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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 if you paraphrase 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.

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Examples of in-text citations

You need to include an in-text citation wherever you quote from, summarise, 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. You should include page numbers in your citation if you are quoting directly from, paraphrasing , or using ideas from a specific page or set of pages. You do not need to include page numbers if you are summarising (providing a brief overview of the main topics or points) a complete source, e.g. a whole book. You can see further 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, then you reference the original journal article with no mention of the module materials. If only an extract from an article is included in your module materials that you want to reference you should follow the guidance for extracts on the referencing physical and online module material page.

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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A Quick Guide to Harvard Referencing | Citation Examples

Published on 14 February 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 15 September 2023.

Referencing is an important part of academic writing. It tells your readers what sources you’ve used and how to find them.

Harvard is the most common referencing style used in UK universities. In Harvard style, the author and year are cited in-text, and full details of the source are given in a reference list .

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Table of contents

Harvard in-text citation, creating a harvard reference list, harvard referencing examples, referencing sources with no author or date, frequently asked questions about harvard referencing.

A Harvard in-text citation appears in brackets beside any quotation or paraphrase of a source. It gives the last name of the author(s) and the year of publication, as well as a page number or range locating the passage referenced, if applicable:

Note that ‘p.’ is used for a single page, ‘pp.’ for multiple pages (e.g. ‘pp. 1–5’).

An in-text citation usually appears immediately after the quotation or paraphrase in question. It may also appear at the end of the relevant sentence, as long as it’s clear what it refers to.

When your sentence already mentions the name of the author, it should not be repeated in the citation:

Sources with multiple authors

When you cite a source with up to three authors, cite all authors’ names. For four or more authors, list only the first name, followed by ‘ et al. ’:

Sources with no page numbers

Some sources, such as websites , often don’t have page numbers. If the source is a short text, you can simply leave out the page number. With longer sources, you can use an alternate locator such as a subheading or paragraph number if you need to specify where to find the quote:

Multiple citations at the same point

When you need multiple citations to appear at the same point in your text – for example, when you refer to several sources with one phrase – you can present them in the same set of brackets, separated by semicolons. List them in order of publication date:

Multiple sources with the same author and date

If you cite multiple sources by the same author which were published in the same year, it’s important to distinguish between them in your citations. To do this, insert an ‘a’ after the year in the first one you reference, a ‘b’ in the second, and so on:

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A bibliography or reference list appears at the end of your text. It lists all your sources in alphabetical order by the author’s last name, giving complete information so that the reader can look them up if necessary.

The reference entry starts with the author’s last name followed by initial(s). Only the first word of the title is capitalised (as well as any proper nouns).

Sources with multiple authors in the reference list

As with in-text citations, up to three authors should be listed; when there are four or more, list only the first author followed by ‘ et al. ’:

Reference list entries vary according to source type, since different information is relevant for different sources. Formats and examples for the most commonly used source types are given below.

• Entire book
• Book chapter
• Translated book
• Edition of a book

Journal articles

• Print journal
• Online-only journal with DOI
• Online-only journal with no DOI
• General web page
• Online article or blog
• Social media post

Sometimes you won’t have all the information you need for a reference. This section covers what to do when a source lacks a publication date or named author.

No publication date

When a source doesn’t have a clear publication date – for example, a constantly updated reference source like Wikipedia or an obscure historical document which can’t be accurately dated – you can replace it with the words ‘no date’:

Note that when you do this with an online source, you should still include an access date, as in the example.

When a source lacks a clearly identified author, there’s often an appropriate corporate source – the organisation responsible for the source – whom you can credit as author instead, as in the Google and Wikipedia examples above.

When that’s not the case, you can just replace it with the title of the source in both the in-text citation and the reference list:

Harvard referencing uses an author–date system. Sources are cited by the author’s last name and the publication year in brackets. Each Harvard in-text citation corresponds to an entry in the alphabetised reference list at the end of the paper.

Vancouver referencing uses a numerical system. Sources are cited by a number in parentheses or superscript. Each number corresponds to a full reference at the end of the paper.

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. ’

Though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a difference in meaning:

• A reference list only includes sources cited in the text – every entry corresponds to an in-text citation .
• A bibliography also includes other sources which were consulted during the research but not cited.

