Book
You may need to consult more than one section to accurately represent the source used (eg. number of authors and source descriptions)
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No author
Example - in text citation
As discussed in The Good Housekeeping illustrated book of child care (1995, p. 1)…
OR
…infants are weaned (The Good Housekeeping illustrated book of child care 1995, p. 1).
Format for reference list
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Title of book Year of publication, Publisher, Place of publication.
Example - reference list
The Good Housekeeping illustrated book of child care: from newborn to preteen 1995, Hearst Books, New York.
Style notes for this reference type
- Where an item has no author it is cited by its title, and ordered in the reference list alphabetically by the first significant word of the title.
- When an item with no author has an editor (compiler, reviser or translator) cite the work by the name of the editor (compiler, reviser or translator).
- Book titles are italicised. Minimal capitalisation is recommended. Capitalise only the first word of the title and any proper nouns. Subtitles are not capitalised and are separated from the main title by a colon.
- There is no comma or full-stop between the title and year of publication. Commas are used to separate all other elements. The reference entry finishes with a full-stop.
- Information about the edition (not including first editions) and volume appear after the year of publication in the following order:
Title of book, edition (edn), Volume number or number of volumes, Publisher, Place of publication, page number(s) if applicable.
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One author
Example - in text citation
Hassan (2004, p. 30) has argued that…
OR
…as found in a major study (Hassan 2004, p. 30).
Format for reference list
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Author, AA Year of publication, Title of book, Publisher, Place of publication.
Example - reference list
Hassan, R 2004, Media, politics and the network society, Open University Press, Maidenhead.
Style notes for this reference type
- Book titles are italicised. Minimal capitalisation is recommended. Capitalise only the first word of the title and any proper nouns. Subtitles are not capitalised and are separated from the main title by a colon.
- There is no comma or full-stop between the author and year of publication. Commas are used to separate all other elements. The reference entry finishes with a full-stop.
- Information about the edition (not including first editions) and volume appear after the year of publication in the following order:
Title of book, edition (edn), Volume number or number of volumes, Publisher, Place of publication, page number(s) if applicable.
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Two to three authors
Example - in text citation
Sharp, Peters and Howard (2002, p. 98) have argued that…
OR
…as argued (Sharp, Peters & Howard 2002, p. 98).
Format for reference list
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Authors, AA , Author, BB & Author, CC Year of publication, Title of book, Publisher, Place of publication.
Example - reference list
Sharp, JA, Peters, J & Howard, K 2002, The management of a student research project, Gower, Aldershot, England.
Style notes for this reference type
- Cite author names in the order in which they appear on the title page.
- For in text citations:
- When the authors' names form part of the sentence use 'and'
- When the authors' names are contained within brackets use '&'
- Book titles are italicised. Minimal capitalisation is recommended. Capitalise only the first word of the title and any proper nouns. Subtitles are not capitalised and are separated from the main title by a colon.
- There is no comma or full-stop between the authors' names and year of publication. Commas are used to separate all other elements. The reference entry finishes with a full-stop.
- Information about the edition (not including first editions) and volume appear after the year of publication in the following order:
Title of book, edition (edn), Volume number or number of volumes, Publisher, Place of publication, page number(s) if applicable.
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Four or more authors
Example - in text citation
Miller et al. (2000, p. 13) discussed that…
OR
…as shown by the longitudinal study (Miller et al. 2000, p. 13).
Format for reference list
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Authors, AA, Author, BB, Author, CC, Author, DD, Author, EE & Author, FF Year of publication, Title of book, Publisher, Place of publication.
Example - reference list
Miller, P, Smith, M, Roberts, JC, Peters, B, Howard, K & Curtis, L 2000, Mobile phone use in teenagers, Collins, Melbourne.
Style notes for this reference type
- When an book has four or more authors the in text citation shows only the name of the first listed author followed by 'et al.'
- All the authors' names must be listed in the reference list in the order in which they appear on the title page.
- Book titles are italicised. Minimal capitalisation is recommended. Capitalise only the first word of the title and any proper nouns. Subtitles are not capitalised and are separated from the main title by a colon.
- There is no comma or full-stop between the authors' names and year of publication. Commas are used to separate all other elements. The reference entry finishes with a full-stop.
