Harvard vs IEEE Referencing: What’s the Real Difference?

What is Harvard Referencing?

Well, if you’ve ever written an academic paper or worked on a project, you’ve probably come across the term "Harvard referencing." But what does it actually mean? Harvard referencing is a style used to cite and reference sources in a specific format. It's what you'd use to give credit to the authors whose ideas or data you’ve borrowed, so your work doesn’t come off as plagiarism. It’s widely used in the UK and many parts of Europe, and it’s pretty simple to follow.

How Does Harvard Referencing Work?

The Harvard system is all about simplicity and consistency. It’s a style that uses the author-date method, meaning you’ll include the author's last name and the year of publication in parentheses right within your text. For example: (Smith, 2020).

Then, at the end of your paper, you’ll create a list of all the sources you've referred to. Each entry in the reference list includes the author's full name, the year of publication, the title of the work, and other details, like the publisher or journal name, depending on the type of source.

Honestly, when I first encountered Harvard referencing, it was a bit tricky, especially with all the punctuation rules. I remember getting confused about whether the comma goes inside the parentheses or outside... (a minor but annoying detail, right?)

What is IEEE Referencing?

Alright, now we get into IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) referencing. This one’s quite different from Harvard. While Harvard uses the author-date format, IEEE uses a numbered referencing style. So, instead of writing out the author's name and the year of publication, you insert a number that corresponds to the source in the reference list. For instance, you might write in your text, and then in your reference list, the first entry will have all the details about that source.

Key Features of IEEE Referencing

The IEEE style is more commonly used in technical fields, particularly engineering, computer science, and physics. It’s designed to streamline the citation process, especially in technical documents where there are often many sources. The numbers make it quicker to find the reference in the list without cluttering your paper with too much text.

Now, here’s something I learned the hard way: with IEEE, you’ve got to keep track of your numbers! I once accidentally used the wrong number, and guess what? It threw my entire reference list out of order. (Talk about a headache!)

Harvard vs IEEE: The Main Differences

Okay, let’s break it down. Here’s the stuff that really sets Harvard and IEEE apart.

1. Citation Style: Author-Date vs. Numbered

The biggest difference is how you cite sources within the text. In Harvard referencing, you use the author’s name and the year of publication, like this: (Jones, 2019). It’s pretty straightforward.

But with IEEE, you use a number to refer to a source, like this: . The number corresponds to a reference in your bibliography or reference list, so your reader has to jump to the list to see which source you're talking about.

2. Reference List Format

The reference list format is another place where these styles differ. In Harvard, the entries are listed alphabetically by the author’s last name. For IEEE, the entries are listed in the order in which they were cited in the text.

For instance:

• Harvard: "Jones, T. (2019). The Future of Tech."
• IEEE: " T. Jones, The Future of Tech, 2019."

See the difference? I can’t lie, I’ve often mixed up the order of my reference list entries when switching between these two styles. The alphabetical order in Harvard is easy enough, but the numbered system in IEEE takes more attention, especially when you’re working with a long list of sources.

3. Field of Use

Harvard is mostly used in social sciences, humanities, and some natural sciences, while IEEE is the go-to for technical fields. I remember chatting with a friend who’s an engineer, and he couldn’t understand why I was still struggling with Harvard. He was like, "Dude, IEEE is way easier!" (He was a little too enthusiastic about it.)

Which One Should You Use?

Honestly, the choice between Harvard and IEEE comes down to what you're working on. If you're writing a paper in the humanities or social sciences, you’ll likely be expected to use Harvard referencing. But if you’re diving into something more technical, like engineering or computer science, IEEE is your best bet.

I’ve been in both situations before—writing social science papers in college (hello, Harvard) and working on technical reports at work (yep, IEEE). The switch from one style to the other used to mess with my head until I got the hang of it.

Conclusion: Embrace the Right Style for You

At the end of the day, both Harvard and IEEE have their strengths. Harvard's author-date system is great for clarity and ease of use in non-technical fields, while IEEE’s numbered system is a godsend when you’re handling complex technical content with loads of sources.

So, which one will you use? It really depends on your field, but now you’ve got the tools to decide! Just remember: whichever style you choose, the most important thing is to be consistent throughout your work.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.