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. (2023, September 15). A Quick Guide to Harvard Referencing | Citation Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 25 November 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/referencing/harvard-style/

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How To Harvard Reference A Website – A Detailed Citation Guide

Published by Alvin Nicolas at December 20th, 2023 , Revised On February 5, 2024

Proper referencing is a fundamental aspect of academic writing , playing a crucial role in acknowledging the sources of information and ideas that contribute to creating a piece of work. In this blog post, we will delve into the intricacies of referencing, focusing mainly on the Harvard referencing style and its application to websites.

Accurate and thorough referencing serves as the backbone of scholarly integrity, ensuring that the intellectual contributions of others are appropriately credited. Beyond mere attribution, proper referencing allows readers to trace and verify the information, theories, or arguments presented in a given work.

It fosters a culture of academic honesty, where writers acknowledge the shoulders of giants upon which their ideas stand. Moreover, referencing supports the notion of a scholarly community, where knowledge is a collaborative effort, and each contribution is recognised and respected.

Introduction To Harvard Referencing Style

The Harvard referencing style, also known as the author-date system, is one of academia’s most widely used citation styles. It provides a comprehensive and flexible framework for citing various sources, allowing readers to quickly locate the referenced materials. The distinctive feature of Harvard referencing is the inclusion of the author’s name and the publication date within the text, eliminating the need for footnotes or endnotes.

Significance Of Referencing Websites

In the digital age, websites have become invaluable sources of information, offering a vast array of content ranging from articles and reports to blog posts and multimedia materials. Referencing sites is essential for several reasons.

Firstly, it acknowledges the dynamic nature of online content, as web pages can be updated or removed over time.

Secondly, it allows readers to access the exact information a writer used, promoting transparency and credibility. As websites play an increasingly central role in research and information dissemination, mastering the art of referencing them by the Harvard style is a skill every scholar and student should acquire. In the following sections, we will explore the importance of Harvard referencing for websites, providing a detailed guide to ensure accurate and consistent citations.

Understanding Harvard Referencing Style

The Harvard referencing style, known for its simplicity and flexibility, is widely adopted in academic writing across various disciplines. Unlike some other citation styles, Harvard employs an author-date system, integrating citations seamlessly into the text. This allows readers to quickly locate the source in the bibliography , fostering clarity and transparency in academic writing.

Key Elements Of A Harvard Reference

The main elements of Harvard referencing style include the following. 

In Harvard referencing, the author’s name is a critical element and is usually listed at the beginning of the reference. The surname comes first, followed by the author’s initials. If multiple authors exist, commas separate each name, and an ampersand (&) precedes the last author’s name.

Smith, J. & Johnson, A.

Publication Date

The publication date is crucial in the Harvard referencing style, providing a chronological marker for the source material. It follows the author’s name and is enclosed in parentheses. If the publication date is not available, use “n.d.” (no date) to indicate its absence.

Title Of The Webpage

The webpage’s title comes after the publication date and is written in sentence case (only the first word and proper nouns are capitalised). It is followed by a period.

A journey into sustainable energy.

The URL, or web address, is included next in the reference. It should be presented in full, allowing readers to directly access the source. It is advisable to use the “Retrieved from” prefix before the URL to indicate the source’s online location.

Retrieved from https://www.examplewebsite.com

Date Accessed

As online content can be subject to change, including the date when the information was accessed is a distinctive feature of Harvard referencing. This element ensures that readers know when the author accessed the source. The date is placed after the URL and is written in the format day-month-year.

Accessed on 15-Nov-2023.

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How To Harvard Reference A Website

Citing a website in Harvard style involves following a specific format to ensure clarity and consistency in referencing. Below, we will explore the basic structure for citing a website , examples for both single and multiple authors, addressing situations where the publication date is unavailable, and considerations for citing specific elements like web pages, blog posts, and online articles.

Basic Format For Citing A Website

The basic format for citing a website in Harvard style follows the structure mentioned in the previous section. The general order is as follows:

Author(s). (Publication date). Title of the webpage. URL. Accessed on date.

Examples Of Citing A Website With One Author

Smith, J. (2018). The Art of Scientific Inquiry. https://www.scientificartistry.com/inquiry. Accessed on 10-Jul-2022.

Examples Of Citing A Website With Multiple Authors

Johnson, A., & Davis, B. (2020). Exploring Cultural Diversity. https://www.culturaldiversityexploration.com. Accessed on 05-Sep-2023.

