IEEE chapters

IEEE

Using IEEE

The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) referencing style is often used in electrical and electronic engineering, computer science and other technical fields. This IEEE guide is based on the IEEE Reference Guide that is freely available to view and download from the publisher's website (click on IEEE Reference Guide option).

The IEEE style is a numerical or numbered system. It requires that sources are acknowledged as an in-text citation by numbering them consecutively in the order in which they first appear in the body of work. For example, the first source is given number 1, the second source number 2, and so on. Each source is allocated a unique number. Once you give a source a number, the same number is used for the in-text citation whenever you refer to that source in the body of work. In the reference list at the end of your document, the source’s number appears in numerical order.

Important: this is a guide only. To avoid losing marks, confirm referencing requirements with your educators.

In your writing, you must acknowledge each author or source of information (whether print or online) either by paraphrasing or using a direct quote.
References that are cited in-text must appear as a number within square brackets, and need to come before any punctuation with a space before the bracket [1].
Numbered references used in-text start at [1] and continue in ascending order within the body of the work. Once a source has been cited and allocated a reference number, the same reference number must be used throughout the body of a work if it’s referred to multiple times.
List all multiple citations in ascending numerical order enclosing each citation number in brackets, e.g. [1], [5], [6], [7], [11] or as [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]. Do not use an en dash.
Numbered citations may be treated grammatically as footnote numbers in the text e.g. As demonstrated by Smith [5] . . . OR, For further details, see [1], [5], [7].
Numbered citations may also be treated as nouns in the text e.g. According to [7] . . . OR, As mentioned in [4], [5], [6]-[8].
It is not necessary to mention either the author(s) or dates of any work cited in-text.
When citing in text, for one to two authors, include both author’s family names. When there are three or more authors, cite the first family name, followed by et al.
When directly quoting, that is using the exact words that an author has used, enclose the quote in double quotation marks “ ” and allocate a citation number along with the page number(s) in square brackets [2, p.44].
In your writing, acronyms should be written out in full the first time referred to, followed by the acronym in parentheses. For subsequent occurrences, the use of the acronym is acceptable. See the Abbreviations section for more details.

Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing is when you express the ideas of the author(s) in your own words. When paraphrasing, it’s acceptable to include only the citation as a number in square brackets, or as a number along with the author’s family name as part of your sentence.

Note: When paraphrasing, the citation details can be placed at the beginning, middle or end of a sentence.

Citation at the beginning

Benson [1] states that thermal performance . . .

Citation in the middle

. . . not only does the shift toward multicore processors mean more improvements in CPU speed [1], but they also consume less power and produce less heat.

Citation at the end

. . . and therefore the rate of heat transfer slows [1].

Note: Citations can also be structured according to whether they give prominence to the author, or to the information being conveyed.

Author-prominent citations

In his research on software thermal management, Benson [1] claims that . . .

Information-prominent citations

. . . where more processors are being produced to optimise power and thermal performance [1].

Including page numbers in a paraphrase citation

When paraphrasing, page numbers are not usually used as part of the citation, unless it intends to help the reader to locate the source of the information in a lengthy or complex document.

Note: Including page numbers when paraphrasing is optional, and is not a requirement of the IEEE referencing style.

Direct quotes

Direct quotes are used when you are using the exact words of the author(s). Put direct quotes between double quotation marks “ ” and add both the citation number followed by a comma, and the page number(s), preceded by p. (for a single page) or pp. (for multiple pages). Do not overuse direct quotes!

"Due to the nonlinear nature of the Law of Dynamic Power, if the demand on the processor is light, the operating frequency can be reduced to save clock cycles, reducing power and limiting heat generation" [1, p. 82].

Citing a source with no page number(s)

If the work you are referencing does not contain page numbers, then use chapter numbers, section headings and paragraph numbers as part of the in-text reference.

"Many physical dynamic systems can be represented and modeled by first-order differential equations" [1, Ch. 3, para. 1].

Omitting words from a direct quote

If you omit words from a direct quote, you will need to add a space followed by three ellipsis dots ( . . . ) and another space.

"The third basic electrical element is the inductor . . . Generally, the induced voltage v in an inductor is proportional to the rate of change of current i" [1, p. 168].

Note: Quotes longer than three lines are strongly discouraged, and should be avoided.

If citing the same reference within the body of the text, then use the same citation number throughout the text. IEEE does not allow for the use of terms such as “ibid.” or “op. cit.” when citing the same reference multiple times. Instead, if the same source is cited multiple times, then it is preferable to distinguish between these with reference to the appropriate section, for example:

[1, p. 15] when directly quoting a single page
[1, pp. 29–31] directly quoting multiple pages
[1, Ch. 8] referring to a chapter
[1, Tab. 12] a table

If listing multiple citations within a sentence of text, list each citation number separately within square brackets and with a comma between each citation.

List all multiple citations in ascending numerical order e.g. [1], [6], [9]. Or [5], [6], [7], [8].

In [1], [4], [8] it was noted that . . .

It is suggested by [6], [7], [8], [9] that . . .

A secondary citation is used when you acknowledge the work of an author that you have read about in another author’s work.

The IEEE referencing style does not allow for the use of secondary citations.

If a secondary citation has to be used, then the original source must be located and cited.

If the original source cannot be located, then do not cite it.

Abbreviations - Months

When citing journals, patents and websites, use the following abbreviations for months:

Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, Jun., July, Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec. (note that the month of May appears in full and does not require a full stop).

Use a forward slash for bimonthly issues e.g. Apr./May 2016 and a en dash for a quarterly issue e.g. Jun–Aug. 2015.

All other abbreviations

For all abbreviations, including for words, journal titles, magazine titles, conferencing proceedings, and publishers, see Section IV for Useful Abbreviations in References section of the IEEE Reference Guide (2022) (opens in a new tab) pp. 20–24.

Acronyms in-text

Acronyms are to be defined in-text and written out in full the first time referred to, followed by the acronym in parentheses.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) [1] Space Flight report identifies . . .

For subsequent occurrences the use of the acronym is acceptable.

The NASA [1] report also outlines . . .

