University of the West of Scotland Harvard Referencing

To cite a website in UWS Harvard (CTR) style, place the author's surname, publication year, page title in italics, and a full Available at: URL followed by an accessed date.

Web pages present a unique challenge because content can be changed or removed at any time. The accessed date is therefore mandatory. Where no individual author is named, the organisation responsible for the site takes the author position. Where neither an author nor a date is available, use "no date" in place of the year. The title of the web page is italicised in the reference list.

Reference list format:

Surname, Initial. (Year) Title of web page. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

To cite a journal article in UWS Harvard style, include the author's surname and initial, year, article title in single quotation marks, journal title in italics, volume, issue, page range, and a DOI or URL where applicable.

The DOI (digital object identifier) is the preferred linking element for journal articles. If a DOI is not available, a URL with an accessed date is acceptable. The date accessed is not required when a DOI or sufficient bibliographic details are provided. For print journal articles, no URL is needed.

Reference list format:

Surname, Initial. (Year) 'Article title', Journal Title, Volume(Issue), pp. page range. DOI.

To cite a book in UWS Harvard style, write the author's surname and initial, year in brackets, book title in italics, edition if not the first, and the publisher's name.

An important update in the 13th edition of Cite Them Right removes the requirement to include the place of publication. Only the publisher's name is now required in the reference. The edition is only stated if it is the second or later, or a revised edition.

Reference list format:

Surname, Initial. (Year) Title of book. Edition (if applicable). Publisher.

To cite in text using UWS Harvard style, place the author's surname and the year of publication in round brackets within or at the end of the relevant sentence.

The in-text citation must correspond exactly to the matching entry in the reference list. Two formats are used: an integral citation names the author as part of the sentence (e.g. "Smith (2022) argues that…"), and a non-integral citation places both elements in brackets at the end (e.g. "…in recent studies (Smith, 2022)"). For a direct quotation, a page number must also be included.

Format:

Paraphrase: (Surname, Year) or Surname (Year)

Direct quote: (Surname, Year, p. page number)

To cite a YouTube video in UWS Harvard style, treat the channel or uploader as the author, include the upload date, the video title in italics, the upload day and month, and the full YouTube URL with an accessed date.

YouTube videos are referenced as online film or video sources. The channel name functions as the author when no individual is named. The title uses sentence case and is italicised. If the video is part of a named series, this can be noted in the reference.

Reference list format:

Channel/Author (Year) Title of video. Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

To cite a chapter in an edited book in UWS Harvard style, give the chapter author first, then the year, the chapter title in single quotation marks, followed by the editor's name, the book title in italics, the publisher, and the page range.

Edited books contain chapters written by different contributors. The chapter author is always the primary author in the citation, not the editor. The editor's name is introduced using "in" followed by the editor's initial and surname and the abbreviation "(ed.)" or "(eds)" for multiple editors.

Reference list format:

Chapter Author Surname, Initial. (Year) 'Chapter title', in Initial. Editor Surname (ed.) Title of Book. Publisher, pp. x–x.

To cite multiple authors in UWS Harvard style, list all authors in the reference list, but use only the first author's surname followed by et al. in the in-text citation when there are three or more authors.

For two authors, both surnames appear in every in-text citation, joined by "and". For three or more authors, only the first surname is used in the text, followed by et al. (in italics), though all authors must still appear in the full reference list entry. This keeps in-text citations readable without losing bibliographic completeness.

In-text format:

Two authors: (Smith and Jones, 2021)

Three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2021)

To cite a report in UWS Harvard style, treat the organisation or author as the author, italicise the report title, and include the publisher, along with a URL and accessed date if accessed online.

Reports issued by government departments, international bodies, think tanks, and research agencies are common sources in academic work. The issuing body often serves as both author and publisher. If the report has a reference number or series identifier, this should be included after the title in brackets.

Reference list format:

Author/Organisation (Year) Title of report. Publisher. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

To cite a website with no identified author in UWS Harvard style, begin the reference with the italicised title of the page, followed by the year in brackets, then the URL and accessed date.

When no individual or organisation is named, the page title takes the lead position in the reference. In the in-text citation, a shortened version of the title is used in italics. If no publication date is visible on the page, write "no date" in place of the year.

Reference list format:

Title of web page. (Year or no date) Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

To cite a thesis in UWS Harvard style, include the author's surname and initial, year, title in italics, type of thesis, awarding university, and a URL with accessed date if available online.