Citing A Website Without A Publication Date

In instances where the publication date is unavailable, the abbreviation “n.d.” (no date) is used:

Miller, K. (n.d.). Understanding Quantum Mechanics. https://www.quantumunderstanding.com. Accessed on 22-Mar-2021.

Citing Specific Elements Like Web Pages, Blog Posts, And Online Articles

When citing specific elements on a website, such as individual web pages, blog posts, or online articles, the title of the specific item is included in place of the overall webpage title:

Roberts, L. (2019). The Impact of Climate Change. https://www.climateimpactanalysis.com/effects. Accessed on 18-Oct-2023.

Sullivan, M. (2022). The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Modern Healthcare. https://www.healthtechblog.com/ai-role-healthcare. Accessed on 03-Feb-2023.

Online Article:

Garcia, R., & Patel, S. (2017). Sustainable Agriculture Practices. https://www.agriculturejournal.com/sustainable-practices. Accessed on 14-May-2022.

In-Text Citations

In-text citations play a crucial role in academic writing by directly connecting statements or ideas in the text to specific sources. This gives credit to the original authors and allows readers to locate the source in the bibliography. 

Importance Of In-Text Citations

• Acknowledging Sources: In-text citations serve as a way to acknowledge the contributions of other researchers and writers whose work has been incorporated into your own. It’s a fundamental aspect of academic honesty and integrity.
• Providing Context: In-text citations offer readers the opportunity to delve deeper into the source material, providing context and additional information that may be relevant to the topic at hand.
• Avoiding Plagiarism: Proper in-text citations are a key tool in avoiding plagiarism. By crediting the original authors, you demonstrate respect for their intellectual property and ensure that your work maintains its authenticity.

How To Format In-Text Citations For Websites?

In Harvard style, in-text citations typically include the author’s last name and the year of publication. If there is no publication date, you can use “n.d.” (no date). The citation is usually placed in parentheses and can be part of the sentence or positioned at the end.

If part of the sentence:

  – Smith (2018) argues that…

If placed at the end:

  – …the importance of sustainable energy (Johnson, 2020).

 If no date is available:

  – …recent advancements in robotics (Miller, n.d.).

Examples Of In-Text Citations For Various Scenarios

Single Author 

The concept of virtual reality has evolved rapidly in recent years (Clark, 2019).

Two Authors

Research indicates a positive correlation between exercise and mental health (Jones & Lee, 2021).

Three or More Authors

The impact of climate change is a global concern (Smith et al., 2017).

Online education’s prevalence has recently increased significantly (“E-Learning Trends,” 2022).

The exact origins of this ancient civilisation remain uncertain (Ancient History, n.d.).

Tips And Best Practices

Follow these tips for effectively referencing websites.

Tip 1: Checking For The Latest Edition Of The Harvard Referencing Style

• Stay Updated: Like any other citation style, the Harvard referencing style may undergo updates and revisions. It’s essential to stay informed about the latest edition of the style guide. Check for any rules or formatting guidelines changes to ensure your references align with the most current standards.
• Consult Official Guides: Refer to official Harvard style guides or manuals published by reputable institutions. These guides often provide detailed explanations and examples for various source types, helping you navigate the intricacies of the style with accuracy.

Tip 2:  Using Tools And Generators For Accurate Citations

• Online Citation Generators: Take advantage of online citation generators designed explicitly for Harvard referencing. These tools can automatically generate citations based on your input information, saving time and reducing the risk of errors.
• Reference Management Software: Use reference management software like EndNote, Zotero, or Mendeley. These tools assist in creating and organising your references and offer features like automatic citation formatting according to different styles, including Harvard.
• Library Resources: Libraries and academic institutions often provide online resources and guides for reference. Explore the resources available, as many institutions offer detailed instructions on Harvard referencing tailored to their specific requirements.

Avoiding Common Mistakes In Harvard Referencing

Some of the common mistakes in Harvard Referencing are the following:

• Consistency is Key: Maintain consistency in your citations throughout your work. Ensure that the formatting, punctuation, and order of elements remain uniform across all references.
• Double-Check Details: Attention author names, publication dates, and URLs closely. Accuracy in these details is crucial for your readers to locate the exact source you consulted.
• Understand Source Types: Harvard referencing is versatile and applicable to various sources. Familiarise yourself with how to cite different sources, including books , articles, websites, and more. This knowledge will prevent common errors related to misinterpreting citation requirements.
• Provide Complete Information: Include all necessary information for each source. A complete citation not only fulfils academic requirements but also aids readers in verifying and accessing the referenced material.

