Harvard Citation Generator

If you’re looking for the best Harvard citation generator, you're in the right place! This free online tool will help you make Harvard-style references and in-text citations easily.

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To use this Harvard-style citation generator, take the following steps:

  1. Pick your source type: book, journal article, website, etc.
  2. Search for the details or enter the required information manually.
  3. Get a properly formatted citation and a reference entry.
  4. Create, save, edit, and download your bibliography lists.

✅ Harvard Citation Generator Benefits

Harvard citation style generator has numerous benefits to the users.

The picture lists the benefits of the Harvard citation generator by IvyPanda.

Below, you’ll find some of the benefits of this Harvard citation generator:

  1. First of all, it’s free. You don’t have to pay to generate accurate citations since it is 100% free of charge.
  2. Besides, it’s user-friendly. This online tool works faster than manual referencing and provides correct results after a few seconds.
  3. Last but not least, it makes flawless references. This is a special tool for Harvard. It generates beautiful and correct references according to the format.

📖 Harvard Style Explained

It is easy to guess that the Harvard style originates from Harvard university. It was first used in the 1880s. Nowadays, the Harvard referencing system is one of the most popular author-date methods.

What does this mean?

When citing using Harvard style, you must include the author’s name and date of publication. Harvard citation entails providing in-text citations and creating a detailed reference list.

The picture defines Harvard formatting style.

General Guidelines

Harvard formatting style has several general rules:

  1. The recommended font is Times New Roman or Arial with a 12 pt size.
  2. Make your text double-spaced and aligned to the left of the paper.
  3. Indent the first line of each reference by 0.5 inches.
  4. Align the title at the center before the text. Capitalize the main words. Don’t underscore the title or make it bold, italics, or indented.
  5. Don’t forget about the header. It should have your last name before the page number at the top corner of the page.

💬 Harvard Citation Format

The Harvard citation format contains two elements. These include in-text citations and references.

Harvard In-Text Citations

As the name suggests, Harvard in-text citations are added inside the text of your paper. They can be included as quotes, summaries, or paraphrases of the source. This reference type allows you to locate the exact section of the borrowed source.

Remember that the citation should appear in brackets after the sentence, quote, or paraphrase. Include the author’s last name and publication year or a page number if necessary.

You can present in-text citations in two ways:

  • Information-focused – this citation is normally positioned at the end of a statement or sentence.
  • Author-focused – the author’s name and date should follow each other inside the text. Don’t repeat the author’s name in the text.
The picture lists the two types of Harvard in-text citations: information-based and author-based.

Harvard In-text Citation Examples

Information-focused Author-focused
The mental health of employees is significant (Smith, 2010)… In his argument, Burnley (1995) stated that…

Let us explore how in-text citations look in various situations.

One Author

When your source has one author, use the sir-name and the year of publication.

Example

(Burnley 1995) or Burnley (1995)

Multiple Authors

For multiple authors, use the last name of the first author and add et al., then the year of publication.

Example

(Johnson et el. 2005) or Johnson et al. (2005)

No date

For publications with no date, you should include n.d (no date) to replace the publication year.

Example

Jones and Kelly (n.d) presented similar outcomes.

No Author

Some publications might not have the author’s name. In such a case, your citation must have the title and the publication year. If the title is lengthy, use the first few words.

Example

(The doctor’s guide to medicine 1999)

Multiple Sources

When you include multiple sources in an in-text citation, you should use semicolons to separate the citations while placing the author’s names alphabetically. After listing the sources, enclose the citations in one parenthesis)

Example

(Smith 2016; Burnley 2015; Jones and Peterson 2014)

Harvard Reference List

A reference list is a detailed representation of the sources cited in a document or paper.

It appears as a separate list at the end of the document and has the details on each source you have referenced.

Many students might need clarification on a reference list and a bibliography:

  • Reference lists usually contain all the entries that match the in-text citations.
  • Bibliographies also contain the sources you used in your research but did not add as the in-text citation.
The picture compares a Harvard reference list to a bibliography.

Each reference has unique details depending on the source used. But generally, it should have the author’s name, date of publication, title, and location where the work was published.

Here are some general formatting principles:

  • The reference list must be on a separate page at the end of your paper.
  • The entry list must be arranged in alphabetical order. If there is no author, use the title of the source.
  • If you are citing multiple sources by one author, you can arrange by publication date.
  • Double-space the reference list and place a blank line between entries.
  • Include a full reference for all the in-text citations used in the text.

Let us look at a few Harvard Reference examples.

Citing a Book

Format Author’s last name, Initial. (Year of publication) Book title. City: Publisher
Example Smith, P. (2005) Entrepreneur’s Journey. New York: University Press

Citing a Website

Format Author’s last name, Initial. (Year of publication) Page title. Available at: URL (Date of access; day month year).
Example Example: Binge (2012) Binge Subscriptions. Available at: https://help.binge.com.au/s/article/How-do-I-subscribe-to-Binge (Accessed: 30 March 2022).

You must add the access date to web sources without a DOI (digital object identifier)

Citing a Journal Article

Format Author’s last name, Initial. (Publication year) ‘Title of Article’, Journal Name, Volume (Issue), pp. pager range.
Example McKenzie, D. (1980) ‘The Impact of Technology’, 30(2), pp. 140-160.

Thank you for reading this article! Note that we’ve developed citation generators for the most common formatting styles:

❓ Harvard Citation Generator FAQ

📌 What Is Harvard Style Format?
Harvard style is a popular referencing style that focuses on the author and publication date in two sections – inside the text and the reference list. Generally, the author’s name cited in the text must be in the references and presented alphabetically at the end of the document.
📌 Is MLA the Same as Harvard?
The MLA style is different from the Harvard style. Unlike Harvard, you don’t need an additional abstract or a reference list of the sources cited in the paper. You can only mention the sources under references.
📌 How to Do Harvard-style Citations?
Using the Harvard citation style requires you to include in-text citations and a reference list. You must cite the sources in the text and a separate reference list at the end of your document. The reference list must be listed in alphabetical order starting with the author’s name. If the works cited are from the same author, the list should be arranged by publication date. Same-year publications should be placed alphabetically using the titles.
📌 What Is the Best Citation Software for Harvard Referencing?
Our Harvard citation generator is the best for students and researchers looking for an accurate tool. It is free, fast, and user-friendly. Besides, you can generate a variety of correct sources automatically within a few seconds.

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🔗 References