, H. (2014). Running head: SAVANT SYNDROME – THEORIES AND EMPIRICAL FINDINGS . University of Skövde, University of Turku.

However, a slightly different format is also used in some institutions. According to that, in-text citations are done in the following way:

Author surname Year, p.#

For instance, Exelby (1997, p. 3) described the process … OR … processing gold (Exelby 1997, p. 3).

But in the case of reference list entries, these ‘other’ institutions recommend naming the dissertation title not in italics but in single quotation marks. The format would then be:

Author Surname, Initials Year of Publication, ‘Title of thesis in single quotation marks’, Award, Institution issuing degree, Location of the institution.

So, according to this format, the above example’s reference list entry would be:

Exelby, HRA 1997, ‘Aspects of Gold and Mineral Liberation’, PhD thesis, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld.

Whichever format is followed largely depends on one’s institutional guidelines. The format specified by the university is the one that should be followed. Furthermore, it should be followed consistently throughout a manuscript.

2.    Citing a Dissertation Published Online

The format for both in-text and reference list entries is the same for online and print dissertations. For example:

• In-text citation: (Ram 2012) OR (Ram 2011, p. 130)
• Reference list entry: Ram, R 2012, ‘Development of the International Financial Reporting Standard for Small and Medium-sized Entities’, PhD thesis, The University of Sydney, viewed 23 May 2014, <http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8208>.

An important point to note: While referencing dissertations published online, the URL may or may not be enclosed within < > symbols. Whichever format is chosen, it should be used consistently throughout the text.

3.    Citing an Unpublished Dissertation

This type of dissertation also uses the same formatting for in-text and reference list entries in Harvard style. For example:

• In-text citation: (Sakunasingha 2006) OR (Sakunasingha 2006, p. 36)
• Reference list entry: Sakunasingha, B 2006, ‘An empirical study into factors influencing the use of value-based management tools’, DBA thesis, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do i cite my dissertation.

To cite your dissertation, follow your chosen citation style (e.g., APA, MLA). Generally, include author name, year, title, and source details. For APA: Author. (Year). Title. Source. For MLA: Author. “Title.” Degree, University, Year.

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Protocols to cite a book in Harvard style: Author Surname, Author Initial. (Year Published). Title. ed. City: Publisher, p.Pages Used.

Citing encyclopedia article: Author Surname, Author Initial. (Year Published). Title. In: Publication Title. City: Publisher, p.Pages Used.

How to compile references in Harvard referencing style? Well, all items should be listed alphabetically by author or authorship, whether you are using books, websites or journal articles, etc.

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To be made up of:

• Year of submission (in round brackets).
• Title of thesis (in italics).
• Degree statement.
• Degree-awarding body.
• Available at: URL.
• (Accessed: date).

In-text citation: 

(Smith, 2019)

Reference List:  

Smith, E. R. C. (2019). Conduits of invasive species into the UK: the angling route? Ph. D. Thesis. University College London. Available at: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10072700 (Accessed: 20 May 2021).

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What is a thesis?

What is a dissertation, getting started, staying on track.

A thesis is a long-term project that you work on over the course of a semester or a year. Theses have a very wide variety of styles and content, so we encourage you to look at prior examples and work closely with faculty to develop yours. 

Before you begin, make sure that you are familiar with the dissertation genre—what it is for and what it looks like.

Generally speaking, a dissertation’s purpose is to prove that you have the expertise necessary to fulfill your doctoral-degree requirements by showing depth of knowledge and independent thinking.

The form of a dissertation may vary by discipline. Be sure to follow the specific guidelines of your department.

• PhD This site directs candidates to the GSAS website about dissertations , with links to checklists,  planning, formatting, acknowledgments, submission, and publishing options. There is also a link to guidelines for the prospectus . Consult with your committee chair about specific requirements and standards for your dissertation.
• DDES This document covers planning, patent filing, submission guidelines, publishing options, formatting guidelines, sample pages, citation guidelines, and a list of common errors to avoid. There is also a link to guidelines for the prospectus .
• Scholarly Pursuits (GSAS) This searchable booklet from Harvard GSAS is a comprehensive guide to writing dissertations, dissertation-fellowship applications, academic journal articles, and academic job documents.

Finding an original topic can be a daunting and overwhelming task. These key concepts can help you focus and save time.

Finding a topic for your thesis or dissertation should start with a research question that excites or at least interests you. A rigorous, engaging, and original project will require continuous curiosity about your topic, about your own thoughts on the topic, and about what other scholars have said on your topic. Avoid getting boxed in by thinking you know what you want to say from the beginning; let your research and your writing evolve as you explore and fine-tune your focus through constant questioning and exploration.

Get a sense of the broader picture before you narrow your focus and attempt to frame an argument. Read, skim, and otherwise familiarize yourself with what other scholars have done in areas related to your proposed topic. Briefly explore topics tangentially related to yours to broaden your perspective and increase your chance of finding a unique angle to pursue.

Critical Reading

Critical reading is the opposite of passive reading. Instead of merely reading for information to absorb, critical reading also involves careful, sustained thinking about what you are reading. This process may include analyzing the author’s motives and assumptions, asking what might be left out of the discussion, considering what you agree with or disagree with in the author’s statements and why you agree or disagree, and exploring connections or contradictions between scholarly arguments. Here is a resource to help hone your critical-reading skills:

http://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/criticalread.pdf

Conversation

Your thesis or dissertation will incorporate some ideas from other scholars whose work you researched. By reading critically and following your curiosity, you will develop your own ideas and claims, and these contributions are the core of your project. You will also acknowledge the work of scholars who came before you, and you must accurately and fairly attribute this work and define your place within the larger discussion. Make sure that you know how to quote, summarize, paraphrase ,  integrate , and cite secondary sources to avoid plagiarism and to show the depth and breadth of your knowledge.

A thesis is a long-term, large project that involves both research and writing; it is easy to lose focus, motivation, and momentum. Here are suggestions for achieving the result you want in the time you have.

The dissertation is probably the largest project you have undertaken, and a lot of the work is self-directed. The project can feel daunting or even overwhelming unless you break it down into manageable pieces and create a timeline for completing each smaller task. Be realistic but also challenge yourself, and be forgiving of yourself if you miss a self-imposed deadline here and there.

Your program will also have specific deadlines for different requirements, including establishing a committee, submitting a prospectus, completing the dissertation, defending the dissertation, and submitting your work. Consult your department’s website for these dates and incorporate them into the timeline for your work.

Accountability

Sometimes self-imposed deadlines do not feel urgent unless there is accountability to someone beyond yourself. To increase your motivation to complete tasks on schedule, set dates with your committee chair to submit pre-determined pieces of a chapter. You can also arrange with a fellow doctoral student to check on each other’s progress. Research and writing can be lonely, so it is also nice to share that journey with someone and support each other through the process.

Common Pitfalls

The most common challenges for students writing a dissertation are writer’s block, information-overload, and the compulsion to keep researching forever.

There are many strategies for avoiding writer’s block, such as freewriting, outlining, taking a walk, starting in the middle, and creating an ideal work environment for your particular learning style. Pay attention to what helps you and try different things until you find what works.

Efficient researching techniques are essential to avoiding information-overload. Here are a couple of resources about strategies for finding sources and quickly obtaining essential information from them.

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_in_literature_detailed_discussion/reading_criticism.html

https://students.dartmouth.edu/academic-skills/learning-resources/learning-strategies/reading-techniques

Finally, remember that there is always more to learn and your dissertation cannot incorporate everything. Follow your curiosity but also set limits on the scope of your work. It helps to create a folder entitled “future projects” for topics and sources that interest you but that do not fit neatly into the dissertation. Also remember that future scholars will build off of your work, so leave something for them to do.

Browsing through theses and dissertations of the past can help to get a sense of your options and gain inspiration but be careful to use current guidelines and refer to your committee instead of relying on these examples for form or formatting.

DASH Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard.

HOLLIS Harvard Library’s catalog provides access to ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global .

MIT Architecture has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

Rhode Island School of Design has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

University of South Florida has a list of their graduates’ dissertations and theses.

Harvard GSD has a list of projects, including theses and professors’ research.

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Reference : Author, Initial. (Year of submission) Title of thesis . Degree statement. Degree-awarding body.         

Example : Allen, S. J. (2009) The social and moral fibre of Celtic Tiger Ireland . Unpublished PhD thesis. University College Dublin.

In-Text-Citation :

• Author Last name (Year)
• (Author Last name, Year)
• Allen (2009) disagrees with this…..
• As argued elsewhere (Allen, 2009)….

Still unsure what in-text citation and referencing mean? Check here . 

Still unsure why you need to reference all this information? Check here . 

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• Referencing and plagiarism

Quick guide to Harvard referencing (Cite Them Right)

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There are different versions of the Harvard referencing style. This guide is a quick introduction to the commonly-used Cite Them Right version. You will find further guidance available through the OU Library on the Cite Them Right Database .

For help and support with referencing and the full Cite Them Right guide, have a look at the Library’s page on referencing and plagiarism . If you need guidance referencing OU module material you can check out which sections of Cite Them Right are recommended when referencing physical and online module material .

This guide does not apply to OU Law undergraduate students . If you are studying a module beginning with W1xx, W2xx or W3xx, you should refer to the Quick guide to Cite Them Right referencing for Law modules .

Table of contents

In-text citations and full references.

• Secondary referencing
• Page numbers
• Citing multiple sources published in the same year by the same author

Full reference examples

Referencing consists of two elements:

• in-text citations, which are inserted in the body of your text and are included in the word count. An in-text citation gives the author(s) and publication date of a source you are referring to. If the publication date is not given, the phrase 'no date' is used instead of a date. If using direct quotations or you refer to a specific section in the source you also need the page number/s if available, or paragraph number for web pages.
• full references, which are given in alphabetical order in a  reference list at the end of your work and are not included in the word count. Full references give full bibliographical information for all the sources you have referred to in the body of your text.

To see a reference list and intext citations check out this example assignment on Cite Them Right .

Difference between reference list and bibliography

a reference list only includes sources you have referred to in the body of your text.

a bibliography includes sources you have referred to in the body of your text AND sources that were part of your background reading that you did not use in your assignment.

Back to top

Examples of in-text citations

You need to include an in-text citation wherever you quote or paraphrase from a source. An in-text citation consists of the last name of the author(s), the year of publication, and a page number if relevant. There are a number of ways of incorporating in-text citations into your work - some examples are provided below. Alternatively you can see examples of setting out in-text citations in Cite Them Right .

