Important: This is a guide only. To avoid losing marks:
Confirm the referencing requirements of your school with your lecturer, and
Use Citing medicine: the NLM style guide for authors, editors, and publishers (2nd ed.) (opens in a new tab) to clarify referencing rules or if you need more examples. This guide is based on this publication.
The Vancouver referencing style is a numbered system, predominantly used in the medical field. Authorship is acknowledged using a number to represent a reference. From the in-text reference number, the reader may consult the reference list for full publication details.
References are numbered consecutively in the order in which they first appear in the text. For example, the first source is given the number 1, the second source 2, and so on.
Once you have given a source a number, use the same number whenever you refer to that source in the text.
Identifying numbers are placed outside the sentence punctuation. In the text, the number appears in parentheses (either round or square) or as superscript. Examples:
The theory was first put forward in 1987. (1)
The theory was first put forward in 1987. [1]
The theory was first put forward in 1987.1
Paraphrasing is when you use someone else's ideas or research and express them in your own words. The way you cite the information depends on the emphasis you wish to apply.
Information-prominent citations emphasise the information you have paraphrased or quoted from an author:
. . . as evidenced from a recent Australian study. (1)
Author-prominent citations emphasise the author. Note: When citing a reference with multiple authors, list the first author, and then abbreviate subsequent authors using et al.
In his research, Jones (2) asserts that . . .
Morton et al. (2) suggest that the use of binomial control charts . . .
Direct quotes are rarely used in the Vancouver style. However, if you use the exact wording of a source:
include the page number in the in-text citation
enclose short direct quotes within quotation marks
Note: Within the parentheses, the in-text number is followed by a space, then the lower case letter 'p' with no space and the page number.
"The increasing availability and growth rate of biomedical information, also known as ‘big data’, provides an opportunity for future personalized medicine programs that will significantly improve patient care". (1 p433)
Quotes longer than four lines should be indented in a block, in reduced type and without quotation marks:
With the increased need to store data and information generated by big projects, computational solutions, such as cloud-based computing, have emerged. Cloud computing is the only storage model that can provide the elastic scale needed for DNA sequencing, whose rate of technology advancement could now exceed Moore's Law. Moore's law is the observation that, over the history of computing hardware, the number of transistors on integrated circuits and the speed of computers double approximately every 2 years. (1 p433)
When citing more than one reference at the same point in your text, give the relevant numbers, separated by commas. Include one space between the comma and the next number:
A number of researchers (4, 5) discovered that . . .
A number of researchers (3, 6, 10) discovered that . . .
If the references have consecutive numbers, then use a hyphen. There should be no spaces between numbers and hyphens:
A number of researchers (4-7) discovered that . . .
On a new page, under the heading 'Reference List’, list the publication details of all your in-text references. The reference list should be at the end of your document.
List references numerically in the order they first appear in the text.
Include only those works cited in the text. List all other sources you have used separately under the heading ‘Bibliography’.
Format the reference list to be single-spaced with one line space between each entry.
Do not use italics for any titles, e.g. book titles, journal titles, titles of journal articles.
For book titles and journal article titles, capitalise the first word and proper nouns only (i.e. use minimal capitalisation).
For journal titles, use an abbreviated format. To find the title abbreviation, go to the PubMed database, select "Journals in NCBI Datbases", and then enter the journal’s full title to display its abbreviation.
For authors, begin with the family name followed by the initial(s). There are no spaces or full stops between initials (e.g. Smith AB).
Where there are six or fewer authors, list all the authors.
If there are more than six authors, list the first six followed by et al.
For the place of publication, add the city, and then qualify it – see below – by the state code or country name.
Cities in the USA and Canada: Include the two-letter abbreviation for the state or province, e.g. St Louis (MO); Hamilton (ON).
Cities in other countries: Use either the country name after all cities not in the USA or Canada, e.g. Melbourne (Australia); Oxford (England).
For books in the Reference List, pagination (i.e. total number of pages) is optional. Note: The examples in this guide do not include pagination for books.
End citations with a full stop unless the citation ends with a URL or other electronic address.
Check:
If the URL ends with a forward slash, end the citation with a full stop.
If the URL does not end with a forward slash, do not end the citation with a full stop.
Sullivan EJ. Becoming influential: a guide for nurses. 2nd ed. Boston (MA): Pearson; 2013.
Morton A, Mengersen KL, Playford G, Whitby M. Statistical methods for hospital monitoring with R. Chichester (England): John Wiley & Sons; 2013.
Goering RV, Dockrell HM, Wakelin D, Zuckerman M, Chiodini PL, Roitt IM, et al. Mims' medical microbiology. 4th ed. Philadelphia (PA): Mosby Elsevier; 2008.