- Information about the edition (not including first editions) and volume appear after the year of publication in the following order:
Title of book, edition (edn), Volume number or number of volumes, Publisher, Place of publication, page number(s) if applicable.
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Secondary source
Example - in text citation
Freud's study (cited in Smith, Jones & Black 2005, p. 40) reported…
OR
…was reported (Freud cited in Smith, Jones & Black 2005, p. 40).
Format for reference list
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Authors Year of publication, Title of book, Publisher, Place of publication.
Example - reference list
Smith, P, Jones, M & Black, J 1983, Introduction to psychology: a reader, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Optional - details of primary source:
Freud, S 1949, Civilization and its discontents, trans. J. Riviere, Hogarth Press, London.
Style notes for this reference type
- Give the secondary source in the Reference List. In the text refer to the original work and give a citation for the secondary source. For example, if Freud's work is referred to in Smith, Jones and Black and you did not read the original work by Freud; use the phrase 'cited in' inside brackets in the text (e.g. Freud's study (cited in Smith, Jones & Black 2005) reported … ). Give the secondary source in the reference list. (Optionally the details of the primary source can also be included in the reference list if considered useful to the reader).
- Optionally the details of the primary source can also be included in the reference list (if considered useful to the reader).
- Book titles are italicised. Minimal capitalisation is recommended. Capitalise only the first word of the title and any proper nouns. Subtitles are not capitalised and are separated from the main title by a colon.
- There is no comma or full-stop between the author and year of publication. Commas are used to separate all other elements. The reference entry finishes with a full-stop.
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Edited book
Example - in text citation
…edited by Beckman and Ma (2008, p. 8).
OR
…this theory was disproved (eds Beckman & Ma 2008, p. 8).
Format for reference list
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Editor (ed.) Year of publication, Title of book, Publisher, Place of publication.
Example - reference list
If the role of an editor (compiler, reviser or translator) is of primary importance:
Beckman, KR & Ma, J (eds) 2008, Still moving: between cinema and photography, Duke University Press, Durham.
If the role of the author remains of primary importance:
Freud, S 1949, Civilization and its discontents, trans. J Riviere, Hogarth Press, London.
Style notes for this reference type
- If the role of editor (compiler, reviser or translator) is important to the work cite the work by their name rather than the authors' names.
- If the author's role remains of primary importance to the work cite the work using the author's name and acknowledge the editor (compiler, reviser or translator) in the reference list.
- If there is no author, use the name of the editor (compiler, reviser or translator).
- Use the abbreviations ed., eds, comp., comps, rev. and trans. as appropriate.
- Book titles are italicised. Minimal capitalisation is recommended. Capitalise only the first word of the title and any proper nouns. Subtitles are not capitalised and are separated from the main title by a colon.
- There is no comma or full-stop between the editor (compiler, reviser or translator) and year of publication. Commas are used to separate all other elements. The reference entry finishes with a full-stop.
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Book chapter
Example - in text citation
Daniels (1993, p. 212) argued that…
OR
…has been argued (Daniels 1993, p. 212).
Format for reference list
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Author(s) of chapter Year of publication, 'Title of chapter', in editor (ed.), Title of book, Publisher, Place of publication, Pages of the chapter referred to.
Example - reference list
Daniels, PJ 1993, 'Australia's foreign debt: searching for the benefits', in P Maxwell & S Hopkins (eds), Macroeconomics: contemporary Australian readings, Harper Educational, Pymble, N.S.W., pp. 200-50.
Style notes for this reference type
- The initials of the editor of the book precede the family name. (This differs to the placement of the initials of the author of the chapter, which are placed after the family name, allowing for correct alphabetical ordering of the reference list). e.g. Daniels, PJ 1993, 'Australia's foreign debt: searching for the benefits', in P Maxwell & S Hopkins (eds), Macroeconomics: contemporary Australian readings, Harper Educational, Pymble, N.S.W., pp. 200-50.
- There is no comma or full stop between the author of the chapter and year of publication.
- Provide both the title of the book and the title of the chapter.
- Book titles are italicised.
- Chapter titles are not italicised and are placed within single quotation marks ' '.
- Give inclusive page numbers for the chapter in the reference list.
