What is Vancouver referencing?

Vancouver referencing is an author-number citation style used widely in the scientific and medical disciplines. The Vancouver system was created in 1978 as a way of standardising and clarifying the formatting in its related fields, to make things as clear as possible for the reader.

How to Vancouver reference

There are many variations within the Vancouver style, so it’s important to find out exactly which version your academic institution expects. In Vancouver citation, a number is assigned to each reference as it is used. The original number assigned to the reference is used each time that reference is cited in the text.

References are also listed in numerical order in a bibliography at the end of the essay. The number can be placed either outside or inside the text punctuation and you’ll need to check with your academic institution to find out which style they prefer.

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Vancouver referencing example

Popular Vancouver style Citation Examples

How to cite a Book in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite a book using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Author Surname Author Initial. Title. City: Publisher; Year Published.

Example:

1. Mangan J, Lalwani C, Butcher T. Global logistics and supply chain management. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley; 2011.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

The second idea is that while supply chains have existed for a long time, most organizations have only paid attention to what was happening within their “four walls.” Few businesses understood, much less managed, the entire chain of activities that ultimately delivered products to the final customer. The result was disjointed and often ineffective supply chains. (1)



How to cite a Journal in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite a journal using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Author Surname Author Initial. Title. Publication Title [Internet]. Year Published [cited Date Accessed];Volume number(Issue number):Pages Used. Available from: http://Website URL

Example:

1. Syrett S, Sepulveda L. Urban governance and economic development in the diverse city. European Urban and Regional Studies [Internet]. 2012 [cited 1 September 2014];19(3):238-253. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0969776411430287

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

The governance of urban economic development activity itself presents particular chal- lenges, given that such activity routinely cuts across boundaries between the state, business and civil soci- ety and requires effective inter-agency cooperation (Skelcher et al., 2008) (1)



How to cite Film or Movie in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite a film or movie using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Title. City: Publisher; Year Published.

Example:

1. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. USA: a; 2013.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

non valued staff (1)



How to cite an Online image or video in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite an online image or video using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Author Surname Author Initial. Title [Internet]. Year Published [cited Date Accessed]. Available from: http://Website URL

Example:

1. Ratcliff T. Our Night Under The Stars [Internet]. 2014 [cited 29 September 2014]. Available from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/4771036933/in/photostream/

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

Scene 1 Sky (1)



How to cite a Website in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite a website using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Author Surname Author Initial. Title [Internet]. Year Published [cited Date Accessed]. Available from: http://Website URL

Example:

1. Gaudin S. How moon landing changed technology history [Internet]. Computerworld UK. 2009 [cited 15 June 2014]. Available from: http://www.computerworlduk.com/in-depth/it-business/2387/how-moon-landing-changed-technology-history/

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

Simple source that revealed what exactly changed in technology and what the moon landing paved the way for (1)


Additional Vancouver style Citation Examples

How to cite a Blog in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite a blog using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Author Surname Author Initial. Title [Internet]. Publication Title. Year Published [cited Date Accessed]. Available from: http://Website URL

Example:

1. See M. The 3 tiers of censorship in Singapore [Internet]. Singapore Rebel : Speak truth unto power. 2014 [cited 12 July 2014]. Available from: http://singaporerebel.blogspot.sg/2009/11/3-tiers-of-censorship-in-singapore.html

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

Section 33 of the Films Act criminalizes the making, import, distribution and exhibition of any film that makes biased references to political persons or matter in Singapore. (1)



How to cite a Court case in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite a court case using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Title. Document Title/Name. Year Published. p. Pages Used.

Example:

1. Shilubana and Others v Nwamitwa. CCT. 2008.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

This is an application for leave to appeal against a decision of the Supreme
Court of Appeal,1 substantially confirming a decision of the Pretoria High Court.2 It
raises issues about a traditional community’s authority to develop their customs and
traditions so as to promote gender equality in the succession of traditional leadership,
in accordance with the Constitution. A woman was appointed to a chieftainship
position for which she was previously disqualified by virtue of her gender (1)



How to cite a Dictionary entry in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite a dictionary entry using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Author Surname Author Initial. Title [Internet]. Publication Title. City: Publisher; Year Published [cited Date Accessed]. p. Pages Used. Available from: http://Website URL

Example:

1. Merriam Webster [Internet]. 1st ed. Merriam Webster. 2014 [cited 15 September 2014]. Available from: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authentic

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

a :  worthy of acceptance or belief as conforming to or based on fact
b :  conforming to an original so as to reproduce essential features
c :  made or done the same way as an original (1)



How to cite an E-book or PDF in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite an e-book or pdf using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Author Surname Author Initial. Title [Internet]. City: Publisher; Year Published [cited Date Accessed]. Available from: http://Website URL

Example:

1. Burn S. Women Across Cultures. 3rd ed. 2000.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

most comprehensive agenda ever negotiated for women empowerment (1)



How to cite an Edited book in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite an edited book using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Author Surname Author Initial. Title. City: Publisher; Year Published.

Example:

1. seabrook J. Travels in the Skin Trade: Tourism and the Sex Industry,. 2nd ed. London: Pluto Press; 2001.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

The favorite destinations for male sex tourists include Bangkok and Phuket (Thailand), Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Tijuana (Mexico) and Pampaga (Philippines), amongst many others; for female tourists: principally Jamaica (and other Caribbean islands such as Barbados), countries in Africa (Gambia, Tunisia, Kenya) and in Southern Europe (Italy, Greece, Spain). (1)



How to cite an Email in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite an email using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Author Surname Author Initial. Title. Year Published.

