Harvard Reference Book Chapter: Full Guide
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Jonathan Reed
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Contents
This is one of the most consistently misformatted references in student work. The distinction between a book by a single author and an edited collection with contributed chapters creates two entirely different reference formats. Many students treat them the same way. They don't.
The Format Explained
The correct format for a chapter in an edited book is:
Chapter Author Surname, Initials. (Year). Title of chapter. In: Editor Surname, Initials. (ed.) or (eds.) Title of Book. Place: Publisher. Pages.
Let's break this down with a real example:
Hill, Christopher. (1972). Pottage for freeborn Englishmen: Attitudes to wage labour. In: Aylmer, G.E. (ed.) The Levellers in the English Revolution. London: Thames and Hudson. pp. 338-361.
Christopher Hill is the chapter author. 1972 is the year of the book. "Pottage for freeborn Englishmen" is Hill's chapter title. G.E. Aylmer is the editor of the entire collection. Thames and Hudson is the publisher. Pages 338 to 361 are where Hill's chapter appears.
Notice the structure. The chapter author comes first. The editor comes after "In:" and is designated as editor with (ed.). If there are two editors, both names appear and you write (eds.).
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When You're Accessing via a Database
Many students access book chapters through databases like JSTOR or university library databases. The page numbers and publication information might not be immediately obvious.
You need to find the page numbers. In a database, look at the full text view. Scroll to the beginning and end of the chapter. The page numbers will be displayed.
You need to find the editor's name. In a database, look at the book's metadata. It should list the editor(s) separately from the chapter author.
You need to find the publisher and place of publication. This information is usually on the database's catalogue page for the book. If the database doesn't display it clearly, look up the book in your library's catalogue or in WorldCat (worldcat.org).
If you can't find this information despite searching, use what you've and note in your reference list that publication information wasn't available. This is better than omitting the reference or guessing.
When There Is No Named Editor
Occasionally you encounter an edited collection where the editor isn't named on the cover or isn't prominently displayed. This happens rarely but it happens.
In this case, use the title of the book in the position where the editor's name would go:
Hill, Christopher. (1972). Pottage for freeborn Englishmen. In: The Levellers in the English Revolution. London: Thames and Hudson. pp. 338-361.
This is less common but it's the correct format when no editor is identified.
Citing a Specific Page
If you're citing a specific page or small section within the chapter, add the specific page number in parentheses after the full reference.
In the text: (Hill 1972, p. 345)
The full reference gives the page range for the entire chapter. The in-text citation gives the specific page where the information appears.
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The Difference from a Journal Article
Students often confuse edited book chapters with journal articles because both appear in larger publications. But the reference format is different.
A journal article:
Smith, J. (2015). Title of article. Title of Journal, 45(3), pp. 234-256.
An edited book chapter:
Smith, J. (2015). Title of chapter. In: Brown, K. (ed.) Title of Book. London: Publisher. pp. 234-256.
The key differences: a journal article uses the journal title with a volume and issue number in italics; an edited book chapter uses "In:" to introduce the book and its editor. The editor is a named person; the journal is a publication series.
If you're ever unsure whether something is a journal article or a book chapter, look for a journal title and volume number. If it has both, it's likely a journal. If it has an editor named, it's an edited book.
Common Mistakes
Students often treat the editor as the author. This puts the editor's name in the author position at the start of the reference. This is wrong. The chapter author is the author. The editor comes later.
Wrong: Aylmer, G.E. (ed.) (1972). Pottage for freeborn Englishmen: Attitudes to wage labour...
Right: Hill, Christopher. (1972). In: Aylmer, G.E. (ed.)...
Students often omit page ranges for the chapter. This is wrong. The full reference needs to tell a reader where the chapter is located within the book.
Students sometimes omit "In:" before the book title. This makes the reference ambiguous. Without "In:" a reader might think the chapter was published as a standalone book.
Students often omit the editor's initials or full first name. This makes it harder for readers to distinguish editors with the same surname.
Double-check your references against the format outlined above. A reference list is where precision matters.
Integration in Your Essay
When you cite a book chapter in your essay, the in-text citation is straightforward:
Hill argues that the Levellers' religious beliefs shaped their political philosophy (Hill 1972, p. 345).
The page number is optional if you're discussing the chapter generally, but it's required if you're citing a specific claim or quotation.
Your reference list at the end of your essay includes the full reference with all page numbers for the chapter:
Hill, Christopher. (1972). In: Aylmer, G.E. (ed.) The Levellers in the English Revolution. London: Thames and Hudson. pp. 338-361.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What if the book chapter has multiple authors? A: List all chapter authors in the order they appear on the chapter, separated by commas. Hill, Christopher. and Smith, John. (1972). Title of chapter. If the chapter has three or more authors, list the first author and et al. in subsequent mentions, but list all authors in the reference list.
Q: Should the chapter title be in quotation marks or italics? A: In Harvard style, chapter titles are in single quotation marks or double quotation marks depending on your institution's convention. Some programmes prefer single quotes. Some prefer double. The book title is in italics. Check your institution's Harvard guide for the quotation mark convention.
Q: What if I'm citing a foreword or introduction to an edited book? A: Use the same format as for a chapter. The foreword or introduction author is the chapter author. The book editor is the editor. If the book editor has also written the foreword, you'll have the same person in both positions, which is fine. Example: Smith, J. (2015). Foreword. In: Brown, K. (ed.) Title of Book. London: Publisher. pp. ix-xi.
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