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When you cite you can have good use of a reference management software. There are style files for the SLU Harvard style that works with several reference management software:
Harvard is the most common reference style at SLU. Here are examples of how to write references to different kind of sources according to the SLU Harvard style.
The reference list is a compilation of the sources you cite in your text. The information included in the reference list depends on the type of source. In the list further down below, you can see examples of how to cite different types of sources.
The reference list should be arranged alphabetically. Here is an example of a reference list:
All sources in the reference list must be cited in your text. You can read more about how to cite in-text and see examples here:
You can read more about why you should cite in the Search and write guide. There, you can also find support for several other general skills needed for your work and test your knowledge.
We recommend primarily using a persistent link (DOI, URN, URI and Handle ID or similar) when including a link in your reference. A persistent link remains stable over time and directly links to the material in question. If you include a regular link (URL) in your reference, you need to include the date you accessed the webpage.
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Title of podcast/program series (Year). Title of episode. [Medium]. Producer or publisher of the program, date of episode broadcast. Link [Date]
(Sommar 2008)
(Vetenskapens värld 2010)
(The sustainability agenda 2022)
Sommar (2008). Dolph Lundgren. [Radio program]. Producer: Helena Groll. Sveriges Radio, P1 July 19.
Vetenskapens värld (2010). Världshavens försurning. [TV program]. Sveriges Television, SVT 2 March 15.
The sustainability agenda (2022). Episode 155: Art curator and critic Hans Ulrich Obrist discusses the role of art in climate communications and activism. [Pod cast]. Executive producer: Fergal Byrne, June 29. https://www.thesustainabilityagenda.com/podcast/episode-155-art-curator-and-critic-hans-ulrich-obrist-discusses-the-role-of-art-in-climate-communications-and-activism/ [2022-10-21]
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Author (Year). Title. [Video]. Link [Date]
(United Nations 2018)
United Nations (2018). Do you know all 17 SDGs? [Video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XTBYMfZyrM [2022-10-21]
If the book is part of a series of books you can choose to include information about series and serial number in the reference, you then put them in parenthesis right after the book title. This is however optional.
If the book is published in several editions, then include edition in the reference.
If you make a verbatim quote, or want to highlight something, you should include page number in the text reference, example: (Campbell 2018:59).
A book that is a monography deal with the certain topic (instead of a wide range of topics) and has the same author(s) for the whole book.
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Last name(s), First name(s) initial. (Year). Title: subtitle. Edition, Publisher. Persistent link
(Campbell 2008)
(Hirons & Thomas 2017)
(Opperman et al. 2017)
Campbell, N.A. (2008). Biology. 8 edition, Benjamin Cummings.
Hirons, A.D. & Thomas, P.A. (2017). Applied Tree Biology. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118296387
Opperman, J.J., Moyle, P.B., Larsen, E.W., Florsheim, J.L. & Manfree, A.D. (2017). Floodplains: Processes and management for ecosystem services. University of California Press.
If the book has chapters written by different authors, it is called an anthology. If you want to cite a chapter in this kind of book, include the following, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Last name(s), First name(s) initial. (Year). Chapters Title. In: Editors(s) last name, Editor(s) first name initial. (ed.)/(eds) Book title: subtitle. Edition, Publisher. page number-page number. Persistent link
(Schwarz 2018)
(Ellingson et al. 2018)
Schwarz, W. (2018). Semantic possibility. In: Ball, D. & Rabern, B. (eds) The science of meaning: Essays on the metatheory of natural language semantics. Oxford Scholarship. 361-380. 10.1093/oso/9780198739548.001.0001
Ellingson, E.K., Hokanson, S.C. & Bradeen, J.M. (2018). Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière). In: Warrington, I. (ed.) Horticultural reviews, volume 46. John Wiley & Sons. 227-253.