Colbert BJ, Ankney J, Lee KT. Anatomy, physiology & disease: an interactive journey for health professionals. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River (NJ): Pearson Education; 2013.
Davis J, Birks M, Chapman YB, editors. Inclusive practice for health professionals. South Melbourne, (Australia): Oxford University Press; 2015.
Williams G. Population health and health outcomes. In: Davis J, Birks M, Chapman YB, editors. Inclusive practice for health professionals. South Melbourne, (Australia): Oxford University Press; 2015. p. 128-60.
Wagner, HN. Brain imaging: the chemistry of mental activity [Internet]. London (England): Springer London; 2009 [cited 2012 Aug 24]. Available from: SpringerLink eBooks.
Musiek ES. Circadian rhythms in AD pathogenesis: a critical appraisal. Curr Sleep Med Rep. 2017 Jun;3(2):85-92.
Marinovich ML, Houssami N, Macaskill P, Sardanelli F, Irwig L, Mamounas EP, et al. Meta-analysis of magnetic resonance imaging in detecting residual breast cancer after neoadjuvant therapy. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2013 Mar 6;105(5):321-33.
Ogilvy J. Human enhancement and the computational metaphor. J Evol Technol. [Internet]. 2011 Dec [cited 2018 Mar 9];22(1):[about 12 p.]. Available from: https
Our aged-care industry is in real peril. Sunday Age. 2016 Oct 2:25 (col. 2).
NSW must not drop its guard against measles. Sydney Morning Herald [Internet]. 2019 Jan 5 [cited 2019 Feb 22]:30. Available from: Proquest Australia & New Zealand Newsstream.
Hill J. High time for an ovary-action to stop killer. Newcastle Herald. 2019 Feb 19:12 (col. 1).
Squires M. Vitamin C may become new diabetes treatment. The Advertiser [Internet]. 2019 Feb 11 [cited 2019 Feb 19]:4. Available from: Proquest Australia & New Zealand Newsstream.
Mannix L. Universal flu vaccine a big step closer - but it will only help half of us. The Age [Internet]. 2019 Feb 19 [cited 2019 Feb 22]:[about 3 p.]. Available from: https
Gustowski S, Budner-Gentry M, Seals, R. Osteopathic techniques: the learner's guide. New York (NY):Thieme; 2017. Figure 4.25, Glenohumeral joint; p. 72.
Fernandez-Lizarbe E, Montero A, Polo A, Hernanz R, Moris R, Formenti S, Ramos A. Pilot study of feasibility and dosimetric comparison of prone versus supine breast radiotherapy. Clin Transl Oncol 2013; 15:450-9. Figure 2, Dose distributions for a left-breast tumor (a, b) at the level of surgical bed defined by titanium clips (arrows) and the corresponding DVH (c,d) for supine (left) and prone (right) positions; p. 453.
National Cancer Institute. Parathyroid cancer treatment (PDQ®)–patient version [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Cancer Institute; [Figure 1], Anatomy of the thyroid and parathyroid glands; [updated 2016 May 27; cited 2016 Aug 11]; [about 1 screen]. Available from: http
Ross JS. Lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. [cited 2017 Sep 05]. [Figure], Graphic of large recurrent disc herniation shows displacement of the nuclear material through a large defect in the posterior annular fibers with effacement of the ventral thecal sac and displacement of the intrathecal nerve roots. In: Imaging Reference Centre [Internet]. Amsterdam (The Netherlands): Elsevier. 2017. [about 1 screen]. Available from: https
West L. MRI [Internet]. Mountain View (CA): Flickr.com; 2012 Aug 1 [cited 2017 Oct 1]. [Figure]. Available from: https
Benham SA, Amyot D, Forster AJ, Peyton L, Shamsaei A. Goal-driven development of a patient surveillance application for improving patient safety. In: Babin G, Kropf P, Weiss M, editors. E-technologies: innovation in an open world. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference, MCETECH; 2009 May 4-6; Ottawa, Canada. Heidelberg (Germany): Springer-Verlag; 2009. p. 65-76.
CSIRO [Internet]. Canberra (Australia): Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation; c2015-2017. Wheat a kick in the guts for fighting diseases; 2017 Dec 14 [cited 2018 Jan 15]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https
Institute of Biomedical Science. Guidance on quality management in laboratories [Internet]: Institute of Biomedical Science; 2015 [updated 2015 Jun; cited 2016 Sep 1]. Available from: https
Using a case study, Sullivan (1) demonstrates the relationship between goal setting and career advancement.
Effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills are essential for nurses. (1)
According to Sullivan (1), nurses "get fulfillment from caring for others". (p29)
While the public may value nurses highly, "nursing ranks low in career desirability". (1 p47)
- Sullivan EJ. Becoming influential: a guide for nurses. 2nd ed. Boston (MA): Pearson; 2013.
