How to Format a Harvard Reference List
The reference list is one of the most important parts of any academic paper formatted in Harvard (Cite Them Right 11th edition). It provides readers with the full details of every source you cited, allowing them to locate and verify your references. Getting the formatting right is essential for academic credibility. This guide covers the exact rules, shows real examples, and highlights the most common mistakes students make.
Formatting Rules
Follow these rules when creating your Harvard reference list:
1.Title the page "Reference List" or "References" (centered or left-aligned per your institution)
2.Start on a new page
3.Use a hanging indent for each entry
4.Alphabetize by the first author's surname
5.Use single spacing within entries with a blank line between entries (or double-space throughout — check your institution's guide)
6.Italicize titles of books and journals
7.Use single quotation marks around article and chapter titles
Example Reference List
Here is how a Harvard reference list looks with entries for different source types:
Book
Smith, J.D. (2024) The art of research. London: Academic Press.
Journal Article
Lee, A.B. and Park, C. (2024) 'Modern citation practices', Journal of Academic Writing, 15(2), pp. 45–67.
Website
World Health Organization (2024) Global health statistics. Available at: https://www.who.int/statistics (Accessed: 15 March 2024).
YouTube Video
Khan Academy (2024) Introduction to citations. Available at: https://youtube.com/watch?v=example (Accessed: 20 March 2024).
Podcast
Garcia, M. (2024) 'Research methods today', Academic Hour [Podcast]. 5 February. Available at: Spotify.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These are the five most frequent formatting errors students make when creating a Harvard reference list:
- Missing or incorrect hanging indent: Every entry should have the first line flush left and all subsequent lines indented by 0.5 inches. Use your word processor's paragraph settings rather than pressing the Tab key.
- Incorrect alphabetization or ordering: Entries must be arranged according to Harvard rules. Ignore articles like "A," "An," and "The" when alphabetizing. For numbered styles, list entries in the order they first appear in the text.
- Inconsistent spacing: Double-check your line spacing throughout the entire reference list. Mixing single and double spacing is a common error that is easy to miss.
- Wrong use of italics: Italicize titles of standalone works such as books and journals, but do not italicize article or chapter titles. Check Harvard guidelines for exactly which elements should be italicized.
- Missing or broken DOIs and URLs: Always include a DOI when one is available, formatted as a clickable link. Test every URL before submitting your paper to make sure it leads to the correct source.
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Cite in Harvard Now →Related Harvard Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a Harvard Reference List?
- A Harvard Reference List is the section at the end of your paper that lists all the sources you cited in your text, formatted according to Harvard Referencing (Cite Them Right) (Cite Them Right 11th edition) guidelines. It allows readers to locate and verify each source you referenced.
- How do I format a Harvard reference list?
- Start on a new page, title it "Reference List," and list all sources you cited in your paper. Follow the specific Harvard rules for hanging indents, spacing, alphabetization or numbering order, and italics.
- What is the difference between a reference list and a bibliography?
- A reference list includes only the sources you directly cited in your paper, while a bibliography may also include sources you consulted but did not cite. In Harvard (Cite Them Right 11th edition), the end-of-paper list is called the "Reference List."