How to Cite a Dictionary Using Harvard Referencing Style
When you need to cite a dictionary in your work using the Harvard referencing style, it’s important to include all relevant details to help your readers locate the source. Here’s a straightforward guide on how to do it.
Essential Information
First, collect the following details for your citation:
- Author(s) or editor(s) (if available)
- Year of publication
- Title of the dictionary (italicized)
- Edition (if specified)
- Publisher
- Page number (if citing a specific entry)
In-Text Citation Format
When citing in the text, include the author/editor’s surname, year of publication, and page number (if applicable) in parentheses. For example:
- (Smith, 2005)
- (Johnson, 2010, p. 45)
If there is no author or editor, use the dictionary title instead:
- (“Oxford English Dictionary,” 2019)
- (“Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary,” 2020, p. 123)
Reference List Entry
In the reference list, format your citation based on the type of dictionary:
Book with an author:
- Author(s) Last Name, First Initial(s). (Year). Title of Dictionary. Edition (if applicable). Publisher.
- Example: Smith, J. (2005). The Dictionary of Linguistics. 2nd edn. Oxford University Press.
Book with an editor:
- Editor(s) Last Name, First Initial(s) (ed.) (Year). Title of Dictionary. Edition (if applicable). Publisher.
- Example: Johnson, L. (ed.) (2010). Cambridge Dictionary of English Language. 3rd edn. Cambridge University Press.
Book with no author or editor:
- Title of Dictionary. (Year). Publisher.
- Example: Oxford English Dictionary. (2019). Oxford University Press.
Specific entry in a dictionary:
- Author(s) or Editor(s) Last Name, First Initial(s). (Year). ‘Title of Entry’, in Title of Dictionary. Edition (if applicable). Publisher, Page Number.
- Example: Brown, P. (2018). ‘Syntax’, in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. 11th edn. Merriam-Webster, p. 567.
Make sure all punctuation and capitalization are correct, and double-check any page numbers and other specific details if you’re citing a particular entry. Consistency in formatting ensures clarity and maintains academic integrity.
