How to Cite a Book in Harvard Referencing
Learn the exact format with examples, in-text citations, and common mistakes to avoid.
Citation Format
Basic Template
Author(s) (Year) Title of book. Edition. Place of publication: Publisher.
Citation Components
Author(s)
Last, First. Multiple: Last, First and Last, First.
Year
Publication year in parentheses.
Book Title
Italicized. Sentence case.
Edition
Edition info: 2nd edn, Revised edn, etc.
Place of Publication
City where published.
Publisher
Full publisher name.
Real-World Example
Example Source
Senge, Peter M.
2006
The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization
Revised and updated edn
New York
Doubleday
Formatted Citation
Senge, Peter M. (2006) The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization. Revised and updated edn. New York: Doubleday.
In-Text Citation
(Senge 2006)
(Author Year) or (Author Year: page)
Common Mistakes
Wrong:
(Senge, 2006) - using comma between author and year
Right:
(Senge 2006) - use space, not comma
Why: Harvard uses space between author and year in in-text citations.
Wrong:
Senge, P. M. (2006). The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization. Revised edn. New York, USA: Doubleday.
Right:
Senge, Peter M. (2006) The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization. Revised and updated edn. New York: Doubleday.
Why: Use full first names, sentence case for title, (Year) not (Year), and don't include country unless necessary.
Wrong:
The Fifth Discipline by Senge, Peter M., 2006. Doubleday, New York.
Right:
Senge, Peter M. (2006) The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization. Revised and updated edn. New York: Doubleday.
Why: Use Author (Year) Title format. Place of publication comes before publisher with colon between them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to include the place of publication? ▼
Yes, Harvard requires: Place of publication: Publisher.
What if there are multiple publishers or places? ▼
List the first one: New York: Doubleday. Or list all if important to your research.
How do I format edition information? ▼
Include after title: 2nd edn, Revised edn, etc. Omit 'edn' for first editions.
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