Key Difference Between APA and Harvard Referencing
- Assignment Task Blog
- May 07, 2025
- Academic Writing
Various referencing ideas are an integral part of your academic career. It is needed in the PhD, easy analysis, and thesis writing. To avoid plagiarism, you must always inform your reader regarding the various data sources while you cite your draft.
It's not surprising that many students feel confused when deciding between APA and Harvard referencing. Questions like "How do I properly cite a book in APA?" and "How does Harvard referencing differ from APA?" are very common.
If you're having trouble distinguishing between the two approaches or want to improve your reference skills, you've come to the correct place. Here we are explaining when and how to utilize each. But, before we get into the details, let's talk about why reference is so important in academic writing. So grab a coffee and get ready to dive in!
What is APA Referencing?
The APA, or the American Psychological Association, referencing style is mostly used in behavioural and social sciences. It is used in certain subject areas, such as sociology, psychology, nursing research, and anthropology.
It was introduced during the 1920s and has the following features:
- Author Surname
- Page Number
- Publication Date
For the APA referencing in parentheses, you need to include the ampersand sign (&) when citing the names of two authors of a particular type of work. For three or more authors, you should use the "et al.," citing only the first author's name for in-text referencing. Ex: Simmons et al., 2017
For the APA referencing style, you need to provide the following:
- Name and surname of the author and initials without et al
- Publication date within the parentheses with a full stop after the closing bracket
- Publication name in the APA 7th format for books and journal articles
What is Harvard Referencing?
The Harvard referencing system was made by the Harvard University and is commonly applied in almost all the areas of science. It has the following features:
- In-text referencing
- Publication date
- Author surname
- Page number with "p"
Ex: Achieng and Malatji, 2022
In the Harvard style referencing, you need to provide the following:
- The surname and initials of the author for any number of writers
- Date of publication
- Publication name in the Harvard format
For example, a detailed review of digital transformation in developing countries is needed.
Key Differences Between APA and Harvard
APA vs Harvard Referencing
APA and Harvard referencing are the two most commonly used academic citation styles. They share certain similarities and differences. APA referencing mostly focuses on giving a much lower citation level than the Harvard referencing.
It provides more specific information about the cited source, the authors, the publication date, and the publisher. The Harvard referencing style does not need many details; rather, it gives you very basic information about the source, like the author's name and the date of publication. Harvard referencing also focuses on the author's name in the text, while APA does not.
Formatting Style: APA vs Harvard
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The in-text citation format: The main difference between the Harvard and the APA referencing style is that the Harvard referencing style uses an author and date system, while the APA referencing style uses an author/date/page number system.
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The Harvard referencing style need the in text citation that include the name of the author, as well the year of publication, like John, 2021. These citations are then referred in alphabetical order at the terminal part of the document. While the APA referencing requires the citations that includes the name of the author, the publication year, and the page number stated in the in-text citations in the same format. Ex: Jack Smith, 2021, p. 24.
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At the end of the page, an alphabetical list is made, including all the details of the sources, like title and page numbers. The Harvard and APA referencing styles, such as the AP 7th edition referencing guide and the Harvard Referencing Style Guide, are similar.
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It is always essential to use the best referencing tool, such as the APA or Harvard referencing generator or even the referencing website, while citing the source to ensure that all the citations are correctly formatted.
In-Text Citations: A Comparative Look
APA Format In-Text Citation: Here, the in-text citation of the APA format uses the last name of the author with the publication year. Ex: Julie, 2005. While you are using the direct quotation, the format will include the page number, too. It has the following features:
- Surname of the author
- Publication date
- Author name first initial
- Page title
- Publication date
- Publisher
- Publication place
APA vs Harvard citation style can be explained below: The Harvard Citations In-Text is the place where you can incorporate the idea or information from any source, then with the author's last name and the publication date.
Both these elements need to be presented in the backet within the text. It contains the following parts:
- Author Name
- Publication Year
- Title
- Publisher
- Editing
- Place of Publication
Reference List: How They Are Different
For UK students, APA or Harvard referencing is often confusing, as they often get confused between these two referencing styles in various ways.
The main difference between Harvard and APA referencing lies in the structure and style of referencing and citing the source in our written work. Harvard referencing requires the major citations to be placed in alphabetical order along with the page numbers, while the APA referencing style requires you to include the publication year along with the name of the author.
The differences between APA and Harvard referencing in the UK include the way literature is referred to and the requirement for a works-cited reference page at the end of the document, both for the APA and the Harvard style.
The referencing styles used in UK universities mostly focus on the style needed by the faculty in your assignment papers. The free online converters, guides, and referencing tools help you convert from one style to the other.
Checkout Our Free Samples for Academic Writing in UK
Which Style Should You Use: APA or Harvard
The choice between the APA and Harvard referencing style depends on your study field and specific guidelines from your institute. The APA style is primarily used in the social and behavioural sciences, while the Harvard style is commonly used in the humanities and sciences.
But in both styles, you must provide the text's author, date, and citation. In both referencing styles, you have to include plenty of APA and Harvard referencing examples.
Why Referencing Sources is Important in Academics?
Referencing sources is very important in the field of academia in order to demonstrate academic integrity, avoid plagiarism, and enhance the credibility of your academic work.
This also allows the readers to go through your sources carefully to verify all the invitations and acknowledge the other researchers' contributions. The following are a few reasons for that:
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To Avoid Plagiarism and Maintain Integrity: the university referencing guide UK distinguishes your own work from others' by preventing the accidental or even intentional use of other work or ideas without proper acknowledgement.
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Establishing Authority and Credibility: Citing credible and reliable sources will enhance your own authority as a scholar by showing that the argument you start is full of evidence.
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If you use a Well-Established Research: you can tell your reader that your writing is based on a solid foundation. Proper referencing also demonstrates your ability to conduct thorough research and emphasize the important perspectives of the given topic.
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Respecting Intellectual Property: Proper citation will demonstrate respect for new ideas and resources and prevent plagiarism.
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Maintaining Academic Integrity: Credit giving is the fundamental price of academic integrity. Acknowledging your honesty, responsibility, and truthfulness in your work is essential.
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Maintaining Credibility: Acknowledging various sources and contributions in your academic research work can help maintain its credibility and trustworthiness.
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For a Fair and Open Research: If you give credit, it will also promote the culture of openness and cooperation by envisaging the research work. This will greatly acknowledge your contribution.
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Ethical and Legal Obligations: In certain jurisdictions, if you fail to credit the sources appropriately, you can face legal consequences, such as a violation of copyright. It is always your legal and ethical responsibility to acknowledge other people's work.
Ensuing Transparency: Proper citation ensures and nurtures the transparency of your work, research and ideas influenced by various sources.
It ensures that you are giving credit where it is due, upholding the ethical standards of academic research.
The good narrative of crediting when it is due in any academic research is a part of ethical conduct. Ensuring the intellectual property is respected and the contributors are appropriately acknowledged. This way, it upholds academic integrity and maintains the credibility of the scholarly work.
Feeling Stuck to Choose the Right Referencing Style? Seek Our Help
Are you a college or university student in the UK? Are you stuck choosing the right referencing style and how to reference in UK academic writing? You can always avail of the online help with assignments in UK from Assignmenttask.com.
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