Acronyms in the reference list

Acronyms in the reference list are to be written out in full for corporate/organisation author names. However, publisher names can be abbreviated or an acronym can be used.

[1] National Aeronautics and Space Administration, “Space flight: the first 30 years,” NASA, Washington, DC, USA, Rep. 1, 1991.

General rules

Use a reference list to include all of the publications you have acknowledged at the end of your work, and use the heading References or Reference List on a new page.
The reference list is arranged in an ascending numbered sequence such as [1], [2], [3] and so on, and must be presented in the order in which they appear in the body of the text.
Reference list numbers should be positioned flush against the left page margin, and the citation details must appear on the same line, and be indented.
IEEE requires some words, months, publisher names, conference proceedings and journal titles to be abbreviated where appropriate – see Abbreviations section for further details.
Publisher names in the reference list can be abbreviated or an acronym can be used e.g. WHO may be used instead of World Health Organization.
Do not abbreviate or use acronyms for corporate/organisation author names e.g. CSIRO should be written out as Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in the reference list.
Capitalise and italicise titles where appropriate.
Do not combine references – only one reference per number. See Example of a reference list section for formatting details.
Include a retrieval statement in the form of a DOI or URL (where possible) if the reference is taken from an electronic or online source, or alternatively, where stated in the rules, a database name. The DOI can be added to the reference list using the following formats: doi:xx.xxxxxxxxxxxx or http://doi:xx.xxxxxxxxxxxxx. There is no full stop after a URL, but there is after a DOI. Neither the DOI or URL should be hyperlinked.
Take care when editing any references, as this may require careful renumbering of sources cited both in-text and in the reference list.
The Reference List is to be formatted using 1.5 line spacing and single paragraph spacing between each citation. For clarification see your lecturer.
For the place of publication, add the city, and then include the state abbreviation (if applicable) and country name, followed by the publisher and year of publication. Cities in the USA need the city name, state abbreviation and country abbreviation.

Note: The Reference List is to be formatted using 1.5 line spacing and single paragraph spacing between each citation.

Reference List

[1] J. L. Blackburn, Protective Relaying: Principles and Applications, 4th ed. Boca Raton, FL, USA: CRC Press, 2014.

[2] H. F. Lodish et al., Molecular Cell Biology, 7th ed. New York, NY, USA: W. H. Freeman and Co., 2012.

[3] A. A. P. Biscaro, R. A. F. Pereira, M. Kezunovic, and J. R. S. Mantovani, “Integrated fault location and power-quality analysis in electric power distribution systems,” IEEE Trans. Power Del., vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 428-436, Apr. 2016, doi:10.1109/TPWRD.2015.2464098.

[4] S. Shao, J. Bi, F. Yang, and W. Guan, “On-line estimation of state-of-charge of Li-ion batteries in electric vehicle using the resampling particle filter,” Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, vol. 32, pp. 207-217, Oct. 2014, doi: 10.1016/j.trd.2014.07.013.

[5] K. A. Burke, “High energy density regenerative fuel cells systems for terrestrial applications,” IEEE Aerosp. Syst. Mag., vol. 14, no. 12, pp. 23-34, Dec. 1999.

[6] B. Lin, X. Tang, and X. Huang, "Research on fiber optic gyroscope adaptive filtering algorithm based on FPGA," in Proc. 2015 Int. Conf. Comput. Intell. and Communication Networks (CICN), Jaipur, India, pp. 1354-1357, doi: 10.1109/62.811091.

[7] Energy Networks Australia, "Judicial review of energy network regulatory decisions." Energy Networks Australia. Accessed: Feb. 1, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.energynetworks.com.au/miscellaneous/judicial-review-of-energy-network-regulatory-decisions

[8] nottinghamscience, U.K. What is Nanotechnology? (Apr. 15, 2008). Accessed Feb. 22, 2018. [Online video]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYR8lV23Pow

[9] Y. Ren et al., 2017. "Microstructures of cold-sprayed titanium before and after heat treatment, vol. 7," CSIRO Data Collection, http://doi:10.4225/08/5913e0247881b.

[10] Multinode temperature sensor, by K.Deby. (2016, May 19). Patent 2016102110 [Online]. Available: https://www.austpat/189907465454.com

[11] IEEE Standard for Spectrum Sensing Interfaces and Data Structures for Dynamic Spectrum Access and Other Advanced Radio Communication Systems, 1900.6, IEEE, New York, NY, USA, May 2011. [Online]. doi:10.1002/9781119573784.ch18. Available: https://www.saiglobal/ieee2743287647644

[12] M. Al-Saidi, “A model formulation approach for system support engineering,” Ph.D. dissertation, Aero., Mech. and Manuf. Eng., RMIT Univ., Melbourne, Australia, 2014. [Online]. Available: https: ://researchrepository.rmit.edu.au/esploro/outputs/doctoral/A-model-formulation-approach-for-system/9921863821301341?institution=61RMIT_INST#file-0

IEEE

Books

Paraphrasing in-text

When paraphrasing, include the citation number in square brackets. Or, if referring to the author(s) family name in the body of the text, then include the citation number in square brackets immediately after the family name.

As discussed in [2], relays are used in everyday life.

Blackburn [2] states that . . .

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

"Symmetrical components can be called the language of the relay engineer or technician" [2, p. 71].

Blackburn notes that "Symmetrical components can be called the language of the relay engineer or technician" [2, p. 71].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), or name of organisation/company, Title of Book, ed. (edition, except the first). Place of Publication City, abbrev. State (US only), Country: Publisher, Year of Publication.

Example

[2] J. L. Blackburn, Protective Relaying: Principles and Applications, 4th ed. Boca Raton, FL, USA: CRC Press, 2014.

Paraphrasing in-text

State both authors using ‘and’ between the two author family names when citing in-text.

Battery load calculation is discussed in [2].

Bayliss and Hardy [2] state that batteries . . .

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

"The load on the battery is calculated from the power consumption characteristics" [2, p. 139].

Reference list

List both authors, separating the two author names with ‘and’.

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), or name of organisation/company, Title of Book, ed. (edition, except the first). Place of Publication City, abbrev. U.S. State (if applicable), Country: Publisher, Year of Publication.

