How to Cite a Journal Article in Harvard Referencing
Learn the exact format with examples, in-text citations, and common mistakes to avoid.
Citation Format
Basic Template
Author(s) (Year) 'Article Title', Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pp. page range. doi: or available at:
Citation Components
Author(s)
Last, First. Multiple: Last, First et al. or Last, First and Last, First.
Year
Publication year in parentheses.
Article Title
In single quotation marks. Sentence case.
Journal Name
Italicized. Capitalize major words.
Volume(Issue)
Format: Volume(Issue) or Volume, no. Issue
Pages
Format: pp. page-page
DOI or URL
Include doi: or available at: URL
Real-World Example
Example Source
Brown, Andrew and Sarah Mitchell
2022
Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in treating anxiety disorders
Journal of Psychiatric Research
145
3
234-247
10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.12.001
Formatted Citation
Brown, Andrew and Mitchell, Sarah (2022) 'Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in treating anxiety disorders', Journal of Psychiatric Research, 145(3), pp. 234-247. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.12.001.
In-Text Citation
(Brown and Mitchell 2022)
(Author Year) or (Author et al. Year) for three+ authors
Common Mistakes
Wrong:
Brown, A. and Mitchell, S. (2022). Effectiveness... Journal of Psychiatric Research 145, 234-247.
Right:
Brown, Andrew and Mitchell, Sarah (2022) 'Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in treating anxiety disorders', Journal of Psychiatric Research, 145(3), pp. 234-247. doi: ...
Why: Use full first names, article title in single quotation marks, italicized journal, volume and issue, and DOI.
Wrong:
(Brown & Mitchell 2022) - using & symbol
Right:
(Brown and Mitchell 2022) - use 'and'
Why: Harvard uses 'and' instead of '&' symbol.
Wrong:
Brown, Andrew and Mitchell, Sarah. 2022. 'Effectiveness...' Journal of Psychiatric Research, 145, pp. 234-247.
Right:
Brown, Andrew and Mitchell, Sarah (2022) 'Effectiveness...' Journal of Psychiatric Research, 145(3), pp. 234-247. doi: ...
Why: Use (Year) format with parentheses, include issue number, and include DOI.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many authors do I list before using 'et al.'? ▼
Harvard varies by institution, but typically list first author et al. for 4+ authors in in-text citations.
Do I always need the issue number? ▼
Include it if available, but it's not always required if pages are unique across the volume.
Should I include both DOI and URL? ▼
Include DOI if available, as it's more stable. If no DOI, use the URL.
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