Vancouver citation style is a system of referencing that is widely used in the fields of biomedicine and health sciences. It is based on the guidelines of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), which are updated periodically1. The main features of Vancouver citation style are:
- In-text citations are indicated by numbers in parentheses or superscript, depending on the preference of the author or publisher.
- The numbers correspond to the sources listed in the reference list at the end of the document, in the order of citation.
- The same number is used for a source throughout the document, regardless of how many times it is cited.
- Multiple sources can be cited together by using a hyphen to indicate a range of numbers, or a comma to separate individual numbers.
- The reference list provides the full bibliographic information for each source, following a specific format for each type of source.
In-text citations
In-text citations are used to acknowledge the sources of information, ideas, or quotations that are used in the text. They are marked by numbers, either in parentheses or superscript, that refer to the sources in the reference list. For example:
According to Smith et al. (1), the results were inconclusive. OR According to Smith et al. 1, the results were inconclusive.
The numbers are assigned in the order of citation, and the same number is used for the same source throughout the document. For example:
The study by Jones and Lee (2) was the first to examine this phenomenon. OR The study by Jones and Lee 2 was the first to examine this phenomenon.
Later in the document:
This phenomenon has been confirmed by several studies (2, 4, 6). OR This phenomenon has been confirmed by several studies 2, 4, 6.
When citing multiple sources, a hyphen can be used to indicate a range of numbers, or a comma can be used to separate individual numbers. For example:
Several studies have shown similar results (3-5, 7, 9). OR Several studies have shown similar results 3-5, 7, 9.
When citing a specific part of a source, such as a page, chapter, figure, or table, the number should be followed by a comma and the relevant information. For example:
As shown in Figure 1 (8, p. 12), the correlation was significant. OR As shown in Figure 1 8, p. 12, the correlation was significant.
Reference list
The reference list provides the full bibliographic information for each source cited in the text, in the order of citation. The reference list should start on a new page at the end of the document, with the title “References”. Each reference should be numbered and indented from the second line onwards. The format of each reference depends on the type of source, but generally follows this pattern:
Author(s). Title. Edition. Place of publication: Publisher; Year of publication. Extent. Notes.
The following are some examples of how to format different types of sources in Vancouver style:
- Book: Smith J, Jones P, editors. Handbook of research methods. 3rd ed. New York: Springer; 2010.
- Book chapter: Lee A, Chen B. Qualitative data analysis. In: Smith J, Jones P, editors. Handbook of research methods. 3rd ed. New York: Springer; 2010. p. 123-45.
- Journal article: Wang C, Liu D, Zhang E. Effects of exercise on blood pressure: a meta-analysis. J Hypertens. 2011;29(4):568-75.
- Website: World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020 [cited 2020 Dec 10]. Available from: 1.
For more details and examples of how to cite different types of sources in Vancouver style, you can consult the official handbook1, or the online guides from Imperial College London or Scribbr.
Conclusion
Vancouver citation style is a widely used system of referencing in biomedicine and health sciences. It uses numbers to indicate the sources of information, ideas, or quotations in the text, and provides the full bibliographic information for each source in the reference list. The format of each reference depends on the type of source, and follows specific rules and conventions. By using Vancouver citation style correctly, you can acknowledge the work of others, avoid plagiarism, and enhance the credibility of your own work.
1: Patrias K, Wendling D. Citing medicine: the NLM style guide for authors, editors, and publishers [Internet]. 2nd ed. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2007 [updated 2009 Oct 21; cited 2020 Dec 10]. Available from: 2.