Example

[2] C. R. Bayliss and B. J. Hardy, Transmission and Distribution Electrical Engineering, 4th ed. Oxford, U.K.: Newnes, 2012.

Paraphrasing in-text

If citing more than two authors in-text, use the first family name listed followed by et al. (in italics).

Utilisation of digital circuits enables . . . [2].

Radulov et al. [2] discuss the use of digital circuits.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

"Digital circuits can only be utilized providing an appropriate translation" [2, p. 11].

Reference list

List all authors (up to six), separating the last two author names with ‘and’.

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), or name of organisation/company, Title of Book, ed. (edition, except the first). Place of Publication City, abbrev. U.S. State (if applicable), Country: Publisher, Year of Publication.

Example

[2] G. Radulov, P. Quinn, H. Hegt, and A. van Roermund, Smart and Flexible Digital-to-Analog Converters. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer, 2011.

Paraphrasing in-text

If citing more than two authors in-text, use the first family name listed followed by et al. (in italics).

Centrifugation is the first process in protein purification [2].

Lodish et al. [2] discuss methods for polymer and particle separation.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

"Rate-zonal centrifugation has proved to be a practical method for separating many different types of polymers and particles" [2, p. 93].

Reference list

If there are more than six authors listed, use et al. (in italics) after the first author’s family name.

Rule

Author initials. Family name, or name of organisation/company, Title of Book, ed. (edition, except the first). Place of Publication City, abbrev. U.S. State (if applicable), Country: Publisher, Year of Publication.

Example

[2] H. F. Lodish et al., Molecular Cell Biology, 7th ed. New York, NY, USA: W. H. Freeman and Co., 2012.

Paraphrasing in-text

When paraphrasing, include the citation number in square brackets. Or, if referring to the author(s) family name/corporate name in the body of the text, then include the citation number in square brackets immediately after the family/corporate name.

Arthropods have exoskeletons that are considered to be . . .[2].

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Division of Entomology [2] consider the exoskeletons of arthropods to be . . .

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

"Arthropods are metamerically segmented invertebrates" [2, p. 3].

Reference list

Place corporate name in the author position.

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), or name of organisation/company, Title of Book, ed. (edition, except the first). Place of Publication City, abbrev. U.S. State (if applicable), Country: Publisher, Year of Publication.

Example

[2] Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Division of Entomology, The Insects of Australia: A Textbook for Students and Research Workers, 2nd ed. Carlton South, Australia: Melbourne University Press, 1991.

Paraphrasing in-text

The mobility of hydrogen atoms cause . . .[2].

Kupriyanov [2] recommends alternatives to oil and mercury vacuum pumps.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

"Hydrogen atoms are the simplest donor particles" [2, p. 185].

Reference list

Include the translated title and details such as language directly after the publisher.

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), Title of Book, ed. (edition, except the first). Place of Publication City, abbrev. U.S. State (if applicable), Country: Publisher (in Language), Year of Publication.

Example

[2] L. Y. Kupriyanov, Semiconductor Sensors in Physico-Chemical Studies. Burlington, VT, USA: Elsevier Science (in English), 1996.

Paraphrasing in-text

There are two determining factors for the necessary length of insulators [2].

Wagenaar [2] contends that mineral oil . . .

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

"Mineral oil expands and contracts with temperature" [2, p. 9].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), "Title of the chapter," in Title of the Book, Ed., (editor if available), ed. (edition, except the first). City of Publisher, abbrev. State (US only), Country: Abbrev. of Publisher, Year of Publication, ch. x, pp. xxx–xxx (chapter/s or first and last pages of the article).

Example

[2] L. B. Wagenaar, "Electrical bushings," in Electric Power Transformer Engineering, J. H. Harlow, Ed., 3rd ed. Boca Raton, FL, USA: CRC Press, 2012, ch.13, pp. 1-24.

Paraphrasing in-text

Handset competition is discussed by [2].

Curwen and Whaley [2] evaluate the complexity of the mobile industry . . .

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

"The handset market is extremely competitive" [2, p. 77].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), Title of Book, ed. (edition, except the first). City of Publisher, State (US only), Country: Abbrev. of Publisher, Year of Publication. [Online]. Available: database homepage URL

Example

[2] P. Curwen and J. Whalley, Mobile Telecommunications in a High-Speed World: Industry Structure, Strategic Behaviour and Socio-Economic Impact. Farnham, U.K.: Ashgate Publishing Ltd, 2011. [Online]. Available: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com

Paraphrasing in-text

Impulse, step and sinusoid signals are used in the design and analysis of electrical and mechanical circuits [2].

The signals used in the design and analysis of electrical and mechanical circuits are detailed by Scharf [2].

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

Note: If no page numbers are listed then use chapter numbers, section headings and paragraph numbers where appropriate.

"The sinusoid is an idealized signal that models excitations that oscillate with a regular frequency" [2, Ch. 5, para. 5].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), Title of Book, ed. (edition, except the first). City of Publisher, State (US only), Country: Abbrev. of Publisher, Year of Publication. [Online]. Available: site/path/file

Example

[2] M.H. Bollen, and H. Hassan. Integration of Distributed Generation in the Power System. Somerset, UK: Wiley-IEEE Press, 2011. [Online]. Available: doi.org/10.1002/9781118029039.

IEEE

Journal articles

The IEEE Referencing Style requires the abbreviation of journal titles in a reference. Use the CAS Source Index (CASSI) Search Tool (opens in a new tab) to locate the correct abbreviation, or refer to the 'Common Abbreviations of Words in References' found on pp.21-24 of the IEEE Reference Guide (opens in a new tab).

For example, the official title abbreviation for the International Journal of Advanced Materials Research, as cross-checked in CAS Source Index (CASSI) Search Tool (opens in a new tab) is Int. J. Adv. Mater. Res.

Other examples include:

Advances in Optical and Photonic Devices = Adv. Opt. Photonic Devices
Chemistry in Microelectronics = Chem. Microelectron.

Note: If you cannot locate the journal title, you can spell out the name of the journal title in full.

Paraphrasing in-text

A liquid level sensor circuit is designed . . .[3].

Ibrahim [3] carried out tests . . .

