What is the Difference Between APA and Harvard Referencing?

The main differences between APA and Harvard referencing styles can be summarized as follows:

1. In-text citations: Both styles require in-text citations, but they differ in format. APA style uses the author's last name and the year of publication, while Harvard style includes the author's last name, the year of publication, and the page number (if a direct quote is used).
2. Author/date system: Harvard referencing is an author/date system, while APA referencing is an author/date/page number system.
3. Emphasis on author's name: Harvard referencing emphasizes the author's name in the text, while APA does not.
4. Reference list/bibliography: APA style usually includes a reference list, while Harvard style may include a bibliography.
5. Formatting of author names: Harvard referencing allows for personal communication references in the bibliography, which is not possible with APA style.
6. Italics: APA style uses italics for titles of periodicals, while Harvard style does not.
7. Updating frequency: APA citation styles are updated every seven years and occasionally more frequently, while Harvard does not have a set update schedule.
8. Variants: APA referencing is a variant on Harvard style, and many of the conventions are the same, but there are some differences in terms of punctuation and formatting.

Comparative Table: APA vs Harvard Referencing

The main difference between APA and Harvard referencing lies in the citation style and formatting. Here is a table summarizing the differences between the two styles:

Both APA and Harvard referencing styles share many similarities, such as listing the author's last name and the date of publication in the in-text citation. However, there are differences in the punctuation and capitalization rules, as well as the way page numbers are cited. APA referencing is a variant on Harvard style, and many of the conventions are the same.