In the Vancouver referencing, the citation-sequence system is employed. This means that the references at the conclusion of your paper are numbered according to the order in which the corresponding citations appear in your text rather than being arranged alphabetically by author.
In this article, you will discover all the basics of the Vancouver citation style and find helpful how-to tips, together with quality reference examples.
What is Citation Style: General Description
There are nine different citation styles used in academic and professional writing, each with its own rules and conventions. Here are some common citation styles:
| Style |
Description |
| APA (American Psychological Association) |
Widely used in the social sciences, APA style emphasizes author-date citations and a clear structure for citing various sources, including books, articles, and websites. |
| MLA (Modern Language Association) |
Every essay writer in the humanities, especially in literature and language studies, knows this style. MLA employs parenthetical citations in the text and a Works Cited page for the full reference list. |
| Chicago/Turabian Style |
The Chicago style is used in a variety of disciplines, while Turabian is a simplified version often used in academic writing. Chicago style allows for two citation systems: notes and bibliography or author-date. |
| Harvard Referencing Style |
Widely used in the UK and Australia, Harvard citation style includes the author's name and the publication year in the in-text citation, with a corresponding bibliography at the end of the document. |
| IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) |
Commonly used in technical fields, the IEEE style utilizes numerical citations within square brackets and a numbered reference list. |
| AMA (American Medical Association) |
Common in medical and scientific writing, the AMA style uses numerical citations and a corresponding reference list, with specific formatting for different types of sources. |
| CSE (Council of Science Editors) |
Often used in the natural sciences, CSE offers three systems for citation: citation-sequence, name-year, and citation-name. |
| Turabian Style |
Similar to the Chicago style, Turabian is a more simplified version commonly used by college students for research papers. |
| Vancouver Style |
Primarily used in biomedical and scientific fields, the Vancouver style employs a numbered citation-sequence system in the order of appearance in the text, listed at the end of the document. |
Remember to use the citation style specified by your instructor, publisher, or the guidelines of the publication you are submitting your work to. Each style has its own rules for formatting in-text citations, reference lists, and bibliographies.
What Is Vancouver Style Citation
Vancouver reference style is a numeric or citation-sequence system commonly used in biomedical and scientific writing. It is named after the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) meeting held in Vancouver in 1978, where the guidelines for this citation style were established. It is used by Medline and PubMed.
| 📖 Element |
📋 Details |
📌 Example |
| 🗂️ Order of References |
Listed numerically in the order they appear in the text. |
1. Smith J. Book Title. City: Publisher; Year. |
| 🔢 In-text Citation |
Use superscript numbers corresponding to the reference list. |
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.¹ |
| 📕 Books |
Author(s). Title. Edition (if not the first). City: Publisher; Year. |
Brown P, White J. Nursing Care. 2nd ed. London: Pearson; 2019. |
| 📖 Chapters in Edited Books |
Author(s). Chapter title. In: Editor(s), editors. Book Title. Edition (if not the first). City: Publisher; Year. p. page numbers. |
Johnson L. Pain Management. In: Brown P, editor. Advanced Nursing. 3rd ed. Oxford: Elsevier; 2018. p. 45–67. |
| 📄 Journal Articles |
Author(s). Article title. Journal Name. Year;Volume(Issue):Page numbers. |
Miller S, Wong T. Nutrition in Elderly. J Nutr Health. 2020;15(4):202–8. |
| 🌐 Electronic Articles |
Author(s). Article title. Journal Name [Internet]. Year [cited Date];Volume(Issue):Page numbers. Available from: URL. |
Green P. Digital Health. J Health Res [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2025 Jan 24];20(2):120–7. Available from: URL. |
| 🔗 Websites |
Author(s) (if available). Title of the webpage. Website Name [Internet]. Publication date [cited Date]. Available from: URL. |
World Health Organization. Mental health. WHO [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Jan 24]. Available from: URL. |
| 📑 Reports |
Author(s). Report Title. City: Publisher; Year. Report No.: Number. |
United Nations. Climate Change Report. New York: UN; 2022. Report No.: 35. |
| 📢 Conference Papers |
Author(s). Title of paper. In: Editor(s), editor(s). Proceedings Title. City: Publisher; Year. p. page numbers. |
Cooper R. AI in Health. In: Smith J, editor. Proc AI Conf. Toronto: Springer; 2020. p. 23–35. |
| 🎓 Theses |
Author. Thesis title [dissertation or thesis]. City: Institution; Year. |
Lee A. Vaccine Research [dissertation]. Vancouver: UBC; 2021. |
Key features of this style citation include:
| 📌 Concept |
💡 Explanation |
| 🔢 Numeric System |
Sources are cited in the order they appear in the text. Each reference is assigned a unique number in square brackets [ ]. |
| 🖋️ In-Text Citations |
Numerical citations are inserted in the text as superscript numbers or square brackets. These link to the numbered reference list. |
| 📚 Reference List |
A numbered list is provided at the document's end, ordered by appearance in the text, not alphabetically. |
| 🎨 Formatting |
Different formats exist for sources (books, articles, websites). Include author(s), title, source, and publication details. |
Here's a simple example of a Vancouver-style citation for a journal article:
- In-text citation: "This phenomenon has been widely studied^[1^]."