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

Ibrahim concluded that the "Accuracy of the sensor can be improved by increasing the microcontroller clock frequency or value of the charging resistor" [3, p. 179].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), "Title of article," abbrev. Title of Journal, vol. (volume number), no. (issue number), pp. first and last pages of the article, abbrev. Month (if available) Year.

Example

[3] D. Ibrahim, “Development of a low-cost educational liquid-level sensor circuit,” Int. J. Elect. Eng. Educ., vol. 52, no. 2, pp. 168-181, Apr. 2015.

Other examples include:

Advances in Optical and Photonic Devices = Adv. Opt. Photonic Devices
Chemistry in Microelectronics = Chem. Microelectron.

Note: If you cannot locate the journal title, you can spell out the name of the journal title in full.

Paraphrasing in-text

State both authors, using ‘and’ between the two author family names when citing in-text.

Atmospheric effects such as rain and fog can affect the transmission of free-space optical signals [3].

Song and Kam [3] contend that atmospheric effects such as rain and fog can affect the transmission of free-space optical signals.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

"Free-space optical (FSO) communications provide high data rate transmission with higher security and higher flexibility compared with conventional wireless communications." [3, p. 1120].

Reference list

List both authors, separating the two author names with ‘and’.

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), "Title of article," abbrev. Title of Journal, vol. (volume number), no. (issue number), pp. first and last pages of the article, abbrev. Month (if available) Year.

Example

[3] T. Song and P. Y. Kam, “Robust data detection for the photon-counting free-space optical system with implicit CSI acquisition and background radiation compensation,” J. Lightwave Technol., vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 1120-1132, Feb. 2016.

Other examples include:

Advances in Optical and Photonic Devices = Adv. Opt. Photonic Devices
Chemistry in Microelectronics = Chem. Microelectron.

Note: If you cannot locate the journal title, you can spell out the name of the journal title in full.

Paraphrasing in-text

If citing more than two authors in-text, use the first family name listed followed by et al. (in italics).

Repair time and financial losses can be minimised by using the fault diagnosis system to restore a system to normal operation [3].

Biscaro et al. [3] contend that repair time and financial losses can be minimised by using the fault diagnosis system to restore a system to normal operation.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

Biscaro et al. concluded that “The integrated system diagnosis and fault location will assist the electric utility personnel in their daily job in providing important information for operation and maintenance” [3, p. 435].

Reference list

List all authors (up to six), separating the last two author names with ‘and’.

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), "Title of article," abbrev. Title of Journal, vol. (volume number), no. (issue number), pp. first and last pages of the article, abbrev. Month (if available) Year.

Example

[3] A. A. P. Biscaro, R. A. F. Pereira, M. Kezunovic, and J. R. S. Mantovani, “Integrated fault location and power-quality analysis in electric power distribution systems,” IEEE Trans. Power Del., vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 428-436, Apr. 2016.

Other examples include:

Advances in Optical and Photonic Devices = Adv. Opt. Photonic Devices
Chemistry in Microelectronics = Chem. Microelectron.

Note: If you cannot locate the journal title, you can spell out the name of the journal title in full.

Paraphrasing in-text

If citing more than two authors in-text, use the first family name listed followed by et al. (in italics).

Simplicity in relation to the SOC estimation process is an important factor for portable devices using a small or single battery [3].

Chun et al. [3] concluded that simplicity in relation to the SOC estimation process is an important factor for portable devices using a small or single battery.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

Chun et al. concluded that "In portable devices using a single or small-sized battery, simplicity and low power dissipation of the state of charge estimation process are important factors" [3, p. 262].

Reference list

If there are more than six authors listed, use et al. (in italics) after the first author’s family name.

Rule

Author initials. Family name, "Title of article," abbrev. Title of Journal, vol. (volume number), no. (issue number), pp. first and last pages of the article, abbrev. Month (if available) Year.

Example

[3] C. Y. Chun et al., “Current sensor-less state-of-charge estimation algorithm for lithium-ion batteries utilizing filtered terminal voltage,” J. Power Sources, vol. 273, pp. 255-263, Jan. 2015.

Other examples include:

Advances in Optical and Photonic Devices = Adv. Opt. Photonic Devices
Chemistry in Microelectronics = Chem. Microelectron.

Note: If you cannot locate the journal title, you can spell out the name of the journal title in full.

Paraphrasing in-text

The static characteristics of the battery system are . . .[3].

Shao et al. [3] propose that a battery’s temperature, state of health and age can affect . . .

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

"The observation equation needs to reflect the static and dynamic characteristics of the battery system" [3, p. 209].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), "Title of article," abbrev. Title of Journal, vol. (volume number), no. (issue number), pp. first and last pages of the article, abbrev. Month (if available) Year, doi:.

Example

[3] S. Shao, J. Bi, F. Yang, and W. Guan, “On-line estimation of state-of-charge of Li-ion batteries in electric vehicle using the resampling particle filter,” Transp. Res. Part D: Transport Environ., vol. 32, pp. 207-217, Oct. 2014, doi: 10.1016/j.trd.2014.07.013.

Other examples include:

Advances in Optical and Photonic Devices = Adv. Opt. Photonic Devices
Chemistry in Microelectronics = Chem. Microelectron.

Note: If you cannot locate the journal title, you can spell out the name of the journal title in full.

Paraphrasing in-text

The United States and Europe contribute to . . .[3].

Blau [3] contends that the United States and Europe contribute to . . .

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

"When it comes to the internet, Europe still plays a supporting role to the United States" [3, p. 4].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), "Title of article," abbrev. Title of Journal, vol. (volume number), no. (issue number), pp. first and last pages of the article, abbrev. Month (if available) Year. [Online]. Available: site/path/file

Example

[3] J. Blau, “Big demand for big data scientists in Europe,” Res. Technol. Manage., vol. 58, no. 3, pp. 3-6, May/Jun. 2015. [Online]. Available: https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/big-demand-data-scientists-europe/docview/1682657590/se-2

Other examples include:

Advances in Optical and Photonic Devices = Adv. Opt. Photonic Devices
Chemistry in Microelectronics = Chem. Microelectron.

Note: If you cannot locate the journal title, you can spell out the name of the journal title in full.