For an in-text citation that has multiple authors, list the first author, and then abbreviate subsequent authors using et al.
Researchers are advised that "the possibility of bias should be kept in mind". (2 p132)
Morton et al. (2) suggest that the use of binomial control charts ...
In the reference list:
If there are six or fewer authors, list all the authors
If there are more than six authors, list the first six, followed by et al.
- Morton A, Mengersen KL, Playford G, Whitby M. Statistical methods for hospital monitoring with R. Chichester (England): John Wiley & Sons; 2013.
- Goering RV, Dockrell HM, Wakelin D, Zuckerman M, Chiodini PL, Roitt IM, et al. Mims' medical microbiology. 4th ed. Philadelphia (PA): Mosby Elsevier; 2008.
Whether you are paraphrasing or using a direct quote, in-text citations do not include the edition number of a book.
Colbert et al. (4) highlight the important role that skin plays in protecting the body.
Include the edition number followed by the abbreviation "ed." after the book title. There is no need to include edition information if a book is a first edition, or if no edition is mentioned.
- Colbert BJ, Ankney J, Lee KT. Anatomy, physiology & disease: an interactive journey for health professionals. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River (NJ): Pearson Education; 2013.
Usually, part of a chapter in an edited book is cited in-text unless you refer to an edited book as a whole. Firstly, here is how an edited book is cited in-text and then in the reference list.
Cite as you would for a book with an author or authors. If the book has multiple editors, list the first editor and then abbreviate subsequent editors using et al.
Changes to the nature of healthcare as they relate to inclusive practice are outlined by Davis et al. (5)
- Davis J, Birks M, Chapman YB, editors. Inclusive practice for health professionals. South Melbourne (Australia): Oxford University Press; 2015.
In the example below, Williams wrote a particular chapter in an edited book and some information in it has been paraphrased. The Reference List entry, given the number (6), shows the author's name and chapter title, followed by details of the book in which that chapter is found.
According to Williams (6), National Health Surveys are valuable sources of information on the state of health and well-being of Australians.
In the Reference List, provide:
the name(s) of the author(s) of the chapter and the chapter title
the citation details for the book in which the chapter is found and the page numbers of the chapter. Preface these details with "In: ... "
- Williams G. Population health and health outcomes. In: Davis J, Birks M, Chapman YB, editors. Inclusive practice for health professionals. South Melbourne (Australia): Oxford University Press; 2015. p. 128-60.
The information provided here is for an e-book from a library database. The rules for citing an e-book in-text are the same as for a physical (i.e. print) book.
According to Wagner (6), the cortical brain blood flow in imprisoned violent lawbreakers is lower than that of the general population.
Include the same information as you would for a print book as well as the following additions:
after the title, add the type of medium - for e-books, use: [Internet]
add the date you cited the book in this order: year, month then day, e.g. [cited 2012 Aug 24]
add the name of the Library database which provided the e-book.
- Wagner HN. Brain imaging: the chemistry of mental activity [Internet]. London (England): Springer London; 2009 [cited 2012 Aug 24]. Available from: SpringerLink eBooks.
For in-text citations, cite as you would for a book. An example of paraphrasing:
In his research, Musiek (8) found that sleep and the circadian system ...
Include the following, noting the use of punctuation and spaces.
The author's surname and initials.
The title of the article. Capitalise the first word and proper nouns only (i.e. minimal capitalisation).
The journal title. Note that in the Vancouver style, journal titles are abbreviated. To find the title abbreviation, go to the PubMed database, select "Journals in NCBI Databases", and then enter the journal’s full title to display its abbreviation.
The year of publication.
The month. Note that only the first three letters of the month are given. Optional: if available, the Day can be added after the Month, e.g. Mar 5
The volume number of the journal and the issue number (in parentheses).
The page range of the article. Note that page numbers are not repeated unless they are followed by a letter, e.g. 17-8 not 17-18; however, 145A-149A is correct.
- Musiek ES. Circadian rhythms in AD pathogenesis: a critical appraisal. Curr Sleep Med Rep. 2017 Jun;3(2):85-92.NT
For in-text citations, cite as you would for a book. An example of paraphrasing:
Marinovich et al. (9) conducted a systematic review on the accuracy of breast magnetic resonance imaging.
Include the following, noting the use of punctuation and spaces.
Where there are six or fewer authors, list all the authors. If there are more than six authors, list the first six followed by et al.
The title of the article. Capitalise the first word and proper nouns only.
The journal title. Note that journal titles are abbreviated. To find the title abbreviation, go to the PubMed database, select "Journals in NCBI Databases", and then enter the journal’s full title to display its abbreviation. The year of publication.