These are primary research documents that carry significant academic authority. Specifying whether the work is a PhD, MPhil, or Master's thesis helps readers assess the level of the research. The university name replaces the publisher. Where the thesis is accessed through an institutional repository, the repository URL should be used.

Reference list format:

Surname, Initial. (Year) Title of thesis. Type of thesis. University. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

To cite a news article in UWS Harvard style, give the journalist's surname and initial, year, the article title in single quotation marks, the newspaper name in italics, the day and month of publication, and the URL with accessed date if accessed online.

Where no journalist is named, the reference begins with the newspaper title in italics. The day and month of publication are included because news articles appear across different issues of the same paper. If accessed in print, the page number should be noted instead of the URL.

Reference list format:

Surname, Initial. (Year) 'Article title', Newspaper Name, Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

To cite a direct quote in UWS Harvard style, include the author's surname, year, and the specific page number where the quotation appears, all within round brackets immediately after the quoted text.

Direct quotations must reproduce the original wording exactly and be enclosed in single quotation marks within the body of the text. For quotations longer than approximately 40 words, the text should be indented as a block quotation without quotation marks. The page number is an essential element; without it, the in-text citation is incomplete for a direct quote.

In-text format:

Short quote: '…exact words…' (Surname, Year, p. page number)

Block quote (40+ words):

Exact words indented here (Surname, Year, p. page number).

To cite a PDF in UWS Harvard style, identify what type of document the PDF contains (report, book chapter, journal article, government document, etc.) and apply the correct format for that source type, adding the URL and accessed date if it was accessed online.

A PDF is a file format, not a source type. The referencing format follows the nature of the content inside the PDF. A PDF version of a government report is cited as a report. A PDF of a journal article is cited as a journal article. If the PDF does not have author details, the issuing organisation takes the author role.

Reference list format (varies by document type):

Organisation/Author (Year) Title of document. Publisher. Available at: URL to PDF (Accessed: Day Month Year).

To cite an image in UWS Harvard style, give the creator's surname and initial, year, the title of the image in italics, the medium or image type in square brackets, and the URL with an accessed date if accessed online.

Images include photographs, paintings, diagrams, maps, and digital graphics. The medium type, such as [Photograph], [Oil on canvas], or [Digital image], appears in square brackets immediately after the title. Where an image illustrates a book or article rather than standing alone online, the reference should cite the containing book or article, with the figure number noted in the in-text citation.

Reference list format:

Creator Surname, Initial. (Year) Title of image [Medium]. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

To cite a film in UWS Harvard style, begin with the film title in italics, give the year in brackets, followed by the director's name with initial and surname, the format in square brackets, and the distributor.

The film title takes the author position because films are collaborative works without a single primary author. The format label, such as [DVD], [Blu-ray], or, for streaming services, the name of the platform, appears after the director. For streaming films, no place of publication is required; the platform name suffices. UWS local guidance specifies that a catalogue number for DVDs is not required.

Reference list format:

Title of film (Year) Directed by Initial. Surname. [Format]. Distributor.

To cite UK legislation in UWS Harvard style, use the short title of the Act (which includes the year as part of the title), followed by the chapter number, and a URL with accessed date if accessed online.

The year already forms part of the Act's title, so it is not repeated in round brackets as it would be for other sources. For Scottish Acts, the abbreviation "asp" replaces the chapter number "c." For Statutory Instruments, the SI number is included after the title. All Acts can now typically be accessed on the legislation.gov.uk website.

Reference list format:

Title of Act Year, c. chapter number. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

To cite a lecture in UWS Harvard style, give the lecturer's surname and initial, year, the lecture title in single quotation marks with [Lecture] in square brackets, the module code and title, the university, and the date the lecture was delivered.

Lecture notes, slides, and recordings are considered personal communications or unpublished materials. They are included only when publicly accessible or when provided by the lecturer to students. The module code distinguishes the source from other works by the same lecturer. If the lecture was accessed via a virtual learning environment such as Moodle, this should be noted.

Reference list format:

Surname, Initial. (Year) 'Lecture title' [Lecture]. Module code: Module title. University. Day Month.

To cite a conference paper in UWS Harvard style, give the paper author's surname and initial, year, the paper title in single quotation marks, the proceedings title in italics, the publisher, and the page range.