Paraphrasing in-text

The elements in optical systems are outlined in [3].

The waveguide element is claimed as critical by Song and Tan [3].

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

"Waveguide is one of the key elements on optical systems for the confinement and transmission of light" [3, p. 4].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), "Title of article," abbrev. Title of Journal, vol. (volume number), no. (issue number), pp. first and last pages of the article, abbrev. Month (if available) Year. [Online]. Available: site/path/file

Example

[3] C. Song and S. H. Tan, “A perspective on the rise of optofluidics and the future,” Micromachines, vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 1-17, May 2017. [Online]. Available: http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/8/5/152

IEEE

Conferences

Paraphrasing in-text

Adaptive filtering technology applied to engineering, is based on the implementation of adaptive algorithm [5].

Adaptive filtering technology applied to engineering, is based on the implementation of adaptive algorithm, as Lin, Tang and Huang [5] explain.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

According to researchers, "The realization of adaptive algorithm is the basis of application of adaptive filtering technology to engineering practice" [5, p. 1354].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s). (Date). Title. Presented at Abbreviated Conf. title. [Online]. Available: site/path/file

Example

[5] Y.S. Sergeev, S.V. Sergeev, and G.E. Karpov. (2019). Modeling Three-Dimensional Liquid Flows in Computer-Controlled Vibrojet Mixer Using FlowVision. Presented at Proc. of the 5th Int. Conf. on Ind. Eng. (ICIE). [Online]. Available: doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-22063-1_145.

Paraphrasing in-text

Once data packets have come into the internet network, users cannot control the path these packets take, even though users can select an ISP of their own choice [5].

Yang [5] explains that once data packets have come into the internet network, users cannot control the path these packets take, even though users can select an ISP of their own choice.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

"Today, users can pick their own ISPs, but once the packets have entered the network, the users have no control over the overall routes their packets take" [5, p. 1].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), “Title of paper,” in Abbreviated Name of Conf., (location of conference is optional), (Month and day(s) if provided) year, pp. xxx-xxx.

Example

[5] P. J. Cornwell, "Implementing a program to motivate math and science grade school classrooms," in Proc. IEEE Frontiers in Educ. Conf., Washington, DC, USA, 1993, pp. 529-534.

IEEE

Reports

Paraphrasing in-text

The Black Knight program was purposely designed to test the aerodynamic behaviour of re-entry nose cones [6].

The aerodynamic behaviour of re-entry nose cones is discussed by James [6].

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

"The surfaces of a boomerang have similar characteristics to an aircraft wing" [6, p. 3].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), "Title of report," Abbrev. name of Company, City of Company, abbrev. US State (if applicable), Country, Report Number/Type (if available), Year of Publication.

Example

[6] M. L. James, “A history of Australia’s space involvement,” Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, Working Paper 241, Nov. 1991.

Paraphrasing in-text

Skylab’s features and lifespan are fully discussed in [6].

The Apollo Telescope Mount was the largest piece of scientific equipment on Skylab, according to NASA [6].

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

"The ATM had its own electricity-generating solar panels" [6, p. 18].

Reference list

Rule

Organisation/company name, "Title of report," Company, City, abbrev. US State (if applicable), Country, Report Number/Type (if available). Date. Accessed Date. [Online]. Available: site/path/file

Example

[6] A. A. Catellier and S. D. Voran, “NTIA technical report TR-17-522: Intelligibility of selected speech codecs in frame-erasure conditions,” NTIA, Washington, DC, USA, May 5, 2016. Accessed 21 Sep. 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/publications/3165.aspx

IEEE

Webpages

Paraphrasing in-text

There are two instabilities which contribute to the poor efficiency of lithium-oxygen fuel cells [7].

Fleischman [7] describes the capacity fade which occurs when the electrolyte reacts with the electrodes.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

Note: If no page numbers are listed then use chapter numbers, section headings and paragraph numbers where appropriate.

Fleischman reports that lithium-oxygen fuel cells are "seen as a promising candidate for future transportation-related energy needs" [7, para. 1].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s). "Title of Webpage." Title of Website. Date Accessed (Abbrev. month and day, year). [Online]. Available: site/path/file

Example

[7] T. Fleischman. "Stabilizing molecule could pave way for lithium-air fuel cell." CNN.com. Accessed: Apr. 30, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2017/04/stabilizing-molecule-could-pave-way-lithium-air-fuel-cell.

Paraphrasing in-text

It is reported in [7] that the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) will need to make new decisions regarding gas and electricity network pricing.

Energy Networks Australia [7] concludes that poor regulation will have impacts on service and reliability.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

Note: If no page numbers are listed then use chapter numbers, section headings and paragraph numbers where appropriate.

Energy Networks Australia reports that "Neither the Court nor the Tribunal took the decision out of the hands of the AER" [7, para. 4].

Reference list

Rule

Organisation/company name. "Title of Webpage." Title of Website. Date Accessed (Abbrev. month and day, year). [Online]. Available: site/path/file

Example

[7] Energy Networks Australia. "Judicial review of energy network regulatory decisions." (accessed June 1, 2017). [Online] Energy Networks Australia.Available: https://www.energynetworks.com.au/miscellaneous/judicial-review-of-energy-network-regulatory-decisions/

Paraphrasing in-text

Updating the Kinect software has enabled the creators to track a maximum of 25 body joints; 20% more than the first version, and now including fists and thumbs [9].

Pterneas [9] relates that updating the Kinect software has enabled the creators to track a maximum of 25 body joints; 20% more than the first version, and now including fists and thumbs.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide the citation number in square brackets.

Note: Page numbers are NOT required for this format type.

"The initial version of Kinect allowed us to track up to 20 body joints. The second version allows up to 25 joints. The new joints include the fists and thumbs!" [9].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), Place of Publication City, abbrev. US State (if applicable), Country. Title of Blog. Release date (Month Day if available, Year). Accessed Month Day, Year. [Blog]. Available: site/path/file

Example

[9] V. Pterneas, Kinect for windows version 2: Body tracking, (Mar. 13, 2014). Accessed June 2, 2017. [Blog]. Available: https://pterneas.com/2014/03/13/kinect-for-windows-version-2-body-tracking/

IEEE

Audiovisual media

Paraphrasing in-text

Nanotechnology explores how matter is built on a small scale, from atoms to molecules [8].