Example with one author:

Almeroth-Williams, T. (2019) City of Beasts: How Animals Shaped Georgian London . Manchester: Manchester University Press.

RSPCA (2024) Caring for cats and kittens . Available at: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats (Accessed: 1 August 2024).

Example with two or three authors:

Grayling, A. and Ball, B. (2024) ' Philosophy is crucial in the age of AI', The Conversation , 1 August. Available at: https://theconversation.com/philosophy-is-crucial-in-the-age-of-ai-235907 (Accessed: 1 August 2024).

Chu, M., Leonard, P. and Stevenson, F. (2012) ' Growing the Base for Citizen Science: Recruiting and Engaging Participants', in J.L. Dickinson and R. Bonney (eds.) Citizen Science: Public Participation in Environmental Research . Ithaca: Cornell University Press, pp. 69-81.

Example with four or more authors:

Young, H.D. et al. (2015) Sears and Zemansky's university physics . San Francisco, CA: Addison-Wesley.

Note: You can choose one or other method to reference four or more authors (unless your School requires you to name all authors in your reference list) and your approach should be consistent.

Online module materials

(Includes written online module activities, audio-visual material such as online tutorials, recordings or videos).

When referencing material from module websites, the date of publication is the year you started studying the module.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication/presentation) 'Title of item'. Module code: Module title . Available at: URL of VLE (Accessed: date).

OR, if there is no named author:

The Open University (Year of publication/presentation) 'Title of item'. Module code: Module title . Available at: URL of VLE (Accessed: date).

Rietdorf, K. and Bootman, M. (2022) 'Topic 3: Rare diseases'. S290: Investigating human health and disease . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=1967195 (Accessed: 24 January 2023).

The Open University (2022) ‘3.1 The purposes of childhood and youth research’. EK313: Issues in research with children and young people . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=1949633&section=1.3 (Accessed: 24 January 2023).

You can also use this template to reference videos and audio that are hosted on your module website:

The Open University (2022) ‘Video 2.7 An example of a Frith-Happé animation’. SK298: Brain, mind and mental health . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=2013014&section=4.9.6 (Accessed: 22 November 2022).

The Open University (2022) ‘Audio 2 Interview with Richard Sorabji (Part 2)’. A113: Revolutions . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=1960941&section=5.6 (Accessed: 22 November 2022).

Note: if a complete journal article has been uploaded to a module website, or if you have seen an article referred to on the website and then accessed the original version, reference the original journal article, and do not mention the module materials. If only an extract from an article is included in your module materials that you want to reference, you should use secondary referencing, with the module materials as the 'cited in' source, as described above.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of message', Title of discussion board , in Module code: Module title . Available at: URL of VLE (Accessed: date).

Fitzpatrick, M. (2022) ‘A215 - presentation of TMAs', Tutor group discussion & Workbook activities , in A215: Creative writing . Available at: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/forumng/discuss.php?d=4209566 (Accessed: 24 January 2022).

Note: When an ebook looks like a printed book, with publication details and pagination, reference as a printed book.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) Title . Edition if later than first. Place of publication: publisher. Series and volume number if relevant.

For ebooks that do not contain print publication details

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) Title of book . Available at: DOI or URL (Accessed: date).

Bell, J. (2014) Doing your research project . Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Adams, D. (1979) The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy . Available at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/kindle-ebooks (Accessed: 23 June 2021).

Note: Books that have an editor, or editors, where each chapter is written by a different author or authors.

Surname of chapter author, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of chapter or section', in Initial. Surname of book editor (ed.) Title of book . Place of publication: publisher, Page reference.

Franklin, A.W. (2012) 'Management of the problem', in S.M. Smith (ed.) The maltreatment of children . Lancaster: MTP, pp. 83–95.

Note: When referencing a chapter of an edited book, your in-text citation should give the author(s) of the chapter.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Journal , volume number (issue number), page reference.

If accessed online:

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Journal , volume number (issue number), page reference. Available at: DOI or URL (if required) (Accessed: date).

Shirazi, T. (2010) 'Successful teaching placements in secondary schools: achieving QTS practical handbooks', European Journal of Teacher Education , 33(3), pp. 323–326.

Shirazi, T. (2010) 'Successful teaching placements in secondary schools: achieving QTS practical handbooks', European Journal of Teacher Education , 33(3), pp. 323–326. Available at: https://libezproxy.open.ac.uk/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/log... (Accessed: 27 January 2023).

Barke, M. and Mowl, G. (2016) 'Málaga – a failed resort of the early twentieth century?', Journal of Tourism History , 2(3), pp. 187–212. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1755182X.2010.523145

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Newspaper , Day and month, Page reference.

Surname, Initial. (Year of publication) 'Title of article', Title of Newspaper , Day and month, Page reference if available. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Mansell, W. and Bloom, A. (2012) ‘£10,000 carrot to tempt physics experts’, The Guardian , 20 June, p. 5.

Roberts, D. and Ackerman, S. (2013) 'US draft resolution allows Obama 90 days for military action against Syria', The Guardian , 4 September. Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/04/syria-strikes-draft-resolut... (Accessed: 9 September 2015).

Surname, Initial. (Year that the site was published/last updated) Title of web page . Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Organisation (Year that the page was last updated) Title of web page . Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Robinson, J. (2007) Social variation across the UK . Available at: https://www.bl.uk/british-accents-and-dialects/articles/social-variation... (Accessed: 21 November 2021).

The British Psychological Society (2018) Code of Ethics and Conduct . Available at: https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/bps-code-ethics-and-conduct (Accessed: 22 March 2019).

Note: Cite Them Right Online offers guidance for referencing webpages that do not include authors' names and dates. However, be extra vigilant about the suitability of such webpages.

Surname, Initial. (Year) Title of photograph . Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

Kitton, J. (2013) Golden sunset . Available at: https://www.jameskittophotography.co.uk/photo_8692150.html (Accessed: 21 November 2021).

stanitsa_dance (2021) Cossack dance ensemble . Available at: https://www.instagram.com/p/COI_slphWJ_/ (Accessed: 13 June 2023).

Note: If no title can be found then replace it with a short description.

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Harvard Citation Style: Theses

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Click on the links below for further information on referencing each material type

• Why is Referencing Important?
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Reference Formats

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Citing Theses: Examples

• A table of examples in all formats for quick reference

Citing Theses

Theses can come in a number for formats, they can be published, unpublished, or retrieved from a database. The principles when citing a thesis are similar to those employed when citing a book.

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Harvard referencing style

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Leeds Harvard: Thesis or dissertation

Reference examples.

Family name, INITIAL(S). Year. Title . Type of qualification, academic institution.

Dang, V.A. 2007 . Three essays in financial economics . Ph.D. thesis, University of Leeds.

Citation examples

Author and date.

When the author name is not mentioned in the text, the citation consists of the author’s name and the year of publication in brackets.

It was emphasised that citations in the text should be consistent (Jones, 2017).

If you have already named the author in the text, only the publication year needs to be mentioned in brackets.

Jones (2017) emphasised that citations in the text should be consistent.

Three or more authors

If a source has three or more authors, the name of the first author should be given, followed by the phrase "et al."

It was emphasised that citations in a text should be consistent (Jones et al., 2017).

Jones et al. (2017) emphasised that citations in a text should be consistent.

Leeds Harvard does not use ibid to refer to previously cited items. If you are citing the same item twice in a row (i.e. you do not cite any other items in the text between the two citations) you must write the full citation again. 

The key principle of referencing is that the reader should understand which information came from another source and which is your own idea, so you should provide citations as often as is necessary to make this clear.  If you feel that you are citing the same source too many times in one paragraph, you could change the way that you are writing:

• You could include the author’s surname or pronoun in the sentence, to show you are still referring to the same source.
• You could include a second source to make your paragraph feel less repetitive and add further support to the point you want to make. See our guidance on incorporating evidence into your writing.

Example: Jones et al. (2017) emphasised that citations in a text should be consistent and argued that referencing is a key part of academic integrity. Furthermore, having a broad range of references in a text is an indicator of the breadth of a scholar's reading and research (Jones et al., 2017). They also suggested that…

When to include page numbers

You should include page numbers in your citation if you quote directly from the text, paraphrase specific ideas or explanations, or use an image, diagram, table, etc. from a source.

"It was emphasised that citations in a text should be consistent" (Jones, 2017, p.24).

When referencing a single page, you should use p. For a range of pages, use pp.

p.7 or pp.20-29.

If the page numbers are in Roman numerals, do not include p. before them.

(Amis, 1958, iv)

Common issues

When you're referencing with Leeds Harvard you may come across issues with missing details, multiple authors, edited books, references to another author's work or online items, to name a few. Here are some tips on how to deal with some common issues when using Leeds Harvard.

Skip straight to the issue that affects you:

• Online items
• URL web addresses
• Multiple authors
• Corporate author(s) or organisation(s)
• Multiple publisher details
• Editions and reprints
• Missing details
• Multiple sources with different authors
• Sources written by the same author in the same year
• Sources with the same author in different years
• Two authors with the same surname in the same year
• The work of one author referred to by another
• Anonymising sources for confidentiality
• Identifying the authors’ family name (surname)

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Guide to Harvard Referencing

• 33-minute read
• 22nd June 2023

Note: This is an advanced guide to Harvard, useful for professional editors, academics, and students looking to bump up their grades with flawless referencing! If you’re new to Harvard and feel a little lost, check out our introduction to Harvard referencing .  For extra help from Harvard experts, try our student proofreading services  for free, or learn more about our  editing services for businesses .

Harvard referencing refers to the general citation style of listing a source’s author and date in parentheses within the text, with a corresponding entry in a reference list at the end of the work.

If a customer says they’ve been asked to use the Harvard referencing style, it could be one of many variations. You should check if a particular version has been specified. If there isn’t, use this guide to apply the version we use, but add a note for the customer to check with their institution. Also, pay attention to the requested dialect. Quotation marks, for instance, will vary depending on whether the citation is written in US or UK English .

In-text Citations: The Basics

Essentially, the surname of the author of the source and the year of its publication must be given in the text. If it is not known when a source was published, it must be indicated with “no date” (abbreviated to “n.d.” ) in place of the year.

If a direct quote is made from a source, then the in-text citation must also include the page number (or paragraph) of the quote. For page numbers, the basic form is “p.” for a single page and “pp.” for quotes spanning multiple pages. For paragraphs, use “para.” (e.g., for websites that don’t have pages); for long documents without page numbers, you can choose to include the section or chapter number or name (e.g., Smith, 1998, Section title, para. 3), but do check with your institution’s style guide.

