Vancouver Referencing Style is a numeric referencing system that is mostly used in the medical domains and in science. Readers can source the in-text citations by matching the in-text citation with a source in the reference list. This is a numbered system where every source that has been cited within the text is provided with a unique number. The number is attached to a whole reference in a bibliography. The number is attached to the following text citations and kept using the same number. The final bibliography is included in the last part of the document, where full citation information is indicated in numerical order of the sources listed.
Vancouver General Principles of Formatting
In-text Citations
In-text Citations in the Vancouver Referencing Style:
- In the Vancouver Referencing Style, the in-text citations are made using numbers. The numbers may be in the form of square brackets [1], curved brackets to the right, (1), or superscript numbers¹. However, please be consistent within the document. The numerical references link the text with the appropriate reference list entry and trace the item cited’s full details.
Consistency in In-text References:
- When using the Vancouver style of referencing, you must remain consistent in the choice of in-text reference. This means that if you decide to use references within your work in square brackets [1], curved brackets (1), or superscript numbers¹ then you must retain this throughout your document for all citations. Mixing any type of different in-text references can be confusing for the reader and make your work appear unprofessional. Consistency helps ensure clarity and readability, making it easier for readers to follow your references and locate the corresponding entries in the reference list.
Examples
A recent study [1] highlighted the increasing rates of childhood obesity in urban areas.
A recent study (1) highlighted the increasing rates of childhood obesity in urban areas.
A recent study1 highlighted the increasing rates of childhood obesity in urban areas.
- If the cited author’s name is mentioned in a sentence, the numeric in-text citation is placed right after it.
Examples
Erickson (12) said that
Erickson12 said that
- In sentences that contain more than one reference, each of the unique sources of information will have its own number.
Example
Dental phobia can be caused by a number of factors, according to research. These include anticipating pain1, having bad experiences with dental treatments in the past2, and feeling helpless while in the dentist’s chair3.
- In Vancouver reference style, it is acceptable to use brackets or superscript numbers when citing multiple sources at once.
Examples
The idea behind methodological triangulation is to compare and contrast previous findings with new ones, or to analyze current results using multiple instruments that are specifically designed to assess perception (1, 4, 6).
The idea behind methodological triangulation is to compare and contrast previous findings with new ones or to analyze current results using multiple instruments that are specifically designed to assess perception 1, 4, 6
Note: if the sources cited together in one sentence have sequential numbers, then they can be referenced using the following forms: (1-4), [1-4], or 1-4
- Full stops can be put before or after the superscript numbers or the numbers in brackets. Please make sure to consult your instructor or faculty and find out which approach is preferred.
Reference Lists
- The reference list should be placed at the end of the paper on a separate page.
- According to the Vancouver reference style, it is essential to organize all references at the conclusion of your document. This list must appear on a new page, distinct from the main body of the text. Ensuring the reference list is separate helps maintain clarity and allows readers to locate the sources used easily.
- The reference list title should be ‘References’ in Vancouver referencing style.
- In the Vancouver reference style, the heading for the list of sources must be labeled ‘References.’ This title should be centered at the top of the page to clearly indicate the section. Using a consistent title like ‘References’ helps standardize academic and professional documents.
- Only Arabic ordinals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) should be used in reference lists and in-text citations.
- The Vancouver reference style specifies the use of Arabic numerals for both in-text citations and the reference list. This numbering system starts at 1 and continues sequentially throughout the document. Using Arabic ordinals ensures consistency and readability when citing sources.
- The numbers matching those in in-text citations in Vancouver referencing style are assigned to the sources in reference lists.
- Each number used in the in-text citations corresponds directly to a specific source in the reference list in the Vancouver reference style. For instance, if a source is cited as [1] in the text, it will be listed as number 1 in the references. This method simplifies the process of locating and verifying sources for readers.
- The references in Vancouver referencing style are listed in numerical order with the numbers placed at the beginning of each individual source starting with a new line.
- In the Vancouver reference style, sources in the reference list are arranged in the order of their appearance in the text. Each reference starts on a new line and begins with its corresponding number. This sequential listing aids in the straightforward tracking of sources cited in the document.
- Unlike APA, MLA, and Chicago referencing styles, the reference list in Vancouver referencing style should not be indented.
- Avoid indenting the entries when compiling a reference list in the Vancouver reference style. Each reference starts flush with the left margin, creating a clean and uniform appearance. This format enhances the list’s readability and maintains a professional layout.
REFERENCE LIST
Citing Books
General book format
When referencing a book using the Vancouver referencing style, the format is as follows:
Author(s):
- List the last name followed by the initials of the first names.
- If there are multiple authors, list all authors separated by commas.
Title of the Book:
- The title should be in sentence case, meaning only the first word of the title, the first word of the subtitle (if any), and any proper nouns should be capitalized.