As explained by nottinghamscience [8], nanotechnology explores how matter is built on a small scale, from atoms to molecules.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide the citation number in square brackets.

Note: A timestamp is NOT required when directly quoting from this type of source.

"Nanotechnology is not only about making things small, but actually having a new function" [8].

Reference list

Rule

Video Owner/Creator, Location (if available). Title of Video. Release date (Month, Day if available, Year). Accessed: Month Day, Year. [Online Video]. Available: site/path/file

Example

[8] nottinghamscience, U.K. What is Nanotechnology? (Apr. 15, 2008). Accessed Feb. 22, 2018. [Online Video]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYR8lV23Pow

Paraphrasing in-text

When software is being developed, it needs to consider new additions, error fixing and an ongoing process of improvement or development [8].

Allardice [8] asserts that when software is being developed, it needs to consider new additions, error fixing and an ongoing process of improvement or development.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide the citation number in square brackets.

Note: A timestamp is NOT required when directly quoting from this type of source.

As explained in [8, para. 6], "Software development needs to be responsive. We need to add new features, we need to fix bugs, we need to support continual development".

Reference list

Rule

Video Owner/Creator, Location (if available), Country. Title of Video. Release date (Month Day if available, Year). Accessed Month Day, Year. [Online Video]. Available: site/path/file

Example

[8] S. Allardice, Reviewing Software Development Methodologies. (May 22, 2012). Accessed June 2, 2017. [Online Video]. Available: https://www.linkedin.com/learning?trk=learning-topics_nav-header-logo&upsellOrderOrigin=default_guest_learning

Paraphrasing in-text

At a tiny scale, and contrary to our expectations, material acts differently than at a larger scale [8].

Schiffrin [8] states that at a tiny scale, and contrary to our expectations, material acts differently than at a larger scale.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide the citation number in square brackets.

Note: A timestamp is NOT required when directly quoting from this type of source.

According to Schiffrin, "We can look at a chunk of material, but at a small scale, and it behaves completely differently than what we might expect" [8].

Reference list

When citing an audio podcast make sure to include the following information where available:

Rule

Podcast Owner/Creator, Location (if available). Title of Podcast. Release date (Month Day if available, Year). Accessed Month Day, Year. [Podcast]. Available: site/path/file

Example

[8] A. Schiffrin, Sydney, Australia. Materials go Nano. (Jan. 8, 2017). Accessed May 12, 2017. [Podcast]. Available: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/scienceextra/materials-go-nano/8117286

IEEE

Other sources

Paraphrasing in-text

The generated image [9] shows . . .

Ren et al. [9] generated an image of cold-sprayed titanium.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide the citation number in square brackets.

Note: Page numbers are NOT required for this format type.

The image displays "3D Compositional distribution of cold spray Ti after HT" [9].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), abbrev. Month Day (if available), Year, "Title of dataset, including the edition, version or volume number (if applicable)," Publisher/Distributor, doi:.

Example

[9] Y. Ren et al., May 11, 2017, "Microstructures of cold-sprayed titanium before and after heat treatment, vol. 7," CSIRO Data Collection, doi:10.4225/08/5913e0247881b.

Paraphrasing in-text

The use of granular materials creates . . .[9].

Gore [9] discusses the method of freezing and thawing in order to create subsurface channels.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide the citation number in square brackets.

Note: Page numbers are NOT required for this format type.

"These experiments were extended from 5 f/t cycles to 40 f/t cycles to further explore the trends" [9].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), abbrev. Month Day (if available), Year, "Title of dataset, including the edition, version or volume number (if applicable)," Publisher/Distributor. [Online]. Available: site/path/file

Example

[9] D. Gore, 2005, "The hydraulic behaviour of permeable reactive barrier materials under freeze-thaw conditions, ver. 1," Australian Antarctic Data Centre. [Online]. Available: https://data.aad.gov.au/metadata/records/ASAC_2576

Paraphrasing in-text

When paraphrasing, include the citation number in square brackets.

The developed fuzzy system cost model is displayed [9].

If citing a Figure in-text: For more details, refer to [9, Fig. 7].

Or, if citing a table in-text: For more details, refer to [9, Tab. 7].

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

"Multiplying the outputs of the four cost models by the weighting factors and summing them up yields an interim level estimation, which is then fed into the fuzzy rule-based inference engine for further processing" [9, p. 32].

Reference list

If citing a figure or table make sure to reference it according to its original source type i.e. book, journal article, report etc.

Paraphrasing in-text

A better multinode temperature sensor is proposed [9].

Deby [9] recognised that improvements are possible.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

Note: If no page numbers are listed then use chapter numbers, section headings and paragraph numbers where appropriate.

"The multi-node temperature sensor probe provides manifold advantages" [9, Desc. Sec.].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), "Title of patent," abbrev. Country (if applicable) Patent Number, abbrev. Month Day (if available), Year. [Online]. Available: site/path/file

Example

[9] K. Deby, "Multinode temperature sensor," Aus. Patent 2016102110, Dec. 2016. [Online]. Available: http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/ols/auspat/applicationDetails.do?applicationNo=2016102110

Examples of personal communication include:

Interviews
Conversations
Telephone calls
Letters
Emails

Paraphrasing in-text

Engineers can develop long-term professional partnerships and contribute ideas with others when networking with peers in their industry [9].

Nguyen [9] stresses the importance of engineers developing long-term professional partnerships and contributing ideas with others, when networking with peers in their industry.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide the citation number in square brackets.

Note: Page numbers are NOT required for this format type.

"Networking with other engineers allows you to build long-term collaborations, as well as share ideas and experiences" [9].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), private communication, Month Year.

Example

[9] L. Nguyen, private communication, Aug. 2016.

Paraphrasing in-text

When paraphrasing, include the citation number in square brackets. Or, if referring to the organisation in the body of the text, then include the citation number in square brackets immediately after the organisation name.

Interoperability between sensors and clients was outlined in [9].

IEEE Standards Association [9] addressed the requirement for new technology.

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide the citation number in square brackets.