Those key pieces of information are given in parentheses in the same font as the surrounding text and separated by commas. The bracketed citation should immediately follow the portion of the sentence that comes from the external source. If the author is mentioned in the sentence, then the bracketed citation (which will then just include the year of publication) will need to follow directly after the author’s name.

In-text citations can take three basic forms :

• Something else (Carter, 1940) is relevant to this example.
• Carter (1940) said something relevant to this example.
• “This is relevant” (Carter, 1940, p. 64).

If the source doesn’t come from an author with a surname – a corporate body, for example – then the name of that organization takes the place of the surname:

• This guide on Harvard referencing advises… (Proofed, 2022).

These basic rules will need to be adapted to various circumstances, which we will discuss next.

Multiple Authors

When there are multiple authors of the same work, the main thing to remember is that in-text citations name one or two authors. For three or more authors, only the first is mentioned, followed by “et al.” (in which case, note that a period is used in addition to a comma because “al.” is an abbreviation).

NB: When it comes to the full list of references at the end, all authors – some institutions put a cap on this, but others simply say to consult the course tutor – should be listed.

When both authors are named, the in-text citation will spell out “and” rather than use an ampersand (“&”).

Same Name, Same Year

An exception to only giving the surname of the author is if there are authors with the same surname and publications from the same year. In that case, the author’s initials should be added for clarity . Whether that initial comes before or after the surname, and whether or not it should have a period, will depend upon the university’s style guide. Our general approach is to put a period after an initial, as you would in any writing, but you should go for consistency within the document and flag the issue with a comment.

Multiple Works, Same Author

More frequently, you may come across citations for more than one work by the same author. If they were from different years but cited together, there is no need for the author’s name to be repeated. The years of publication are then listed in reverse chronological order (i.e., the newest comes first) with the years separated by semicolons . Each individual source is then listed in the reference list.

NB: When it comes to the full list of references at the end, the order of sources by the same author is chronological (i.e., with the earliest first).

If, however, the author has multiple works from the same year, a lowercase letter should be added to the year to differentiate the sources. The lettering should be alphabetical in the order that the sources are cited in the text .

NB: The crucial thing to check here is that the same system is reflected in the reference list at the end.

Citing Multiple Sources

If there is more than one source cited in support of a statement (e.g., multiple works by the same author), they will need to be cited in reverse chronological order and separated by semicolons . If the list includes works from the same year , they should be cited alphabetically by author .

NB: If the customer has consistently cited references in chronological order, then you should simply add a note for them to check whether this is what their university requires. Given the many variations on the Harvard theme, this could well be the case.

What if There Isn’t an Author?

You may see cases where the title of the source is given in place of the author. This is likely because the source has no named author (whether individual or corporate). In these cases, using the title of the source (the book, collection, etc.) is an acceptable variation, but it’s advisable to flag it with a comment to make sure.

Secondary Citations

If you’re presented with a reference to a work within a work (i.e., the customer hasn’t read the original but has come across it as a reference in another), this is a secondary citation.

• You should leave a comment suggesting that the customer try to find the original source and refer to that.
• Include the author and year of the original within the in-text citation as well as the author and year of the available source.
• Include in the Reference List only the source that has actually been read (the “available source”).

The Reference List (Or Is It a Bibliography?)

The Harvard style requires a full list of all the sources that are cited within the text to be provided at the end of the document. The standard formatting requirement is to include it on a separate page titled Reference List .

Sometimes, a university will require a list of all the sources considered within a piece of work, even if they haven’t all been cited. This type of list is called a Bibliography .

• The two terms – Reference List and Bibliography – are often confused. When proofreading references, it’s best to flag the issue with a comment pointing out the distinction and recommending that the particular requirements of the university are checked.

In either case, the sources are listed alphabetically by the first item in the source’s full reference (usually the author’s surname). A corporate author or title of a work (if that comes first) starting with “The,” “A,” or “An” should be listed as if that word weren’t there (e.g., a source from the Open University would be listed under “O,” not “T”).

• The easiest fix that you may need to make to a reference list (of whatever description) is ensuring that it is sorted alphabetically by the first item in each reference. This can be done automatically using a simple tool in Word .
• Where there are multiple sources by the same author, they should be listed chronologically with the earliest first (note that this is the reverse of the principle for in-text citations). NB: If the customer has presented the list consistently, don’t make any amendments. Just leave a comment for them to check that their approach is in line with the expectations of their university.

Detailing the sources in a reference list is probably the biggest cause of headaches for both writers and proofreaders. This is because the particular requirements differ depending on the type of source – and there are many .

The information itself is usually straightforward; it’s the formatting that gets tricky. In general terms, you could use the following as a checklist:

Let’s start with the most common types and see how those translate from in-text citations to full reference listings so that you can easily recognize them and, if necessary, fix them.

Printed Media

These sources are most likely to follow the general checklist given above. Within the list, “year of publication” is abbreviated to “year.” For particular issues relating to authors and years, please refer to the notes on in-text citations.

Audiovisual Media

Here’s where things start to get different.

• For movies, TV shows, and the like, the title of the work is foremost and determines the position of the source in the list of full references.
• It’s the director of a film who is credited, not the writer, and they get full billing (i.e., full name); it may help to remember that the big Oscar awards are for Best Film and Best Director, not (sadly) the film’s writer.
• The type of audiovisual media is given in square brackets after the title, followed by a period.
• The distribution details take the place of the publishing details.

Online Sources

Some additional information is required here, most commonly:

• As with audiovisual media, an indication in square brackets that the source is online.
• The URL where the source is available.
• The date when your customer accessed the source – because websites tend to be updated. This information is given in parentheses and comes last in the full reference. The final period is outside the closing bracket.

Some Specifics

With a wealth of sources available, there will always be something that doesn’t quite fit with the general principals. At the end of this guide is an alphabetical list of some you may come across and how they may appear ( remembering that there may be variations between universities ).

The aim of the list is to provide a baseline so that you know the main elements to expect. Consistency of presentation is key, as is the use of the commenting tool to point out where information may be missing – or the format may require checking with the university’s own preferences.

What to Do When the Customer’s Approach Differs

To summarize, the Harvard referencing style can be – and is – interpreted in a wide variety of ways. We’ve set out the Proofed standard approach, so here’s what to do when it almost inevitably differs from the approach taken by the customer:

• Look to see whether the customer has provided a specific version of Harvard to follow.
• If so, find that online (almost every university makes its referencing guide available on its website, and those are generally easy to search for).
• Follow the customer’s lead unless it’s inconsistent, goes against the version they’ve specified, or is otherwise contrary to the Harvard approach (e.g., if they use footnotes or don’t provide the author–date information within the text).
• Acknowledge that variations to the Harvard style exist. Apply consistency to the document and leave a comment to explain the approach you have taken.
• Contact Editor Support if you are still unsure.

But What About…?

• As may be seen in the listing for an encyclopedia, this should be recorded as an additional piece of information within the full reference for the source (it will not affect the in-text citation). The edition number (abbreviated to “edn”) should come after the main title of the book, be separated from the surrounding details by commas, and formatted with a roman font:

• Start on a new line.
• Be indented as a block (hence the name).
• Not have quote marks.
• Be preceded by a colon.
• If the author’s name is in the introductory text, then the year of publication goes in brackets right after the name.
• Otherwise, the author–year citation will be included in round brackets after the block quote.
• Where the author–year citation isn’t mentioned in the text, authorities vary on whether the citation should be on a separate line, left indented to match the block quote, right indented, or at the end of the quote before the period (as it would appear if in the regular text). In such cases, first check for consistency within the document, and then leave a comment for the customer to check that the approach taken is in line with their university’s preference.
• With the word “Figure” or “Table” (with a capital letter).
• Followed by a number, starting with 1, in the order that they appear (NB: in a dissertation or thesis, the number may refer to the chapter in which it appears – e.g., Figure 3.5 may refer to the fifth figure in Chapter 3).
• Then a title (caption) for the figure or table.
• Followed by the in-text citation for the reference of the source.
• The source of the figure or table (e.g., journal, book, website) should then be given in the reference list.

What Does the Proofreading Service Include for Referencing?

• Check that references and citations are in accordance with the customer’s version of Harvard. When in doubt, go for consistency and leave a note to explain your approach.
• It is the job of the customer to make sure that all the citations appear in the reference list and vice versa, but if you spot that something is missing, point it out with a comment.
• There is no need to check that the dates and spellings of author names match for each in-text citation and corresponding full reference; however, if you do see an issue along these lines, point it out in a comment and ask the customer to check the original source.
• Check whether all the expected elements of a full reference are present (which will depend upon the type of source), including the relevant font style and correct use of quotes, capitalization, and italics. Note any missing information in a comment for the customer.
• If available, check with the customer’s version of Harvard to see how the reference list or bibliography should be presented (e.g., title, on a separate page, with hanging indents).

What Does the Formatting Service Include for Referencing?

• Harvard doesn’t have any specific formatting requirements, so follow the Proofed house style unless otherwise indicated in the customer’s style guide.

What Falls Outside the Scope of Both?

The main purpose of referencing is for writers to avoid plagiarism. For that same reason, there is a limit on what can be done for a customer.

• Do not add or change information within an in-text citation or reference unless there is an obvious typo.
• Do not add citations or references, even if they seem to be missing; leave a comment instead.
• Don’t fill in missing information; leave a comment about what appears to be missing and provide information about how the reference could be written to accommodate it (e.g., “n.d.” if the date is unknown).
• There is no need to check URLs; if they appear incomplete, leave a comment for the customer to check them.
• You should read through direct quotes to check that the surrounding text leads to the quote appropriately and to correct any typos or obvious errors, such as additional spaces. If there looks to be an error or inconsistency, leave a comment for the customer to check the original source; it would be risky to try to fix it without access to the source itself.
• Don’t guess at which of two inconsistent names or dates may be correct; point the anomaly out to the customer and ask them to check the source.

List of Example References

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NWU Harvard Referencing Guide

• Introduction
• Text references
• Reference list
• Elements of a reference list entry
• Chapter in a collected work
• Electronic books (ebooks)
• Encyclopedias
• Dictionaries

Theses and dissertations

• Journal articles
• Internet and other electronic sources
• Conference publications
• Study guides
• Newspaper articles
• Acts and law reports
• Government publications
• Bible and other religious writings
• Classical works
• Personal correspondance
• Patents and standards
• Musical scores
• Audiovisual and other media
• Unpublished work
• Harvard PDF document

Other styles

• NWU Law Referencing Guide 
• APA Referencing Guide

Use recognised abbreviations for universities and degrees. According to the NWU manual for master’s and doctoral studies, the following terms are used:

For international theses and dissertations use the terms on the title page. Full stops are optional in the abbreviations for qualifications, eg: M.Sc. or MSc (Magister Scientiae), Ph.D. or PhD (Philosophiae Doctor).