Handling Social Media And Online Forums

In the case of referencing social media sites, here is an overview of that.

A. Referencing Tweets, Facebook Posts, and Other Social Media Content

Authorship and handle.

When referencing social media content, start with the author’s real name, if available, followed by their social media handle in square brackets. If the author’s real name is not provided, begin with the handle.

Smith, John [@j_smith]. (2021). The impact of technology on education…

Date and Time

Include the date of the post and, if applicable, the time. Ensure you use the format most commonly associated with the social media platform.

Smith, John [@j_smith]. (2021, July 15). Exploring the latest advancements in AI. #ArtificialIntelligence

Content of the Post

Provide a concise yet clear description of the content of the post. If the post includes a link or hashtag, incorporate that into the reference.

Smith, John [@j_smith]. (2021, July 15). Exploring the latest advancements in AI. #ArtificialIntelligence. Retrieved from [URL]

Citing Discussions And Threads From Online Forums

Authorship and username.

Begin with the username of the person who initiated the thread or discussion, followed by their real name in square brackets, if available. If only a username is provided, start with that.

TechEnthusiast [@tech_geek]. (John Smith) initiated a discussion on the future of renewable energy…

Title of the Thread

Provide the title of the thread or discussion in sentence case, followed by the name of the forum in italics.

TechEnthusiast [@tech_geek]. (John Smith) initiated a discussion on the future of renewable energy. *TechForum*

Include the date and time of the original post or the start of the discussion. If there are multiple posts, it may be beneficial to include the range of dates.

TechEnthusiast [@tech_geek]. (John Smith) initiated a discussion on the future of renewable energy on *TechForum* on July 20, 2023, 10:30 AM.

URL or Permalink

If available, provide a direct link to the specific discussion thread. Some forums offer a permalink that leads directly to the conversation.

TechEnthusiast [@tech_geek]. (John Smith) initiated a discussion on the future of renewable energy on *TechForum* on July 20, 2023, 10:30 AM. Retrieved from [URL]

Frequently Asked Questions

How to reference a website harvard.

To Harvard reference a website, include the author’s name, publication date in parentheses, title of the webpage in sentence case, the full URL preceded by “Retrieved from,” and the date accessed in the format day-month-year. For example: Smith, J. (2021). “Exploring Science.” Retrieved from https://www.explorescience.com . Accessed on 12-Nov-2023.

How to reference a website?

To reference a website in Harvard style, include the author’s name, publication date in parentheses, the title of the webpage in sentence case, full URL preceded by “Retrieved from,” and the date accessed in the format day-month-year. For example: Smith, J. (2021). “Exploring Science.” Retrieved from https://www.explorescience.com . Accessed on 12-Nov-2023.

Do I need to include the full URL in my Harvard references for websites?

It is recommended to include the full URL in your references for websites. This allows readers to access the exact source you consulted. Be sure to use the “Retrieved from” prefix before the URL.

What should I do if the webpage doesn't have a publication date?

In Harvard referencing, if the publication date is unavailable, use “n.d.” (no date) to indicate its absence. It’s essential to be transparent about the lack of this information.

How do I cite a website with multiple authors in Harvard style?

List all authors’ names in the order they appear on the website, separated by commas. Use an ampersand (&) before the last author’s name. Include the publication date, webpage title, URL, and date accessed.

Can I use Harvard referencing for social media posts?

Harvard referencing can be adapted for social media posts. Include the author’s name or handle, the post’s date and time, and a content description. If available, include the URL.

How do I reference online articles using the Harvard style?

When referencing online articles, follow the standard Harvard format, including the author(s), publication date, article title, the name of the website or journal, URL, and date accessed.

Is it necessary to include the date accessed for every website reference?

Yes, in Harvard referencing, it is essential to include the date accessed, especially for online sources. This information helps readers know when the report was retrieved, given the dynamic nature of web content.

Can I use Harvard referencing for academic papers and essays?

