How to Cite an E-book in Harvard

• Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)
• Published on 07/16/2025

Citing an e-book in Harvard style requires clarity, consistency, and an understanding of the format the e-book takes. Harvard referencing distinguishes between printed books accessed online (that retain the structure and pagination of printed editions) and e-books accessed on digital readers or platforms (such as Kindle, Google Books, or EPUB files). These formats influence both the reference list entry and the in-text citation. 

This guide explains how to accurately cite both types of e-books in Harvard style using real-world examples, structured citation formats, and essential formatting rules.

Key Formatting Rules Explained

To ensure correct formatting in Harvard style, each element of the citation must follow a clear order. Below is an explanation of each component, using the e-book on a reader structure.

• Author (Individual or Organization) – Use the surname, then initials with full stops and no spaces for individuals. For organizations, write the full name as shown in the source without reordering or abbreviating.
• Year of Publication – Enclosed in round brackets directly after the author’s name.
• Title – Use italics and sentence case (capitalize only the first word and any proper nouns).
• DOI or URL – Prefer a DOI if available; otherwise, hyperlink the full URL.
• Access Date – Required when using a URL, in the format: (Accessed: Day Month Year).

Citing a Printed Book Viewed Online in Harvard Style

A printed book viewed online is essentially a scanned or digital reproduction of a traditional print book. It maintains features such as fixed pagination and a publication layout. This format is referenced in the same way as a physical book, with the exception that it may have been accessed online.

Citation	Bennett, T. and Joyce, P. (2010) Material powers: Cultural studies, history and the material turn. London: Routledge.
Structure	Author 1 Surname, Author 1 Initial. and Author 2 Surname, Author 2 Initial. (Year) Title. Place of Publication: Publisher.

Note: Include the edition only if it is not the first.

In-text citation examples

Parenthetical:

Example	(Bennett and Joyce, 2010)
Structure	(Author 1 Surname and Author 2 Surname, Year)

Narrative:

Example	Bennett and Joyce (2010)
Structure	Author 1 Surname and Author 2 Surname (Year)

Note: Three or More Authors: Use “et al.” after the first author’s surname.

Citing an E-book on a Reader or Digital Platform

An e-book on a reader refers to digital publications that do not resemble printed books in form or structure. These versions often lack page numbers and are instead organized by percentage, chapter titles, or location numbers. They are accessed via apps or websites such as Kindle, Kobo, or Google Books.

Citation	Wark, M. (2019) Capital is dead: Is this something worse. Available at: https://www.versobooks.com/books/3065-capital-is-dead (Accessed: 12 July 2025).
Structure	Author Surname, Author Initial. (Year) Title. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

If a DOI is available, include it (without hyperlinking). If not, include the direct URL (hyperlinked). Always include the access date when using a URL.

In-text citation examples

Parenthetical:

Example	(Wark, 2019)
Structure	(Author Surname, Year)

Narrative:

Example	Wark (2019)
Structure	Author Surname (Year)

Note that for in-text citations on ebooks, references will not be to page numbers, but they may be to location %, or to chapters.

Parenthetical with percentage:

Example	(Wark, 2019, 45%)
Structure	(Author Surname, Year, Percentage%)

Narrative with percentage:

Example	Wark (2019, 45%)
Structure	Author Surname (Year, Percentage%)

Cross-Check Publication Year with Copyright Page: E-book platforms may list a re-upload date or reprint year instead of the original publication year. Always open the e-book and check the copyright or publication page inside the file to find the correct year to use in your citation. Don’t Use File Names or E-book Reader Metadata as Author Information: Avoid copying author or publisher details directly from file names, Kindle metadata, or download pages. These often truncate names or contain user-uploaded errors. Always verify details from within the book. Do Not Abbreviate Publisher Names: When citing e-books, spell out publisher names in full. Avoid abbreviations such as “OUP” for Oxford University Press or “CUP” for Cambridge University Press, even if the e-book platform uses them. Use a Stable and Public URL: If you must include a URL, ensure it leads to a publicly accessible page. Do not use session-based URLs (e.g. from your library’s login portal) or shortened links. Ideally, the URL should link to the publisher or distributor’s public-facing product page. Retain Accents and Special Characters in Author Names: Always include diacritics in names (e.g., García, Müller, Šimůnek). Harvard referencing requires preserving the correct spelling from the title page, even for digital sources. Use Proper Capitalisation for the Title: Even if an e-book’s title is in all caps or lowercase on the platform, follow Harvard’s rule of sentence case: capitalise only the first word and any proper nouns. Include Editors Only if the Book Is a Collection of Chapters: If the e-book is an edited volume (such as an anthology), and no author is listed, place the editor’s name followed by “ed.” or “eds.” in place of the author. This applies even in digital formats.