Proper referencing is the backbone of academic integrity. However, keeping track of different styles can be overwhelming. Here is a quick breakdown of the two most common styles.

Harvard Referencing

Harvard is an author-date system widely used in the UK and Australia. In-text citations usually look like this: (Smith, 2023, p. 45). The reference list at the end must be alphabetized by the author's surname.

APA Referencing

The American Psychological Association (APA) style is commonly used in the social sciences. It is also an author-date system but has slightly different punctuation and capitalization rules in the reference list. For instance, APA requires only the first letter of an article title to be capitalized.

Key Takeaway

Always consult your university's specific style guide, as many institutions have their own "house" variations of these common systems.