Harvard In-Text Citations

    Master Harvard's author-date in-text citation system with practical examples

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    Published: September 15, 2025
    By heypaperhero Team

    Basic In-Text Citation Format

    Harvard style uses the author-date system for in-text citations. Citations appear in parentheses immediately after the relevant information in your text.

    ✓ Correct

    Climate change affects global weather patterns (Smith 2023).

    ✗ Incorrect

    Climate change affects global weather patterns (Smith, J. 2023, p. 45).

    Author Variations

    Single Author

    (Smith 2023)

    Two Authors

    (Smith and Jones 2023)

    Three or More Authors

    (Smith et al. 2023)

    No Author

    (Climate Change Report 2023)

    Page Numbers and Direct Quotes

    Include page numbers for direct quotes and specific information. Use 'p.' for single pages and 'pp.' for page ranges.

    Direct Quote

    "Climate change is the defining issue of our time" (Smith 2023, p. 15).

    Page Range

    The research methodology was comprehensive (Jones 2023, pp. 45-47).

    Multiple Citations

    When citing multiple sources, separate them with semicolons and arrange alphabetically.

    Example:

    (Brown 2022; Jones 2023; Smith 2023)

    Common Mistakes to Avoid

    ⚠ Common Errors

    • • Including first names or initials in citations
    • • Using commas instead of "and" between authors
    • • Forgetting page numbers for direct quotes
    • • Incorrect punctuation placement
    • • Using "p." with page ranges (should be "pp.")