How do I cite a preprint in Harvard?

To cite a preprint in Harvard (Cite Them Right), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for a preprint in Harvard?

In Harvard, the in-text citation for the example above is (Author, 2024)

How to Cite a Preprint in Harvard (Cite Them Right)

Learn how to cite arXiv, bioRxiv, and other preprint server papers 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 preprint in your reference list:

Author, A.A. (Year) 'Title of preprint', Repository Name [Preprint]. Available at: https://doi.org/xxxxx (Accessed: Day Month Year).

Harvard Example for a Preprint

A complete Harvard reference for a preprint, formatted by the official Harvard CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

Petrov, I. and Osei, A. (2024) “Reference accuracy in large language model output,” arXiv [Preprint]. doi:10.48550/arXiv.2403.01234.

Matching in-text citation: (Petrov and Osei, 2024)

Harvard In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(Author, 2024)

Narrative

Author (2024) states in a preprint...

Key Harvard Formatting Rules

Put the preprint title in single quotation marks.
Add the [Preprint] label after the repository name.
Include the full DOI after 'Available at:'.
Give the access date in parentheses at the end.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your preprint.
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.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: harvard.csl

Editorial sources

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a preprint in Harvard?: To cite a preprint in Harvard (Cite Them Right), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Harvard format for a preprint citation?: The Harvard format for a preprint is: Author, A.A. (Year) 'Title of preprint', Repository Name [Preprint]. Available at: https://doi.org/xxxxx (Accessed: Day Month Year).
What does the in-text citation look like for a preprint in Harvard?: In Harvard, the in-text citation for the example above is (Author, 2024)