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Vancouver Style is identical to NLM Style (or National Library of Medicine).
This guide is a quick introduction to Vancouver/NLM Style and common citations. For additional examples and guidance, please see the full book, available for free, at Citing medicine: the NLM style guide for authors, editors, and publishers.
The style "follows rules established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, now maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. It is also known as Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts submitted to Biomedical Journals," according to Monash University Library's Vancouver Style page.
Basic Format:
Author AA, Author BB, Author CC. Title. Place of publication: Publisher; Year of publication. Page range.
I'm citing a...
Online Journal Article
Doyle JJ, Coate JE. Polyploidy, the nucleotype, and novelty: the impact of genome doubling on the biology of the cell. International Journal of Plant Sciences [Internet]. 2019 Jan [cited 2021 Apr 30];180(1):1–52. Available from: https://search-ebscohost-com.ccsf.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=fsr&AN=133686826&site=ehost-live.
Print Article
Aitchison JD, Rout MP. The yeast nuclear pore complex and transport through it. Genetics. 2012 Mar;190(3):855–83.
Kennedy, M. To prevent wildfires, PG&E pre-emptively cuts power. NPR [news source on the Internet]. 2018 Oct 15;15-18. Available from: https://www.npr.org/2018/10/15/657468903/to-prevent-wildfires-pg-e-preemptively-cuts-power-to-thousands-in-california
Print Book
Compagno LJ, Dando M, Fowler SL. Sharks of the world. Princeton: Princeton University Press; 2005. 368p.
eBook
Ault CR. Do elephants have knees? And other stories of darwinian origins [Internet]. Ithaca: Comstock Publishing Associates; 2017 [cited 2021 Apr 30]. (UPCC Book Collections on Project MUSE). Available from: https://search-ebscohost-com.ccsf.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1341588&site=ehost-live.
Keith, WN, Bilsland, AE. Targeting telomerase: therapeutic options for cancer treatment. In: Rudolph, KL, editor. Telomeres and telomerase in aging, disease, and cancer: molecular mechanisms of adult stem cell ageing. Berlin: Springer; 2008. p. 247-284.
Preidt, R. Who is using herbal kratom? [Internet]. WebMD HealthDay; Updated 2021 Apr 29; cited 2021 May 3. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20210429/who-is-using-herbal-kratom
Henochowicz SI, Zieve D. 2021. Allergies. Bethesda, MD: US National Library of Medicine, Updated May 4. Video, 0:1:05. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/anatomyvideos/000002.htm
Films Media Group. 2015. Great white lies. Films on demand, Uploaded Jan 24. Documentary film, 50:23. Available from: https://digital-films-com.ccsf.idm.oclc.org/p_ViewVideo.aspx?xtid=137734&tScript=0
Chakrabarti D, Akhtar N. 2021. White plaque on the tongue [image on Internet]. N Engl J Med; cited 2021 May 20. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMicm2032955
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Shingles on face [image on Internet]. Updated 2011 Jan 10; cited 2012 Nov 6]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/photos.html
Basic Format:
A number is allocated to a source in the order in which it is cited in the text. If the source is referred to again, the same number is used. Use Arabic numerals (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9). Either square [ ] or curved brackets ( ) can be used as long as it is consistent. Example: ...as one author has put it "the darkest days were still ahead".(1)
I'm using...
Page numbers are not usually included with the citation number. However should you wish to specify the page number of the source the page/s should be included in the following format:
...as one author has put it "the darkest days were still ahead"(1 p23)
Peart (3 p16-18) has argued that...
If you're directly quoting more than 40 words...
Use a blockquote. Block quotes don't need quotation marks, but are indented 1/2" as a visual cue of a citation.
Peart's (3 p16-18) study found the following:
While research studies have established that socioeconomic status influences disease incidence, severity and access to healthcare, there has been relatively less study of the specific manner in which low SES influences receipt of quality care and consequent morbidity and mortality among patients with similar disease characteristics, particularly among those who have gained access to the healthcare system.
The preferred method is to list each reference number separated by a comma, or by a dash for a sequence of consecutive numbers. There should be no spaces between commas or dashes
For example: Peart (1,5,6-8).
This guide was created by Carolyn Caffrey Gardner and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.