Referencing

Vancouver uses numeric references in the text, either numbers in brackets (1) or superscript¹.

• These in‐text numbers are matched to full, numbered references for each publication in a reference list.
• The reference list is arranged in numerical order i.e. the publications are listed in the order they appeared in the text, and not alphabetically by author(s) or editor (s) name.

Using numbers in text

• When citing two or more sources at once, write a number for each separated by a comma e.g. (1, 2) or (6, 12).
• When citing more than two sources which are numbered consecutively, use a hyphen instead of a comma e.g. (3-5).
• If you need to cite a particular work more than once, you can use the same reference number for each citation.
• Numbers should be in brackets and placed after punctuation marks such as full stops or commas, but before colons and semi-colons.
• It is recommended that page numbers should be included in in-text citations where this is necessary to indicate a specific part of the text, for example with a direct quote or paraphrase, eg (2, p. 20) or (2, p. 20).

When referencing journals the title must be abbreviated. For a list of journal abbreviations please see the NCBI NLM catalog.

Many science publications are the result of collaborative work, resulting in multiple authors who require citation. If the work has six authors or fewer, list all of them. If there are more than six authors, list the first six authors followed by et al.

Referencing books

Author/editor. Title (capitalise only the first letter of the first word and any proper nouns), Edition (only include the edition number if it is not the first edition). Place of publication: publisher; Year of publication, Series and volume number (where relevant).

One to six authors: list all of them

Guy J. The view across the river: Harriette Colenso and the Zulu struggle against imperialism. Charlottesville, Virginia: University Press of Virginia; 2001.

More than six authors: list the first six followed by et al.

Meakin CJ, King DA, White J, Scott JM, Handley H, Griffiths A, et al. Screening for depression in the medically ill. J Nerv Ment Dis 1991; 12: 45‐53

Edited book

Al-Sabbagh M, editor. Complications in implant dentistry. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Elsevier; 2015. Dental Clinics of North America series, v. 59, no. 1.

Chapter in a book

Sparkes V. Function of the spine. In Everett T, Kell C, editors. Human movement: an introductory text. 6th ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingston Elsevier; 2010. p. 191‐ 209.

Ebook

Wear A. Knowledge and practice in English medicine [internet]. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2000 [cited 2015 June 17]. Available from: http:// site.ebrary.com/lib/bham/detail.action?docID=5004608.

Journal: Print

Author(s), Title of article, Title of journal (capitalise all initial letters and use journal abbreviation), Date of publication as year month day, [cited year month day]; Volume (issue): Page numbers (not preceded by p.).

Knapik JJ, Cosio-Lima LM, Reynolds KL. Efficacy of functional movement screening for predicting injuries in coast guard cadets. J Strength Cond Res 2015; 29 (5): 1157‐1162.

Journal: Electronic

Remember to add [internet], date cited and URL or DOI (digital object identifier).

Knapik JJ, Cosio-Lima LM, Reynolds KL. Efficacy of functional movement screening for predicting injuries in coast guard cadets. J Strength Cond Res [internet]. 2015 [cited 2015 June 23]; 29(5): 1157‐1162. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Fulltext/2015/05000/Efficacy_of_Functional_Movement_Screening_for.1.aspx

Reference list

The reference list should only include sources you have cited in your text. List any sources you read, but did not cite in your work, in a separate bibliography.

A reference gives the full details of the brief citation you have referred to in text and is shown at the end of your essay. A reference will include authors, titles, editions, publisher details and journal details.

Sample reference list

1. Martin EA, editor. Concise medical dictionary. 8th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2010&
2. Parkinson J. An essay on the shaking palsy. London: Whittingham and Rowland; 1817
3. Mayo R, Stern P, Williams TW. An estimate of the prevalence of dementia in idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Arch Neurol 1988; 45: 260‐263
4. Brown RG, Robinson PJ. The level of depression in Parkinson's disease. Am J Psychiatry 1987; 149: 122‐129
5. Meakin CJ, King DA, White J, Scott JM, Handley H, Griffiths A, et al. Screening for depression in the medically ill. J Nerv Ment Dis 1991; 12: 45‐53

Bibliography

The bibliography is a separate list of works you consulted but did not reference. It should also be located at the end of your work.

Sample bibliography

Crime Commission. Prosecution appeals (Law Com No 567, Cm 8906). London: The Stationery Office; 2012.

Jameson A. ‘International queries’, British business schools librarians group discussion list (2014 Mar 13). Available email: lisbusinessschools@gmail.com

Jones D. ‘Developing big business’, Large firms policy and research conference (University of Birmingham, 1999 Dec 18-19). Leeds: Institute for Large Businesses; 1999.

Whittingham D. Zulu Warriors. University of Birmingham: unpublished handout; 2015.