Harvard Referencing · Map
How to Cite A Map in Harvard Edition
Harvard author–date referencing cites a map 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. Map citations credit the cartographic agency or platform; interactive basemaps also need a reliable access date.
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Harvard
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Harvard formula for a map
Creator, A.A. (Year) Title of image [Map]. 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
(U.S. Geological Survey, 2021)
Template: (Creator, Year) or Creator (Year)
Figure caption
Figure 1 U.S. Geological Survey (2021) Yellowstone National Park topographic map [Map]. Available at: https://apps.nationalmap.gov/viewer/
Special rules for maps
- Include scale, edition, or sheet number when the map is a formal cartographic product.
- For interactive web maps, cite the map title and the platform that hosts the view.
- If you screenshot a basemap, credit both the basemap provider and any overlay data.
Source of truth: The cartographer or agency (USGS, Ordnance Survey, Google, etc.) that issued the map sheet or digital layer.
Common mistakes
- Citing only “Google Maps” without the place name, URL, or access date.
- Omitting the agency responsible for survey data.
- Treating a decorative illustrated map as a photograph without noting it is a map.
FAQ
How do you cite a map in Harvard?
Build one Harvard reference from creator → date → title → “Map” → 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 map in Harvard?
Match the creator spelling used in the reference entry and apply (Creator, Year) or Creator (Year). If the map 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 map in my paper (Harvard)?
Only if you reprint the visual. A mention in prose needs in-text + reference list; a reproduced map 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 map?
Start on the object or article page that displays the map, 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 maps in Harvard?
Students often citing only “Google Maps” without the place name, URL, or access date. Another frequent miss: treating a cropped social share as the publisher of record.
How is citing a map different from citing a generic online photo in Harvard?
A generic photo citation can stop at photographer + site + URL. For maps, you also have to capture include scale, edition, or sheet number when the map is a formal cartographic product. That extra field is what keeps the entry recoverable.