Saah, P. 2017. Exploring Mintzberg’s managerial roles of academic leaders at a selected higher education institution in South Africa . Mafikeng: North-West University. (Mini-dissertation – MBA). Text reference: (Saah, 2017:103).

Doctoral theses and master’s dissertations are widely available on institutional repositories. Include the permanent link (“handle”) to the thesis / dissertation in the reference list.

Note: when giving a permanent link, a date of access is not necessary.

International theses / dissertations accessed from a commercial database e.g. ProQuest:

Carroll, A.R. 2018. Ecosystems, communities, and species: understanding mammalian response to ancient carbon cycle perturbations . Ann Arbor, MI: University of New Hampshire. (Dissertation – PhD). http://nwulib.nwu.ac.za/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.nwulib.nwu.ac.za/docview/2058145688? accountid=12865 Date of access: 13 Apr. 2019. Text reference: (Carroll, 2018:59).

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• URL: https://libguides.nwu.ac.za/harvard-referencing

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Dissertation (thesis): how to cite in Harvard style?

Create a spot-on reference in harvard, general rules.

According to the Harvard citation style, the same template is used for referencing a master's thesis and a doctoral dissertation in a list of bibliographic references:

Author , ( year ).  Title . Work type , University .

NB: Fill in the 'Work type' field the type of work and the academic grade, for instance, 'Ph.D. thesis'.

If the text of the work can be accessed online, use the following template for your reference:

Author , ( year ). Title . Work type , University . [Viewed date viewed ]. Available from: URL

NB: The text '[online]' is not given after the title of the work, in contrast to the references to a book , a journal article , etc.

Examples in a list of references

Middleton,   H.   J., (2020). *ABA syncretism patterns in pronominal morphology . Ph.D. thesis, University College London. [Viewed 12 January 2021]. Available from: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10105591/

Reed,   B.   H., (1992). The genetic analysis of endoreduplication in Drosophila melanogaster. Ph.D. thesis, University of Cambridge.

Reference a Dissertation

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Upgrade to save your work, check with plagiarism, and more, is your source credible don't forget to consider these factors:, purpose : reason the source exists.

• Is the point of the information to inform, persuade, teach, or sell?
• Do the authors/publishers make their intentions clear?
• Does the information appear to be fact or opinion?
• Does the point of view seem impartial? Do they identify counter-arguments?

Authority - Author:Source of the information

• Who is the author? What are their credentials or qualifications?
• What makes the author qualified to write on this topic?
• Are there clearly defined contact information for the author?

Authority - Publisher:Source of the information

• Who is the publisher? Is it a non-profit, government agency, or organisation? How might this affect their point of view?
• What makes the publisher qualified to generate works on this subject?
• What can the URL tell you about the publisher? For instance, .gov may signify that it is a government agency.

Accuracy : Reliability and truthfulness of the content

• Where does the information come from?
• Can the information presented be verified? Is it supported by evidence that is clearly cited?
• Does the language used seem free of emotion, and does the work seem impartial and objective?
• Are there any spelling or grammatical errors? If an online source, are all links working?
• If it was reproduced, who edited/reproduced it? Where was the information originally published?
• How original are the ideas presented in the work? Do they seem to be common knowledge?

Relevance : Importance of the information to your topic

• Does the information relate to your topic, or answer the question you have presented?
• Who is the intended audience of the work? Does that audience match with yours?
• Have you looked at other sources related to this one? Does it seem there are many others on the topic?
• Are you utilizing the entire source, or just a part of it?

Currency : Timeliness of the information

• When was the information published? When was it last updated? Does it reflect the most current information available?
• How does your topic fit in with this source’s publication date? Do you need current information to make your point or do older sources work better?

Comprehensiveness

• Does the source present one or multiple viewpoints on your topic?
• Does the source present a large amount of information on the topic? Or is it short and focused?
• Are there any points you feel may have been left out, on purpose or accidentally, that affect its comprehensiveness?
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• Harvard In-Text Citation | A Complete Guide & Examples

Harvard In-Text Citation | A Complete Guide & Examples

Published on 30 April 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 5 May 2022.

An in-text citation should appear wherever you quote or paraphrase a source in your writing, pointing your reader to the full reference .

In Harvard style , citations appear in brackets in the text. An in-text citation consists of the last name of the author,  the year of publication, and a page number if relevant.

Up to three authors are included in Harvard in-text citations. If there are four or more authors, the citation is shortened with et al .

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Table of contents

Including page numbers in citations, where to place harvard in-text citations, citing sources with missing information, frequently asked questions about harvard in-text citations.

When you quote directly from a source or paraphrase a specific passage, your in-text citation must include a page number to specify where the relevant passage is located.

Use ‘p.’ for a single page and ‘pp.’ for a page range:

• Meanwhile, another commentator asserts that the economy is ‘on the downturn’ (Singh, 2015, p. 13 ).
• Wilson (2015, pp. 12–14 ) makes an argument for the efficacy of the technique.

If you are summarising the general argument of a source or paraphrasing ideas that recur throughout the text, no page number is needed.

Prevent plagiarism, run a free check.

When incorporating citations into your text, you can either name the author directly in the text or only include the author’s name in brackets.

Naming the author in the text

When you name the author in the sentence itself, the year and (if relevant) page number are typically given in brackets straight after the name:

Naming the author directly in your sentence is the best approach when you want to critique or comment on the source.

Naming the author in brackets

When you  you haven’t mentioned the author’s name in your sentence, include it inside the brackets. The citation is generally placed after the relevant quote or paraphrase, or at the end of the sentence, before the full stop:

Multiple citations can be included in one place, listed in order of publication year and separated by semicolons:

This type of citation is useful when you want to support a claim or summarise the overall findings of sources.

Common mistakes with in-text citations

In-text citations in brackets should not appear as the subject of your sentences. Anything that’s essential to the meaning of a sentence should be written outside the brackets:

• (Smith, 2019) argues that…
• Smith (2019) argues that…

Similarly, don’t repeat the author’s name in the bracketed citation and in the sentence itself:

• As Caulfield (Caulfield, 2020) writes…
• As Caulfield (2020) writes…

Sometimes you won’t have access to all the source information you need for an in-text citation. Here’s what to do if you’re missing the publication date, author’s name, or page numbers for a source.

If a source doesn’t list a clear publication date, as is sometimes the case with online sources or historical documents, replace the date with the words ‘no date’:

When it’s not clear who the author of a source is, you’ll sometimes be able to substitute a corporate author – the group or organisation responsible for the publication:

When there’s no corporate author to cite, you can use the title of the source in place of the author’s name:

No page numbers

If you quote from a source without page numbers, such as a website, you can just omit this information if it’s a short text – it should be easy enough to find the quote without it.

If you quote from a longer source without page numbers, it’s best to find an alternate location marker, such as a paragraph number or subheading, and include that:

A Harvard in-text citation should appear in brackets every time you quote, paraphrase, or refer to information from a source.

The citation can appear immediately after the quotation or paraphrase, or at the end of the sentence. If you’re quoting, place the citation outside of the quotation marks but before any other punctuation like a comma or full stop.

In Harvard referencing, up to three author names are included in an in-text citation or reference list entry. When there are four or more authors, include only the first, followed by ‘ et al. ’

In Harvard style , when you quote directly from a source that includes page numbers, your in-text citation must include a page number. For example: (Smith, 2014, p. 33).

You can also include page numbers to point the reader towards a passage that you paraphrased . If you refer to the general ideas or findings of the source as a whole, you don’t need to include a page number.

When you want to use a quote but can’t access the original source, you can cite it indirectly. In the in-text citation , first mention the source you want to refer to, and then the source in which you found it. For example:

It’s advisable to avoid indirect citations wherever possible, because they suggest you don’t have full knowledge of the sources you’re citing. Only use an indirect citation if you can’t reasonably gain access to the original source.

In Harvard style referencing , to distinguish between two sources by the same author that were published in the same year, you add a different letter after the year for each source:

• (Smith, 2019a)
• (Smith, 2019b)

Add ‘a’ to the first one you cite, ‘b’ to the second, and so on. Do the same in your bibliography or reference list .

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2022, May 05). Harvard In-Text Citation | A Complete Guide & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 5 August 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/referencing/harvard-in-text-citation/

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Your reference list and bibliography

How to write your reference list and bibliography in the harvard style.

Your lecturers consider accurate and consistent referencing to be an important part of your academic work. Check your course guidelines so you know which referencing style to use.

If you are using the bibliographic software, RefWorks, you should use the 'Imperial College London - Harvard' style which follows the same format as this guide.

The following examples are in two parts:

• the information you should collect about each piece of work you use
• how this information is presented when you write a full reference 

In general, if no author is provided or the author is unknown, begin with the title, followed by the year.

Click on the type of work you need to provide a reference for. If you cannot find the type of work you need, please contact your librarian for more help.

Frequently cited references

Book: accessed on an e-book reader.

Please note that the date of publication of the e-book version may differ from the print publication date. Ensure you use the correct date depending on the version of the book you have read and are citing in your work.

Author/editor (if it is an editor always put (ed.) after the name) (Year of publication) Title (this should be in italics) [E-reader version] Edition (if not the first edition) Place of publication (where available) Publisher

Powrie, W. (2007) Soil mechanics: concepts and applications . [Kindle version] 2 nd ed. London, Taylor and Francis.

In-text citation: (Powrie, 2007)

Feynman, R. P. & Davies, P. (2007) The character of physical law . [Sony Reader eBook version]. ePenguin.

In-text citation: (Feynman & Davies, 2007)

Book: chapter in an edited book

Author of the chapter (Year of publication) Title of chapter followed by, In: Editor (always put (ed.) after the name) Title (this should be in italics) Series title and number (if part of a series) Edition (if not the first edition) Place of publication (if there is more than one place listed, use the first named) Publisher Page numbers (use ‘p.' before a single page number and ‘pp.' where there are multiple pages)

Partridge, H. & Hallam, G. (2007) Evidence-based practice and information literacy. In: Lipu, S., Williamson, K. & Lloyd, A. (eds.) Exploring methods in information literacy research . Wagga Wagga, Australia, Centre for Information Studies, pp. 149-170.

In-text citation: (Partridge & Hallam, 2007)  

Example of a chapter in an edited book which is not a first edition:

Beecher, H.K. (2016) Ethics and clinical research. In: Kuhse, H., Schuklenk, U. & Singer, P. (eds.) Bioethics: An anthology. (3 rd ed.) Malden, MA, USA, Blackwell Publishing, pp. 451-458.