- Reference list entry: "1. Author(s). Title of the Article. Abbrev. Title of the Journal. Year; Volume(Issue): Page numbers."
Vancouver style is commonly used in medical and scientific research papers and is known for its straightforward numeric referencing system, providing a clear and concise way to cite sources.
How to Cite in Vancouver Style
Remember that in Vancouver style, you insert a reference number in the text whenever you cite a source:
According to Davies et al., the data is deemed ‘unreliable’ (1, p. 15).
This numerical reference corresponds to an entry in your reference list - a sequentially numbered compilation of all sources cited in your text, each providing comprehensive information:
- Davies B, Jameson P. Advanced economics. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2013.
This brief guide outlines the prevalent rules for referencing in Vancouver style. Please note that specific universities and journals may have unique guidelines for the Vancouver referencing format.
Vancouver Style In-Text Citation How-To
In Vancouver style, in-text citations are numeric and are placed within the text at the point where a source is cited. Here are some general guidelines for writing in-text citations:
| 📌 Scenario |
💡 Explanation |
📘 Example |
| 🔢 Single Source |
Cite using a superscript number or a number in square brackets that corresponds to the reference list. |
Smith J stated that...¹ or Smith J stated that... [1]. |
| 📚 Multiple Sources |
List all citation numbers in superscript or brackets, separated by commas. |
Studies show varied results.¹,²,³ or Studies show varied results. [1,2,3]. |
| ↔ Consecutive Sources |
Use a hyphen to indicate a range when citing consecutive numbers. |
Several studies¹–³ demonstrate... or Several studies [1–3] demonstrate... |
| 📄 Same Source Repeated |
Use the same number as the original reference for repeated citations of the same source. |
As mentioned previously...¹ or As mentioned previously... [1]. |
| 📜 Direct Quotes |
Include a page number when directly quoting, separated by a comma after the reference number. |
"The phenomenon is complex."¹(p.25) or "The phenomenon is complex." [1, p.25]. |
| 📅 Paraphrased Information |
Cite the source number after paraphrased information without a page number. |
Recent research highlights the issue¹ or Recent research highlights the issue [1]. |
| 🔗 Citing Websites |
Use the same numeric format for online sources as for other materials. |
Available resources state...¹ or Available resources state... [1]. |
| ❓ Missing Author |
If no author is available, use the title of the source, italicized, with the citation number. |
Introduction to Biology¹ or Introduction to Biology [1]. |
Remember, the in-text citation numbers correspond to the numbered entries in the reference list at the end of your document. The reference list provides full details of each source cited in the text. It's important to follow the specific guidelines of the Vancouver style, as variations may exist depending on the source type and the publication requirements.
How to Name Authors
When naming authors in Vancouver citations, you generally include the author's last name followed by the initials of their first and middle names (if available). Here are some guidelines:
| 📌 Scenario |
💡 Explanation |
📘 Example |
| 👤 One Author |
Format the name as Last name, Initial(s). |
Smith J¹ found that... |
| 👥 Two Authors |
Format the names as Last name, Initial(s), Last name, Initial(s). |
Jones M, Brown R² state that... |
| 👨👩👧 Three to Six Authors |
List all authors in the order they appear on the source. Format as Last name, Initial(s), etc. |
Miller A, Davis B, Johnson C³ conducted a study... |
| 🧑🤝🧑 Seven or More Authors |
List the first six authors, followed by "et al." for the remaining authors. |
Lee X, et al.⁴ reported... |
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How to Number References
In Vancouver style, references are numbered in the order in which they are cited in the text. Here's how to number references in Vancouver style:
| 📌 Concept |
💡 Explanation |
📘 Example |
| 🔢 In-Text Citation |
Insert a numerical superscript or number in square brackets [ ] at the citation point. |
"Previous studies have shown conflicting results [1,2,3]." |
| 📖 Sequential Order |
Numbers are assigned in the order references first appear in the text. Use the same number for repeated citations of the same source. |
"The research findings were consistent [1]. Further analysis supported this conclusion [1,4]." |
| 📄 Page Numbers |
Include page numbers when quoting directly from a source. |
"As highlighted by Johnson, 'the phenomenon is complex' [3, p. 25]." |
| 📚 Multiple Sources |
Cite multiple sources for the same point using commas to separate numbers. |
"Several studies have explored this issue [4,5,6]." |
| 📋 Reference List |
Compile a numbered list at the document's end based on the order of appearance in the text. |
"Example: Reference list entry formatting." |
By the way, many students want to learn about the Chicago style format, so be sure to check out this guide, too!
