View source for Author-date system of referencing

The '''author-date system''' is an alternative way of referring to the [[Harvard referencing|Harvard system]] of [[academic referencing]].  It seems a better name, for two reasons.

First, it is more logical.  The name '''author-date''' points to one of the distinguishing features of this way for academics to refer to their sources.  It is designed to interrupt a paper as little as possible, and aims to limit the information to two words in the first instance: the name of the '''author''', and the '''date''' of publication of the source being cited.  These two words point to a '''List of References''' at the end of the paper or book being written.  The '''Reference List''' gives all the bibliographical information needed for the reader to track down the source being used, whether to check it or to find further information.

The second reason for preferring the name '''author-date system''' is that Harvard University (in the United States) does not universally recognise this name.  See [[Harvard referencing]] for more.