Question 1

What is the difference between APA and Harvard referencing?

Accepted Answer

APA is a standardised system published by the American Psychological Association (currently 7th edition) with fixed rules; Harvard is a family of author-date styles with no single official standard — each institution specifies its own Harvard variant. Both use (Author, Year) in-text citations. Key differences in reference lists: APA uses & before the last author, specific capitalisation rules, and requires DOIs; most Harvard variants use "and", different punctuation conventions, and vary on DOI requirements. Lesson 4 compares the styles in detail.

Question 2

Why do I need to cite sources in academic writing?

Accepted Answer

Referencing serves three purposes: integrity (acknowledging the intellectual work you have drawn on and distinguishing your ideas from others), argument (showing the evidential basis for your claims and allowing readers to verify them), and contribution (locating your argument within the existing scholarly conversation). Correct referencing also prevents plagiarism — intentional or accidental — and demonstrates engagement with the academic literature.

Referencing & Citation Mastery