Quick study guide 25
Citing sources – sequential numbering (Vancouver)
(Used for: Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Humanities, Pharmacy)
With this system, each source is given a number in the order in which it is first cited in the
text. Whenever the source is referred to again, the same reference number is used. A list of
references provides details of all the cited texts, listed in numerical order, on a separate page at
the end of the paper titled ‘References’.
Note: There is some variation in the formatting of citations even within a particular referencing
style. Always check your own faculty/department’s guidelines and be consistent in
whatever format you use.
In-text citations
 Numbering should be consecutive (1, 2, 3, 4) throughout the chapter or paper.
 Citations should be placed in square brackets at the end of the sentence after the full
stop (some departments may prefer before the full stop). Either square [ ] or curved brackets
( ) can be used as long as it is consistent, or superscripts can be used instead of
brackets. Check with your Department or School for which in-text method they prefer.
For example:
The history of educational innovations is far from encouraging.[3]
The history of educational innovations is far from encouraging.3
 Within a sentence, citations should be placed before commas, semi-colons or colons.
For example:
The history of educational innovations is far from encouraging [3]; nevertheless, some advances have been
made.
 If the author’s surname is included in the text it should be followed immediately by the
reference number in brackets. For example:
Henman [1] states that...
 If the citation contains more than one work the reference numbers should appear within
one set of brackets, separated by commas:
… our social history [2,5]
 If the citation is a direct quote, the page number or range of numbers must be given, (note
no punctuation):
Swales [2 p 42] points out that ‘the propensity for early categorization can lead to failure’.
Wilson [5 pp 30-33] states that ‘university employees should be valued for their contribution to society’.
For more information
Demystifying citing and referencing: http://monash.edu.au/library/skills/resources/tutorials/citing/
Citing and Referencing Library guide: http://guides.lib.monash.edu/citing-referencing
July 2013
© Monash University
List of references
Notice details such as numbering, punctuation, abbreviations (particularly with journal titles) and
use of capitals in the following basic examples. For other types of reference materials refer to
the Vancouver Library Guide (guides.lib.monash.edu/citing-referencing - select the source type
from Vancouver drop-down tab)

Basic format for a book (1 to 6 authors)
Author AA. Title of book. Number of edition [if not first]. Place of Publication: Publisher; Year of
publication. Pagination
Carlson BM. Human embryology and developmental biology. 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby; 2009. 541 p.

Basic format for a journal article
Author AA, Author BB, Author CC, Author DD, Author EE, Author FF. Title of article. Abbreviated title of
journal. Date of publication YYYY Mon DD;volume number(issue number):page numbers.
Petitti DB, Crooks VC, Buckwalter JG, Chiu V. Blood pressure levels before dementia. Arch Neurol. 2005
Jan;62(1):112-6.
More than 6 authors:
Hallal AH, Amortegui JD, Jeroukhimov IM, Casillas J, Schulman CI, Manning RJ, et al. Magnetic resonance
cholangiopancreatography accurately detects common bile duct stones in resolving gallstone pancreatitis. J
Am Coll Surg. 2005 Jun;200(6):869-75.

Basic format for an electronic journal article
Author AA, Author BB, Author CC, Author DD, Author EE, Author FF. Title of article. Abbreviated title of
Journal [Internet]. Year of publication [cited YYYY Mon DD];volume number(issue number):page
numbers. Available from: URL DOI
Kanneganti P, Harris JD, Brophy RH, Carey JL, Lattermann C, Flanigan DC. The effect of smoking on
ligament and cartilage surgery in the knee: a systematic review. Am J Sports Med [Internet]. 2012 Dec [cited
2013
Feb
19];40(12):2872-8.
Available
from:http://ajs.sagepub.com/content/40/12/2872doi:
10.1177/0363546512458223
 Online resource (if author’s name is not available)
Author/organization's name. Title of the page [Internet]. Place of publication: Publisher's name; Date or
year of publication [updated YYYY Mon DD; cited YYYY Mon DD]. Available from: URL
Diabetes Australia. Diabetes globally [Internet]. Canberra ACT: Diabetes Australia; 2012 [updated 2012 June
15; cited 2012 Nov 5]. Available from: http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/en/UnderstandingDiabetes/Diabetes-Globally
Example reference list
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
July 2013
Henman P. Myths of welfare reform. Aust J Soc Issues. 2002; 37(1):71-4
Palmer GR, Short SD. Healthcare and public policy: an Australian analysis. 3rd ed. South Yarra,
Vic: Macmillan; 2000.
Ansari A. Langevin modes of analysis of myoglobin. J Chem Phys [online journal]. 1999 [cited 2003 July
2];110 (3). Available from: http://ojps.aip.org/journals/doc/vol_110/iss.html
International Narcotics Control Board [online]. 2002 [cited 2 July 2002]. Available from:
http:www.incb.org
Austroads. Rural road design. Guide to the geometric design of rural roads. Sydney, NSW: Austroads;
1999.
Goldschmidt S, Junghagen S, Harris U. Strategic affiliate marketing. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar
Publishing; 2003.
Burka LP. A hypertext history of multi-user dungeons. [Online] 2003 [updated 2003 November 22; cited
2004 January 22]. Available from: http://www.utopia.com/talent/lpb/muddex/muddex.htm.
© Monash University