Reference styles
Below is an introduction to some of the most popular referencing styles and links to examples of referencing guidance documents and tutorials for each of the referencing styles featured.
Harvard
The Harvard referencing style is an example of author-date referencing. The Harvard style is very common and is used across most subjects.
With the Harvard system, when you cite someone else’s work (by including a quotation or by paraphrasing their work), you need to include the author’s last name and the date of publication in brackets after the citation in the body of your paper. The full reference to the work is then included in an alphabetic reference list or bibliography at the end of your paper.
There is no definitive form of Harvard referencing as there is no organisation that sets standards for the style.
Despite its name, the style is not linked to Harvard University.
As there is no standard, there are variations of the Harvard style.
As with all referencing styles, it is important that you apply the version of the Harvard style that you choose consistently.
Harvard links
- Cardiff University’s Information Literacy Resource Bank features a section on citing references. The Harvard referencing materials include activities, quizzes and a Harvard Referencing Tutorial. The tutorial incorporates interactive exercises to check whether you have understood the style guidelines
- Anglia Ruskin University’s Harvard System of Referencing Guide is a comprehensive guide to using the Harvard style which features examples of how to reference a wide variety of publication formats
- The University of Sussex has developed a Harvard Style Information Literacy Tutorial which also features a quiz to test your knowledge of the Harvard system
APA (AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION)
The American Psychological Association publishes a style guide, the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, which is commonly used by writers, editors and students in the social science subjects.
The APA also provides a free basic online tutorial to using the APA Style which includes guidance on how to reference.
The University of Chicago Press publishes The Chicago Manual of Style.
There is also an online version, the Chicago Manual of Style Online which offers a free 30 day trial.
The Manual features a free Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide which gives examples of how to cite a variety of references including books, book chapters, journal articles, newspapers, book reviews, theses and websites. It also features a comprehensive FAQ section.
OSCOLA
Developed by the Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford, OSCOLA is used to cite authorities, legislation and other legal materials.
The fourth edition can be viewed here. There is also an SCOLA quick reference guide.
The fourth edition does not contain citation advice for International Law sources, however the section on citing these sources from the 2006 edition of OSCOLA is available as a separate document: OSCOLA 2006: Citing International Law.
The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) referencing style is used in engineering disciplines.
The 2009 IEEE style manual contains guidance on referencing and can be viewed as a pdf document here.
A citation reference guide is available here.
The IEEE referencing style refers to The Chicago Manual of Style for guidance on citing any resources that are not covered by the IEEE style manual.