APA Style vs. Harvard Style

Attribute	APA Style	Harvard Style
Citation in text	Author-date format	Author-date format
Reference list	Alphabetical order by author's last name	Alphabetical order by author's last name
Italicizing titles	Italicize titles of longer works (e.g., books, journals)	Italicize titles of longer works (e.g., books, journals)
Page numbers in citations	Include page numbers for direct quotes	Include page numbers for direct quotes

Introduction

When it comes to academic writing, two of the most commonly used citation styles are APA (American Psychological Association) Style and Harvard Style. Both styles have their own unique attributes and guidelines that writers must follow in order to properly cite sources and format their papers. In this article, we will compare the key attributes of APA Style and Harvard Style to help writers understand the differences between the two.

Citation Format

One of the main differences between APA Style and Harvard Style is the way in which citations are formatted within the text. In APA Style, citations include the author's last name and the year of publication, while in Harvard Style, citations include the author's last name and the date of publication. For example, a citation in APA Style would look like (Smith, 2019), while a citation in Harvard Style would look like (Smith, 2019). This slight difference in format can impact the overall appearance of a paper and how sources are attributed.

Reference List

Another key difference between APA Style and Harvard Style is how the reference list is formatted at the end of a paper. In APA Style, the reference list is alphabetized by the author's last name and includes the full publication information for each source cited in the paper. In Harvard Style, the reference list is also alphabetized by the author's last name, but it includes only the author's last name and the date of publication. This difference in formatting can affect how readers locate and verify the sources cited in a paper.

In-text Citations

Both APA Style and Harvard Style require writers to include in-text citations whenever they use a source in their paper. However, the way in which in-text citations are formatted differs between the two styles. In APA Style, in-text citations include the author's last name and the year of publication, while in Harvard Style, in-text citations include the author's last name and the date of publication. This difference in formatting can impact how readers understand the relationship between the writer's ideas and the sources they are citing.

Quotations

When it comes to incorporating quotations from sources in a paper, both APA Style and Harvard Style have specific guidelines that writers must follow. In APA Style, short quotations (less than 40 words) are enclosed in double quotation marks, while long quotations (40 words or more) are formatted as block quotes. In Harvard Style, short quotations are also enclosed in double quotation marks, but long quotations are integrated into the text without quotation marks. This difference in formatting can affect how quotations are presented and interpreted by readers.

Formatting Guidelines

While both APA Style and Harvard Style have specific guidelines for formatting citations and references, there are some differences in how papers are formatted overall. In APA Style, papers are typically double-spaced with 1-inch margins and include a title page with the title of the paper, the author's name, and the institutional affiliation. In Harvard Style, papers are also double-spaced with 1-inch margins, but they do not require a title page. This difference in formatting can impact the overall appearance and organization of a paper.

Conclusion

In conclusion, APA Style and Harvard Style are two popular citation styles used in academic writing. While both styles have similarities in terms of formatting guidelines and citation requirements, there are also key differences that writers must be aware of. Understanding the attributes of each style can help writers choose the most appropriate style for their papers and ensure that they are following the correct guidelines for citing sources and formatting their work.