Harvard referencing is a widely accepted style for academic writing. It provides a clear and consistent way to credit sources and allows readers to locate the referenced material easily.

Are there any exceptions to the Harvard referencing format for websites?

While the basic format remains consistent, there can be variations depending on the specific type of webpage or online content. It’s crucial to adapt the citation to the unique characteristics of the source.

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / Harvard Referencing / How to reference a website using the Harvard referencing style

How to reference a website using the Harvard referencing style

This guide covers how to reference a website in Harvard style. When citing information sourced from the web, it is of paramount importance that you make very clear what it is you are referencing. As sources on the internet can vary widely, your reference should aim to provide a trail that can lead the reader directly to the source. An internet source could be almost anything, including but not limited to scholarly journal articles, newspaper articles, blog posts, and personal web pages. Your reference format for internet sources will vary based on the type of source.

Since most websites are updated from time to time, it is possible that anything you quote may be changed or removed. This means that it is important to record within your citation the date that you last accessed the site.  

Another important fact to be mindful of is that most websites do not have page numbers. If you need to reference a specific location on a website, you can use paragraph numbers in place of page numbers (abbreviated ‘para.’ in your in-text citation).  

Citation styles for different online sources

This section will elaborate on the citation style to be utilized for the following sources, along with examples for each source type.  

Web pages authored by an individual/individuals

Your references for this type of web page will include the following information:  

• Author’s/Authors’ names
• The year the site was published or last updated (in round brackets)
• Title of the web page (in italics)
• Available at: URL (Accessed: date)  

In-text citation

B. Johnson (2016) made his argument quite clear stating…

Reference list

Johnson, B. (2016) The rise of the Ubermensch. Available at: http://www.bjohnsonsworld.co.uk/theriseoftheubermensch (Accessed: 23 October 2017).

In-text citation (two authors)

After years of research, Russell and Verstappen (2013) found that…

Russell, J. and Verstappen, M. (2013) Rubber compounds and their rate of wear . Available at: http://www.dailysciencefixforyou.com/rubbercompounds (Accessed: 24 November 2019).

Web pages authored by a company or organization

Here’s the information you will need to include for this type of reference:

• Name of the company/organization
• Year the site was published or last updated (in round brackets)            
• Title of the web page (in italics)      
• Available at: URL (Accessed: date)                          

A patient may suffer mild psychosis (Rural Health Institute, 2018) as a result of…

Rural Health Institute (2018) The effects of shock therapy. Available at: http://www.rhi.co.uk/shocktherapy (Accessed: 31 October 2019).

Web pages with no author  

Citation structure :

• Title of the webpage (in italics)
• The year the site was published/last updated (in round brackets)
• Available at: URL (Accessed: date)          

Renderings of the architect’s master plan can be found online ( Gumpert’s Modernism, 2013) …

Reference List

Gumpert’s Modernism (2013) Available at: https://www.stellararchitecture.com/modernism/ (Accessed: 24 July 2020)

Web pages with no author or title

Citation structure:

• URL of the page
• (Accessed: date)        

In-text citation    

Salt dough cookies (http://www.wholesomerecipes.com/saltdough.html, 2018) are a wonderful way to….

http://www.wholesomerecipes.com/saltdough.html (2018) (Accessed: 12 September 2020).

Web pages without a date

Citation information:  

• Author’s name
• Mention that no dates were available (use ‘no date’ in round brackets)
• Title of the web page, if available (in italics)

Cuba struggled through the decade (Banana Republic News, no date) facing a constant onslaught of….

Banana Republic News (no date) The trials and tribulations of Cuba. Available at: https://www.bananafyinews.com/cuba.html (Accessed: 15 July 2019).

Multiple pages from the same website

If you need to cite multiple pages from the same website, and the pages have different authors and/or publication dates associated with them, then you can simply use corresponding individual in-text citations and reference list entries for each page that you cite. In this case, you would also include the unique URL for each page in its corresponding reference list entry. However, if the pages you are citing all have the same author and publication date, you can differentiate between them in both your reference list entries and in-text citations by adding a lowercase letter after the date.

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022a)

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022b)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2022a)  International travel . Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel/index.html (Accessed: 18 July 2022).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2022b) Cruise ship travel during COVID-19 . Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/cruise-travel-during-covid19.html (Accessed: 18 July 2022).