Note: Page numbers are NOT required for this format type.

The standard "elaborates on the service access points, serv> ice primitives, as well as generic procedures used to realize this information exchange" [9].

Reference list

Rule

Title of Standard, Standard number, date. [Online]. Available: site/path/file

Example

[9] IEEE Standard for Floating Part Arithmetic, 754-2019, Jul.22. [Online]. Available: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8766229

Paraphrasing in-text

Uncontrolled events are challenging [9].

The model discussed by Al-Saidi [9] states . . .

Direct quote in-text

When directly quoting, place the quote in double quotation marks " " and provide both the citation number and the page number(s) from the source in square brackets.

According to Al-Saidi, "Uncontrolled events are the supreme challenge that any system designer or operator could face" [9, p. 80].

Reference list

Rule

Author(s) initials. Family name(s), "Title of thesis," Type of thesis (Ph.D. dissertation or M.S. thesis), abbrev. Department, abbrev. University, Place of Publication City, abbrev. US State (if applicable), Country, Year of Publication. [Online]. Available: site/path/file

Example

[9] M. Al-Saidi, “A model formulation approach for system support engineering,” Ph.D. dissertation, Aero., Mech. and Manuf. Eng., RMIT Univ., Melbourne, Australia, 2014. [Online]. Available: http://researchrepository.rmit.edu.au/esploro/outputs/doctoral/A-model-formulation-approach-for-system/9921863821301341?institution=61RMIT_INST

You should include the use of scholarly sources in your written assessments to adhere to best academic integrity practice. Citing yourself as an authority on your own opinion should be avoided.

Note: Check first with your lecturer, or teacher, if it is permissible to cite your previously submitted work.

Remember that when submitting work, you will be asked to agree to the Assessment Declaration (opens in a new tab).

The publication, IEEE Reference Guide (2020) does not provide guidelines on how to cite your own work. The following examples show how to cite your own work that you have previously submitted for assessment.

If you cite or quote your own previous work, treat yourself as the author and the title of your previous assessment as an unpublished paper.

Paraphrasing in-text

When paraphrasing, include the citation number in square brackets. Or, if referring to your family name in the body of the text, then include the citation number in square brackets immediately after your family name.

For example, if Brad Smith wanted to cite a paper they wrote at RMIT University in 2019, their in-text reference may look like this:

Studies indicate that . . . [9].

Smith [9] noted that . . .

If your original work contained citations from other sources, you would need to include those same citations in the new work as well.

For example, if Brad Smith's earlier paper had cited Nisbet and Rostow, for example, it may look like this:

According to Smith [9], Nisbet and Rostow [18] argue . . .

Direct quote in-text

Place direct quotes between double quotation marks " " and provide the page number from the previous work.

"There are three forms of linear graphs: point-slope, standard and slope-intercept" [9, p. 3].

Reference list

In the Reference list include:

Student name
"Title of previous work"
Unpublished
Month and year

Example

[9] B. Smith, "An approach to graphs of linear form," unpublished, Oct. 2019.

IEEE

Indigenous knowledges

When acknowledging sources created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, it is recommended that the Nation/Country/Language Group is included after the author’s or creator’s name. This is based on guidance from the Indigenous Referencing Guidance for Indigenous Knowledges published in 2023 by the Indigenous Archives Collective.

The guidelines licensed under a CC-BY-NC-SA licence allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for non-commercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator. This license also applies to this guide.

It is advised to attribute a Nation/Country/language group to an author who has self-identified. This information can be located, for example, in a biographical note to an article or on a personal website.

For more information on how to critically evaluate information sources, visit the IKAT Toolkit.

Note: Guidance from First Nations Communities is welcome, especially from the people of the Woi Wurrung and Boon Wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands RMIT conducts their business. If you would like to send any comments regarding this guide, please use our EasyCite feedback form.

IEEE

AI-generated content

AI-generated text

Using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in learning and research, includinng assessment tasks

The educators within your courses can tell you if you are able to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools in your assessment tasks, including how you can use the tools and what tools you can use. If you use any AI tools, you must appropriately acknowledge and reference the use of these tools and their outputs. Failure to reference the use of these tools can result in academic misconduct.

Please confirm with your course educator before using any AI tools in your assessment tasks.

Overview of text-generating AI tools

Introduction to AI tools that can generate text

AI tools that generate text, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, are large language models with a conversational type of interface, where you can ask a question, receive a detailed response and follow up with additional queries.

Some generative AI tools are not connected to the internet and are trained on data sets up to a specific time point. Other generative AI tools connect to the internet and will provide URL links to information. There are some points to consider when using the text generated by these tools:

As these tools function in a similar way to predictive text on your phone, by recognising and reproducing patterns in language, they can generate incorrect information.
While they can produce citations and references, these are not always correct. If you are relying on the information to be accurate, you should check that the reference cited by the AI tool exists, and that the information cited is present in the original source.
The data sets used to train these tools often include biased and inaccurate information, as access to scholarly information and valid scientific studies may be limited, and information from social media and other less reputable sources is included.

The Learning Lab Artificial Intelligence Tools module has more information on how these AI tools work, and some points to consider when using them.

Copyright and non-human authors

Current copyright law only recognises humans as authors and creators. One of the moral rights associated with copyright is the right to be acknowledged as the author of a work. From a copyright perspective an AI tool cannot be recognised as the creator of a work, however it is important to explain that an AI tool was used in the creation of the work. This has informed our referencing guidance.

General acknowledgement that AI tools have been used in the creation of a work

In some assessment tasks, you may be able to use AI tools for background research, or to generate an outline for your essay or report (as stated earlier, please follow your educator's guidance before using any AI tools).. In this case, rather than citing and referencing specific text generated by AI tools, you will need to provide a general acknowledgement within the body or methods section of your text to explain that an AI tool was used in the creation of your work. Include as much detail as possible, including how you used the AI tool, the prompt used, the date you used the tool, and the name, creator and version of the AI tool.

Example: On the 26th June 2023, I used the May 24 version of OpenAI's ChatGPT to perform background research by using the following prompt "explain the difference between deep learning and machine learning".

