When referencing textbooks in Harvard style, it is important to distinguish between:
- A textbook written entirely by the same author(s)
- An edited book where different chapters are written by different authors
The way you format the reference depends on whether you are citing the whole book or just a specific chapter written by a contributing author.
Authored Textbook (Single or Multiple Authors)
A textbook that is fully written by one or more authors should be referenced using the author(s) name(s), year, book title (in italics), edition (if applicable), publisher, and location.
Format:
✅ Author(s) surname first, followed by initials (no full names).
✅ Year of publication in brackets (no full stop after the year).
✅ Book title in italics and title case (capitalize all major words).
✅ Edition included (if not the first edition).
✅ Publisher name and location (e.g., Oxford University Press, Melbourne).
✅ If accessed online, include viewed date & URL.
Example of an Authored Textbook (Single Author):
Jones, P 2015, Veterinary Nutrition: An Evidence-Based Approach, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Example of an Authored Textbook (Two Authors):
Brown, K & Taylor, R 2018, Animal Behaviour and Welfare, 3rd edn, Cambridge University Press, London.
Example of an Authored Textbook (Three or More Authors):
Smith, J, Green, L & White, P 2020, Fundamentals of Small Animal Surgery, Elsevier, Sydney.
(If more than 20 authors, list the first 19 followed by ‘et al.’)
Edited Textbook (Different Authors for Individual Chapters)
An edited book contains chapters written by different authors, with an editor (or editors) overseeing the entire book.
- If citing the entire book, reference it under the editor’s name, using “(ed.)” for one editor or “(eds.)” for multiple editors.
- If citing a specific chapter, reference the chapter author, followed by "in" and the editor’s name.
Format:
✅ Chapter author(s) surname first, followed by initials (no full names).
✅ Year of publication in brackets (no full stop after the year).
✅ Chapter title in single quotation marks (sentence case—capitalize only the first word and proper nouns).
✅ Use “in” before listing the book editor(s) (initials before surname) followed by "(ed.)" for one editor or "(eds.)" for multiple editors.
✅ Book title in italics and title case (capitalize all major words).
✅ Edition included (if not the first edition).
✅ Page range of the chapter (e.g., pp. 100-120).
✅ Publisher name and location (e.g., Elsevier, Sydney).
✅ If accessed online, include viewed date & URL.
Example of an Edited Book (Citing the Whole Book):
Smith, J (ed.) 2019, Advanced Canine Physiotherapy, Routledge, New York.
Taylor, R & Green, L (eds.) 2021, Rehabilitation in Small Animal Practice, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Example of a Chapter from an Edited Book:
White, J 2020, ‘Understanding the role of hydrotherapy in animal rehabilitation’, in R Black & S Adams (eds.), Rehabilitation Techniques for Companion Animals, Elsevier, Sydney, pp. 100-120.
When to Use Each Format
| Scenario | Reference Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| You are referencing the entire book written by the same author(s) | Use the authored book format | Jones, P 2015, Veterinary Nutrition: An Evidence-Based Approach, Oxford University Press, Melbourne. |
| You are referencing the entire book, but it is edited (multiple chapter contributors) | Use the edited book format | Smith, J (ed.) 2019, Advanced Canine Physiotherapy, Routledge, New York. |
| You are citing a specific chapter written by a contributor in an edited book | Use the chapter in an edited book format | White, J 2020, ‘Understanding the role of hydrotherapy in animal rehabilitation’, in R Black & S Adams (eds.), Rehabilitation Techniques for Companion Animals, Elsevier, Sydney, pp. 100-120. |
Final Notes
- If the book has one or multiple authors, cite it under their names (not under the editor if there is also an editor).
- If you are citing a chapter from an edited book, cite the individual chapter author(s), followed by the book editor(s).
- Always include the edition if it is not the first edition.
In-text citations
Structure:
✅ For an authored book: List the author(s) surname first, followed by initials (e.g., Smith, J).
✅ For an edited book: List the editor(s) surname first, followed by initials, with (ed.) for a single editor or (eds.) for multiple editors (e.g., Jones, P (ed.) or Taylor, K & Green, L (eds.)).
✅ For a chapter in an edited book: List the chapter author(s) surname first, followed by initials, then use "in" before listing the book editor(s) (e.g., White, J 2020, ‘Title of chapter’, in R Black & S Adams (eds.)).