How to Cite Multiple Sources
Citing multiple sources involves listing the reference numbers in numerical order and separating them with commas. Here's how to cite multiple sources in the Vancouver citation style:
| 📌 Concept |
💡 Explanation |
📘 Example |
| 🔢 Sequential Numerical Order |
Cite sources in the order they appear in your text. |
"Several studies have explored this topic [2, 5, 7], revealing varied perspectives." |
| 📖 Consecutive Sources |
For consecutively numbered sources, use a dash to indicate a range. |
"Recent research has shown conflicting results [3–6], emphasizing the complexity of the issue." |
| 📋 Non-Consecutive Sources |
Separate non-consecutive source numbers with commas. |
"The literature suggests diverse viewpoints [1, 4, 8], challenging traditional assumptions." |
| 🎨 Combining Consecutive and Non-Consecutive Sources |
Use both commas and dashes for combined consecutive and non-consecutive sources. |
"Studies on this subject span a broad spectrum [2, 5–7, 10], requiring a nuanced approach." |
| 📄 Page Numbers |
Include page numbers when quoting directly or referring to specific pages in sources. |
"The data presented in these studies is consistent [3, p. 25; 6, pp. 50–55], supporting our hypothesis." |
How to Cite Page Numbers
When citing page numbers, you include them directly in the in-text citation. Here's how to cite page numbers in Vancouver style:
| 📌 Concept |
💡 Explanation |
📘 Example |
| 🔖 Direct Quotation |
When quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the in-text citation. |
"According to Smith, 'the phenomenon is complex' [1, p. 25]." |
| 📄 Reference to a Specific Page |
Include the page number when referring to a specific page or range of pages without quoting directly. |
"The study highlighted the significance of this issue [2, p. 48]." |
| 📚 Multiple Page Numbers |
Use a hyphen to indicate a range of pages when referencing multiple pages. |
"The findings were consistent across different regions [3, pp. 10–15]." |
| 🎨 Combining Multiple Citations and Pages |
Separate citation numbers with commas, and include page numbers as needed. |
"Various studies have investigated this trend [4, p. 30; 6, p. 42]." |
| 🚫 No Page Numbers |
If a source does not have page numbers, exclude the page reference in the citation. |
"Johnson argues for a holistic approach to the problem [5]." |
Creating a Vancouver Reference List
In Vancouver style citation, the reference list is a compilation of all the sources cited within a document, arranged numerically based on their order of appearance in the text. Each source is assigned a unique number, and the reference list provides detailed bibliographic information for each numbered citation.
The entries in the reference list include the authors' names, titles of books or articles, publication details, and other relevant information. Vancouver style emphasizes a numeric and systematic approach, allowing readers to locate easily and cross-reference cited sources in a clear and organized manner.
Vancouver Reference List Example
This is an example of a Vancouver citation format reference list. Include all the details required for each specific type of source (book, journal article, website, etc.). Remember that in Vancouver style, the references are listed in the order they are cited in the text, and each source is assigned a unique number for easy cross-referencing.
Reference list
- Smith J, Brown R. Introduction to Biomedical Research. New York: Academic Press; 2019.
- Johnson A, Davis M. "Exploring the Genetics of Rare Diseases." Journal of Genetic Research. 2020; 15(2):45-58.
- Miller K. Understanding Immunology. London: Wiley; 2018.
- Lee X, et al. "Recent Advances in Cancer Therapeutics." International Journal of Oncology. 2017; 25(4):112-125.
- Anderson P, Lewis H. Advancements in Neuroscience Research. San Francisco: Springer; 2021.
- Martinez G, et al. "Climate Change Impact on Biodiversity." Environmental Studies. 2019; 40(3):220-235.
- Taylor L, et al. "Robotics in Medicine: A Comprehensive Review." Journal of Medical Technology. 2022; 18(1):87-102.
- White E, Robinson S. The Art of Data Analysis. Boston: DataPress; 2017.
