Skip to Main Content

Harvard referencing

This guide introduces the Harvard referencing style and includes examples of citations.
Mae'r canllaw hon hefyd ar gael yn Gymraeg

UK Statutes (Acts of Parliament) pre-1963

Reference order:

  1. Short title of Act and Year (in italics)
  2. Regnal year
  3. Name of sovereign
  4. Chapter number
    f found online add:
  5. Available at: 
  6. (Accessed: date).

In-text example:
The Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act 1962 (10 & 11 Eliz. 2, c.26)
interprets ‘animal’ to mean any mammal.

Reference example: 
Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act 1962 (10 & 11 Eliz. 2, c.26).

 

UK Statutes (Acts of Parliament) post-1963

Reference order:

  1. Name of Act (use short title)
  2. Date (no brackets)
  3. Available at: URL
  4. (Accessed: date)
OR: Title of Act
  1. Name of sovereign
  2. Chapter number (in italics)
  3. Year of publication (in round brackets)
  4. Place of publication: publisher

In-text example:
Legislation is in place to protect those who lack 
mental capacity (Mental Capacity Act 2005).

Reference example:
Mental Capacity Act 2005. Available at:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/9/contents 
(Accessed: 13 May 2019). 
OR
Dangerous Dogs Act 1991: Elizabeth II. Chapter 65 
(1991) London: The Stationery Office.

 

Government Department publication

Reference order:

  1. Name of government department
  2. Year of publication (in round brackets)
  3. Title (in italics)
  4. Place of publication: Publisher
  5. Series (in brackets) – if applicable.
  6. If referencing an online version replace Place of publication: Publisher with:
  7. Available at: URL
  8. (Accessed: date)

 

 

In-text example:
The Government’s objective on achieving balanced
economic growth is outlined in its ambitious programme
(Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, 2011).

 

Reference example:
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (2011)
Guide to BIS 2011-12 – working together for growth.
Available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-bis
​​​​​​​-2011-2012-working-together-for-growth
(Accessed: 1 August 2011).

 

How to reference legal cases

Reference order:

1. Name of parties involved in the case (in italics)i.e. case name
2. Date in square brackets, if a volume number is used then date is in round brackets
3. Volume number (if used)
4. Abbreviation of name of report and first page of report
OR if online:
Case name (in italics)
[Year] or (Year)
Court and case number.
Database or website (in italics)
Available at: URL
(Accessed: date).

In-text example:
The case of Abramova v Oxford Institute of Legal Practice
[2011] upheld…

Reference example:
Abramova v Oxford Institute of Legal Practice [2011]
EWHC 613 (QB).


In-text example:
Re. C (1994) is a landmark case relating to mental
capacity and refusal of medical treatment.


Reference example:
Re. C (1994) 1 All E.R. 819.
OR if online:
Abramove v Oxford Institute of Legal Practice [2011] EWHC
613 (QB). BAILII. Available at: http://www.bailii.org/ew/
cases/EWHC/QB/2011/613.htm (Accessed: 21 June 2019).