Conference papers may appear in published proceedings books, in journal supplements, or as standalone online documents. The format differs slightly in each case. For a paper accessed from an online conference repository or institutional site, a URL and an accessed date are required. The conference name and location may be noted in the proceedings title.

Reference list format:

Surname, Initial. (Year) 'Paper title', in Title of Conference Proceedings. Publisher, pp. x–x.

To cite a podcast in UWS Harvard style, give the host or presenter's name, year, the episode title in single quotation marks, the podcast series name in italics, the episode date, and a URL with accessed date.

Podcasts are audio programmes released as series or standalone episodes. The presenter or host functions as the author. If no individual host is identified, the production company or broadcaster takes the author role. The episode title sits in single quotation marks, while the podcast series name is italicised to distinguish the two levels of the source.

Reference list format:

Host Surname, Initial. (Year) 'Episode title', Podcast Series Name, Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

To cite an annual report in UWS Harvard style, treat the organisation as the author, use the year in brackets, italicise the full report title, state the publisher, and include the URL and accessed date if accessed online.

Annual reports are formal institutional documents that record financial performance, strategic activities, and organisational targets over a defined period. They carry strong authority in business, health, and public sector research. The year of publication usually corresponds to the reporting year. If the report covers a specific financial year, that range may appear in the title itself.

Reference list format:

Organisation (Year) Annual report Year/Year range. Organisation. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

To cite a dictionary in UWS Harvard style, give the dictionary title in italics as the primary entry, the year, the specific word or term being cited in single quotation marks, the edition, the publisher, and a URL with accessed date if used online.

Dictionaries are reference works with no single named author, so the title takes the author position. Different editions of the same dictionary can vary in definitions, so noting the edition is important for accuracy and traceability. For online dictionaries, the accessed date is essential because entries are updated periodically.

Reference list format:

Dictionary Title (Year) 'Term defined'. Edition. Publisher. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

To cite an e-book in UWS Harvard style, follow the same format as a print book, since CTR Harvard makes no distinction between print and e-book formats, provided the e-book contains the same elements as the print version.

If an e-book lacks standard elements such as publisher, place of publication, or clear authorship, add a URL and accessed date so the reader can locate the source. E-books accessed via platforms such as Kindle, VLeBooks, or Dawsonera are referenced using the platform name in place of the URL where no direct URL is available.

Reference list format:

Surname, Initial. (Year) Title of book. Edition (if applicable). Publisher. Available at: URL or Platform (Accessed: Day Month Year).

To cite a Wikipedia article in UWS Harvard style, begin with the article title in single quotation marks, followed by the year, the word Wikipedia in italics, a URL to the specific article, and the accessed date.

Wikipedia articles have no named author, so the article title takes the first position in the reference. The platform name Wikipedia acts as the equivalent of a journal title. It is important to note that Wikipedia itself cautions against being used as a primary academic source; universities, including UWS, advise students to treat it as a starting point and to trace and cite the original sources cited within Wikipedia entries.

Reference list format:

'Article title' (Year) Wikipedia. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

To cite a personal communication in UWS Harvard style, give the communicator's surname and initial, year, the medium of communication, the recipient's name, and the day and month.

Personal communications include emails, telephone calls, letters, text messages, conversations, and interviews. They are typically not included in the reference list because they cannot be retrieved by the reader; they appear only as in-text citations. However, CTR Harvard does allow a reference list entry when the communication has sufficient identifying detail. Always obtain permission from the person before citing what they said or wrote.

In-text format:

(Surname, Year) or introduced naturally: Surname (Year)

Reference list format (if included):

Surname, Initial. (Year) Medium of communication to Recipient's Name, Day Month.

To cite ChatGPT or other generative AI tools in UWS Harvard style, treat the AI platform name as the author, give the year of the interaction, describe the medium of communication, name the recipient, and include the day and month, along with a shareable URL if one is available.

UWS follows the Cite Them Right guidance for generative AI referencing, which was updated to reflect the growing use of AI tools in academic work. If the AI conversation is shareable via a URL, it should be referenced with that link. If the content is only accessible to the user, it is treated as a personal communication, and an appendix including the prompt and response should be submitted alongside the work. Students must check with their lecturer whether AI tools are permitted before using them in assessed work.

Reference list format (shareable URL):

Name of AI (Year) AI response to [Your Name], Day Month. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

Reference list format (not shareable):

Name of AI (Year) AI response to [Your Name], Day Month. [Personal communication, see Appendix X]