- Do not italicize or underline the title.
Location:
- Indicate the city where the publisher is located.
Publisher:
- Provide the name of the publishing company.
Year:
- Specify the year the book was published.
Example:
Author AA. Title of the book. Location: Publisher; year.
Note: no parts of the reference should be italicized.
Book with a single author
1. Reimann BP. Personality and social psychology research. New York: Nova Biomedical Books; 2008.
Book with two to six authors
2. Robbins SP, Judge TA, Odendaal A, Roodt G. Organisational behavior: global and South African
perspectives. Upper Saddle River: Pearson; 2009.
Note: the author’s names are just listed one after another without using the word ‘and’ or the symbol ‘&’.
Book with more than six authors
3. Johnson J, Nixon D, Stein G, Kaufmann A, George R, Powell M, et al. Experimental medicine and
Its effects. New York: McGraw Hill Publishers; 2010.
Note: ‘et al.’ is put after the name of the sixth author; the rest of the author names are omitted.
Book without an author
If the author of a book is not indicated, simply omit the author constituent from the reference page entry. This category includes dictionaries.
Example
4. Merriam-Webster Dictionary new edition. Springfield: Merriam-Webster; 2016.
eBook accessed from a library-subscribed database
5. Roller MR, Lavrakas, PJ. Applied qualitative research design: a total quality framework approach. New York: The Gilford Press; 2015. [cited 2017 Jan 24]. Available from: Ebook Library.
Book accessed from the Internet
6. O’Connell Smeltzer SC, Bare BG. Brunner and Suddarth’s textbook of medical-surgical nursing [Internet]. Philadelphia (PA): Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2003. [cited 2017 Jan 24]. Available from: https://metronidazole.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/medical-surgical_nursing-10th-edition-by-brunner-suddarth.pdf
Note: after the name of the publisher’s location, it is necessary to place the abbreviation of its state in brackets.
Book authored by an organization
This section includes books that list different types of organizations, associations, and corporate or governmental entities as authors.
Example
7. American Nurses Association. Public health nursing: scope and standards of practice. Silver Spring: American Nurses Association; 2013.
Note: capitalize words in the organization’s name as officially accepted by the organization itself (for example, on the official website and the cover of the cited book).
Note: omit “the” before the name of an organization in reference page entries. The American Nurses
Association that authored the book in the example above should appear on the reference page as “American Nurses Association.”
Book authored by a government body
For government bodies, it is recommended to indicate the name of the country to which the body belongs in case the country or nationality is not mentioned in the organization’s name. The name of the country should appear in parentheses after the name of the organization.
Example
8. National Academies of Sciences (US), Division on Earth and Life Studies, Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Committee on Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle. Nutrient requirements of beef cattle. Washington: National Academies Press; 2016.
Note: in the example above, the name of the country is indicated as the US. This is a standardized two-letter ISO code for the United States of America. In Vancouver citation style, if a country needs to be indicated in a reference page entry, ISO codes need to be used. See a list of country codes here.
Note: in the example above, the author (the Committee) is listed as the last after organizations, a part of which it comprises. The names of organizations are separated by commas.
Edited book
9. Thiele F, Mader K, Ashcroft, RE, editors. Bioethics in a small world. New York: Springer Science & Business Media; 2006.
Note: when an edited book is cited, the word ‘editor’ or ‘editors’ is added after the name(s) of the author(s).
Chapter in an edited book
If a book is a compilation of texts by different authors, do not cite it as a single book. Instead, cite a certain section or chapter that you used. The reference page entry should include the name of the chapter’s author (or authors), the chapter’s title, the name of the book’s editor (or editors), and the name of the edited book.
Example
10. Pagel JF, Pegram GV. The role of the primary care physician in sleep medicine. In: Pagel JF, Pandi-Perumal SR, editors. Primary care sleep medicine. 2nd ed. New York: Springer; 2014. p. 12-30.
Edition other than the first
11. O’Connell Smeltzer SC, Bare BG. Brunner and Suddarth’s textbook of medical-surgical nursing. 10th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2003.
Dictionary from a library-subscribed database
12. Mosby’s dental dictionary [Internet]. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2014. Hebephrenia. [cited 2015 Jul 14]. Available from: Credo Reference.
Citing Articles in Periodicals
The titles of scholarly journals from which cited articles are taken need to be abbreviated based on the generally accepted standards. The list of correct abbreviations of the scholarly journals is provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM).
General format
Author A, Author B. Article title. Journal title abbreviation. Year Month shortened; vol(no): page-page.
Journal article (print source)
13. Jones E, Shi L, Hayashi AS, Sharma R, Daly C, Ngo-Metzger Q. Access to oral health care: the role of federally qualified health centers in addressing disparities and expanding access. Am J Public Health. 2013 Mar;103(3): 488-493.