✅ Year of publication in brackets (e.g., Smith, J 2020).
✅ Book title in italics and title case (capitalize all major words).
✅ Include edition number if not the first edition (e.g., 2nd edn).
✅ Include the publisher name and location (e.g., Oxford University Press, Melbourne).
✅ For a chapter in an edited book, include the page range of the chapter (e.g., pp. 100-120).
✅ If accessed online, include the viewed date & URL (e.g., viewed 10 February 2024, https://www.cambridge.org/equine-nutrition).
EXAMPLES
Authored Textbooks (Whole Book)
Single Author:
Smith, J 2020, Fundamentals of Animal Care, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Two Authors:
Jones, B & Taylor, K 2019, Canine Behaviour and Training Techniques, Cambridge University Press, London.
Three or More Authors:
Brown, R, Green, L & White, P 2021, Veterinary Clinical Procedures, Elsevier, Sydney.
- (If more than 20 authors, list the first 19 followed by ‘et al.’)
Online Book:
Taylor, R 2022, Essentials of Veterinary Anaesthesia, 2nd edn, Elsevier, viewed 10 February 2024, https://www.elsevier.com/vet-anaesthesia.
Edited Textbooks (Citing the Whole Book, Not a Specific Chapter)
Single Editor:
Smith, J (ed.) 2019, Advanced Canine Physiotherapy, Routledge, New York.
Two or More Editors:
Taylor, R & Green, L (eds.) 2021, Rehabilitation in Small Animal Practice, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
A Chapter from an Edited Book (When Citing a Specific Chapter)
Print Book Example:
White, J 2020, ‘Understanding the role of hydrotherapy in animal rehabilitation’, in R Black & S Adams (eds.), Rehabilitation Techniques for Companion Animals, Elsevier, Sydney, pp. 100-120.
Online Book Example:
Taylor, P 2022, ‘Nutritional considerations for ageing horses’, in M Green & L Brown (eds.), Equine Health and Nutrition, 2nd edn, Cambridge University Press, London, pp. 55-72, viewed 10 February 2024, https://www.cambridge.org/equine-nutrition.
Reference list
Key Rules for Formatting Textbooks in a Harvard Reference List
✅ Author(s) surname first, followed by initials (no full names).
✅ Year of publication in brackets (no full stop after the year).
✅ If referencing a chapter in an edited book, cite the chapter author first and include the editor(s).
✅ Book title in italics and title case (capitalize all major words).
✅ Edition included (if not the first edition).
✅ Publisher name and location (e.g., Oxford University Press, Melbourne).
AND:
✅ If referencing a chapter in an edited book, cite the chapter author first and include the editor(s).
✅ If accessed online, include viewed date & URL.
EXAMPLES
Authored Textbooks (Whole Book)
Single Author:
Smith, J 2020, Fundamentals of Animal Care, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Two Authors:
Jones, B & Taylor, K 2019, Canine Behaviour and Training Techniques, Cambridge University Press, London.
Three or More Authors:
Brown, R, Green, L & White, P 2021, Veterinary Clinical Procedures, Elsevier, Sydney.
- (If more than 20 authors, list the first 19 followed by ‘et al.’)
Online Book:
Taylor, R 2022, Essentials of Veterinary Anaesthesia, 2nd edn, Elsevier, viewed 10 February 2024, https://www.elsevier.com/vet-anaesthesia.
Edited Textbooks (Citing the Whole Book, Not a Specific Chapter)
Single Editor:
Smith, J (ed.) 2019, Advanced Canine Physiotherapy, Routledge, New York.
Two or More Editors:
Taylor, R & Green, L (eds.) 2021, Rehabilitation in Small Animal Practice, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
A Chapter from an Edited Book (When Citing a Specific Chapter)
Print Book Example:
White, J 2020, ‘Understanding the role of hydrotherapy in animal rehabilitation’, in R Black & S Adams (eds.), Rehabilitation Techniques for Companion Animals, Elsevier, Sydney, pp. 100-120.
Online Book Example:
Taylor, P 2022, ‘Nutritional considerations for ageing horses’, in M Green & L Brown (eds.), Equine Health and Nutrition, 2nd edn, Cambridge University Press, London, pp. 55-72, viewed 10 February 2024, https://www.cambridge.org/equine-nutrition.