In-text citation: In a theory proposed by Beecher (2016, p. 459)...

Book: in a foreign language

Author/Editor (if it is an editor always put (ed.) after the name) (Year of publication) Title (this should be in italics) [Title in original language] (this should be in italics) Series title and number (if part of a series) Edition (if not the first edition) Place of publication (if there is more than one place listed, use the first named) Publisher

García Sánchez, J. J. (2007) Toponymic atlas of Spain . [ Atlas toponímico de España ]. Madrid, Arco/Libros.

In-text citation: (García Sánchez, 2007)

Book: online / electronic

Author/Editor (if it is an editor always put (ed.) after the name) (Year of publication) Title (this should be in italics) Edition (if not the first edition) Place of publication (if there is more than one place listed, use the first named) Publisher URL

Simons, N. E., Menzies, B. & Matthews, M. (2001) A Short Course in Soil and Rock Slope Engineering . London, Thomas Telford Publishing. http://www.myilibrary.com?ID=93941.

In-text citation: (Simons, Menzies & Matthews, 2001)

Book: print

Author/Editor (if it is an editor always put (ed.) after the name) (Year of publication) Title (this should be in italics) Series title and number (if part of a series) Edition (if not the first edition) Place of publication (if there is more than one place listed, use the first named) Publisher

Simons, N. E., Menzies, B. & Matthews, M. (2001) A Short Course in Soil and Rock Slope Engineering . London, Thomas Telford Publishing.

Example of book with an edition:

White, F. M. (2009)  Fluid mechanics.  7th ed. New York, NY, McGraw-Hill.

Book: translated

Author/Editor (if it is an editor always put (ed.) after the name) (Year of publication) Title (this should be in italics) Trans. followed by the name of the translator Series title and number (if part of a series) Edition (if not the first edition) Place of publication (if there is more than one place listed, use the first named) Publisher

Aristotle. (1999) Physics . Trans. Graham, D. W. Oxford, Clarendon.

In-text citation: (Aristotle, 1999)

Journal article: online / electronic

Most online articles will have a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and you should use this in your reference. The DOI is a permanent identifier provided by publishers so that the article can always be found. If the article has a DOI you will not usually be required to add a date of access.

If there is no DOI then you should use the URL and include date of access. Some lecturers will ask you to reference and online journal article as a print article, so always check your coursework guidance.

To find the DOI, when you read an article online, check the article details as you will usually find it at the start of the article. For more help, contact your librarian.

If you read the article in a full-text database service, such as Factiva or EBSCO, and do not have a DOI or direct URL to the article you should use the database URL.

(Year of publication) Title of journal article Title of journal (this should be in italics) Volume number Issue number Page numbers of the article (do not use ‘p'. before the page numbers) URL or DOI

Errami, M. & Garner, H. (2008) A tale of two citations. Nature . 451 (7177), 397-399. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v451/n7177/full/451397a.html.

Wang, F., Maidment, G., Missenden, J. & Tozer, R. (2007) The novel use of phase change materials in refrigeration plant. Part 1: Experimental investigation. Applied Thermal Engineering . 27 (17-18), 2893-2901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2005.06.011.

Read, B. (2008) Anti-cheating crusader vexes some professors. Chronicle of Higher Education . 54 (25). http://global.factiva.com.

Example of journal with article number

Yin, C., Gu, H. & Zhang, S. (2020) Measuring technological collaborations on carbon capture and storage based on patents: A social network analysis approach. Journal of Cleaner Production . 274, 122867. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122867.

Example of journal with no issue number

Burns, L. K. L., Loeb, S. C. & Bridges, W. C. (2019) Effects of fire and its severity on occupancy of bats in mixed pine-oak forests. Forest Ecology and Management . 446, 151-163.  doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2019.05.024. 

Journal article: postprint / in press

If a journal article has been submitted to the peer review procedure and accepted for publication, but is not yet published in a specific journal issue, this is a postprint . These articles can be referred to as being ‘In press'. You should be able to work out what type of article you have found using the information provided with the article.

Journal publishers now assign DOIs to articles before they are published in a specific journal issue, so you can use the DOI provided for postprint / in press articles. This will ensure that the correct link for the article remains when it is moved to a specific journal issue.

If you read a print journal article not yet published in a journal issue, follow the layout below, ignoring the online information required.

Author/s (Year of writing) Title of journal article Title of journal (this should be in italics) [Postprint/In press] URL [Date of access] or DOI

Akyol, Z., Ice, P., Garrison, R. & Mitchell, R. (2009) The relationship between course socio-epistemological orientations and student perceptions of community of inquiry. The Internet and Higher Education . [In press]  doi:10.1016/j.iheduc.2009.12.002

In-text citation: (Akyol et al, 2009)

Note: there will not be volume, issue or page numbers assigned to postprint / in press articles.

Journal article: preprint

It is likely you will find articles available online before they have been submitted to the peer review procedure and published in a journal. These articles are preprints and may be placed in an online repository or on a publisher's website (but not in a specific journal issue).

Author/s (Year of writing) Title of journal article Submitted to/To be published in (if this information is with the article) Title of journal (in italics) Name of repository (in italics) [Preprint] URL (if available) [Date of access]

Silas, P., Yates, J. R. & Haynes, P. D. (2008) Density-functional investigation of the rhombohedral to simple cubic phase transition of arsenic. To be published in Physical Review B. Arxiv. [Preprint] http://arxiv.org/abs/0810.1692. [Accessed 23rd July 2010].

In-text citation: (Silas, Yates & Haynes, 2008)

Note: there will not be volume, issue or page numbers assigned to preprint articles.

Journal article: print

Author (Year of publication) Title of journal article Title of journal (this should be in italics) Volume number Issue number Page numbers of the article (do not use ‘p'. before the page numbers)

Chhibber, P. K. & Majumdar, S. K. (1999) Foreign ownership and profitability: Property rights, control, and the performance of firms in Indian industry. Journal of Law & Economics. 42 (1), 209-238.

In-text citation: (Chhibber & Majumdar, 1999)

Author/Editor (if it is an editor always put (ed.) after the name) (Year of publication) Title (this should be in italics) Organisation Report number: followed by the number of the report

Leatherwood, S. (2001) Whales, dolphins, and porpoises of the western North Atlantic . U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Report number: 63.

In-text citation: (Leatherwood, 2001)

Example of report with url

IEA. (2020) World energy outlook 2020. IEA. www.iea.org/weo

Web page / website

Author/Editor (use the corporate author if no individual author or editor is named) (Year of publication) (if available; if there is no date, use the abbreviation n.d.) Title (this should be in italics) URL [Date of access]

European Space Agency. (2015) Rosetta: rendezvous with a comet . http://envisat.esa.int/ [Accessed 15th June 2015]

In-text citation: (European Space Agency, 2015).

Acts of Parliament

Country Name of Act: Name of sovereign (this should be in italics) Chapter number (this should be in italics) (Year of publication) Place of publication Publisher

Great Britain. Climate Change Act 2008: Elizabeth II. Chapter 27 . (2008) London, The Stationery Office.

In-text citation: (Great Britain. Climate Change Act 2008 )

Annual report: online

Author or organisation (Year of publication) Title (this should be in italics) URL [Date of access]

Chevron Corporation (2006) Annual Report. http://www.chevron.com/documents/pdf/annualreport/Chevron2006AnnualReport_full.pdf [Accessed May 12th 2012].

In-text citation: (Chevron Corporation, 2006)

Annual report: print

Author or organisation (Year of publication) Title (this should be in italics) Place of publication (where available) Publisher

Chevron Corporation (2006) Annual Report. San Ramon, CA, Chevron Corporation.

Author (Year of publication) Title of blog post (if applicable) Title of blog (this should be in italics) Weblog URL Date of access

Goldacre, B. (2008) Trivial Disputes. Bad Science . Weblog. http://www.badscience.net/2008/02/trivial-disputes-2/ [Accessed 19th June 2008].

In-text citation: (Goldacre , 2008)

Author of the chapter (Year of publication) Title of chapter followed by, In: Editor (always put (ed.) after the name) Title (this should be in italics) Series title and number (if part of a series) Edition (if not the first edition) Place of publication (if there is more than one place listed, use the first named) Publisher Page numbers (use ‘p.' before a single page number and ‘pp.' where there are multiple pages)

Beecher, H.K. (2016) Ethics and clinical research. In: Kuhse, H., Schuklenk, U. & Singer, P. (eds.) Bioethics: an anthology. (3 rd ed.) Malden, MA, USA, Blackwell Publishing, pp. 451-458.

In-text citation: (Beecher, 2016)

Simons, N. E., Menzies, B. & Matthews, M. (2001) A short course in soil and rock slope engineering . London, Thomas Telford Publishing.  http://www.myilibrary.com?ID=93941.

Simons, N. E., Menzies, B. & Matthews, M. (2001) A short course in soil and rock slope engineering . London, Thomas Telford Publishing.

Brochure / pamphlet / booklet

These can often be published by organisations or companies, and may not have individual authors. You can use the corporate author if there is no individual author, and this may also be the publisher's name.

Author/editor (if it is an editor always put (ed.) after the name) (Year of publication) (if there is no year of publication, write ‘no date') Title of brochure/pamphlet (in italics) Series title (if part of a series) Edition (if not the first) Place of publication Publisher

Imperial College London Library (2010) Citing and referencing guide: Harvard style . London, Imperial College London.

In-text citation: (Imperial College London Library, 2010)

When writing a reference for a multi-media item, you would usually use the title of the TV programme or video recording, or title of the film (whether on DVD or video) as the author. If the title is used as the author, this should be written in italics. You should also include the type of format in the reference, such as Video, DVD, CD, CD-ROM and so on.

Author/Editor (use the corporate author if no individual author or editor is named) (Year of publication) CD-ROM title (this should be in italics) [CD-ROM] Place of publication Publisher

Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2003) Britannica 2003 . [CD-ROM] Chicago, Encyclopaedia Britannica.

In-text citation: (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2003)

Command papers and other official publications [excluding Acts of Parliament]

Name of country Government department (Year of publication) Title (this should be in italics) Paper number Place of publication Publisher

Great Britain. Department of Health. (2004) Choosing Health: making healthier choices easier . CM6374. London, The Stationery Office.