If you want to cite a whole anthology with chapters written by different authors, you cite the editors:
(Ball and Rabern 2018)
Ball, D. & Rabern, B. (eds) (2018). The Science of Meaning: Essays on the Metatheory of Natural Language Semantics. Oxford Scholarship Online. 10.1093/oso/9780198739548.001.0001
Conference lectures, articles and abstracts are usually published in a conference publication. It can be a book, a supplement or even a number in a journal, or published by the conference itself.
Include, if available:
Depending on the type of publication the reference can be written differently, see examples below.
Might be published by a publisher or by the conference. Cite as to a chapter in a book, but add name of conference, location and date.
(Muller 1998)
Muller, P. (1998). Space-Time as a Primitive for Space and Motion. In: Guarino, N. (ed.) Formal Ontology in Information Systems, Proceedings of the First International Conference (FOIS’98) June 6-8, Trento, Italy. 63-76
Cited the same way as to other journal articles. Usually you don’t add information about the conference in these cases, but if you choose to add the conference name our recommendation is to do ii within square brackets after information about pages.
(Piikki & Söderström 2019)
Piikki, K. & Söderström, M. (2019). Digital soil mapping of arable land in Sweden - Validation of performance at multiple scales. Geoderma, 352:342-350 [7th Global Workshop on Digital Soil Mapping, June 27-July 01 2016, Aarhus, Denmark]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.10.049
(Söderström et al. 2016)
Söderström, M., Stadig, H., Martinsson, J., Piiki, K. & Stenberg, M. (2016). CropSAT – A public satellite-based decision support system for variable-rate nitrogen fertilization in Scandinavia. The International Conference on Precision Agriculture July 31-August 4 2016, St Louis, Missouri USA. 1964 https://www.ispag.org/proceedings/?action=abstract&id=1964 [2019-03-14]
Data citation means to refer to a published set of research data in the same way as, for example, bibliographic references to journal articles, reports and other publications.
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Last name, first name initial. Name of institution (Year). Title. Data archive. Version nr. Persistent link
(Snäll et al. 2018)
(Oakley et al. 2017)
Oakley, C.G., Savage, L., Lotz S., Larson, G.R., Thomashow, M.F., Kramer, D.M. & Schemske, D.W. (2018). Data from: Genetic basis of photosynthetic responses to cold in two locally adapted populations of Arabidopsis thaliana. Dryad Digital Repository. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.h2c0c
Snäll, T. & Mair, L. (2018). Species distribution modelling data for Phellinus ferrugineofuscus. Swedish National Data Service. Version 1.0. https://doi.org/10.5879/ECDS/2017-03-23.1/1
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Last name, First name initial. (Year). Title: subtitle. Diss. University. Publisher. Persistent link.
(Bröjer 2012)
(Saifi 2004)
Bröjer, C. (2012). Pathobiology of avian influenza in wild bird species. Diss. Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet. https://res.slu.se/id/publ/79031
Saifi, B. (2004). The sustainability of Swedish agriculture in a coevolutionary perspective. Diss. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Shorter entries in encyclopedias often lack an author. If this is the case, add the entry word in your in-text citation and the name of the encyclopedia (in italics) as the author in the reference list. Longer articles can be signed, i.e. have a clearly named author – cite these types of sources as a chapter in a book.
Include, if available:
According to FASS Ivermektin is … (FASS Djurläkemedel n.d.)
FASS Djurläkemedel (n.d.) Ivermektin. https://www.fass.se/LIF/substance?userType=1&substanceId=IDE4POFCUAWB7VERT1 [2019-04-02]
(Asakura & Kaplan 1994)
(Kil & Shin 1999)
Use the site’s persistent links when you cite an entry in Wikipedia. Wikipedia calls it a permanent link, and you find it in the left-hand sidebar under tools when you are in the entry you want to cite.
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Source (Year). Title. Persistent link
(Wikipedia 2022)
Wikipedia (2022). Old-growth forest. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Old-growth_forest&oldid=1102054903
All laws and regulations are presented in the Swedish Code of Statutes (SFS). They are arranged chronologically according to their SFS number, which consists of the year and a serial number, e.g. 1944:219. There are other statue books of laws and regulations that apply to certain government authorities, for example the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's code of statutes (NFS) or the Code of Regulations of the Swedish Board of Agriculture (SJVFS).
