The Harvard reference style is used at the university level for essays and academic papers. Referencing a web page in this style can be difficult, especially if you haven't done it before. However, in just a few steps, you can create an in-text citation using Harvard style, or cite the web page in the reference list at the end of your document as a bibliography.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Create an In-Text Citation
Step 1. Cite the title of the web page
Look for the title at the top of the page or in the site's URL. Use the full title.
For example, you can use the title “Tourism Canada” or “The Writer’s Pen” in the quote
Step 2. Enter the year the web page was created or revised
Check the bottom of the web page for the creation date, which is usually found next to a trademark or with the note “Created on”. You can also look for a revision date at the bottom of the page, typically listed as “Revised on” or “Reviewed on”.
- For example, you may see a note at the bottom of the page that says "Created on: January 2001" or "Revised: 2012".
- If you can't find the year, you can use "n.d." (which in Spanish means: no date) in the citation to indicate that no date could be found from the web page.
Step 3. Use parentheses for the quote
Write the title of the web page in parentheses followed by the year it was created or revised.
- For example, you can write “(Tourism Canada 2001)” or “(The Writer’s Pen 2011)”.
- If there is no date on the website, you can put “(Tourism Canada n.d.)”.
Step 4. Place the in-text citation at the end of the quoted text
Include the quote just after the text you have cited, and after the period at the end of the sentence.
For example, you can write “The national average for home pregnancies has doubled in the last year. (Tourism Canada 2011)”. In Spanish this translates to: The national average of home pregnancies doubled last year (Tourism Canada 2011)
Method 2 of 2: Cite the web page in the reference list
Step 1. Specify the title of the web page
Look for the title at the top of the web page. It is also usually included in the URL of the site.
For example, you can cite “Parks Ontario” or “The Canadian Cancer Society” as the title
Step 2. Write in parentheses the year the web page was created or revised
Look for the creation date at the bottom of the page, which is usually found next to a trademark or with the note “Created on”. You can also look for a revision date at the bottom of the page, typically listed as “Revised on” or “Reviewed on”.
- For example, you may see a note at the bottom of the page that says "Created on: March 2001" or "Revised: 2017".
- Then you can write in the quote “Parks Ontario 2001” or “The Canadian Cancer Society 2017”.
- Use "n.d." in the quote if you can't find the creation or revision date. "N.d." will indicate that no date could be found on the web page. For example, you can write "Parks Ontario n.d." or "The Canadian Cancer Society n.d."
Step 3. Make a note that you accessed the official or corporate website
Write "corporate website" or "official website" in italics.
For example, you would use the citation "Official website of the Canadian Cancer Society" or "Parks Ontario corporate website."
Step 4. Specify the day, month and year in which you consulted the web page
Write “viewed” and then write the date you visited the site. Always indicate the day first.
For example, you can write "accessed June 21, 2016" or "accessed March 1, 2011."
Step 5. Include the URL of the web page
Use the less than symbol () and a period.
- For example, you can write "
Step 6. Place the citation on the references page at the end of your document
As part of the Harvard reference style, you will have a references page instead of a bibliography page, and it should include citations from all sources used in the document. Make sure all sources cited within the text also appear on the reference page.
- For example, the full Harvard reference will look like this: “Parks Ontario 2011, Parks Ontario corporate website, accessed June 21, 2016,
- Another example would be the following: “The Canadian Cancer Society n.d., official website of the Canadian Cancer Society, accessed March 1, 2011,