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How Well Do You Know Harvard Referencing? Take the Quiz!

Ready to master Harvard referencing rules and format? Try our online quiz now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of Harvard referencing quiz challenge on sky blue background

Ready to take your academic citations to the next level? Jump into our Ultimate Harvard Referencing Quiz and see how well you know Harvard referencing rules and format. Whether you're double-checking your ability to cite sources Harvard style or seeking a fun referencing quiz online, this challenge will test your skills and boost your confidence. You'll get hands-on practice with citation structure, learn key tips for accuracy, and discover where common mistakes hide. If you want more reference practice, try our MLA refresher quiz , or expand your expertise with an APA citation challenge . Ready to ace your references? Start now!

What is the general format for an in-text citation for a source with two authors in Harvard referencing?
(Smith and Jones, 2020)
(Smith & Jones 2020)
(Smith, Jones, 2020)
Smith and Jones (2020)
Harvard referencing uses the author(s) surname followed by the year in parentheses for in-text citations. When a source has two authors, both surnames are connected by “and” within the parentheses. A comma separates the author names and the year. For more details see Cite This For Me Harvard referencing guide.
Where should the reference list be placed in a Harvard-style academic paper?
At the end of the document, after the main text and before any appendices
At the beginning of the document, before the abstract
In footnotes on each page
Within the introduction section
The reference list should appear at the end of your paper, after the main body and before any appendices. It provides full details of every source cited in the text. This ensures readers can locate the sources you have referenced. For guidance see Cite This For Me Harvard referencing guide.
How should book titles appear in a reference list when using Harvard referencing?
Italicized
Underlined
In quotation marks
Bold
In Harvard referencing, book titles (and other standalone works) are italicized in the reference list. Quotation marks are used for chapter or article titles within larger works. Underlining and bold are not part of Harvard style. See Cite This For Me Harvard referencing guide for examples.
When citing a source with three or more authors in Harvard referencing, which format is correct?
(Smith et al., 2020)
(Smith, Jones & Brown, 2020)
(Smith and others, 2020)
(Smith, Jones et al., 2020)
For sources with three or more authors, Harvard style uses the first author surname followed by “et al.” and the year. This keeps in-text citations concise. Full author details appear in the reference list. More information at Cite This For Me Harvard referencing guide.
Which of the following elements is required in a Harvard reference list entry for a journal article?
Author(s), year, article title, journal title, volume(issue), page range
Author(s), year, article title, volume(issue) only
Author(s), article title, journal title only
Author(s), year, title, URL only
A complete journal article reference in Harvard style includes the author(s), publication year, article title, journal title, volume number (and issue if available), and the page range. Omitting any of these elements makes it harder to locate the source. URLs or DOIs follow if the article is accessed online. For full details see Cite This For Me Harvard referencing guide.
How should a page number be included in an in-text citation for a direct quote?
(Smith, 2020, p. 15)
(Smith, p. 15, 2020)
(Smith 2020 p.15)
(Smith, 2020)
When you include a direct quotation, Harvard style places the page number after the year, preceded by “p.” and a space. This format clearly identifies the exact location of the quoted material. Incorrect placement or punctuation may confuse readers. For examples see Cite This For Me Harvard referencing guide.
What does 'n.d.' stand for when used in place of a year in a Harvard reference?
No date
New edition
Not determined
No details
If a publication date is not available, Harvard referencing uses ‘n.d.’ to indicate ‘no date’. This alerts readers that the source’s date could not be determined. It should replace the year in both in-text citations and the reference list. See Cite This For Me Harvard referencing guide.
When referencing a book in Harvard style, which element is optional if it is the first edition?
Edition
Publisher
Year
Title
Edition information is only required when a book is a second or later edition. First editions are assumed unless otherwise stated, so the edition element can be omitted. Publisher, year, and title are mandatory. For more detail see Cite This For Me Harvard referencing guide.
How should an edited book be formatted in the reference list?
Editor surname, initials, (ed.) Title. Publisher.
Editor surname, initials, (Eds) Title. Publisher.
Editor surname, initials, Editor Title. Publisher.
Editor surname, initials, ed. Title. Publisher.
For an edited book, list the editor’s surname and initials followed by “(ed.)”, then the title in italics and the publisher. This distinguishes editors from authors. Incorrect abbreviations or placements break Harvard conventions. See Cite This For Me Harvard referencing guide.
How are multiple works by the same author in the same year differentiated in a Harvard reference list?
Assign letters after the year (e.g., 2020a, 2020b)
List the year twice without modification
Separate entries with a semicolon
Order by title without changing year
When an author has multiple publications in the same year, Harvard style adds lowercase letters to the year (e.g., 2020a, 2020b). This distinguishes each work for in-text citations and the reference list. The letters correspond to the order in the reference list. Details at Cite This For Me Harvard referencing guide.
What is the correct format for referencing a chapter in an edited book?
Chapter author, year, chapter title, In Editor (ed.) Book title. Publisher, page range.
Editor, year, chapter title, Book title, chapter author, Publisher.
Chapter author, year, chapter title, Book title. Publisher.
Chapter author, year, In Editor Book title. Publisher.
In Harvard style, you cite the chapter author, year, chapter title, then 'In' plus the editor(s) in parentheses, book title in italics, publisher, and page range. This clearly identifies the specific chapter within the edited volume. Omitting 'In' or page numbers is incorrect. See Cite This For Me Harvard referencing guide.
How do you reference a paper presented at a conference and published in proceedings?
Author, year, 'Paper title', in Editor (eds) Title of proceedings, location, page range. Publisher.
Author, 'Paper title', year, conference name only.
Author, year, Paper title in Proceedings title only.
Author, year, Proceedings title, 'Paper title', publisher.
The correct format includes the author, year, paper title in quotes, then 'in' plus the editor(s) of the proceedings, title of proceedings in italics, location, page numbers, and publisher. This ensures both presentation and publication details are recorded. Omitting any element makes the reference incomplete. More at Cite This For Me Harvard referencing guide.
When a corporate or government body is the author, how is it listed in the Harvard reference list?
Use the full name of the organisation as the author
List an individual author in place of the organisation
Use 'Anon.' as the author
Omit the author and start with the title
When an organisation or government body is responsible for a publication, its full name appears as the author. This gives proper credit and ensures traceability. You do not substitute an individual or use 'Anon.'. For guidance see Cite This For Me Harvard referencing guide.
How should you cite a source in the text when there are no page numbers available?
(Smith, 2020, para. 4)
(Smith, 2020, p. 4)
(Smith, 2020, np)
(Smith, 2020)
If a source has no page numbers, Harvard style uses paragraph numbers with 'para.' before the number. This indicates where the quoted or paraphrased material appears online. Using 'p.' or 'np' is incorrect in Harvard format. See Cite This For Me Harvard referencing guide.
What is the correct way to reference a translated work in Harvard style?
Author, OriginalYear/TranslationYear Title. Translated by Translator. Publisher.
Author, (TranslationYear) Title. Translated by Translator. OriginalYear omitted.
Translator, Year, Title by Original Author. Publisher.
Author, Year, Title. Translated by Translator and year. Publisher.
Harvard referencing for translations includes both the original publication year and the translation year, separated by a slash. The title follows, then “Translated by” and the translator’s name, and finally the publisher. This format acknowledges the original work and the translation date. For examples see Cite This For Me Harvard referencing guide.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Harvard Referencing Principles -

