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ReferencingDecember 20, 2025·5 min read
APA vs Harvard: Which Referencing Style Should You Use?
A side-by-side comparison of APA and Harvard citation styles with examples so you can switch between them confidently for any assignment.
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Prof. James Holloway
Research & Data Specialist
APA (American Psychological Association) is common in psychology, social sciences, and education. Harvard is used across most UK universities as a general style. The key difference: APA uses (Author, Year, p. page) in-text while Harvard uses (Author, Year: page). In the reference list, APA puts the year immediately after the author name with a period, while Harvard formats differ slightly by institution. Always check your university's specific Harvard guide — they vary.
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