Library Assist: Answers

If the information you have used can be traced back to a specific page or set of pages in your source, you should always include the page number in your citation.

In Cite Them Right Harvard style, this applies to paraphrasing as well as direct quotes.

It doesn't matter how many authors the source has, or whether it's a book, article, report or some other type of document, the key thing is where your information appears.

• If what you've written is a more general summary of a source that doesn't relate back to a particular sentence or passage, a page number won't be required.
• The examples in the Cite Them Right guide that are shown on the specific pages for how to reference books, articles, etc. are limited and will not always show the full range of possible in-text citations.
• For the full details of how to in-text cite any source with one, two, three, or more than three authors, an organisation or even no author, have a look at the 'Setting out citations' page (login required).
• If you are using a source that does not have page numbers you still need to include some information to help your reader find the information you've used. If it is a webpage you can count the sections or paragraphs, for example 'para. 2' instead of 'p. 2'. If you are using a Kindle book or other reading device or app, you can use the location or percentage shown on your screen.

Why does it apply to paraphrasing but not summarising?

Cite Them Right gives the following explanations.

1.  "When you summarise, you provide a brief statement of the main points of an article, web page, chapter or book... This differs from paraphrasing as it only lists the main topics or headings, with most of the detailed information being left out." (Summarising (Harvard) - login required)

2. In the section 'Common questions on referencing > 5. When do I need to include page numbers in citations?' (login required) :

"when ideas are used from specific pages of a work, page numbers should also be given where appropriate. This:

• allows for the attribution of specific ideas (in some cases, these ideas may not be an obvious theme of the entire work)
• distinguishes your original thoughts from that of others
• allows readers to efficiently locate the original material"