How to Cite a Journal Article in Harvard
Harvard is an author-date referencing system. Cite a journal article in the text with author surname and year, and in the reference list give author, year, the article title in single quotation marks, the journal in italics, volume, issue, and the page range, adding the DOI or URL.
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How to cite a journal article in Harvard step by step
- Author and year. Invert the surname and place the year right after the author, since Harvard is author-date.
- Article title. Give the article title in single quotation marks, in sentence case.
- Journal and volume. Italicize the journal name and add the volume and issue numbers.
- Page range. Provide the page range, often introduced by pp. in many Harvard variants.
- DOI or URL. Close with the DOI or a stable URL so readers can find the article.
Harvard journal article citation format
Harvard orders a journal article as author, year, article title, journal, volume, issue, and pages. Punctuation differs slightly between Harvard guides, so the worked example shows one consistent pattern.
Common journal article citation variations
How do I write the in-text citation for an article in Harvard?
Give the author surname and year in parentheses, adding a page for a direct quote, for example (Smith, 2024, p. 48).
How do I cite an article with three or more authors in Harvard?
List all authors in the reference list, and in the text use the first author followed by et al. once the author count passes the Harvard threshold.
How do I cite a journal article with no DOI in Harvard?
Give a stable URL and an access date in place of the DOI, or end at the page range for a print article that has neither.
Why do Harvard article references differ between universities?
Harvard is a referencing convention rather than a single manual, so punctuation and the use of pp. vary by institution; follow your own guide consistently.
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Journal Article citation FAQ
Is Harvard a single official style?
No. Harvard is a family of author-date conventions, so small differences in punctuation exist between university guides. Pick one guide and apply it consistently.
Is the journal title italicized in Harvard?
Yes. The journal name is italicized and the article title appears in single quotation marks.