The month. Note that only the first three letters of the month are given. Optional: if available, the Day can be added after the Month, e.g. Mar 5
The volume number of the journal and the issue number (in parentheses).
The page range of the article. Note that page numbers are not repeated unless they are followed by a letter. For example, instead of 17-18 use 17-8; however, where a letter is used, 145A-149A is correct.
In the example below, the article was written by nine authors. Note that only the first six authors are listed, followed by a comma then et al.
- Marinovich ML, Houssami N, Macaskill P, Sardanelli F, Irwig L, Mamounas EP, et al. Meta-analysis of magnetic resonance imaging in detecting residual breast cancer after neoadjuvant therapy. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2013 Mar 6;105(5):321-33.
For in-text citations, cite as you would for a book. An example of paraphrasing:
Ogilvy explores the excessive preoccupation with enhancing human life: extending life to promote its longevity, and increasing human intelligence. (10)
In the Reference List, include the same information as you would for a print journal. Note the punctuation used and where spaces are used or not used. In addition, note the following:
After the journal title, include the type of medium in square brackets, e.g. [Internet]
After the year and month of publication, include the date cited, e.g. [cited 2016 Nov 23] Note: The name of the month is abbreviated.
After the issue number of the article, give the page number range. However, if there is no pagination, give an indication of the length of the article in square brackets. This can be provided as print pages, screens or paragraphs e.g. [about 1 p.], [about 5 screens], [8 paragraphs]
Give the URL, prefacing it with "Available from: ...", e.g. Available from: http
Note: When a reference ends with a URL, do not include a full stop at the end unless it ends with a forward slash.
- Ogilvy J. Human enhancement and the computational metaphor. J Evol Technol. [Internet]. 2011 Dec [cited 2018 Mar 9];22(1):[about 12 p.]. Available from: https
://jetpress.org/v22/ogilvy.htm
The discovery could result in an easy, affordable, effective and accessible complementary treatment for 1.2 million Australians currently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. (14)
"With 1.2 million Aussies currently living with type 2 diabetes, the breakthrough could lead to a widely-available, simple, cheap and effective complementary treatment for diabetics across the country". (14 p1)
According to Squires (14), "with 1.2 million Aussies currently living with type 2 diabetes, the breakthrough could lead to a widely-available, simple, cheap and effective complementary treatment for diabetics across the country". (p1)
In the reference list:
Do not italicise nor abbreviate the newspaper name. The leading "The" can be dropped, if desired.
If the newspaper is published as a specific edition, add this detail in brackets after the Newspaper name. Do not italicise nor abbreviate edition name. Example: Sydney Morning Herald (Weekend Ed.).
Add the word 'Internet' in square brackets after the newspaper name.
Include the publication year and date (month and day). Abbreviate months to the first 3 letters.
Add the date you cited the article (the cited date) in square brackets, followed by a colon.
Add the beginning page of the article.
When the beginning page of the article is not provided, calculate the approximate length of the article in pages, e.g. in the context of printed pages, screens or paragraphs.
Put the length of the article in square brackets after the cited date. Add a colon between the cited date and the length of the article. Example: 2018 Apr 3 [cited 2019 Feb 22]:[about 2 p.].
If applicable, include the Section name after the cited date, followed by a colon and the beginning page of the article. Add a semicolon between the cited date and Section name. Example: 2018 Apr 3 [cited 2019 Feb 22];Business:4.
If the reference has a Section name and the beginning page of the article is not provided, put the length of the article in square brackets after the Section name. Add a colon between the Section name and the length of the article. Example: 2018 Apr 3 [cited 2019 Feb 22];Business:[about 2 p.].
Add the database name the article is available from after the beginning page of the article or, if applicable, after the length of the article. The database name is mentioned last. Do not put the word 'database' unless part of the name.
- Squires M. Vitamin C may become new diabetes treatment. The Advertiser [Internet]. 2019 Feb 11 [cited 2019 Feb 19]:4. Available from: Proquest Australia & New Zealand Newsstream.
For researchers of influenza, discovering a vaccine that does not need to be given each year is desirable, yet difficult to achieve. (15)
"A one-shot vaccine that does not need annual updates is the Holy Grail for influenza researchers". (15 p1)
According to Mannix (15), "a one-shot vaccine that does not need annual updates is the Holy Grail for influenza researchers". (p1)
In the reference list:
Do not italicise nor abbreviate the newspaper name. The leading "The" can be dropped, if desired.
If the newspaper is published as a specific edition, add this detail in brackets after the Newspaper name. Do not italicise nor abbreviate edition name. Example: Sydney Morning Herald (Weekend Ed.).
Add the word 'Internet' in square brackets after the newspaper name.
Include the publication year and date (month and day). Abbreviate months to the first 3 letters.
Add the date you cited the article (the cited date) in square brackets, followed by a colon.
