Vancouver Referencing Guide

Vancouver Referencing Overview

Vancouver referencing is a numeric citation style commonly used in the publications related to the field of physical sciences or medicine studies.

Key things to remember

In Vancouver referencing, a number is assigned to each source as and when it is used. The original number that is assigned to the reference is used whenever that source is cited in the text.

Have a look at the referencing format for various sources listed below:

1. Books

Citations for books with one author:

When you are citing a book with a single author, use the format mentioned below:

(Number) Last name, first initial. Title. Edition (if not the first edition of the book). City of publication: Publisher; Year.

Citations for books with two or more authors:

If you are citing a book having two or more authors, then for an in-text reference mention only the first author's name followed by 'et al.' However, for a reference list, all authors should be listed in the order in which they are credited in the original work.

(Number) Last name, first initial and Last name, first initial. Title. Edition (if not the first edition of the book). City of publication: Publisher; Year.

Citations for a chapter in an edited book:

If you are citing a single chapter in a book, it is important to ensure that you add the page range (p.) that the chapter spans. If you have to cite a chapter, you should also always include the edition of the book in the citation.

(Number) Last name, first initial. Chapter title. In: Editor's name/s (ed/s) Book Title. Edition. City of publication: Publisher; Year. Page/s.

Tools for creating Vancouver Book references:

• Reference a Book
• Reference a Book Chapter

2. Articles

Citations for Print Journals:

Follow the following format while citing a a print journal:

(Number) Last name, First initial. Article Title. Journal name, Year;Volume(Issue), Page/s.

Citations for Journal Articles accessed on a website or database:

In Vancouver referencing, wherever possible you should supply the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) of the source you accessed. If no DOI is available, you should cite the URL of the source.

(Number) Last name, First initial. (Year). Article Title. Journal name, Volume (Issue), Page/s. Available from: URL or DOI. [Accessed: date].

Citations for Newspaper or Magazine Articles - Print or Online:

Newspaper/magazine citations are rendered similarly to journal articles when they are found online; the same differences in formatting occur, as the example below illustrates.

Print: (Number) Last name, First initial. Article title. Newspaper name; Year. Page/s.

Online: (Number) Last name, First initial. Article Title. Newspaper name; Year. Page/s. Retrieved from: Journal name/ URL if freely available.