Now, the big question is:
How to cite a book in Harvard referencing?
We recommend you to start with general format and then move to the specific book type you need to cite.
Just copy or download your citation, insert necessary information (like author’s name, title) — and you are all set.
General Book Format:
Last Name, Initials Publication Date, Title of book, Publisher, City.
In our citation examples we use the following color coding:
- Red – Author
- Blue – Title of book/article/charter/webpage
- Pink – Date
- Orange – Website/Publisher
- Turquoise – Place of publication
- Violet – Editor/Translator
- Black – Volume/Issue
- Sienna – Pages
- Gray – URL/database/website where the source is retrieved
- Gold – Book, a part/chapter of which is being cited
Single author
Example:
Two or three authors
Example:
Four or more authors
Example:
No author
Example:
Multiple works by the same author
Please note that on the Reference List works by the same author are arranged by year of publication with the earliest work put first.
Example:
Multiple works published in the same year by the same author
See those a and b?
Wondering why are they used?
Different letters (in alphabetical order) are used to distinguish between works that have been written by the same author and published in one year.
It’s useful for your in-text citation so that everyone will understand what exact book you are referring to.
Example:
Different editions
Note that when using any edition of the book other than the first, use the publication date of that particular edition and make sure to add the edition number to the entry on the Reference List.
Example:
Encyclopedia or dictionary
Note:
- when using more than one volume of an encyclopedia, note the volumes used on the Reference List entry.
- fill in the rest of the information as you would for an edited book.
Example:
Chapter in an edited book
Note:
- different formats are used for the name of authors and editors. The author of the chapter is stated at the beginning of the entry in a regular book format (last name followed by initials). However, the name of the editor is listed after the name of the chapter, with initials first, followed by last name.
- in (ed.) and (eds), only use punctuation if there is one editor, skip the period if there are two or more editors in the entry.
- remember to include page numbers at the end of the entry.
Example:
Chapter in an edited book (no author)
Not sure how to reference a chapter in a book with no author?
Nothing can be easier.
Just omit the name of the author.
Example:
Pamphlet (no author)
Example:
EBook (from a database of subscribed eBooks)
Note:
- for eBooks accessed online, make sure to include date last viewed.
- there is no need to include the location of publication of the print version, but do include the name of the original publisher.
Example:
Thesis (online)
Note:
- when using a thesis, it is important to distinguish it from other types of academic works. Specify the education level for the thesis (MA, MSc or PhD) and the educational institution to which the thesis was submitted.
- if the thesis is available online, provide a current link and fill in the date that you last accessed the document.
Example:
Paper from a published conference proceedings
Example: