Vancouver Citation Format
Numbered citations [1], [2] in citation order. Standard for NEJM, Lancet, BMJ, JAMA, and most biomedical journals.
The basic formula
In-text: [number] in citation order. Reference list: same numerical order with full bibliographic details.
In-text examples
Recent trials have shown a 30% reduction [1].
Smith and colleagues reported a similar result [2].
Multiple sources support this finding [3-5].
Non-consecutive: [1, 4, 7].
Same source twice: [1] (use the same number throughout).
Some journals use superscript: ¹ instead of [1] — check journal style.Reference list examples
Smith J, Jones A, Brown B. Effect of treatment on outcomes. N Engl J Med. 2024;390(5):432-45.
Smith J, Jones A, Brown B, Davis C, Wilson E, Miller F, et al. Large multi-center trial. JAMA. 2024;331(2):145-58.
Smith J. Medical Statistics for Clinicians. 3rd ed. London: Wiley; 2024.
Smith J. Statistical methods. In: Jones A, editor. Clinical Research Handbook. London: Wiley; 2024. p. 50-75.
Smith J. Trial outcomes. In: Proceedings of the International Cardiology Conference; 2024 May 1-3; Boston. Boston: ACC; 2024. p. 100-10.
World Health Organization. Climate Change and Health [Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2024 [cited 2024 May 1]. Available from: https://who.int/climate
US Centers for Disease Control. Annual Surveillance Report 2024. Atlanta (GA): CDC; 2024 [cited 2024 May 1]. Report No.: 2024-001. Available from: https://cdc.gov/report
Smith J, Jones A. Novel treatment trial. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 [cited 2024 May 1]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.04.30.24306
Reference list rules
- Numbered in citation order (NOT alphabetical).
- Each entry starts with the citation number.
- Up to 6 authors listed; 7+ uses 'et al.' after the first 6.
- Author format: last name + initials, no commas between initials.
- Journal names use NLM-abbreviated form (find via PubMed).
- Pages: full range, but second number can be abbreviated: 123-45 (not 123-145).
- No DOI or URL unless required by specific journal.
Common mistakes
- Alphabetizing the reference list. Vancouver lists in citation order, not alphabetically.
- Using full journal names. Use NLM abbreviations: 'N Engl J Med', not 'New England Journal of Medicine'.
- Listing all authors when there are 10+. Standard Vancouver caps at 6, then et al. Check journal — some require all.
- Adding 'and' before last author. Vancouver uses commas only: 'Smith J, Jones A, Brown B.'
- Forgetting the [Internet] tag for web sources. Required to mark online resources.
TypeTeX's citation generator supports Vancouver style — paste a PubMed ID, DOI, or URL and get a properly formatted reference. Free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Vancouver is a numbered citation style created by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). In-text citations use square-bracket numbers [1] in the order they first appear in the paper. The reference list at the end is numbered in the same order, with full bibliographic details. Standard for biomedical and clinical research journals.
NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine), The Lancet, BMJ, JAMA, Nature Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, and most biomedical journals indexed in PubMed. The exact format varies slightly by journal — always check the specific 'Instructions for Authors' page.
Use square brackets with the citation number: [1]. Multiple consecutive: [1-3]. Multiple non-consecutive: [1, 4, 7]. Place after the relevant statement: 'Recent trials have shown a 30% reduction [1].' Some journals use superscript: ¹. Always check journal-specific style.
By appearance — the first source cited in the paper is [1], the second new source is [2], and so on. The reference list at the end is in the same numerical order, NOT alphabetical. Each source keeps its number throughout the paper, so [1] always means the same source.
Journal: Smith J, Jones A, Brown B. Article title. Abbreviated J Title. 2024;42(3):123-45. Note: authors with last name first followed by initials (no commas between initials), abbreviated journal title in italics or plain (style-dependent), volume(issue):pages. Up to 6 authors listed; 7+ uses 'et al.' after the first 6.
List up to 6 authors. For 7 or more, list the first 6 then add 'et al.' (some journals require all authors regardless). Order: last name + initials. Authors separated by commas: 'Smith J, Jones A, Brown B.' No 'and' before the last author.
Use the abbreviated NLM (National Library of Medicine) journal title — find these in PubMed or the NLM Catalog. Examples: New England Journal of Medicine → 'N Engl J Med', Journal of the American Medical Association → 'JAMA', British Medical Journal → 'BMJ' (already abbreviated). Italics or plain text depending on journal style.
Author or Organization. Page title [Internet]. City: Publisher; Year [cited Year Month Day]. Available from: URL. Example: World Health Organization. Climate Change and Health [Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2024 [cited 2024 May 1]. Available from: https://who.int/climate. The [Internet] tag and 'cited' date are required.
Author. Title. Edition. Place: Publisher; Year. Example: Smith J. Medical Statistics. 3rd ed. London: Wiley; 2024. For chapters: Smith J. Chapter title. In: Editor A, editor. Book Title. Place: Publisher; Year. p. 50-75.