- Minimal capitalisation of the titles is recommended. Capitalise only the first word and any proper nouns. Subtitles are not capitalised and are separated from the main title by a colon.
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Group as author
Example - in text citation
First in text citation:
In a recent study, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2007) found…
OR
…as found in a recent study (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 2007).
Subsequent in text citations:
A recent OECD (2007) report suggested…
OR
…in work situations (OECD 2007).
Format for reference list
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Author Year of publication, Title of book, Publisher, Place of publication.
Example - reference list
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 2007, Babies and bosses, reconciling work and family life: a synthesis of findings for OECD countries, OECD, Paris.
Cross reference entry
OECD - see Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Style notes for this reference type
- The names of groups that serve as authors (e.g. government agencies, corporations and associations) are usually spelled out in full each time they appear in the text. However, if the name is long and the abbreviation is familiar or readily understandable, you may abbreviate the name in the second and all subsequent citations.
- The reference list should provide a cross reference for the abbreviated name to the full name of the authoring group.
- Book titles are italicised.
- Minimal capitalisation is recommended. Capitalise only the first word of the title and any proper nouns. Subtitles are not capitalised and are separated from the main title by a colon.
- There is no comma or full stop between the author and year of publication. Commas are used to separate all other elements.
- Information about the edition (not including first editions) and volume appear after the year of publication in the following order:
Title of book, edition (edn), Volume number or number of volumes, Publisher, Place of publication, page number(s) if applicable.
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Thesis
Theses are not discussed in the manual used in the compilation of the Harvard examples for this module. Our librarians suggest the following, however we advise that you check your subject guidelines or with your tutor for the recommended format.
Example - in text citation
Considine (1986, p. 36) has shown…
OR
…was found (Considine 1986, p. 36).
Format for reference list
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Author of thesis Year of preparation of thesis, ‘Title of thesis’, Type of thesis, Institution issuing degree, Location of institution.
Example - reference list
Considine, M 1986, 'Australian insurance politics in the 1970s: two case studies', Thesis (Ph.D.), University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Style notes for this reference type
- Thesis titles are not italicised and appear within quotation marks. Minimal capitalisation is recommended. Capitalise only the first word of the title and any proper nouns. Subtitles are not capitalised and are separated from the main title by a colon.
- There is no comma or full-stop between the author and year of publication. Commas are used to separate all other elements. The reference entry finishes with a full-stop.
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Musical score
Musical scores are not discussed in the manual used in the compilation of the Harvard examples for this module. Our librarians suggest the following, however we advise that you check with your subject guideline or Tutor for recommended format.
Example - in text citation
Humperdinck (1895)…
OR
…(Humperdinck 1895).
Format for reference list
Elements, punctuation & capitalisation
Originator of score Year of publication, Title of score, medium, Publisher, Place of publication.
Example - reference list
Humperdinck, E 1895, Hansel and Gretel: a fairy opera in three acts, libretto, G Schirmer, New York.
Style notes for this reference type
- Score titles are italicised. Minimal capitalisation is recommended. Capitalise only the first word of the title and any proper nouns. Subtitles are not capitalised and are separated from the main title by a colon.
- Examples of medium: score, choral score, orchestral score, libretto, song lyrics, etc.
- There is no comma or full-stop between the author and year of publication. Commas are used to separate all other elements. The reference entry finishes with a full-stop.
- Series title and volume (if available) and edition (if not the first) should be included after the title.
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Online encyclopedia
This type of reference is not specifically dealt with in the style manual this Harvard style has been based on.
For general advice in citing electronic material please refer to 'About citing electronic material' in Snooks and Co. (rev.) 2002, Style manual for authors, editors and printers, 6th edn, John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd., Milton, Qld, pp. 230-1.
Important: The Harvard style is an author-date citation system that has not been updated for more than 15 years and has no official institutional connection to Harvard University. The guidance provided on this website is based on an Australian style manual by Snooks and Co. (2002). If you have a choice of which citation style to use, a recommended alternative author-date system to Harvard is APA.
Before selecting a referencing style check with your tutor, lecturer or supervisor for the style preferred by the School or Department.