Calculate the approximate length of the article in pages, e.g. in the context of printed pages, screens or paragraphs. Put the length of the article in square brackets after the cited date.
If the reference has a Section name, include the Section name after the cited date, followed by a colon and the length of the article in square brackets. Add a semicolon between the cited date and Section name. Example: 2018 Apr 3 [cited 2019 Feb 22];Business:[about 2 p].
Add the URL link after the length of the article. Do not include a full stop at the end unless the URL ends with a forward slash. The URL link is mentioned last.
- Mannix L. Universal flu vaccine a big step closer - but it will only help half of us. The Age [Internet]. 2019 Feb 19 [cited 2019 Feb 22]:[about 3 p.]. Available from: https
://www.theage.com.au/healthcare/universal-flu-vaccine-a-big-step-closer-but-it-will-only-help-half-of-us-20190218-p50ykw.html
Rating sixth as the most common cancer killer in Australia and being one of the most dangerous of women’s cancers, ovarian cancer receives considerably less funding than other cancers of men and women. (13)
"Ovarian cancer is the most lethal women's cancer and the sixth most common cause of cancer death in Australia but funding for the deadly disease falls well below other women's and men's cancers". (13 p12)
According to Hill (13), "ovarian cancer is the most lethal women's cancer and the sixth most common cause of cancer death in Australia but funding for the deadly disease falls well below other women's and men's cancers". (p12)
In the reference list:
Do not italicise nor abbreviate the newspaper name. The leading "The" can be dropped, if desired.
If the newspaper is published as a specific edition, add this detail in brackets after the Newspaper name. Do not italicise nor abbreviate edition name. Example: Sydney Morning Herald (Weekend Ed.).
Include the publication year and date (month and day), followed by a colon. Abbreviate months to the first 3 letters.
Add the beginning page of the article and the column number where the article begins.
If applicable, include the Section name after the date, followed by a colon. Add the beginning page of the article and the column number where the article begins. Add a semicolon between the date and Section name. Example: 2018 Apr 3;Business:4 (col. 1).
- Hill J. High time for an ovary-action to stop killer. Newcastle Herald. 2019 Feb 19:12 (col. 1).
Aged care in Australia does not effectively fulfil the needs of those who use its services. (11)
There should be more investment in vaccination programs in Australia to decrease the threat and concern of measles and other diseases. (12)
"Australia's aged-care system is revealing itself to be all too frequently woefully ineffective in meeting the needs of those who rely on its services". (11 p25)
"If we want to reduce the alarms over measles and other diseases, Australia should increase investment in vaccination programs in those countries". (12 p1)
If no author has been identified, begin the reference with the title of the article. Do not put "anonymous".
- Our aged-care industry is in real peril. Sunday Age. 2016 Oct 2:25 (col. 2).
- NSW must not drop its guard against measles. Sydney Morning Herald [Internet]. 2019 Jan 5 [cited 2019 Feb 22]:30. Available from: Proquest Australia & New Zealand Newsstream.
In the Vancouver style, the term “illustration” applies to anything that is not written. For example:
images (labelled as "Figures" when included in-text)
tables
charts
graphs
The following are general rules for citing illustrations – whatever the type - using the Vancouver referencing style. However, the specific examples provided in this Vancouver guide are for citing images.
The Vancouver referencing style uses Arabic numerals, e.g. 1, 2, 3, etc., whenever a number is required. Do not use:
Roman numerals, e.g. i, ii, iii
words, e.g. one, two, three
Below the illustration you have inserted in your text, add a caption that includes:
a label and number. The number will depend on where it appears in your text. E.g. If it is the first figure in your text, it will be labelled Figure 1.
the description or title used in the original source
a reference number in parentheses. This is the number that you give it according to where it appears in your text. For example, if it is the 12th source cited in your document, the reference number will be (12).
In the reference list, include the sources of all the illustrations that you have used from another source and inserted in your text.
In general, this is the order that the references in your list will include:
the reference number you gave a reference in-text
the standard reference structure for the particular reference type source (e.g. a book)
the figure number that was used in that original source
the title of the illustration
the page number where the illustration is located in the source (if available or applicable)
If the illustration is not numbered, give it a number according to its placement on the webpage and enclose it in square brackets. For example, if it is the first illustration in the original source, give it the number 1, e.g. [Figure 1].
If it is the only illustration given in the original source, just use [Figure].
If you refer to the illustration in-text, then cite it as you would any other citation, e.g.:
. . . as shown in Figure 1. (15)
Figure 1 (15) shows that . . .
The caption beneath the image should include:
a label and a number. E.g. If it is the first figure in your text, it will be labelled Figure 1.
the description used in the original source
a reference number in parentheses. For example, if it is the 15th source cited in your document, the reference number will be (15).
