Harvard Referencing · Graph
How to Cite A Graph in Harvard Edition
Harvard author–date referencing cites a graph with the creator and year in the text, then a reference-list entry that typically includes Available at: and an Accessed date for online sources. Graph citations need enough axis and series context that a reader can find the original plotted data.
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Harvard
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Harvard formula for a graph
Creator, A.A. (Year) Title of image [Graph]. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).
Italics: Italicize the image title; place the medium in square brackets in roman type. Year position: In parentheses immediately after the creator name.
Worked example
In-text citation
(Roser, 2022)
Template: (Creator, Year) or Creator (Year)
Figure caption
Figure 1 Roser, M. (2022) Share of people living in extreme poverty [Graph]. Available at: https://ourworldindata.org/poverty
Special rules for graphs
- Preserve axis labels and units in your figure note when you reproduce the graph.
- If the graph comes from a journal article, cite the article as the container when required.
- Distinguish line graphs, bar graphs, and scatterplots in the format description when helpful.
Source of truth: The paper, report, or data portal that first published the graph axes and series.
Common mistakes
- Citing a blog that embeds the graph instead of the original dataset or paper.
- Leaving out the year the data series covers versus the year of publication.
- Forgetting an “adapted from” note after you restyle colors or crop axes.
FAQ
How do you cite a graph in Harvard?
Build one Harvard reference from creator → date → title → “Graph” → host. Then paste the finished string into your reference list; do not leave the format field blank or point to a search-results URL.
What is the in-text citation for a graph in Harvard?
Match the creator spelling used in the reference entry and apply (Creator, Year) or Creator (Year). If the graph is labeled as a numbered figure in the paper, add that figure number only where your instructor’s Harvard handout allows.
Do I need a figure caption when I include a graph in my paper (Harvard)?
Only if you reprint the visual. A mention in prose needs in-text + reference list; a reproduced graph also needs a numbered caption so readers can connect the picture on the page to the bibliography entry.
Where should I look for source details for a graph?
Start on the object or article page that displays the graph, then read the credit line, about panel, or download metadata. Skip aggregator cards and thumbnail feeds—they rarely carry a citable creator or permanent link.
What is a common mistake when citing graphs in Harvard?
Students often citing a blog that embeds the graph instead of the original dataset or paper. Another frequent miss: treating a cropped social share as the publisher of record.
How is citing a graph different from citing a generic online photo in Harvard?
A generic photo citation can stop at photographer + site + URL. For graphs, you also have to capture preserve axis labels and units in your figure note when you reproduce the graph. That extra field is what keeps the entry recoverable.