MMU Harvard Referencing: Comprehensive Guide & Examples

Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) uses a specific adaptation of the Harvard referencing style, often guided by the principles outlined in 'Cite Them Right'. Mastering this style is crucial for academic success, ensuring you acknowledge sources properly, avoid plagiarism, and enable your readers to locate the materials you've used. This guide provides a practical, example-driven overview of MMU Harvard referencing for students.

Understanding MMU Harvard Referencing

Harvard referencing is an author-date system, meaning that in-text citations include the author's surname and the year of publication. Full details of each source are then provided in an alphabetical 'Reference List' at the end of your work.

Key Principles of MMU Harvard Referencing

Author-Date System: All in-text citations provide the author's surname and the year of publication.
Consistency: The most important rule is to be consistent. Every citation and reference list entry must follow the exact same format.
Accuracy: Ensure all details (names, dates, titles, page numbers, URLs) are correct and match the original source.
Transparency: Your referencing should allow any reader to easily find the original source material.
Academic Integrity: Proper referencing demonstrates your research, supports your arguments, and upholds academic honesty by acknowledging others' intellectual property.

In-Text Citations

In-text citations tell your reader where you found specific information, ideas, or direct quotes. They are placed within the main body of your assignment.

Direct Quotes

When you use an author's exact words, you must enclose them in quotation marks and include the page number.

Short Quotes (fewer than 40 words): Integrate them into your paragraph.

Example: "The digital transformation has reshaped consumer behaviour" (Davies, 2022, p. 34). Example: Davies (2022, p. 34) argued that "the digital transformation has reshaped consumer behaviour."

Long Quotes (40 words or more): Start a new line, indent the entire quote by approximately 1cm from the left margin, and do not use quotation marks. The citation goes at the end.

* Example: > The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has profound implications for the future of work, requiring significant societal adaptation and policy adjustments to mitigate potential job displacement while harnessing new opportunities for innovation and economic growth (Jones, 2023, p. 45).

Paraphrasing and Summarizing

When you put someone else's ideas into your own words, you still need to cite the original source. Page numbers are not strictly required for paraphrasing but are highly recommended for clarity and to help readers locate specific points in longer works.

Example: The current economic climate presents unique difficulties for small businesses (Smith, 2022).
Example: Smith (2022) highlights that small businesses face significant challenges in the present economic climate.

Specific Scenarios for In-Text Citations

Two Authors: Include both surnames.

* Example: (Brown & Green, 2021) or Brown and Green (2021) observed...

Three Authors: Include all three surnames.

* Example: (White, Black & Gray, 2020) or White, Black and Gray (2020) conducted a study...

Four or More Authors: Use the first author's surname followed by et al. (meaning 'and others').

Example: (Khan et al., 2019) or Khan et al.* (2019) suggested...

No Author: Use the title of the work (italicised for books/reports, in single quotes for articles/chapters), followed by the year. If the title is very long, you can shorten it.

Example: (The Future of Learning, 2019) or A report noted that (The Future of Learning*, 2019)...

Corporate Author: Use the name of the organisation.

* Example: (Manchester City Council, 2023) or Manchester City Council (2023) outlined plans...

Secondary Source: When you cite a source that you found referenced in another source, you must cite the original author and the source you actually read.

* Example: (Marx, 1867, cited in Lenin, 1917)

Multiple Sources for One Point: List sources alphabetically, separated by a semicolon.

* Example: Several studies confirm this finding (Davies, 2018; Evans, 2019; Williams, 2020).

The Reference List

The Reference List is a complete, alphabetised list of every source you have cited in your assignment. It appears at the end of your document on a new page.

Reference List Essentials

Alphabetical Order: Arrange entries alphabetically by the author's surname (or title if no author).
Not Numbered: Do not use bullet points or numbers.
Hanging Indent: Each entry typically uses a hanging indent, where the first line is flush with the left margin, and subsequent lines are indented. This improves readability.
Consistency: Maintain strict consistency in punctuation, capitalisation, and formatting.

Reference List Examples for Common Source Types

Here are examples for frequently used source types, following MMU Harvard guidelines (often aligned with Cite Them Right).

Books

Book (Single Author):

Smith, J. (2022) Global Economic Challenges*. London: Routledge.

