Skip to Main Content

Harvard Referencing Guide

Cite a source discussed in another source (secondary source)

Sometimes an author writes about research that someone else has done, but you are unable to track down the original report or publication. In this case, because you did not read the original publication, you will include only the source that you have used in your reference list. The words 'cited in' in the parenthetical reference indicate that you have not read the original research.

Example - If Keller cited Moran's work in his/her research and you did not read Moran’s work, you should refer to Moran in text in the following way:
David Moran’s definition of communication (2001, cited in Keller 2009:172) sums up …
In the reference list, provide the details of the article you actually used (Keller):
Kelleher T (2009) ‘Conversational voice’, Journal of Communication, 59(1):172–188, doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2008.01410.x.