Introduction

Referencing is a crucial aspect of academic writing, ensuring that the sources of information are appropriately credited. Among various referencing styles, the Cardiff Harvard referencing style is widely used in academia. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the Cardiff Harvard referencing style, explaining its key components and offering examples for various types of sources.

What is Cardiff Harvard Referencing Style?

The Cardiff Harvard referencing style is a variation of the Harvard referencing system, primarily used at Cardiff University. It follows the author-date format and emphasizes clear, concise citation to facilitate the identification of sources. This style is structured to help students and researchers properly attribute sources, thereby avoiding plagiarism and maintaining academic integrity.

General Rules of Cardiff Harvard Referencing

1. In-text Citations:

• Use the author’s surname and the year of publication.
• Page numbers are included for direct quotes.
• Multiple works by the same author in the same year should be differentiated by adding letters (e.g., 2020a, 2020b).

1. Reference List:

• A comprehensive list of all sources cited in the text.
• Organized alphabetically by the surname of the first author.
• Each entry includes full bibliographic details.

In-text Citations

In-text citations are brief references within the text that direct readers to the full citation in the reference list.

Single Author

For a single author, the format is:

• (Author, Year) Example: (Smith, 2020)

If the author’s name is mentioned in the sentence:

• Smith (2020) argues that...

Two Authors

For two authors, include both surnames connected by ‘and’:

• (Smith and Jones, 2020)

Three or More Authors

For three or more authors, use the first author's surname followed by ‘et al.’:

• (Smith et al., 2020)

Direct Quotes

For direct quotes, include the page number:

• (Smith, 2020, p. 15)

Example: According to Smith (2020, p. 15), “...”

Multiple Sources

Citing multiple sources in the same in-text citation:

• (Smith, 2020; Jones, 2019; Brown, 2018)

Reference List

The reference list provides full details of all the sources cited in the text. Each entry should be formatted according to the type of source.

Books

Format:

• Author(s). (Year). Title. Edition (if applicable). Place of publication: Publisher.

Example:

• Smith, J. (2020). Understanding Research. 2nd ed. London: Academic Press.

Journal Articles

Format:

• Author(s). (Year). Title of the article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pages.

Example:

• Brown, L. (2019). Effective teaching strategies. Journal of Education, 15(3), pp. 45-60.

Book Chapters

Format:

• Author(s). (Year). Title of chapter. In: Editor(s), ed(s). Book Title. Place of publication: Publisher, Chapter number or page range.

Example:

• Taylor, M. (2018). Modern learning theories. In: J. White, ed. Education Today. New York: Routledge, pp. 35-50.

Websites

Format:

• Author(s). (Year). Title of web page/document. Website name. Available at: URL (Accessed: Date).

Example:

• Johnson, R. (2021). Climate change impacts. Environmental News. Available at: www.environmentalnews.com/climate-change (Accessed: 15 July 2024).

Reports

Format:

• Author(s)/Organization. (Year). Title of report. Place of publication: Publisher.

Example:

• World Health Organization. (2020). Global Health Report. Geneva: WHO.

Conference Papers

Format:

• Author(s). (Year). Title of paper. In: Editor(s) of conference proceedings, ed(s). Title of conference proceedings. Place of publication: Publisher, pages.

Example:

• Green, D. (2019). Advances in AI technology. In: S. White, ed. Proceedings of the International Conference on AI. Boston: Tech Publishers, pp. 100-110.

Special Cases

Multiple Works by the Same Author in the Same Year

Differentiate works by adding letters after the year:

• (Smith, 2020a)
• (Smith, 2020b)

No Author

Use the title of the work:

• (Title of Work, Year)

Example:

• (Anonymous Text, 2020)

Secondary Sources

When citing a source cited within another source:

• (Smith, 2020, cited in Jones, 2021)

Formatting the Reference List

• Alphabetical Order: Entries are arranged alphabetically by the surname of the first author.
• Hanging Indent: Use a hanging indent for each entry, meaning that the first line is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented.

Example Reference List

Brown, L. (2019). Effective teaching strategies. *Journal of Education*, 15(3), pp. 45-60.Johnson, R. (2021). Climate change impacts. *Environmental News*. Available at: www.environmentalnews.com/climate-change (Accessed: 15 July 2024).Smith, J. (2020). *Understanding Research*. 2nd ed. London: Academic Press.Taylor, M. (2018). Modern learning theories. In: J. White, ed. *Education Today*. New York: Routledge, pp. 35-50.World Health Organization. (2020). *Global Health Report*. Geneva: WHO.

Conclusion

The Cardiff Harvard referencing style is a systematic method for acknowledging sources in academic writing. By adhering to its rules and conventions, students and researchers can ensure their work is credible and free from plagiarism. This guide provides the foundational knowledge required to apply the Cardiff Harvard style effectively, covering in-text citations, reference list entries, and special cases.