Harvard vs APA Referencing: Key Differences Explained

Two of the most common referencing styles are Harvard and APA. They look similar but have important differences. Here is what you need to know to avoid losing easy marks.

In-text citations

Both use the author and year, but APA always includes a comma and, for direct quotes, a page number with p. Harvard styles vary slightly between universities, so always check your handbook.

Reference list

APA capitalises only the first word of titles and uses an ampersand before the final author. Harvard often capitalises more of the title and may spell out and. Formatting of dates and publisher details also differs.

Which should you use?

Use whichever your department specifies. APA is common in psychology and the social sciences, while Harvard is widely used across business and the humanities.

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