Harvard Format Guide
Follow these Harvard (Cite Them Right 11th edition) paper formatting rules to ensure your document meets the required standards. This guide covers font, margins, spacing, title page, headers, and reference list formatting.
Paper Formatting
Below are the core formatting requirements for papers written in Harvard (Cite Them Right 11th edition) style.
- Font
- 12 pt Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman
- Font Size
- 12 pt
- Margins
- 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides, or as specified by your institution
- Spacing
- Double-spaced or 1.5 spacing as required by your institution
- Title Page
- Varies by institution — check your department's requirements
- Headers / Page Numbers
- Page numbers as required; no universal running head standard
Reference List Formatting
Your reference list must follow these rules to be correctly formatted in Harvard style:
- Title the page "Reference List" or "References" (centered or left-aligned per your institution)
- Start on a new page
- Use a hanging indent for each entry
- Alphabetize by the first author's surname
- Use single spacing within entries with a blank line between entries (or double-space throughout — check your institution's guide)
- Italicize titles of books and journals
- Use single quotation marks around article and chapter titles
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Cite in Harvard Now →Frequently Asked Questions
- What font and size should I use for Harvard format?
- Harvard (Cite Them Right 11th edition) requires 12 pt Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. The standard font size is 12 pt.
- What are the margin requirements for Harvard?
- Harvard papers require 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides, or as specified by your institution. This applies to the top, bottom, left, and right margins of every page.
- Does Harvard require a title page?
- Varies by institution — check your department's requirements