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Statue book’s name and number. Title. Publisher
Use the SFS-number or similar when you cite laws or regulations. To cite a specific place in a law refer to the chapter and/or section instead of to a page.
SFS 2013:1059. Förordning om kontroll av ekologisk produktion. Näringsdepartementet
SJVFS 2004:32. Utfärdande av pass för sällskapsdjur. Statens jordbruksverk
Further guidelines to cite EU-documentation can be found in the Interinstitutional Style Guide:
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Title (Unique document number). Persistent link
According to the Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) there seems to…
Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (EUT L 84, 31.3.2016, 1–208). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32016R0429
Government publications refers to various documents and publications produced by the government, parliament, authorities, and municipalities. This can include minutes, motions, propositions, investigations, etc.
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Author (Year). Title. Edition. (Series name year:number). Publisher.
(Djurtransportutredningen 2003)
(Arbetsmarknadsutskottet 2003)
Arbetsmarknadsutskottet (2003). Utgiftsområde 13 Arbetsmarknad.(2002/2003:AU1). Sveriges Riksdag.
The Government sometimes works with issues requiring a thorough examination. Once the investigation is complete it is published in the series called SOU (Statens Offentliga utredningar). It is a common type of government publication in Sweden. Each SOU has a unique identification number consisting of a year and a sequential number, e.g. SOU 2012:22.
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
SOU Year:Number. Name of the investigation. Title.
(SOU 2012:22)
SOU 2012:22. Rovdjursutredningen. Mål för rovdjuren.
Newspaper articles are often published in weekly and daily newspapers. Popular science articles are often published in journals with a number of issues each year and are targeted towards a general audience with a special interest in the topic.
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Article author (Year). Title. Newpaper’s title, date. Link [Date]
(Robinson 2022)
Robinson, H. (2022). Sustainable Fashion Week challenging industry's footprint. BBC News, 21 September. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-62650864 [2022-10-25]
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Article author (Year). Title. Journal title, Volume (Number), page number. Link [Date]
(Pollnow 2018)
(Arnold 2022)
Pollnow, M. (2018). Omgiven av idioti. Filter, (63). https://magasinetfilter.se/granskning/omgiven-av-idioti/ [2019-04-04]
Arnold, C. (2022). Your cat can recognize your voice. Yes, really. National geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/your-cat-can-recognize-your-voice [2022-10-25]
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Author (Year). Title. [Pamphlet] Series. Publisher. Link [Date]
(European Environment Agency 2020)
(United Nations Environment Program 2018)
European Environment Agency (2020). What is pollution? [Infographic]. European Environment Agency. https://www.eea.europa.eu/signals/signals-2020/infographics/what-is-pollution [2023-04-28]
United Nations Environment Programme (2018). Shared roads. Safe, sustainable, accessible mobility. [Brochure]. UNEP. https://www.unep.org/resources/factsheet/shared-road-safe-sustainable-accessible-mobility [2023-03-14]
Personal communication also needs to be cited in your text. Examples of personal communication include interviews, phone calls, emails, and lectures. Remember to ask the person for permission before using the material and referencing them.
In the Harvard style, it is most common to cite personal communication through a footnote. There are significant differences between disciplines in how this type of source is handled, so consult your supervisor on how to reference it in your thesis.
Svensson1 says that…
1Anders Svensson, teacher, SLU, lecture 2019-03-15
Be aware that interviews and surveys that are a part of your empirical work is treated in another manner. Depending on the scientific discipline, this manner differs and it is therefore important that you ask your supervisor or teacher what is custom within your field. You can also find more information in books about scientific methods.
Reports are often produced by universities, government agencies, local governments, companies and organisations. The format often follows a scientific structure. Cite it as a book and add information about series and persistent link.