Referencing specific text content generated by AI tools

Each of the referencing styles used at RMIT is based on a source style manual. More information on the source style manuals used for each style can be found in Easy Cite. Currently, only the editors of the APA style manual have provided advice on referencing AI-generated content. For the other referencing styles used at RMIT, we have created interim guidelines for referencing AI-generated content that we believe are the best match within that style. These may change in the future as the source style manuals develop or update their guidelines for referencing AI-generated content.

If you are referring to content generated by AI tools within your work, we recommend that you include the shareable link to the content if available, or otherwise include this AI-generated content as an appendix or supplemental information. It is also good practice to include the question or prompt that generated the response to provide context for your readers.

Two sets of reference guidelines are provided below for each style - one is for AI tools that include shareable URLs to the outputs generated from text prompts, which enables your readers to access the outputs themselves. The other is for AI tools that do not provide shareable links, meaning that the readers of your work cannot access the same information themselves.

AI-generated images

Your course lecturer can tell you if you are able to use content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) tools in your assessment tasks, including AI-generated images. Please confirm with your course lecturer for a specific assessment task before using any AI tools.

If you are able to use AI tools in your assessment task, you need to appropriately acknowledge and reference all of the AI-generated content that you include. Failure to reference this AI-generated content can result in academic misconduct.

Please note that the information about using generative AI tools will continue to be updated - we recommend checking this guide regularly and confirming with your course lecturer if you are unsure.

Overview of images generated by AI tools

Some generative AI tools have been trained on large numbers of existing images, and these tools can create new images based on prompts from users. The images created using these tools can be downloaded, but they are not published or reproducible in the AI platform. Images generated using AI tools such as Midjourney and DALL-E 2 are the topic of much debate. Current copyright law only recognises humans as authors. One of the moral rights associated with copyright is the right to be acknowledged as the author of a work. From a copyright perspective there is currently no obligation to recognise AI as the creator of a work, however it is important to explain that AI was used in the creation of the work.

AI-generated images are an emerging technology, and there are not yet clear guidelines for how to incorporate them into existing referencing styles such as APA 7th, Chicago, etc. Our current recommendation for how to reference AI-generated images varies for each referencing style. Additionally, we recommend that you include the question or prompt that generated the image where possible, to provide context for your readers.

Please note that our recommendations for how to reference AI-generated content may change in the future as referencing style manuals are updated.

IEEE Interim guidelines

The IEEE referencing guide does not currently contain any guidelines for referencing AI-generated content, but the style guide does include guidelines for referencing software. We have adapted the software guidelines below, as we believe this is the best match for the style. Please note these are interim guidelines and these may be updated in the future when the IEEE style manual editors release formal advice.

The IEEE referencing style uses numbered in-text citations that match the corresponding reference list entry.

Include details of the AI tool version if known. If a shareable URL to the content is available, include it in your reference list entry. If the content is not shareable, include the prompt used and the output generated in an appendix. Include the general URL for the tool and a note about the appendix in the reference list entry.

Reference list entry example - shareable URL generated by the AI tool:

Template: Reference number. Title of Software. (version or year), Publisher Name. Accessed: Mon DD, YYYY. [Type of Medium]. Available: site/path/file

Example: 1. ChatGPT (May 24 Version), OpenAI. Accessed: Jun 23, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://chat.openai.com/share/5a1327c0-e637-4b3c-a3db-c380b8008ca8

Reference list entry example - non-shareable AI generated content:

Rule: Reference number. Title of Software. (version or year), Publisher Name. Accessed: Mon DD, YYYY. [Type of Medium]. Available: site/path/file. Appendix.

Example: 1. Claude, Anthropic. Accessed: Jan 22, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://claude.ai/chats. See Appendix for prompt used and output generated.

How to reference AI-generated images in IEEE

How to reference images that you produce using an AI tool:

Include the image in your work with a caption that explains that the work was generated using an AI tool, and what prompt was used.

Example

Fig 1. Image generated using Adobe Firefly from the prompt a typical engineer.

How to reference AI-generated images reproduced in a published source:

If using reproduced images, the IEEE style advice is to reference the published source, using a numbered in-text citation that matches the corresponding reference list entry. If including the AI-generated image in your work, include information and a numbered citation in the figure caption below the image.

Caption

Rule

Fig. number. Description of figure [reference number]

Example

Fig 1. A typical engineer as created by Stylianos Moschoglou using an AI machine learning model [1]

Reference list entry:

Reference the published source according to the relevant source guidelines. The example below is a webpage.

Example: 1. C. Barkla. "AI created an image of the ‘average’ engineer – but it’s not the whole picture." Create Digital. Available: https://createdigital.org.au/what-average-engineer-looks-like-ai/ (accessed Mar. 1, 2023).

IEEE

Using IEEE

Introduction to the IEEE referencing style

General rules for in-text citations

Paraphrasing

Citation at the beginning

Citation in the middle

Citation at the end

Author-prominent citations

Information-prominent citations

Including page numbers in a paraphrase citation

Direct quotes

Citing a source with no page number(s)

Omitting words from a direct quote

Citing the same reference multiple times

Multiple citations

Secondary citations

Abbreviations

Abbreviations - Months

All other abbreviations

Acronyms in-text

Acronyms in the reference list

General rules for the reference list

General rules

Example of a reference list

Reference List

IEEE

Books

Book with single author

Paraphrasing in-text

Direct quote in-text

Reference list

Rule

Example

Book with two authors

Paraphrasing in-text

Direct quote in-text

Reference list

Rule

Example

Book with three to six authors

Paraphrasing in-text

Direct quote in-text

Reference list

Rule

Example

Book with more than six authors

Paraphrasing in-text

Direct quote in-text

Reference list

Rule

Example

Corporate author

Paraphrasing in-text

Direct quote in-text

Reference list

Rule

Example

Translated book

Paraphrasing in-text

Direct quote in-text

Reference list

Rule

Example

Book chapter (in an edited book)

Paraphrasing in-text

Direct quote in-text

Reference list

Rule

Example

E-book from a database

Paraphrasing in-text

Direct quote in-text

Reference list

Rule

Example

E-book from the internet

Paraphrasing in-text

Direct quote in-text

Reference list