In-text citation: (Great Britain. Department of Health, 2004)

Computer program, software or code

Author (use the corporate author or research group if no individual author or editor is named) (Year of publication) Title of program (this should be in italics) (Version number) [Format type] (computer program, software or code) Place of publication (if available) Name of publisher/distributor (if available) URL (if online)

TechSmith (2008) Snagit (Version 9.1) [Software] TechSmith Corporation. http://www.techsmith.com/screen-capture.asp.

In-text citation: (TechSmith, 2008)

Conference proceeding: individual paper

Author (Year of publication) Title of conference paper followed by, In: Editor/Organisation (if it is an editor always put (ed.) after the name) Title of conference proceeding (this should be in italics) Place of publication Publisher Page numbers (use ‘p.' before a single page number and ‘pp.' where there are multiple pages)

Wittke, M. (2006) Design, construction, supervision and long-term behaviour of tunnels in swelling rock. In: Van Cotthem, A., Charlier, R., Thimus, J.-F. and Tshibangu, J.-P. (eds.) Eurock 2006: Multiphysics coupling and long term behaviour in rock mechanics: Proceedings of the International Symposium of the International Society for Rock Mechanics, EUROCK 2006, 9-12 May 2006, Liège, Belgium . London, Taylor & Francis. pp. 211-216.

In-text citation: (Wittke, 2006)

Conference proceeding: whole

Editor/Organisation (if it is an editor always put (ed.) after the name) (Year of publication) Title (this should be in italics) Place of publication Publisher

Edge, B. L. (ed.) (2001) Coastal engineering 2000: conference proceedings, July 16-21, 2000, Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Sydney, Australia . Reston, VA, ASCE.

In-text citation: (Edge, 2001)

For the recommended format for data citation, please refer to this page: How to cite data

Discussion list / forum post

Name of sender (Year of discussion post) Subject of discussion post Title of discussion list or forum (this should be in italics) Date of discussion post (day month) URL of discussion list or forum [Date of access]

Kells, R. (2009) Statistical advice and short courses at Imperial College London. TEACHING-STATISTICS List . 7th May. https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=teaching-statistics [Accessed 19th June 2009].

In-text citation: (Kells, 2009)

Title ( this should be in italics) (Year of production) [DVD] Place of production or origin (if available) Name of production company/maker

Life on Campus . (2006) [DVD] London, Imperial College London.

In-text citation: (Life on Campus, 2006)

Email: personal communication

Personal emails should be referenced as personal communication, unless you have permission from the sender and receiver to include their details in your reference list.

Name of sender (Year of communication) Email sent to, followed by Name of receiver Date and month of communication

Harrison, R. (2009) Email sent to Mimi Weiss Johnson, 10th June.

In-text citation: (Harrison, 2009)

Email: public communication

Use the discussion list / forum post layout for emails which are publicly available, that is, posted to a discussion list, group or forum.

You should provide a reference to the work in which you found the equation. Use the examples in this list to identify the appropriate layout depending on the type of work you need to reference. Your in-text citation should include the page number on which the equation appears (unless in an online publication without page numbers).

Equipment operating manual

Author (use the company name if no individual author or editor is named) (Date of publication) Title (this should be in italics) Version number Place of publication Publisher

Hirst Magnetic Instruments Ltd. (no date) GM07/GM08 Gaussmeter Operating Manual . Version 2.0. Falmouth, Hirst Magnetic Instruments Ltd.

In-text citation: (Hirst Magnetic Instruments Ltd, no date)

Title of film (this should be in italics) (Year of production) [Film] Directed by: Director's name Place of production Name of production company

An Inconvenient Truth. (2006) [Film] Directed by: Davis Guggenheim. USA, Lawrence Bender Productions .

In-text citation: (An Inconvenient Truth, 2006 )

Financial data from an online database (for share price or financial instrument figures)

The example below is for data taken from Datastream for which there is no URL: use Datastream as the URL information. For data taken from online databases for which there is a URL, make sure this is included.

Name of publishing organisation (Year of publication or last update) Title of extract from database Database title (in italics) URL [Date of access]

Thomson Reuters (2010) British Airways Share Price 01/01/2000 to 30/12/2009. DataStream . DataStream [Accessed 22 nd June 2010].   

In-text citation: (Thomson Reuters, 2010)

Financial report from an online database (for company financial accounts, e.g. profit and loss account)

Name of publishing organisation (Year of publication or last update) Title of report or extract from database Database title (in italics) URL [Date of access]

Bureau Van Dijk (2010) British Airways PLC company report. FAME . http://fame.bvdep.com [Accessed 22 nd June 2010].

In-text citation: (Bureau Van Dijk, 2010)

Foreign language sources

Journal article in a foreign language 

Latin alphabet languages

Author (Year of publication) Title of journal article [Title in original language] 

Title of journal  (this should be in italics)

[Title in original language]  (this should be in italics) Volume number Issue number Page numbers of the article  (do not use ‘p'. before the page numbers)

Aguiar, R., Mora, D. and Rodríguez, M. (2017) Analysis of structure with dissipator spectra under design and control. [Análisis de una estructura con disipadores sometidos a espectros de diseño y de control]. International Journal of Numerical Methods for Calculation and Design in Engineering [ Revista Internacional de Métodos Numéricos para Cálculo y Diseño en Ingeniería ]. 33(3-4), 171-178.

In-text citation: (Aguiar, Mora & Rodríguez, 2017)

Non-Latin alphabet languages

Xiang, Y., Guo, Z., Baoshan, D., Jiwei, H. 员翔, 等, (2015) 不锈钢方矩管压弯构件平面内稳定承载力理 论研究Buxiugang fangjuguan yawan goujian pingmiannei wending chengzaili lilun yanjiu [ Theoretical research on in-plane stability capacity of RHS stainless steel beam-columns ]. 工业建筑 Gongye jianzhu [ Industrial Construction ]. 3, 150-55.

In-text citation: (Xiang et al., 2015)

Translated work – Latin alphabet languages

Trans. Followed by the name of the translator

Aguiar, R., Mora, D. and Rodríguez, M. (2017) Analysis of structure with dissipator spectra under design and control [Análisis de una estructura con disipadores sometidos a espectros de diseño y de control]. Trans. Buchanan, C. International Journal of Numerical Methods for Calculation and Design in Engineering [Revista Internacional de Métodos Numéricos para Cálculo y Diseño en Ingeniería ], 33(3-4), 171-178.

Translated work – Non-Latin alphabet languages

Xiang, Y., Guo, Z., Baoshan, D., Jiwei, H. 员翔, 等, (2015) 不锈钢方矩管压弯构件平面内稳定承载力理论研究Buxiugang fangjuguan yawan goujian pingmiannei wending chengzaili lilun yanjiu [ Theoretical research on in-plane stability capacity of RHS stainless steel beam-columns ]. Trans. Buchanan, C. 工业建筑 Gongye jianzhu [ Industrial Construction ], 3, 150-55.

Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT

Please refer to  Imperial Generative AI tools guidance  as well as your tutor(s) for guidance on using generative AI tools for any assessed work. You must provide clear and accurate information for any sources you use in your work.  

Depending on the generative AI tool you use, the content may be nonrecoverable when it cannot be retrieved or linked to.  Note:  as of June 2023, you can  generate a shareable link  to a ChatGPT  conversation  and we recommend you do so for use in references.     

You should also acknowledge your use of generative AI tools for all assessed work. Follow the guidance provided on the library’s Generative AI guidance page .  

  Information about using and referencing ChatGPT and other generative AI tools in assignments will continue be updated. Check this section regularly for any changes in our advice. (Last update: 2 9 Nov 2023)    

Example 1: You have generated a shareable link    

Author  (use the name of the generative   AI software)  

(year)   , prompt , receiver of communication  , available at: url   , (accessed: date).   .

OpenAI ChatGPT (2023). What are some examples of decolonising the curriculum in STEM subjects in higher education? ChatGPT response to Coco Nijhoff. Available at:  https://chat.openai.com/share/00422613-c808-418d-b174-58b14ce1433c  (Accessed: 8 June 2023).  

In-text citation: (OpenAI ChatGPT, 2023)     

Example 2: There is no shareable link  

Reference list:     

Author  

(year)  , receiver of communication   , day/month of communication  .

Google Agent Assist (2023) Agent Assist response to Hua Li, 2 May.  

In-text citation:  

(OpenAI ChatGPT, 2023)  

GIS software or data

For more examples please see  the guide produced by Edina.

When writing a reference for a map created using a service such as Digimap, both the supplier (e.g. Digimap) and the provider of the data (e.g. Strategi) should be acknowledged.

Creator. (Year created) Title [Map format], Scale. Product name [data format], currency of data. Producer. Using: name of the service used to create the map or download the data. URL Smith, J. (2009) Glasgow Regional Transportation [PDF map], 1:200,000. OS Strategi [geospatial data], updated Jan 2008. Ordnance Survey, GB. Using: EDINA Digimap Ordnance Survey Service. http://edina.ac.uk/digimap

  In-text citation: (Smith, 2009).

When writing a reference for a map created using GIS data, the data provider, supplier and software used to create the map should be acknowledged.

Map Title [format].  (Year) Scale. Database name. [type of medium] Place of publication, Publisher. Using: name of software used to create map (version) [Type of software]. URL.

  Virginia Railway Network [computer map]. (2000) 1:25000. National Transportation Atlas Databases (NTAD). Washington, D.C., US Department of Transportation. Using: ArcGIS (version 8.3) [GIS software]. http://www.esri.com

Image / illustration / figure / diagram / table / photograph published in a book

You should provide an in-text citation for any images, illustrations, photographs, diagrams, tables or figures that you reproduce in your work, and provide a full reference as with any other type of work.

In-text citation:

Table illustrating checklist of information for common sources (Pears and Shields, 2008: p.22).

Pears, R. & Shields, G. (2008) Cite them right: the essential referencing guide . 3rd ed. Durham, Pear Tree Books.

Image / illustration / figure / diagram / table / photograph published in a journal

‘Geological map of the easternmost region of São Nicolau' (Ramalho et al, 2010: p.532).