The reference format for reports includes information that makes it suitable for various types of sources.
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Last name(s), First name(s) initial. (Year). Title: subtitle. (Series Report number). Publisher. Persistent link.
(Kuns 2021)
(Swedish Research Council 2019)
(WWF 2015)
Kuns, B. (2021). A review of recent social science literature on Swedish farming: A research agenda for understanding current and future challenges. (Urban and rural reports 2021:1). Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. https://res.slu.se/id/publ/113110
Swedish Research Council (2019). The Swedish Research Barometer 2019: The Swedish Research System in International Comparison. (VR 1915). Swedish Research Council.
WWF (2015). Lessons in climate smart policies: A framework for integrated low carbon resiliient development. (WWF report, February 2016). WWF International.
Some journals are only published electronically. Articles in these types of journals therefore have an article number instead of page numbers.
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Article author (Year). Title. Journal title. Volume (Number), Page numbers/Article number. Persistent link
(Hawes 1993)
(Isoe et al. 2019)
(Likiti et al. 2023)
(Parker et al. 2019)
Hawes, D.K. (1993). Marketing tourism destinations: a strategic approach. Journal of travel research. 31, 74-75.
Isoe, J., Koch, L.E., Isoe, Y.E., Rascón, A.A., Jr., Brown, H.E., Massani, B.B. & Miesfeld, R.L. (2019). Identification and characterization of a mosquito-specific eggshell organizing factor in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. PLoS Biology. 17(1), e3000068. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000068
Likiti, O., Diko, G.R., Mubenga, O. & Monde, G. (2023). Cassava mosaic disease and abundance of its whitefly vector in north-western Democratic Republic of Congo. African Crop Science Journal. 31(4), https://doi.org/10.4314/acsj.v31i4.1
Parker, H.J., Bronner, M.E. & Krumlauf , R. (2019). An atlas of anterior hox gene expression in the embryonic sea lamprey head: hox-code evolution in vertebrates. bioRxiv. 571448. https://doi.org/10.1101/571448
If possible, you should always refer to the original source, but sometimes this is not possible, and you are forced to cite a source that refers to the original source.
You should include both sources in your in-text citation. Put the original source first, and the secondary source (the source you have read) after. In the reference list you should only include the secondary source.
You write the reference for the secondary source according to the recommendations for its type of material.
(Gray, Toombs & Groos 2015 see MacDonald 2016)
MacDonald, C.M. (2016). “It Takes a Village”: On UX Librarianship and Building UX Capacity in Libraries. Journal of Library Administration, 57 (2), 1-21
If you have used a specific software in order to analyse and get a result, you have to cite it. The reference must include the version of the software or application you used. You do not need to refer to standard programs such as Excel, Adobe Photoshop, or Minitab. Always check with your teacher if and how it is acceptable to use AI tools in your work.
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Source (Year). Title of software (version) [Software]. Producer. Link [Date]
(Blondel 2019)
(GRASS Development Team 2019)
(OpenAI 2023)
(Zalar 2019)
Blondel, E. (2019). OpenFairViewer (1.0.1) [Code]. Zenodo. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2574576 [2019-03-01]
GRASS Development Team (2019). Geographic Resources Analysis Support System (GRASS) Software (7.4) [Software]. Open Source Geospatial Foundation. https://grass.osgeo.org/ [2020-05-15]
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
Zalar, B. (2019). Timberlog – timber log volume calculator (5.0.3) [Mobile application].
SIS (Swedish standards institute) provides both national and international standards within different fields. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) develops international standards to ensure the quality, safety and efficiency of products, services and systems. Every standard has a title and a unique label including year of publication. Include the label in the title to make sure the version for the standard is clear.
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Source (Year). Title (number). Publisher
(SIS 2019)
(ISO 2019)
SIS (2019). SS-EN ISO 14090:2019 Adaptation to climate change - Principles, requirements and guidelines (ISO 14090:2019). Swedish Standards Institute
ISO (2019). ISO 14033:2019 Environmental management. Quantitative environmental information. Guidelines and examples. ISO
These instructions apply to excerpts from a database, e.g. SCB or WHOSIS. If you are citing a published compilation of statistics, cite it as a report.