Figure 1. Glenohumeral joint. (15)
In your reference list, the entry for a book will include:
the reference number you assigned the source of the illustration in your text
the standard reference structure for a book
the figure number that was used in that original source (e.g. in the book example, it was Figure 4.25).
title of the illustration
the page number on which the figure is located in the book
- Gustowski S, Budner-Gentry M, Seals, R. Osteopathic techniques: the learner's guide. New York (NY):Thieme; 2017. Figure 4.25, Glenohumeral joint; p. 72.
If you refer to the illustration in-text, then cite it as you would any other citation, e.g.:
. . . as shown in Figure 1. (11)
Figure 1 (11) shows that . . .
The caption beneath the image should include:
a label and a number. E.g. If it is the first figure in your text, it will be labelled Figure 1.
the description used in the original source
a reference number in parentheses. For example, if it is the 11th source cited in your document, the reference number will be (11).
Figure 1. Dose distributions for a left-breast tumor (a, b) at the level of surgical bed defined by titanium clips (arrows) and the corresponding DVH (c, d) for supine (left) and prone (right) positions. (11)
The reference list entry includes the following:
the reference number you assigned the source of the illustration in your text
the standard reference structure for a journal article
the figure number that was used in that original source (e.g. in the journal article example, it was Figure 2).
the title of the figure
the page number on which the figure is located in the journal article
- Fernandez-Lizarbe E, Montero A, Polo A, Hernanz R, Moris R, Formenti S, Ramos A. Pilot study of feasibility and dosimetric comparison of prone versus supine breast radiotherapy. Clin Transl Oncol. 2013; 15:450-9. Figure 2, Dose distributions for a left-breast tumor (a, b) at the level of surgical bed defined by titanium clips (arrows) and the corresponding DVH (c,d) for supine (left) and prone (right) positions; p. 453.
If you refer to the illustration in-text, then cite it as you would any other citation, e.g.:
. . . as shown in Figure 2. (12)
Figure 2 (12) shows that . . .
The caption beneath the image should include:
a label and a number. E.g. If it is the second figure in your text, it will be labelled Figure 2.
the description used in the original source
its reference number in parentheses. For example, if it is the 12th source cited in your document, the reference number will be (12).
Figure 2. Anatomy of the thyroid and parathyroid glands. (12)
If an image has not been given a title or a description, e.g. a photograph, create an appropriate title and enter it in square brackets. For example, [Scar tissue on knee].
The reference list entry includes the following:
the reference number you assigned the illustration in your text
the home page and the title of the particular page
the medium, e.g. [Internet]
date of publication: Use the date of publication or date of copyright on the web page/website. If neither can be found, use the date the web page was updated or revised.
figure number and title given in the source
the date that the webpage was updated and/or cited
total number of screens (or paragraphs, lines, or bytes) of the reference. Precede the total with the word about and place it in square brackets, e.g. [about 1 screen].
the URL, prefacing it with: "Available from: ...". NOTE: Do not end the reference with a full stop, unless the URL ends with a forward slash.
If the illustration is not numbered, give it a number according to its placement on the webpage and enclose it in square brackets. For example, if it is the first illustration in the original source, give it the number 1, e.g. [Figure 1].
If it is the only illustration given in the original source, just use [Figure].
Copyright information for the Anatomy of the Thyroid image
For the National Cancer Institute © 2012 Terese Winslow LLC, U.S. Govt. has certain rights
License Granted: Terese Winslow LLC hereby grants limited, non-exclusive worldwide print and electronic rights only for use in the work specified. Terese Winslow LLC grants such rights “AS IS” without representation or warranty of any kind and shall have no liability in connection with such license.
Restrictions: Reproduction for use in any other work or derivative works is prohibited. Ownership of original artwork, copyright, and all rights not specifically transferred herein remain the exclusive property of Terese Winslow LLC. Additional license(s) are required for ancillary usage(s).
If you refer to the illustration in-text, then cite it as you would any other citation, e.g.:
. . . as shown in Figure 3. (16)
Figure 3 (16) shows that . . .
The caption beneath the image should include:
a label and a number. E.g. If it is the third figure in your text, it will be labelled Figure 3.
the description used in the original source
its reference number in parentheses. For example, if it is the 16th source cited in your document, the reference number will be (16).
Figure 3. Graphic of large recurrent disc herniation shows displacement of the nuclear material through a large defect in the posterior annular fibers with effacement of the ventral thecal sac and displacement of the intrathecal nerve roots. (16)
The reference list entry includes the following:
the reference number you assigned the illustration in your text
the author/contributor
the title of the illustration
date cited
the figure number (if provided in the source)
the illustration's title used in the source
the type of medium, e.g. [Internet]
the database's publication or copyright date
total number of screens (or paragraphs, lines, or bytes) of the reference. Precede the total with the word about and place it in square brackets, e.g.[about 1 screen].
the name of the Library database that provided the illustration, prefacing it with: "Available from:".