Ramalho, R., Helffrich, G., Schmidt, D. N. & Vance, D. (2010) Tracers of uplift and subsidence in the Cape Verde archipelago. Journal of the Geological Society . 167 (3), 519-538. doi:10.1144/0016-76492009-056

Image / illustration / figure / diagram / table / photograph published using software such as BioRender

You should provide an in-text citation for any images, illustrations, photographs, diagrams, tables or figures that you reproduce in your work, and provide a full reference as with any other type of work.­­­­­

Citations for figures adapted from  BioRender templates with modifications to original content and/or design :

BioRender.com. (Year) FullTemplateName . URL [Date of access]

BioRender.com. (2020) Coronavirus Replication Cycle . https://app.biorender.com/biorender-templates [Accessed 27th August 2020]

Image citation:

Adapted from ‘FullTemplateName’ (BioRender.com, 2020)

Adapted from ‘Coronavirus Replication Cycle’ (BioRender.com, 2020)

Citations for reusing BioRender templates without any content or design modifications:

‘FullTemplateName’ (BioRender.com, 2020)

‘Coronavirus Replication Cycle’ (BioRender.com, 2020)

Images from the internet

Photographer if known. (Year of publication) Title . URL [Date of access]

Example with known photographer

Sork, V. (2019) Genetics can play a key role in saving trees. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50673661 [Accessed 12th December 2019]

In-text citation: (Sork, 2019)

Example with no known photographer

State of open source deep learning frameworks in 2017 . (2017) https://towardsdatascience.com/battle-of-the-deep-learning-frameworks-part-i-cff0e3841750 [Accessed 5th December 2019]

In-text citation: In an accompanying diagram ( State of open source deep learning frameworks in 2017 , 2017) ...

Account name or Instagram handle. (Year) [Instagram] Day/month posted. URL (Date of access)

Los Angeles Public Library. (2019)   About 120K less than the Art Basel banana . [Instagram] 11 December. https://www.instagram.com/p/B56MmnFF-is/ (Accessed 12th December 2019)

In-text citation: (Los Angeles Public Library, 2019)

Interview: personal

For anonymous interviewees use Interviewee A, Interviewee B, etc in place of a name. This allows you to distinguish between multiple interviewees.

Interviews  that people are holding with individuals (including when the person in anonymous).

Name of person interviewed (Year) ‘Title of interview if any’. Interview with interviewee. Interviewed by interviewer’s name. Day and month of interview.

Day, A. Interviewed by: Jones, L. (4th June 2009).

In-text citation: (Day, 2009)

Wang, F., Maidment, G., Missenden, J. & Tozer, R. (2007) The novel use of phase change materials in refrigeration plant. Part 1: Experimental investigation. Applied Thermal Engineering . 27 (17-18), 2893-2901.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2005.06.011. 

Akyol, Z., Ice, P., Garrison, R. & Mitchell, R. (2009) The relationship between course socio-epistemological orientations and student perceptions of community of inquiry. The Internet and Higher Education . [In press]  doi:10.1016/j.iheduc.2009.12.002 [Accessed 4th January 2010].

Lecture / presentation

Name of lecturer/presenter (Year of lecture/presentation) Title of lecture/presentation (this should be in italics) [Lecture/Presentation] Title of module/degree course (if appropriate) Name of institution or location Date of lecture/presentation (day month)

Wagner, G. (2006) Structural and functional studies of protein interactions in gene expression . [Lecture] Imperial College London, 12th December.

In-text citation: (Wagner, 2006)

Map: online

Online maps may originate from an online map service, such as Google Maps, or from Digimap, the online Ordnance survey mapping tool.

Map author or originator (online maps may not have an author, but you can use the map publisher’s name as a corporate author) (Year of publication) Title of map Sheet number, or tile (if available) Scale (if available) Title of online source (in italics) URL [Date of access]

Streetmap (2009) Imperial College London and surrounding area. Streetmap . http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=526500&y=179400&z=0&sv=526500,179400&st=OSGrid&lu=N&tl=~&ar=y&bi=~&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf [Accessed 23rd July 2010]

In-text citation: (Streetmap, 2009)

Author (usually the organisation responsible for publishing the map) (Year of publication) Title (this should be in italics) Scale Series title and number (if part of a series) Place of publication Publisher

British Geological Survey. (1998) South London. 270, 1: 50 000. London, British Geological Survey

In-text citation: (British Geological Survey, 1998).

Ordnance Survey (2007) North Skye, Dunvegan and Portree . 23, 1: 50 000. Landranger. Southampton, Ordnance Survey.

In text citation: (Ordnance Survey, 2007)

Market survey report: online / electronic

Author (use the corporate author or research group if no individual author or editor is named) (Year of publication) Report title (this should be in italics, and include date of report if available) Edition (if not the first edition) Place of publication Publisher URL [Date of access]

Mintel. (2009) Small Green Cars and Alternative Fuels - UK - December 2009 . http://oxygen.mintel.com/ [Accessed 5th January 2010].

In text citation: (Mintel, 2009)

Datamonitor. (2009) Energy Industry Profile: Global, March 2009 . http://web.ebscohost.com/ [Accessed 5th January 2010].

In-text citation: (Datamonitor, 2009)

Market survey report: print

Author (use the corporate author or research group if no individual author or editor is named) (Year of publication) Report title (this should be in italics, and include date of report if available) Edition (if not the first edition) Place of publication Publisher

Mintel. (2009) Home Utility Suppliers - UK - September 2009. London, Mintel International Group.

In-text citation: (Mintel, 2009)

Author (use the corporate author, individual or developer) (year of publication) Title of the App (this should be in italics) (Version number) [Mobile app] Name of app store or URL (if required) [Date of access]

Citymapper Ltd. (2016) Citymapper. (version 6.11) [Mobile App] [Accessed 25 th August 2016]

It may be useful to give the full url from the app store e.g.  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.citymapper.app.release&hl=en_GB or  https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/citymapper-transport-app-live/id469463298?mt=8

Newspaper article: online

Author (if the article has no author, use the name of the newspaper) (Day, month and year of publication) Title of article Title of newspaper (this should be in italics) Page numbers of the article if given (use ‘p.' before a single page number and ‘pp.' where there are multiple pages) URL [Date of access]

Pagnamenta, R. (24 May 2008) Energy adviser puts forward powerful case for hydrogen. The Times . http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article3994594.ece [Accessed 2nd July 2008].

In-text citation: (Pagnamenta, 2008)

Newspaper article: print

Author (if the article has no author, use the name of the newspaper) (Day, month and year of publication) Title of article Title of newspaper (this should be in italics) Page numbers of the article (use ‘p.' before a single page number and ‘pp.' where there are multiple pages)

Macalister, T. (Wednesday 2 July 2008) Green energy is the modern gold rush. The Guardian . p. 27.

In-text citation: (Macalister, 2008)

Online documents and publications (not covered by other examples in this list)

If you cannot find a suitable example in this list for a work published online in PDF, Word, HTML or an equivalent format, you can use the following layout. You may find the online book or report layouts can be adapted.

Author/Editor (if it is an editor always put (ed.) after the name; use the corporate author if no individual author or editor is named) (Year of publication) Title of publication (this should be in italics) Place of publication (if provided on the publication) Publisher (if provided on the publication) URL [Date of access]

Conway, G. (2009) Grantham Institute for Climate Change, Discussion paper no 1: The science of climate change in Africa: impacts and adaptation. London, Imperial College London. http://workspace.imperial.ac.uk/climatechange/public/pdfs/discussion_papers/Grantham_Institue_-_The_science_of_climate_change_in_Africa.pdf [Accessed 14th June 2010].

In-text citation: (Conway, 2009)

It is also acceptable to indicate the document's original format, particularly as this will help your reader to locate the correct document on a web page.

Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. (2009) Municipal waste statistics 2008-09: Excel tables showing summary estimates . [Excel spreadsheet] http://www.defra.gov.uk/evidence/statistics/environment/wastats/bulletin09.htm [Accessed 10th May 2010].

In-text citation: (DEFRA, 2009) 

The patent number should include a country code, but you should make it clear in your reference in which country the patent originated.

Author (Year of publication) Title (this should be in italics) Name of patent organisation Patent number (Patent)

Williams, M. (2004) Footwear hanger . GB2409807 (Patent).

Williams, M. (2004) Footwear hanger . UK Intellectual Property Office GB2409807 (Patent).

In-text citation: (Williams, 2004)

Example of patent with url

Williams, M. (2004) Footwear hanger . GB2409807 (Patent). https://www.ipo.gov.uk/p-ipsum/Case/PublicationNumber/GB2409807

Patient information leaflets

General advice for anything considered ephemera such as leaflets, pamplets etc. is to use the format for reports.

Corporate Author or Author Surname, Initial(s)., (Year). Title of Fact Sheet . Place of publication: Publisher. Publication Number.

Boots Pharmaceuticals., (2014). Decongestant tablet (Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride) . Nottingham: The Boots Company PLC. 00014/0375.

In-text citation: (Boots Pharmaceuticals, 2014)

Personal communication

Sender/speaker/author (Year of communication) Medium of communication (this could be telephone conversation, fax, email or personal interview) Receiver of communication Date and month of communication

Harrison, R. (2010) Telephone conversation with Jenny Evans, 19th June.

In-text citation: (Harrison, 2010)

Name of practitioner Occupation (Personal communication, followed by the date when the information was provided)

Law, James. Engineering consultant. (Personal communication, 26th April 2004)

In-text citation: (Law, 2004)

The above is advised if you do not have a particular format of communication to refer to (such as an email), for example, when the communication could have been in the form of an informal conversation at a meeting or conference.

Photograph: online (not in a published work)

You should provide an in-text citation for any images, illustrations, photographs, diagrams, tables or figures that you reproduce in your work, and provide a full reference as with any other type of work. If the photograph you want to reference is from a journal, book or other published work, use the appropriate layout from elsewhere in this list.

Name of photographer (Year of publication) Title of photograph (in italics) URL [Date of access]

Leverton, N. (2000) King's Cross station . http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3776 [Accessed 15th June 2010].

In-text citation: (Leverton, 2000)

Author/presenter (Year of posting) Title of podcast (this should be in italics) [Podcast] Day and month of posting URL [Date of access]

Coffee Break Spanish. (2008) Lesson 08 . [Podcast] 6th December. http://radiolingua.com/2008/12/lesson-08-coffee-break-spanish/ [Accessed 19th June 2010].

In-text citation: (Coffee Break Spanish, 2008)

Radio programme / broadcast

Title of episode (if part of a series) (Year of broadcast) Title of programme / broadcast (this should be in italics) Name of broadcaster Day and month of broadcast

Today . (2010) BBC Radio 4. Tuesday 5th January.

In-text citation: ( Today , 2010)

Genetics. (2001) In Our Time . BBC Radio 4. Thursday 13th December.

In-text citation: (Genetics, 2001)

IEA. (2020) World energy outlook 2020 . IEA. www.iea.org/weo

Name of Standard Body/Institution (Year of publication) Standard number Title (this should be in italics) Place of publication Publisher

British Standards Institution. (2003) BS 5950-8:2003. Structural use of steelwork in building: code of practice for fire resistant design . London, British Standards Institution.

