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Discontinuing December 2023 - this edition of the guide

Warning icon Holmesglen Harvard style has been updated

Students and staff will need to transition over to the updated style before December 2023.

 

Updated guide available at https://holmesglen.libguides.com/holmesglenharvard


 Harvard referencing guide

 

What is Harvard style?

Harvard style is an author-date system of referencing that uses in-text citations in the body of your work, followed by a reference list on a separate page at the end of the assignment.

 

This guide is based on the Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers, 6th edn and is specifically designed to suit the needs of Holmesglen students and staff.

Holmesglen Harvard referencing video

Holmesglen Harvard quick guide/accessible version

Referencing basics

What is referencing?

Referencing means acknowledging the sources you have used in your assignment. Referencing ensures that your sources can be found and checked by others. 


Purpose of referencing

  • Avoid plagiarism
  • Verify quotes
  • Readers can find the original sources
  • Demonstrate the level of research you have undertaken


What must be referenced

  • Paraphrased information
  • Ideas and theories
  • Quotes
  • Facts
  • Figures, diagrams and images


What doesn't need to be referenced

  • Common knowledge: Information that is found in many sources, generally known in the subject area, and is not disputed.
    e.g. The human heart has four chambers.
  • Conclusion of your assignment: The last paragraph summarising the key points/arguments already discussed in the body of your work.

Related guides and informaton

Further resources

Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers

Call Number: 808.027 STY:6 (Chadstone, Glen Waverley, Moorabbin) 
The official author-date style manual with extensive coverage of Harvard referencing and writing guidelines.

The Little Penguin Handbook

Call number: 808.042 FAI (Chadstone, Moorabbin) 
Includes coverage of Harvard citation, documentation and style guidelines.

Communication Skills Handbook

Call number: 658.45 SUM :4 (Chadstone, Glen Waverley) 
Section on referencing covers Harvard examples and advice.