Note that if the web page has no date, insert a hyphen between the words ‘no date’ and the lowercase letter to improve readability, for example: (no date-a) or (no date-b).

Web blogs or video blogs

When citing any information from blogs or vlogs, you need to keep in mind that you are treading a very thin line between objectivity and subjectivity. Blogs or vlogs are meant to be informal as most people use them to express their perspectives on issues or topics that are close to their heart, or to comment on issues from the public domain. So, be incredibly careful as most blogs are not very well reasoned or objective in their stance.

• The year that the blog/vlog was published or last updated (in round brackets)
• Title of the blog/vlog (in single quotation marks)
• Title of the site that hosts the blog/vlog (in italics)
• The day or month the blog/vlog was posted

Note that if you’re trying to cite a vlog that was posted on YouTube, you’ll need to know how to cite a YouTube video in Harvard style .

Engelbert D’Souza (2015) has expounded on the “Mandela Effect” at great length….

D’Souza, E. (2015) ‘The Mandela Effect’, Engelbert’s monthly blog , 6 November. Available at: https://www.engelbertsmonthlyblog/november/mandelaeffect/ (Accessed: 11 September 2016).

Social networking sites  

Citation information:

• Year (in round brackets)
• Title of the post (in single quotation marks)
• [Instagram]
• Day/month of the post
• Available at: URL (Accessed: date)    

In-text citation  

Hendrix was a master of distortion and feedback (Casanova, 2018) …

Casanova, G. (2018) ‘Jimi Hendrix: wild blue angel’ [Instagram]. 18 September. Available at: https://www.instagram.com (Accessed: 7 October 2019)

• Author (if available, otherwise use the title)
• The year the article was published or last updated (in round brackets)
• Title of the post (in italics)
• Day/month the post was uploaded

The Trump rally drew large crowds in South Carolina ( Trump campaign , 2016).

Trump campaign (2016) [Facebook] 24 October. Available at: https://www.facebook.com (Accessed: 28 February 2019).

• Author of the tweet
• Twitter handle (in square brackets)
• The year the tweet was posted (in round brackets)
• The full body of the tweet (if it is too long, use an ellipsis to shorten it)
• The day/month the tweet was posted

Jasper Kuhn (2018) was quite critical about the proceedings…

Kuhn, J. [@kuhnper] (2018) It was appalling to see the leaders of the state bicker like rabid dogs in the assembly [Twitter] 31 January. Available at: https://twitter.com/kuhnper/status/161664645.654654.655 (Accessed: 17 July 2018).

Key takeaways

• While referencing anything from a website, the main aim is to provide a trail that can lead the reader directly to the source.  
• An important point to keep in mind is that you will need to cite the date you last accessed the site.  
• Since most websites do not have page numbers, use paragraph numbers to show where you found the information you used.  

Published October 29, 2020.

Harvard Formatting Guide

Harvard Formatting

• et al Usage
• Direct Quotes
• In-text Citations
• Multiple Authors
• Page Numbers
• Writing an Outline
• View Harvard Guide

Reference Examples

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• Study and research support
• Referencing
• Leeds Harvard referencing examples

Website or webpage

Leeds harvard: website or webpage, reference examples.

Family name, INITIAL(S) (or company name). Year. Title. [Online]. [Date accessed]. Available from: URL

Hawking, S. 2000.  Professor Stephen Hawking's website.  [Online]. [Accessed 25 August 2017]. Available from:  http://www.hawking.org.uk/

Environment Agency. 2013.  River and coastal maintenance programmes 2013-14 . [Online]. [Accessed 25 August 2017]. Available from:  http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Citation examples

When citing material found on a website, you should cite it like any other source, usually the author surname in brackets and the date. Do not include the URL of the website in your citation.

You may find that there is not always a personal author. In this case you should identify the corporate author.

The publication date of websites can often be found at the bottom of a webpage.

If you are citing specific information from a website that does not have page numbers, you do not need to include anything to indicate this in the in-text citation. 

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)
• Locating publisher details
• 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)

Cite A Website in Harvard style

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• Select style:
• Archive material
• Chapter of an edited book
• Conference proceedings
• Dictionary entry
• Dissertation
• DVD, video, or film
• E-book or PDF
• Edited book
• Encyclopedia article
• Government publication
• Music or recording
• Online image or video
• Presentation
• Press release
• Religious text

Use the following template or our Harvard Referencing Generator to cite a website. For help with other source types, like books, PDFs, or websites, check out our other guides. To have your reference list or bibliography automatically made for you, try our free citation generator .