Often when extracting statistics certain parameters are used. So, in addition to including information of where you have taken the statistics your reference should also include information about the used parameters. From SCB you get a persistent link to a website with a descriptive title, which makes it easier to find the statistics you have used. Because the link is persistent you do not have to add the date. If you extract statistics from other databases, or/and are unsure if the link is persistent or not, add the date for when you visited the website.
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Source (Year). Title. (Version/date). Publisher. Link [Date]
(Statistical database 2022)
(World Health Organization 2022)
Statistical database (2022) Formally protected nature by type of nature. Year 2021. (Updated 2022-05-24). Statistiska centralbyrån. https://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__MI__MI0603__MI0603H/FormSkyddNatur/ [2023-05-17]
World Health Organization (2022). Ambient air pollution. Exposure: country average. (Updated 2022-08-12). Global health observatory data repository. http://apps.who.int/gho/data/view.main.SDGPM25116v?lang=en [2023-05-17]
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Last name(s), First name(s) initial. (Year). Title. (Series Thesis number). University. Department/Programme. Persistent link
(Grähs 2023)
(Littorin 2023)
Grähs, A. (2023). Oönskade beteenden hos häst i samband med sadling : en beteendestudie utförd på svenska ridskolor. Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet. Etologi och djurskydd kandidatprogram. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-19184
Littorin, E. (2024). Unlocking Nutrient Accessibility through Sourdough Fermentation. (Molecular Science 2024:06). Swedish University of Agricultural Science. Agricultural Programme, Food Science. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-20019
When you cite a source that in not published, you add this information within square brackets in the reference, e.g. [Unpublished manuscript] or [Internal material].
(Andersson 2002)
(SLU Library 2020)
Andersson, B.C. (2002). Source of pollution in the ocean. [Unpublished manuscript]. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. Michigan: Michigan University
SLU Library (2020). Annual report, 2019. [Internal material].
When you use material you have found on the internet it is important that you first of all find out what type of source it is. Is it for example a report or an article the reference should be written according to the instructions for those kinds of sources and not as a website. If the website does not have a year of publication use the abbreviation n.d. (meaning no date).
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Source (Year). Title. Link [Date]
(Architecture workroom Brussels n.d.)
(European Environment Agency 2023)
Architecture workroom Brussels (n.d.). Guide plan - Brussels Canal. http://www.architectureworkroom.eu/en/work/guide_plan_brussels_canal/ [2020-02-06]
European Environment Agency (2023). Drivers of change: challenges and opportunities for sustainability in Europe. https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/topics/in-depth/sustainability-challenges/drivers-of-change-challenges-and-opportunities-for-sustainability-in-europe-1 [2023-05-04]
Include, if available:
The reference is written as follows:
Source (Year). Title of post. Name of blog/forum. [Blog post]/[Twitter]/[Forum]. Date for the post. Link [Date]
(New Scientist 2020)
(Thompson 2010)
(Tobella 2019)
New Scientist (2020). A lazy cave salamder didn't move from the same spot for 7 years. @newscientist. [Twitter]. 4 February. https://twitter.com/newscientist/status/1224679189053394944 [2020-02-06]
Thompson, M. (2010). 78% have experienced a vendor audit in the last year. The ITAM review forum. [Forum]. 2 December. http://www.itassetmanagement.net/2010/12/02/78-experienced-vendor-audit-year/ [2011-06-29]
Tobella, A. B. (2019). Restoring degraded tropical landscapes with trees. SLU’s Global Blog. [Blog post] 6 May. https://blogg.slu.se/global-blog/2019/05/06/restoring-degraded-tropical-landscapes-with-trees/ [2023-05-17]
When you cite you can have good use of a reference management software. There are style files for the SLU Harvard style that works with several reference management software:
SLU University Library
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