How to Cite a Encyclopedia Entry in Harvard (Cite Them Right)
Learn how to cite an encyclopedia article or entry in Harvard format (Cite Them Right). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
Harvard Reference List Format
Here is the standard Harvard format for citing a encyclopedia entry in your reference list:
Author, A.A. (Year) 'Title of entry'. In: Editor, E.E. (ed.) Title of encyclopedia. Vol. #. Place: Publisher, pp. #–#.
Harvard Example for a Encyclopedia Entry
A complete Harvard reference for a encyclopedia entry, formatted by the official Harvard CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Sinclair, M. (2020) “Bibliography,” Encyclopedia of Scholarly Practice. 3rd ed. Edited by D. Hobbs. New York: Meridian Reference.
Matching in-text citation: (Sinclair, 2020)
Harvard In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Author, Year)
Narrative
Author (Year) describes...
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your encyclopedia entry.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Harvard (Cite Them Right) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Harvard requirements.
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