    By taking this Harvard referencing quiz, you'll grasp the key rules and conventions of Harvard referencing, putting you on the right track to cite sources Harvard style with confidence.

  2. Apply Harvard Referencing Format -

    Learn to format citations accurately for various source types - books, journal articles, and websites - according to Harvard referencing format guidelines.

  3. Identify Common Citation Errors -

    During this referencing quiz online, challenge yourself to spot and correct typical mistakes in in-text citations and reference list entries, improving the accuracy of your citations.

  4. Differentiate In-text Citations and Reference List Entries -

    Understand the distinct purposes and structures of in-text citations versus full reference list entries in Harvard style.

  5. Ensure Citation Consistency and Completeness -

    Develop the ability to evaluate your references for consistency, completeness, and adherence to Harvard referencing rules, ensuring polished academic work.

Cheat Sheet

  1. In-text citation essentials -

    When paraphrasing or directly quoting, include the author's surname and publication year in parentheses, e.g., (Smith, 2020). For quotations, append a page number like (Smith, 2020, p. 45). Use the mnemonic "A Y P" (Author, Year, Page) to lock in the correct order (University of Leeds).

  2. Reference list structure -

    Arrange entries alphabetically by author surname and apply a hanging indent of 0.5 inches for lines after the first. Each entry must include author, year (in parentheses), title (italicised for books/journals), and publication details. Follow guidelines from the University of Oxford to ensure consistent punctuation and spacing.

  3. Book versus journal formats -

    For books, list the title in italics and publisher location (e.g., Smith, J. (2018) Research Methods. London: Sage). For journal articles, include article title in plain text, journal title in italics, volume(issue), and page range, e.g., (Jones, A. (2019) 'Study Skills', Journal of Learning, 12(3), pp. 45 - 60). Refer to the official Harvard referencing guide by Anglia Ruskin University for exact examples.

  4. Multiple authors and same-year works -

    List up to three authors by surname and initials (e.g., Clark, A., and Lee, B.), and for more than three use 'et al.' after the first name. If an author has multiple 2021 publications, append lower-case letters to the year: (Taylor, 2021a) and (Taylor, 2021b). This keeps citations clear and unambiguous, per guidelines from Harvard University's Writing Center.

  5. Electronic sources and DOIs -

    When citing online materials, include the DOI (formatted as https://doi.org/xxxx) or a stable URL and the date accessed in square brackets, e.g., [Accessed 10 March 2023]. If a DOI is available, always cite it instead of a URL to ensure permanent linking. Consult the CrossRef and official journal sites for DOI formatting best practices.

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