- Website Name. URL. Published Year. [Internet]. [Cited Year Month Day]. Available from: [URL]
- Website Title. URL. Published Year. [Internet]. [Cited Year Month Day]. Available from: [URL]
How to Write Author Names
In the Vancouver style reference list, you should write author names using the following general format:
| 📌 Concept |
💡 Explanation |
📘 Example |
| 👤 Single Author |
List the last name followed by the initials, without spaces or periods. |
Smith J. |
| 👥 Two Authors |
Separate the last names and initials with a comma. Use an ampersand (&) before the last author's name. |
Johnson A, Brown R. |
| 👨👩👧 Three or More Authors |
List the first two authors followed by "et al." |
Lee X, Martinez G, et al. |
| 📄 Suffix |
If the author’s name includes a suffix (e.g., Jr., Sr.), place it after the initials. |
Smith JR. |
| 🏢 Corporate Author |
If the publication is authored by an organization, list it as the author. |
World Health Organization. |
| 📚 Example Citation |
Full citation example using suffix and corporate author. |
Smith JR, White E. Title of the Book. New York: Publisher; Year.
World Health Organization. Report on Health Trends. Geneva: WHO; 2021. |
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How to Source Titles
In a Vancouver-style reference list, the formatting of source titles depends on the type of source. Here's a general guide for formatting source titles:
| 📌 Concept |
💡 Explanation |
📘 Example |
| 📚 Book Titles |
Italicize the title of the book. |
Smith J, Brown R. Introduction to Biomedical Research. New York: Academic Press; 2019. |
| 📄 Journal Article Titles |
Italicize the journal title. Use sentence case, where only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized. |
Johnson A, Davis M. "Exploring the Genetics of Rare Diseases." Journal of Genetic Research. 2020; 15(2):45–58. |
| 🌐 Website or Webpage Titles |
Italicize the website or webpage title. Include the URL and access date. |
Website Title. URL. Published Year. [Internet]. [Cited Year Month Day]. Available from: [URL]. |
| 📖 Chapter or Article Titles in Books |
Italicize the chapter or article title. |
White E, Robinson S. "Data Visualization Techniques." In: Taylor L, et al., editors. The Art of Data Analysis. Boston: DataPress; 2017. p. 87–102. |
| 📰 Newspaper or Magazine Article Titles |
Italicize the title of the article. |
Martinez G, et al. "Climate Change Impact on Biodiversity." Environmental Studies. 2019; 40(3):220–235. |
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Vancouver Style Citation Examples
Reference list example 1
- Smith J, Brown R. Introduction to Biomedical Research. New York: Academic Press; 2019.
- Johnson A, Davis M, White E. "Advancements in Genetic Research." Journal of Medical Genetics. 2021; 28(4):123-136.
- Website Title. URL. Published Year. [Internet]. [Cited Year Month Day]. Available from: [URL]
- White E, Robinson S. "Data Visualization Techniques." In: Taylor L, et al., editors. The Art of Data Analysis. Boston: DataPress; 2017. p. 87-102.
- Martinez G, et al. "Climate Change Impact on Biodiversity." Environmental Studies. 2019; 40(3):220-235.
- Anderson P, Lewis H. Advancements in Neuroscience Research. San Francisco: Springer; 2021.
- Taylor L, et al. "Robotics in Medicine: A Comprehensive Review." Journal of Medical Technology. 2022; 18(1):87-102.
- Miller K. Understanding Immunology. London: Wiley; 2018.
- Website Title 2. URL. Published Year. [Internet]. [Cited Year Month Day]. Available from: [URL]
- Johnson S, et al. "Exploring Quantum Computing Technologies." Journal of Computing Advances. 2020; 15(2):78-92.
Reference list example 2
- Adams R, Baker M. Chemistry: Principles and Applications. Boston: Pearson; 2020.
- Carter T, Johnson A, White E. "The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Business Strategies." Journal of Business and Technology. 2019; 15(3):189-205.
- Website Title 3. URL. Published Year. [Internet]. [Cited Year Month Day]. Available from: [URL]
- Brown S, Robinson P. "Advancements in Renewable Energy Technologies." Energy Research Reviews. 2018; 25:45-60.
- Thompson G, et al. Data Science Handbook. New York: O'Reilly Media; 2016.
- Hall M, et al. "The Role of Microorganisms in Soil Fertility." Soil Science. 2021; 42(2):110-125.
- Website Title 4. URL. Published Year. [Internet]. [Cited Year Month Day]. Available from: [URL]
- Lewis E, et al. "Artificial Neural Networks in Financial Forecasting." Journal of Financial Technology. 2022; 10(1):35-50.
- Robinson S. The Art of Creative Writing. London: Writer's Press; 2017.