Example:

1. Sumal K. Getting Featured on Vancity Buzz. 2014.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

Hi Caroline,

There's two ways we decide what gets featured. One if it's newsworthy or unique, second via advertorial. An advertorial is $500. It comes with two tweets and a facebook link. The owner or persons wanting the advertorial would provide the write up to us along with any images. 

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

Karm (1)



How to cite an Encyclopedia article in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite an encyclopedia article using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Author Surname Author Initial. Title. Publication Title. City: Publisher; Year Published. p. Pages Used.

Example:

1. Maillot de foot Coupe du monde 2014 M. Maillot de foot Coupe du monde 2014. Maillot de foot Coupe du monde 2014. Maillot de foot Coupe du monde 2014: Maillot de foot Coupe du monde 2014; 2014. p. http://www.cwstudio.it/fr/maillotdefootpascher/.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

Hi there, just wanted to mention, I loved this blog post. It was practical. Keep on posting!| (1)



How to cite an Interview in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite an interview using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Author Surname Author Initial. Title. Location; Year Published.

Example:

1. Hicks D. David Hicks: Australian Story Special. Australia; 2011.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

This Program provided an overall account of what happened to David Hicks. Hicks gives first hand accounts of mistreatments he received. (1)



How to cite a Magazine in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite a magazine using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Author Surname Author Initial. Title. Publication Title [Internet]. Year Published [cited Date Accessed];(Issue number):Pages Used. Available from: http://Website URL

Example:

1. Mostapha A, C S, Rodríguez H. Nondisjunction and chromosomal anomalies. Revista Salud Uninorte [Internet]. 2010 [cited 31 August 2014];(vol.26):117-133. Available from: http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0120-55522010000100012&lng=en.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

La no segregación es el fracaso de los cromosomas homólogos en separarse correctamente durante la meiosis. Esto resulta en la producción de gametos que contienen una cantidad de cromosomas mayor o menor a la encontrada en una célula normal. Consecuentemente, el individuo puede desarrollar una trisomía o monosomía. La no disyunción puede ocurrir en meiosis I o meiosis II de la división celular, es una causa de diversas condiciones médicas anormales, incluyendo el Síndrome de Down (trisomía del cromosoma 21), Síndrome de Patau (trisomía del cromosoma 13), Síndrome de Edward (trisomía del cromosoma 18) y Síndrome de Turner (la presencia de un solo cromosoma X). A pesar de que es la causa de numerosos trastornos genéticos, aún no se conoce su etiología exacta y el proceso en el cual se lleva a cabo. La no disyunción se origina en el mayor de los casos de errores en la meiosis II materna, sin embargo, la meiosis paterna y la meiosis I materna influyen en ella. La edad materna se considera como un factor de riesgo de las trisomías, igual que la alteración de la recombinación y otros factores que pueden afectar la segregación cromosómica, tal como la genotoxicidad y translocaciones cromosómicas. (1)



How to cite a Newspaper in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite a newspaper using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Author Surname Author Initial. Title. Publication Title [Internet]. Year Published [cited Date Accessed];:Pages Used. Available from: http://Website URL

Example:

1. Boseley S. UK among worst in western Europe for level of overweight and obese people. The Guardian [Internet]. 2014 [cited 28 September 2014];. Available from: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/may/29/uk-western-europe-obesity-study

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

In the UK, 67% of men and 57% of women are either overweight or obese, according to the Global Burden of Disease study, published in the Lancet medical journal. More than a quarter of children are also overweight or obese – 26% of boys and 29% of girls (1)



How to cite a Podcast in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite a podcast using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Author Surname Author Initial. Title [Internet]. Publication Title. Year Published [cited Date Accessed]. Available from: http://Website URL

Example:

1. Corp Author. The title of the episode [Internet]. The  name of the podcast. 2014 [cited 27 October 2014]. Available from: http://podcasts.com/jghadjghadja/

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

Sample test for the podcast manual citation :) (1)



How to cite a Song in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite a song using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Author Surname Author Initial. Title [Internet]. City: Publisher; Year Published [cited Date Accessed]. Available from: http://Website URL

Example:

1. Lennon J. Out the Blue. Apple; 1973.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

Out the blue you came to me
And blew away life's misery

All my life's been a long slow knife
I was born just to get to you
Anyway I survived long enough
To make you my wife (1)



How to cite The Bible in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite The Bible using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Title. City: Publisher; Year Published.

Example:

1. The Bible. 2014.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

"Hear, O" Israel : the Lord our God, the Lord is One" (1)



How to cite a TV Show in Vancouver style


Use the following template to cite a TV Show using the Vancouver citation style.

Reference List

Place this part in your bibliography or reference list at the end of your assignment.

Template:

1. Title. Channel number: Broadcaster; Year Published.

Example:

1. GNT History. ABC; 2004.

In-text citation

Place this part right after the quote or reference to the source in your assignment.

Template:

(1)

Example:

No-one ever thought of the Indigenous people... as people who should have rights equal to themselves. Unheard of. (1)


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