If the illustration is not numbered, give it a number according to its placement on the webpage and enclose it in square brackets. For example, if it is the first illustration in the original source, give it the number 1, e.g. [Figure 1].
If it is the only illustration given in the original source, just use [Figure].
- Ross JS. Lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. [cited 2017 Sep 05]. [Figure], Graphic of large recurrent disc herniation shows displacement of the nuclear material through a large defect in the posterior annular fibers with effacement of the ventral thecal sac and displacement of the intrathecal nerve roots. In: Imaging Reference Centre [Internet]. Amsterdam (The Netherlands): Elsevier. 2017. [about 1 screen]. Available from: https
://app.imagingreferencecenter.com/.
Note: The above URL ends with a forward slash, so therefore a full stop is added after it.
If you refer to the illustration in-text, then cite it as you would any other citation, e.g.:
. . . as shown in Figure 4. (17)
Figure 4 (17) shows that . . .
The caption beneath the image should include:
a label and a number. E.g. If it is the fourth figure in your text, it will be labelled Figure 4.
the description or title used in the original source
its reference number in parentheses. For example, if it is the 17th source cited in your document, the reference number will be (17).
If an image has not been given a title or a description, e.g. a photograph, create an appropriate title and enter it in square brackets. For example, [Scar tissue on knee].
Figure 4. MRI. (17)
The citation in the reference list will include the reference number you assigned the illustration in your text and:
the author of the illustration
the title of the illustration
the medium, i.e. [Internet]
the place of publication
the publisher's name
date of publication: Use the date of publication or date of copyright on the web page/website. If neither can be found, use the date the web page was updated or revised.
date cited: Use the date that you cited or viewed the web page/website.
the URL, prefacing it with: "Available from: ...". NOTE: Do not end the reference with a full stop, unless the URL ends with a forward slash.
Creative Commons license, e.g. CC BY 2.0
- West L. MRI [Internet]. Mountain View (CA): Flickr.com; 2012 Aug 1 [cited 2017 Oct 1]. [Figure]. Available from: https
://www.flickr.com/photos/calliope/7694882446 CC BY 2.0
Copyright information for the MRI image
"MRI" by Liz West can be reused under the CC BY 2.0 license.
For in-text citations, cite as you would for other references:
In order to improve patient safety, Benham et al. (18) created a Web-based application for use in hospitals.
A conference paper in the proceedings of a book is referenced in the same way as a contribution to a book. It begins with the author(s) and title of the paper, followed by a connecting phrase beginning with "In:", the book's editor(s), book title, and conference information. It ends with the publication details of the book and the relevant pagination.
- Benham SA, Amyot D, Forster AJ, Peyton L, Shamsaei A. Goal-driven development of a patient surveillance application for improving patient safety. In: Babin G, Kropf P, Weiss M, editors. E-technologies: innovation in an open world. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference, MCETECH; 2009 May 4-6; Ottawa, Canada. Heidelberg (Germany): Springer-Verlag; 2009. p. 65-76.
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 Citing Medicine (opens in a new tab) on which this information is based does not provide guidelines on how to cite your own work. The following is based on how to cite dissertations and theses.
If you cite or quote your previous work, treat yourself as the author and your own previous course work as an unpublished paper.
For example, if Jane Smith wanted to cite a paper she wrote at RMIT University in 2018 her in-text reference may look like this:
Studies indicate that … (24).
Smith (24) 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. If Jane Smith's earlier paper had cited Presley and Johnson, for example, it may look like this:
According to Smith (24), psychologists such as Presley and Johnson (18) …
Place direct quotes between double quotation marks " " and provide the page number from the previous work.
"Risk taking behaviours align neatly with certain personality traits or disorders". (24 p3).
In the Reference list include:
Student name
Title of previous work
Unpublished paper (in square brackets)
City and Country (in square brackets)
Institution name
Year of previous work
Total number of pages of previous work
- Smith J. An analysis of pe
For in-text citations, cite as you would for a book. For example:
A new wheat type has been developed which provides for greater fibre than current types. (13)
Include in the reference list:
Title of the homepage
The medium - in square brackets, i.e. [Internet]
Place of publication
Publisher
Publication date of the webpage (if provided - or date of the website. Usually this is the copyright date.)
Title of the webpage
= Date cited (in square brackets)
The number of pages, screens or paragraphs (in square brackets), e.g. [about 1 p.], [about 5 screens], [8 paragraphs].
The URL (prefacing it with "Available from: ").