Introduction to the style
The Harvard style is an author-date referencing system with two key components:
- Citations in the text - usually the author's name and year of publication.
- A reference list at the end of the paper.
As the purpose of referencing is to acknowledge the source and to enable the reader to trace the sources, reference data must be accurate.
Access to the full style manual
This guide is based on an Australian style manual (AGPS style) revised by Snooks and Co. (rev.) 2002, Style manual for authors, editors and printers, 6th edn, John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd., Milton, Qld.
The full style manual is not available as a library eBook. Print copies are available from the University of Melbourne library. Consult the official manual for more information.
In-text citations
- In-text citations should be presented in a consistent style throughout a document.
- In-text citations within brackets should be placed at the end of a sentence before the concluding punctuation. If, however, the citation refers to only part of a sentence, it should be placed at the end of the clause or phrase to which it relates. When the author’s name forms part of the sentence the citation is placed directly after the author’s name.
- Use the author’s family name (no initials) and the year of publication for in-text citations e.g. (Smith 2008). Initials are only used when two or more authors have the same family name. e.g. (Smith, JB 2008) and (Smith, MA 1999). If a work has no author the title and year of publication should be used in the citation.
- When the author's name forms part of the sentence only the year (and page number if necessary) is included in brackets. e.g. Smith (2008, p. 48) claimed that…
- Give specific page numbers for quotations in the text and include a complete reference in the reference list. e.g. “The results were confirmed during the trial” (Hong 2001, p. 15)
- When a work has more than one author cite the authors’ names in the order in which they appear in the publication. Where the authors' names form part of the sentence use 'and' to link the last two names, where the authors' names are contained within brackets in the text link the last two names with an ampersand '&'.
- If more than one reference is used at the same point in the text they are included in the same set of brackets, ordered alphabetically by author name and separated by a semi-colon (Coats 2005; Ng & Hong 2003).
Reference list
- The reference list entry begins with the family name of the author and is followed by the year of publication. There is no comma or full-stop between the family name and the year. Commas are used to separate all other elements. The reference entry finishes with a full-stop.
- No full stops, and no spaces, are used with people’s initials.
- An item with no author is cited by its title. In this case there is no comma or full-stop between the title and year.
- There is no indentation of the references.
- Each reference appears on a new line.
- There is no numbering of the references.
- The reference list should be ordered alphabetically by author family name. References with no author are ordered in the reference list alphabetically by the first significant word of the title.
- Entries by the same single or multiple authors are arranged by year of publication, the earliest first.
- Hong, BH & Yeung, KL 2001,
- Hong, BH & Yeung, KL 2009,
- References with the same first author and different second or third author are arranged alphabetically by the surname of the second author, or if the same, third, and so on.
- Brown, J, Gold, F, & Black, L 2007,
- Brown, J, Gold, F, & Greene, H 2006,
- References by the same author (or by the same two or more authors in the same order) with the same publication date are arranged alphabetically by the first significant word of the title. Lower case letters - a, b, c, etc are placed immediately after the year.
- Smith JR 2008a, Ancient civilization,
- Smith JR 2008b, Roman times,
- Where an item with no author has an editor (compiler, reviser or translator) cite the work by their name.
- When a reference list entry begins with a name the initials follow the family name. This allows for correct alphabetical ordering of the reference list. If a name appears anywhere else the initials precede the family name.
Daniels, PJ 1993, ' Australia's foreign debt: searching for the benefits', in P Maxwell & S Hopkins (eds), Macroeconomics: contemporary Australian readings, Harper Educational, Pymble, N.S.W.
- All sources that are cited in the text must have full details provided in the reference list. If sources that have not been cited in the text need to be included (e.g. items used for background information) then the list should be called a bibliography.
- Do not include personal communications, such as letters, informal email, in the reference list. Cite personal communications only in the text.
Abbreviations
- Acceptable abbreviations in the reference list for parts of books and other publications include:
| ch. | chapter |
| edn | edition |
| ed. ( eds) | editor (editors) |
| n.d. | no date |
| p. (pp.) | page (pages) |
| ser. | series |
| suppl. | supplement |
| rev. | revised |
| trans. | translator(s) |
| vol. | volume (as in vol. 4) |
| vols | volumes (as in 4 vols.) |
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