Book (Two or Three Authors):

Brown, A. & Green, B. (2021) Sustainable Development Goals. New York: Oxford University Press. White, C., Black, D. & Gray, E. (2020) Research Methods in Practice. Harlow: Pearson.

Book (Four or More Authors):

Khan, S. et al. (2019) Introduction to Psychology*. 5th edn. London: Sage.

Edited Book (Editor as Author):

Jones, D. (ed.) (2023) Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence*. Cambridge: MIT Press.

Chapter in an Edited Book:

Miller, E. (2019) 'The impact of social media on political discourse', in Davis, F. (ed.) Digital Society*. London: Sage, pp. 78-92.

Journal Articles

Journal Article (Print):

Clark, G. (2018) 'Urban regeneration and community engagement', Journal of Urban Studies*, 45(3), pp. 567-582.

Journal Article (Online with DOI):

Patel, R. (2020) 'The role of renewable energy in climate change mitigation', Environmental Science & Policy*, 105, pp. 112-125. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2019.12.001 [Accessed 15 October 2023].

Journal Article (Online without DOI, from database):

Evans, L. (2021) 'Sustainable fashion: Consumer attitudes and purchasing behaviour', Journal of Consumer Research*, 48(2), pp. 187-201. Available at: Business Source Complete [Accessed 10 September 2023].

Websites

Webpage with Author/Organisation:

Manchester Metropolitan University (2023) Academic integrity guidance*. Available at: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/students/guidance/academic-integrity [Accessed 26 October 2023].

Webpage with No Author (use title):

Understanding climate change* (2022) Available at: https://www.climate.org/understanding-climate-change [Accessed 01 November 2023].

Reports

Report (Online):

World Health Organization (2021) The global health crisis: A comprehensive report*. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/global-health-report [Accessed 10 November 2023].

Theses/Dissertations

Thesis/Dissertation:

Khan, S. (2022) The psychological effects of remote working during a pandemic*. PhD thesis. Manchester Metropolitan University.

Newspaper Articles

Newspaper Article (Online):

Davies, L. (2023) 'New era for public transport in Manchester', Manchester Evening News*, 5 September. Available at: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/manchester-news/new-era-public-transport-manchester-27653457 [Accessed 12 September 2023].

Newspaper Article (Print):

Jones, R. (2023) 'Economic outlook remains uncertain', The Guardian*, 10 October, p. 12.

Lectures/Presentations

Lecture Handout/Presentation:

Professor M. Evans (2023) 'Introduction to business ethics'. BM3001: Business Ethics*. [Lecture handout]. Manchester Metropolitan University. 18 October.

Images/Figures

Image from a Website:

NASA (2020) Earth from space*. [Image]. Available at: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/earth-from-space [Accessed 20 September 2023].

Videos/TV Broadcasts

Online Video (e.g., YouTube):

TED (2018) How to make stress your friend | Kelly McGonigal*. [Video]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC4R7tQ-x7E [Accessed 1 November 2023].

TV Programme:

Our Planet* (2019) [Television programme]. Netflix. 5 April.

Social Media Posts

Social Media Post (e.g., Twitter/X):

Manchester Met [@ManMetUni] (2023) We're thrilled to announce our new partnership with local charities to support community outreach programmes* [Twitter], 15 October. Available at: https://twitter.com/ManMetUni/status/1713567890123456789 [Accessed 16 October 2023].

Avoiding Common Referencing Pitfalls

Even with a clear understanding of the rules, errors can still creep into your referencing. Being aware of common pitfalls can help you avoid them:

Inconsistency: This is perhaps the most frequent error. Switching between different styles (e.g., using APA for one source and Harvard for another) or inconsistent punctuation, capitalisation, and order of elements within the same style will lose marks. Always double-check that every entry follows the exact same pattern.
Missing Information: Forgetting crucial details like page numbers for direct quotes, volume/issue numbers for journal articles, or access dates for online sources are common oversights. MMU Harvard requires precise information to allow readers to locate your sources.
Plagiarism (Accidental): Even if unintentional, failing to properly cite a source can be considered plagiarism. This includes not citing paraphrased ideas, using too much of an original source's wording without quotation marks, or referencing incorrectly. If in doubt, cite it.
Not Referencing Images, Figures, or Tables: Any visual material not created by you must be cited both in-text (e.g., Figure 1: Title (Source, Year)) and in

Mmu Harvard Referencing