In-text citation: (British Standards Institution, 2003)

Statutory Instrument

Title including year  (this should be in italics) SI followed by year and the number of the Statutory Instrument

The Public Contract Regulations 2006 . (SI 2006/5). 

In-text citation: (Public Contract Regulations 2006)

Television programme / broadcast

Title of programme / broadcast (this should be in italics) (Year of broadcast) Name of broadcaster Day and month of broadcast

Question Time . (2009) BBC One. Friday 26th November.

In-text citation: ( Question Time , 2009)

Television programme / broadcast: episode in a series

Title of episode (Year of broadcast) Title of programme / broadcast (this should be in italics) Name of broadcaster Day and month of broadcast

Blink. (2007) Doctor Who . BBC One. Saturday 9th June.

In-text citation: (Blink, 2007)

Television programme / broadcast: online

Television programmes can now be viewed on a number of media players provided by broadcasting companies such as BBC iPlayer, ITVplayer, Channel 4 On Demand and so on.

Episodes can also be posted elsewhere online such as on YouTube. If you have viewed a television programme online, make sure you use the correct attribution, that is, the corporate author or name of broadcaster, wherever possible. Copyright, including distribution rights, and authorship will belong, in the majority of cases, to the programme maker, not the person posting the video online.

Title of episode (if title of episode is not known, use the title of the programme series) (Year of broadcast) Title of programme/broadcast (this should be in italics) Name of broadcaster Day and month of broadcast URL [Date of access]

Deep Earth (2010) How Earth made us . BBC Two. Tuesday 19 th January. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00qbvyc/How_Earth_Made_Us_Deep_Earth/ [Accessed 9 th November 2010].

In-text citation: (Deep Earth, 2010)

Thesis (final written work by PhD postgraduate students, dissertations, project reports, discourses and essays by any student)

Author (Year of publication) Title (this should be in italics) Type of thesis Academic institution

Leckenby, R. J. (2005) Dynamic characterisation and fluid flow modelling of fractured reservoirs . PhD thesis. Imperial College London.

In-text citation: (Leckenby, 2005)

Author’s name or Twitter pseudonym [Account name if applicable]. (year) Entire tweet or first few words. [Twitter] Day/month tweet posted. URL (Date of access)

Attenborough, (2019)   A beluga whale playing rugby . [Twitter] 8 November. https://twitter.com/rugbyworldcup/status/1192808927290953729?s=20 [Accessed 5 December 2019]

In-text citation: (Attenborough, 2019)

Title (this should be in italics) (Year of production) [Video] Place of production Name of production company

Video: YouTube

Name of person who uploaded the video (this could be a YouTube username, not a full name) (Year the video was uploaded) Title of video (in italics) [Video] URL [Date of access]

Speakfirst. (2009) Presentation skills: How to improve your presentations . [Video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt8YFCveNpY&feature=related [Accessed 5th November 2010].

In-text citation: (Speakfirst, 2009)

Example of how to reference an encyclopaedia

Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.)  Aggregate: building material . Encyclopaedia Britannica.  https://www.britannica.com/technology/aggregate .

Self-plagiarism involves re-using your own previously written work or data in a new assignment and not referencing it. You must always reference your sources, even if you are referencing your own work.

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• Cite Them Right
• Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU)
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Daniel is a qualified librarian, former teacher, and citation expert. He has been contributing to MyBib since 2018.

Published Dissertation or Thesis References

This page contains reference examples for published dissertations or theses.

Kabir, J. M. (2016). Factors influencing customer satisfaction at a fast food hamburger chain: The relationship between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty (Publication No. 10169573) [Doctoral dissertation, Wilmington University]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

Miranda, C. (2019). Exploring the lived experiences of foster youth who obtained graduate level degrees: Self-efficacy, resilience, and the impact on identity development (Publication No. 27542827) [Doctoral dissertation, Pepperdine University]. PQDT Open. https://pqdtopen.proquest.com/doc/2309521814.html?FMT=AI

Zambrano-Vazquez, L. (2016). The interaction of state and trait worry on response monitoring in those with worry and obsessive-compulsive symptoms [Doctoral dissertation, University of Arizona]. UA Campus Repository. https://repository.arizona.edu/handle/10150/620615

• Parenthetical citations : (Kabir, 2016; Miranda, 2019; Zambrano-Vazquez, 2016)
• Narrative citations : Kabir (2016), Miranda (2019), and Zambrano-Vazquez (2016)
• A dissertation or thesis is considered published when it is available from a database such as ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global or PDQT Open, an institutional repository, or an archive.
• If the database assigns publication numbers to dissertations and theses, include the publication number in parentheses after the title of the dissertation or thesis without italics.
• Include the description “Doctoral dissertation” or “Master’s thesis” followed by a comma and the name of the institution that awarded the degree. Place this information in square brackets after the dissertation or thesis title and any publication number.
• In the source element of the reference, provide the name of the database, repository, or archive.
• The same format can be adapted for other published theses, including undergraduate theses, by changing the wording of the bracketed description as appropriate (e.g., “Undergraduate honors thesis”).
• Include a URL for the dissertation or thesis if the URL will resolve for readers (as shown in the Miranda and Zambrano-Vazquez examples).
• If the database or archive requires users to log in before they can view the dissertation or thesis, meaning the URL will not work for readers, end the reference with the database name (as in the Kabir example).

Published dissertation or thesis references are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Section 10.6 and the Concise Guide Section 10.5

Citation guides

All you need to know about citations

How to cite an online thesis in Harvard

To cite an online thesis in a reference entry in Harvard style include the following elements:

• Author(s) of the online thesis: Give the last name and initials (e. g. Watson, J.) of up to three authors with the last name preceded by 'and'. For four authors or more include the first name followed by et al., unless your institution requires referencing of all named authors.
• Year of submission: Give the year in round brackets.
• Title of the online thesis: Give the title as presented in the source. Only the first letter of the first word and proper nouns are capitalized.
• Degree description: Type of degree.
• Degree-awarding institution: Give the name of the institution.
• URL: Give the full URL of the web page including the protocol (http:// or https://).
• Date of access: Give the day month and year.

Here is the basic format for a reference list entry of an online thesis in Harvard style:

Author(s) of the online thesis . ( Year of submission ) Title of the online thesis . Degree description . Degree-awarding institution . Available at: URL (Accessed: Date of access ).

Take a look at our reference list examples that demonstrate the Harvard style guidelines in action:

A master's thesis found in an online platform

Bauger, L . ( 2011 ) Personality, Passion, Self-esteem and Psychological Well-being among Junior Elite Athletes in Norway . Master's Thesis . University of Tromsø . Available at: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/29a9/ef96c34e577211246b83b11813a2585033c5.pdf (Accessed: 5 July 2018 ).

A PhD thesis found in an online platform

Confait, M. F . ( 2018 ) Maximising the contributions of PHD graduates to national development: the case of the Seychelles . PhD thesis . Edith Cowan University . Available at: Retrieved from https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2060"> (Accessed: 5 June 2019 ).

This citation style guide is based on the Cite Them Right (10 th edition) Harvard referencing guide.

More useful guides

• Harvard Referencing: Theses
• Referencing with Harvard: Thesis or dissertation
• Citing and referencing: Theses/Dissertations

More great BibGuru guides

• MLA: how to cite an online newspaper article
• Chicago: how to cite a film
• Chicago: how to cite a book

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Conferral of Degrees

In accordance with the University statutes, the President and Fellows of Harvard College are responsible for conferring degrees on students who have fulfilled degree requirements and are in good standing.

Degree candidates are recommended to the President and Fellows, collectively known as the Harvard Corporation, by the faculties at Harvard’s schools. On Monday, faculty members who attended a Faculty of Arts and Sciences meeting amended the list of candidates provided by the FAS Registrar, who certifies that students have met the requirements and are in good standing. The faculty amendment added to the list of recommended Harvard College degree recipients thirteen students who are not in good standing.

Each of these students has been found by the College’s Administrative Board—the body established by the FAS faculty to investigate and adjudicate disciplinary matters—to have violated the University’s policies by their conduct during their participation in the recent encampment in Harvard Yard. We respect each faculty’s responsibility to determine appropriate discipline for its students. Monday’s faculty vote did not, however, revisit these disciplinary rulings, did not purport to engage in the individualized assessment of each case that would ordinarily be required to do so, and, most importantly, did not claim to restore the students to good standing.

Today, we have voted to confer 1,539 degrees to Harvard College students in good standing. Because the students included as the result of Monday’s amendment are not in good standing, we cannot responsibly vote to award them degrees at this time. In coming to this determination, we note that the express provisions of the Harvard College Student Handbook state that students who are not in good standing are not eligible for degrees. We also considered the inequity of exempting a particular group of students who are not in good standing from established rules, while other seniors with similar status for matters unrelated to Monday’s faculty amendment would be unable to graduate.

We understand that the inability to graduate is consequential for students and their families. We fully support the Faculty of Arts and Sciences’ stated intention to provide expedited review, at this time, of eligible requests for reconsideration or appeal. We will consider conferral of degrees promptly if, following the completion of all FAS processes, a student becomes eligible to receive a degree.

We care deeply about every member of our community—students, faculty, staff, researchers, and alumni—and we have chosen a path forward that accords with our responsibilities and reaffirms a process for our students to receive prompt and fair review.

The President and Fellows of Harvard College

Uncertainty-Aware Liquid State Modeling from Experimental Scattering Measurements

• Shanks, Brennon L.

This doctoral thesis is founded on the central notion that structural correlations in dense fluids, such as dense gases, liquids, and glasses, are directly related to fundamental interatomic forces. This relationship was identified early in the development of statistical theories of fluids through the mathematical formulations of Gibbs in the 1910s. However, it took nearly 80 years before practical implementations of structure-based theories became widely used for interpreting and understanding the atomic structures of fluids from experimental X-ray and neutron scattering data. The breakthrough in successfully applying structure-potential relations is largely attributed to the advancements in molecular mechanics simulations and the enhancement of computational resources. Despite advancements in understanding the relationship between structure and interatomic forces, a significant gap remains. Current techniques for interpreting experimental scattering measurements are widely used, yet there is little evidence that they yield physically accurate predictions for interatomic forces. In fact, it is generally assumed that these methods produce interatomic forces that poorly model the atomistic and thermodynamic behavior of fluids, rendering them unreliable and non-transferable. This thesis aims to address these limitations by refining the statistical theory, computational methods, and philosophical approach to structure-based analyses, thereby developing more robust and accurate techniques for characterizing structure-potential relationships.

• Physics - Chemical Physics