Reference list

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Popular Harvard Citation Guides

• How to cite a Book in Harvard style
• How to cite a Website in Harvard style
• How to cite a Journal in Harvard style
• How to cite a DVD, video, or film in Harvard style
• How to cite a Online image or video in Harvard style

Other Harvard Citation Guides

• How to cite a Archive material in Harvard style
• How to cite a Artwork in Harvard style
• How to cite a Blog in Harvard style
• How to cite a Broadcast in Harvard style
• How to cite a Chapter of an edited book in Harvard style
• How to cite a Conference proceedings in Harvard style
• How to cite a Court case in Harvard style
• How to cite a Dictionary entry in Harvard style
• How to cite a Dissertation in Harvard style
• How to cite a E-book or PDF in Harvard style
• How to cite a Edited book in Harvard style
• How to cite a Email in Harvard style
• How to cite a Encyclopedia article in Harvard style
• How to cite a Government publication in Harvard style
• How to cite a Interview in Harvard style
• How to cite a Legislation in Harvard style
• How to cite a Magazine in Harvard style
• How to cite a Music or recording in Harvard style
• How to cite a Newspaper in Harvard style
• How to cite a Patent in Harvard style
• How to cite a Podcast in Harvard style
• How to cite a Presentation or lecture in Harvard style
• How to cite a Press release in Harvard style
• How to cite a Religious text in Harvard style
• How to cite a Report in Harvard style
• How to cite a Software in Harvard style

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• Writing Tips

How to Cite a Website in Harvard Referencing

• 3-minute read
• 11th June 2019

With so much information now available online, you may need to cite a website in a piece of academic writing at some point.

But since most referencing systems focus on books and journals, knowing how this works can be tricky. Thus, to help out, we’ve prepared this quick guide to citing a website using Harvard referencing .

In-Text Citations (Named Author)

To cite a website in Harvard referencing, you will need to give the author’s surname and a year of publication. For instance:

Rousseau converted to Catholicism in 1728 (Bertram, 2010).

If you have already named the author in the main text, though, you don’t need to duplicate this information in the citation. Instead, you can just give a year of publication in brackets after the author’s name.

In addition, since websites don’t have page numbers, you will not usually need to give a pinpoint citation when quoting an online source.

However, for long or complicated texts, you could include a paragraph or section number (use “para.” to signal a paragraph number or the “§”  symbol to denote a section). So to cite a website like this, we would write:

According to Bertram (2010, § 2.1), Rousseau thought morality had been displaced by “the impulse to dominate, oppress and exploit.”

Make sure to check your style guide for information on citing sources with no page numbers, though, as different places will have different rules.

In-Text Citations (No Named Author/Date of Publication)

To cite a website that does not name its author, the best approach is usually to reference an organizational author instead. This will be the company or organization that runs the website:

Tax avoidance often involves using contrived transactions that serve no purpose other than exploiting legal loopholes (HMRC, 2016).

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If no date of publication is available, you can use “n.d.” in its place:

Moths are “an essential part of food chains” (RSPB, n.d.).

It can be hard to spot the author and publication date for websites, though, so make sure to check carefully before omitting this information from citations.

How to Cite a Website in the Reference List

As with any source in your work, you should add all cited websites to a reference list at the end of your document. The information you need here is:

Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year or Publication/Last Update) Title of Web Page [Online]. Available at: URL [Accessed date].

In practice, then, the reference list entry for a website would look like this:

Bertram, C. (2010) Jean Jacques Rousseau [Online]. Available at: plato.stanford.edu/entries/rousseau/ [Accessed 24 October 2016].

Of course, if a webpage is missing a named author or date of publication, this should also be indicated in the reference list:

RSPB (n.d.) Grow Food for Moths [Online]. Available at: https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/makeahomeforwildlife/givenatureahomeinyourgarden/gardenactivities/growfoodformoths/ [Accessed 19 September 2016].

A Quick Note on Harvard Referencing

Although Harvard referencing is a common citation style, it is not a single unified system. As such, the rules your school uses may differ, so you should always check your style guide if you are not sure how to cite sources.

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