Journal articles from more than six authors
14. Melville JL, Reed SD, Russo J, Croicu CA, Ludman EL, Cockburn AL, et al. Improving care for depression in obstetrics and gynecology: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol, 2014 Jun;123(6): 1237–1246.
Note: in an article that has more than six authors, only the first six names are listed. The other names are replaced with ‘et al.’
Article without an author
15. Evidence-based nutrition principles and recommendations for the treatment and prevention of diabetes and related complications. Diabetes Care 2002 Jan;25(suppl 1): s50-s60.
Article from an online source (without known page numbers)
16. Vaziri D, Aal K, Ogonowski C, Von Rekowski T, Kroll M, Marston H, et al. Exploring user experience and technology acceptance for a fall prevention system: results from a randomized clinical trial and a living lab. Eur Rev Aging Phys Act [Internet]. 2016 Jun [cited 2017 Jan 24];13:6 [about 3 p.]. Available from: BioMed Central.
Article from the Internet
17. Weston M, Roberts D. The influence of quality improvement efforts on patient outcomes and nursing work: a perspective from chief nursing officers at three large health systems. OJIN [Internet]. 2013 Sep [cited 2017 Jan 23]; 18(3): n.p. Available from http://www.nursingworld.org/Quality[1]Improvement-on-Patient-Outcomes.html.
Citing Online and Multimedia Sources
DVD
18. Mosley M. Michael Mosley’s science of you [DVD]. Australia: Roadshow Entertainment; 2013.Note: the owner of the intellectual content should be indicated as the author.
Television broadcast
19. Plant-based medicine: Catalyst [television broadcast]. Sydney: Australian Broadcasting Corporation; 2015 Feb 3.
World wide web page: general format
Author A, Author B. Title [Internet]. City and publisher details; [cited Year Month Date]. Available from: URL
Note: A two-letter ISO code of an organization’s country should be put in brackets after its name (if it is not already present, it is the title). See the list of ISO country codes here.
Example
20. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (US). Diabetes mellitus and other conditions predisposing to the development of accelerated atherosclerosis. [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health; [cited 2017 Jan 22]. Available from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-pro/guidelines/current/cardiovascular-health-pediatric-guidelines/full-report-chapter-11
Note: if some data is not available, please omit it.
Conference Proceedings
You have the option to cite the entire conference proceedings or just a specific paper presented at the conference. In the former case, details about the conference and its editor of the proceedings should be included.
Example
21. Castillo RR, Abarquez RF, Aquino AV, Sy RG, Gomez LA, Divinagracia RA, et al. editors. 10thAsia Pacific congress of hypertension—APCH 2014; 2014 Feb 12-15; Cebu City (Philippines). Florence (Italy): Monduzzi Editore, International Proceedings Division; c2014.
Note: the name of the conference, with its original capitalization and superscripts, appears on the reference page as indicated in the proceedings.
Note: the date of access (year proceeded by the letter “c”) needs to be indicated in case the proceedings are accessed from an electronic source.
Report
Reports are cited as books, both in electronic and print forms. Reports might have additional information about them, such as the number of a report, but it can be omitted from the reference page entry.
Example
22. Health Canada. The final report of the task force on cannabis legalization and regulation. Ottawa: Health Canada; 2016.
Report accessed on the Internet
23. Lourey C. A contributing life: the 2012 National Report card on mental health and suicide prevention [Internet]. National Mental Health Commission [cited 2015 Jun 29]. Available from: http://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/media/39273/NMHC_ReportCard_Lo-res.pdf.
Report on the Internet with no identified author
24. Australian influenza surveillance report [Internet]. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing; 2011 [cited 2011 Sept 2]. Report No.: 12. Available from: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-ozflu-no12-11.htm/$file/ozflu-no12-2011.pdf
Lecture notes and course materials
If you want to cite unpublished materials that you have accessed during lectures or lessons, you should indicate the source by providing the author’s name, the subject of the lecture or materials, and the date when the information was delivered or accessed.
Example
25. Wallace JW. Interpersonal communication as the source of professional development [unpublished lecture notes]. University of Georgia; notes provided at a lecture given 2017 January 11. Note: it is advised to always consult your instructor on the use of such sources. Unpublished lecture notes and course materials fall into the personal communication category of sources, the use of which may be somewhat questionable.
Thesis or dissertation
Some dissertations get published in print form, in which case they can be cited as books. For other cases, see the example below.
Example
26. Della Porta MD. Enhancing the effects of happiness-boosting activities: the role of autonomy support in an experimental longitudinal intervention [doctoral thesis]. [Riverside (US)]: University of California; 2012.
Note: the type of work, such as doctoral thesis, dissertation, or master’s thesis is in square brackets after the work’s name.
Note: after this, indicate the place of publication, which is the location of the university where the thesis or dissertation was defended. Do not forget to include a country code (see the list of ISO country codes here)