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 I CAN'T FIND AN EXAMPLE OF MY SOURCE!

 

In the CU Guide to Referencing in Harvard Style, a balance has been struck between listing every possible type of source and keeping the guidelines concise and reader friendly. Therefore, on rare occasions you may need to cite and reference an unusual type of source that is not included in the Guide (a jam jar label for instance). Do not panic if you cannot find precise guidelines in such a case, but consider these tips:

 

1) In-text citations require the author, or corporate author or (whenever unavailable) the title of a source, and the date (plus page numbers if relevant). See the relevant sections of this website for a list of all the pieces of information you should include in an in-text citation, in which order, and adapt these principles if necessary.

 

2) The List of References entry requires sufficient information for the reader to be able to locate the source. Check the relevant sections of the website for a list of all the pieces of information you should include in a List of References entry, in which order, and adapt these principles if necessary.

 

3) For secondary sources, both the original and the cited source should be acknowledged in the in-text citation/s as well as in the List of References.

 

Finally, follow the ARC of Successful Citing and Referencing:

 

  • Be ACCURATE about where each source comes from, including page numbers if you quote or paraphrase, or if you summarise information on a specific page of a source. Check that other readers can locate exactly the idea, image, or numerical data you have borrowed.

 

  • Be RIGOROUS in checking that each and every source you have cited is included in the List of References, and that the two elements are connected because they start with the same author and date.

 

  • Be CONSISTENT!Make sure you have followed the same procedure throughout your work

 

STILL PUZZLED? FURTHER SUPPORT

 

 

 

  • Different types of referencing management software can help with the formatting of references and management of sources.  Check this page for further information on referencing management software  that supports CU's version of Harvard style.

 

  • Email CAW with your query (see Contact). Our tutors will be happy to assist you.

 

© 2016 by Centre for Academic Writing and Coventry University

Based on Deane, M. (2006) Coventry University Harvard Reference Style Guide. Unpublished booklet. Coventry: Coventry University. Version 3.0.4. September 2016. Produced in collaboration with Ray Summers (Illustrations), edited by Catalina Neculai with the assistance of Lisa Ganobcsik- Williams and Erik Borg, and with input from the Coventry University Harvard Reference Style Working Party.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License and cannot be reproduced, edited, or distributed without the prior permission of CAW, Coventry University.

 

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