Start with the principle
What you need to know
Harvard is not one universal style. Universities publish different punctuation and source rules, so use these patterns as a starting point and follow your institution’s guide.
A practical method
Check it step by step
- 01
Confirm your Harvard version
Find the official referencing guide supplied by your institution or course.
- 02
Use author and year
A paraphrase normally identifies the author and publication year.
- 03
Add a locator for quotations
Include a page or other locator in the form required by your guide.
- 04
Keep names consistent
The author label in the citation must lead readers to the same reference-list entry.
Apply the guidance
Examples
Research habits vary across disciplines (Patel 2025).
Patel (2025) found differences across disciplines.
“Research begins with a clear question” (Patel 2025, p. 42).
Before submission
Final checklist
- Required Harvard version confirmed
- Author and year match the reference
- Quotation has a locator
- Organisation name is consistent
- Multiple citations follow institutional punctuation
Course, university and publisher requirements vary. Confirm final punctuation, capitalisation and presentation against the guide you have been instructed to use.