- Website Title 5. URL. Published Year. [Internet]. [Cited Year Month Day]. Available from: [URL]
What if There's Missing Information in Vancouver References
In the Vancouver referencing style, it's essential to provide as much information as possible for each source type. However, if there is missing information, you can adapt your reference list accordingly. Here are some general guidelines:
| 📌 Scenario |
💡 Solution |
📘 Example |
| ❓ Missing Author Information |
If the author's name is unavailable, start the reference with the title of the source. |
Title of the Book. Place of Publication: Publisher; Year. |
| 📅 Missing Publication Year |
If the publication year is not provided, use "n.d." (no date). |
Author A, Author B. Title of the Article. Title of the Journal. [Internet]. [Cited Year Month Day]. Available from: [URL]. |
| 📄 Missing Page Numbers |
If page numbers are not available, it's acceptable to omit them. |
Author C. Title of the Website. URL. Published Year. [Internet]. [Cited Year Month Day]. Available from: [URL]. |
| 🔗 Missing URL |
If the URL for an online source is unavailable, indicate it’s from the internet and provide the publication date. |
Author D. Title of the Webpage. Published Year. [Internet]. [Cited Year Month Day]. Available from: [URL]. |
How to Reference a Journal Article in the Vancouver Citation Style
According to the Vancouver citation format, referencing a journal article involves providing specific details about the article in numerical order. Here's a general guide on referencing a journal article in Vancouver citation style:
| 📌 Key Element |
💡 Explanation |
📘 Example |
| 👤 Author(s) |
List the last name followed by the initials of all authors. Use commas to separate names and an ampersand (&) before the last author's name. |
Smith J, Brown R. |
| 📄 Title of the Article |
Use sentence case (capitalize the first word and proper nouns). Italicize the title of the article. |
Advancements in genetic research. |
| 📚 Title of the Journal |
Italicize the journal title and abbreviate it according to the journal's standard abbreviation. If no abbreviation exists, use the full title. |
Journal of Medical Genetics. |
| 📅 Year of Publication |
Provide the year of publication, followed by a semicolon. |
2021; |
| 🔢 Volume and Issue Numbers |
Italicize the volume number, followed by the issue number in parentheses (if applicable). |
28(4): |
| 📜 Page Numbers |
Provide the inclusive page numbers of the article, followed by a period. |
123–136. |
How Do You Cite a Book in the Vancouver Referencing Style
In Vancouver style, citing a book involves providing specific details about the book in a numerical order. Here's a general guide on how to reference a book in Vancouver citation style:
| 📌 Key Element |
💡 Explanation |
📘 Example |
| 👤 Author(s) |
List the last name followed by the initials of all authors. For multiple authors, separate names with commas and use an ampersand (&) before the last author's name. |
Smith J, Brown R. |
| 📕 Title of the Book |
Italicize the book title. Use sentence case, capitalizing the first word and any proper nouns. |
Introduction to Biomedical Research. |
| 📍 Place of Publication |
Include the city or location where the book was published, followed by a colon. |
New York: |
| 🏢 Publisher |
Specify the publisher's name. |
Academic Press; |
| 📅 Year of Publication |
Provide the publication year, followed by a period. |
2019. |
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How to Cite a Website in a Paper in Vancouver Style
In Vancouver style, citing a website in a paper involves providing specific details about the webpage in numerical order. Here's a general guide on how to reference a website in Vancouver citation style:
| 📌 Key Element |
💡 Explanation |
📘 Example |
| 👤 Author(s) |
If an individual author is available, list the last name followed by initials. For corporate authors or organizations, use the full name. |
Author A. |
| 🌐 Title of the Webpage |
Use sentence case, where only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized. |
Title of the Webpage. |
| 📄 Website Title |
Italicize the title of the website. If the website has no formal title, describe it. |
Website Title. |
| 🔗 URL |
Provide the full URL of the webpage. |
https://www.example.com |
| 📅 Published Year |
If available, provide the publication year. |
Published Year. |
| 📥 Internet |
Include [Internet] in square brackets to specify the medium. |
[Internet]. |
| 📆 Cited Year Month Day |
Include the date when you accessed the webpage, in the format Year Month Day. |
[Cited 2023 November 14]. |
| 🖥️ Available From |
Indicate that the source is available online, followed by the URL. |
Available from: https://www.example.com. |
Summing Up
In conclusion, mastering Vancouver-style citations is a valuable skill for students navigating academic writing. Understanding the fundamentals outlined in this article, from proper author formatting to the meticulous arrangement of references, will undoubtedly enhance the clarity and credibility of your scholarly work.
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