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How to Cite a Book Chapter in Harvard (Cite Them Right)

Learn how to cite chapters and essays in edited books 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 book chapter in your reference list:

Author, A.A. (Year) 'Title of chapter', in E. Editor (ed.) Title of book. Place of publication: Publisher, pp. xx–xx.

Harvard In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

(Chapter Author, Year, p. 25)

Narrative

Chapter Author (Year) observes...

Key Harvard Formatting Rules

  • Put the chapter title in single quotation marks; italicize the book title.
  • Introduce the editor with "in" and the role "(ed.)" or "(eds.)".
  • Give the chapter page range at the end as pp. xx–xx.
  • Include the place of publication and publisher.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your book chapter.
  2. Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Harvard (Cite Them Right) template shown above.
  3. Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
  4. Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
  5. Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Harvard requirements.

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Cite a Book Chapter in Other Styles

Cite Other Sources in Harvard

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