- CSIRO [Internet]. Canberra (Australia): Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation; c2015-2017. Wheat a kick in the guts for fighting diseases; 2017 Dec 14 [cited 2018 Jan 15]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https
://www.csiro.au/en/News/News-releases/2017/Wheat-a-kick-in-the-guts-for-fighting-diseases?featured=F29EDEB1728C4A92B579C7A5DC28BAD5
For in-text citations, cite as you would for a book. For example:
Quality management relies on good communication, which is described as “the key to quality”. (14 p5)
Include in the reference list:
The names of the author(s) or the name of the organisation, corporation or institution
Title of the document
The medium - in square brackets, e.g. [Internet]
Place of publication
Publisher
Publication date of the document, if provided (or date of the website. Usually this is the copyright date.)
Date cited (in square brackets)
The number of pages, screens or paragraphs (in square brackets), e.g. [about 1 p.], [about 5 screens], [8 paragraphs].
The URL (prefacing it with "Available from: ").
- Institute of Biomedical Science. Guidance on quality management in laboratories [Internet]. London (England): Institute of Biomedical Science; 2015 [updated 2015 Jun; cited 2016 Sep 1]; [8 p.]. Available from: https
://www.ibms.org/resources/documents/quality-management-in-laboratories/guidance-on-quality-management-in-laboratories.pdf
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.
Please note that the guidelines on how to reference AI tools have been updated on Monday the 26th of June 2023. This is in response to updated guidelines from the APA style manual editors, as well as the new ability to generate shareable URLs in some of the 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:
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.
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.
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, and is included below. 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.
The RMIT Vancouver guide is based on the e-book Citing Medicine: The NLM Style Guide for Authors, Editors, and Publishers [Internet]. 2nd edition. The NLM Style Guide does not currently contain any guidelines for referencing AI-generated content, however the International Community of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) has released guidance on the use of generative AI tools in scholarly work published in medical journals. The advice is that generative AI tools should not be listed or cited as authors, and that the use of AI tools must be acknowledged.
The NLM style guide includes guidelines for referencing a number of internet source types. We have adapted these 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 NLM style manual editors release formal advice.
Use the name of the creator of the tool as the author. 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.
The Vancouver style uses numbered in-text citations that match the corresponding footnote or endnote entry.
Rule: Reference number. Name of AI tool [Type of medium]. Creator of tool; Date of version YYYY Mon [cited YYYY Mon DD]. Available from URL
Example: 1. ChatGPT [Internet]. OpenAI; 2023 May [cited 2023 Jun 26]. Available from https
Rule: Reference number. Name of AI tool [Type of medium]. Creator of tool; Date of version YYYY Mon [cited YYYY Mon DD]. Available from URL. Appendix.
Example: 1. Claude [Internet]. Anthropic [cited 2024 Jan 22]. Available from https
The RMIT Vancouver guide contains general information on using and referencing images.
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:
Figure 1. Image generated using Adobe Firefly from the prompt sunset over the ocean on a stormy day.
If using reproduced images, reference the published source, using a numbered in-text citation that matches the corresponding reference list entry. In a caption below the image include the same description as in the published source, as well as a reference number.
Caption
Rule: Figure number. The description of figure from the published source (reference number)
Example: Figure 1. Jason Allen’s A.I.-generated work, “Théâtre D’opéra Spatial,” took first place in the digital category at the Colorado State Fair (1)
Reference list entry:
Reference the published source according to the relevant source guidelines, and then add the figure number used in the published source (or a number according to its placement on the page in square brackets if not numbered), the title of the figure in the published source, and the page number or location where the figure is located in the published source (if applicable).
Example: 1. Roose K. An A.I.-Generated Picture Won an Art Prize. Artists Aren’t Happy. The New York Times [Internet]. 2022 Sep 2. [cited 2023 Mar 3]; [about 9 screens]. Available from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/02/technology/ai-artificial-intelligence-artists.html. [Figure 1], Jason Allen’s A.I.-generated work, “Théâtre D’opéra Spatial,” took first place in the digital category at the Colorado State Fair.
The styles included are RMIT Harvard, AGLC4, APA, Chicago A: footnotes and bibliography, Chicago B: author-date, IEEE, and Vancouver.
Easy Cite includes as many examples of reference types as possible. If the style guides shown here do not include your specific reference or citation type, consider applying the format from similar types within Easy Cite for your reference and citation, or check the relevant style manual.
Easy Cite is intended as a guide only and some styles are open to interpretation. You should always check with your instructor to ensure you are using the correct style for your assignments and assessment tasks.
Visit the Learning Lab Referencing Tutorial (opens in a new tab) and find out how to correctly use different referencing styles in academic writing to avoid plagiarism and get better marks.
Easy Cite referencing guide by RMIT University Library is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
This resource is derived from a work by Swinburne University Library, based on an original work by Griffith University Library.
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