Is Vancouver the same as NLM style?

Very similar. Vancouver follows recommendations from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), which are based on NLM (National Library of Medicine) standards. For practical purposes, they're often interchangeable, but some journals have specific preferences.

Do I abbreviate journal titles?

Yes, use NLM/MEDLINE abbreviations. You can look these up in the NLM Catalog. Common examples: N Engl J Med, BMJ, Lancet.

What if my paper number exceeds 999?

Some reference managers struggle with numbers over 999, but the style itself has no limit. For very long reference lists, ensure your numbers are formatted consistently and that in-text citations match your reference list exactly.

How do I punctuate reference numbers in text?

Place superscript numbers after punctuation: “...as shown in recent studies.¹²” For multiple citations, use commas without spaces between numbers: ¹,²,⁵ or ranges: ¹⁻⁵

How do I cite unpublished work?

For conference presentations, include: Author(s). Title. Presented at: Conference Name; Date; Location. For papers in press: Author(s). Title. Journal Name. In press. Year. Include DOI if available.

How to Cite in Vancouver Style: Complete ICMJE Guide

This guide will help you understand how to properly cite sources in Vancouver format, the numbered citation style required by biomedical and health sciences journals worldwide, ensuring that your academic work meets the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors' standards.

The Official Source

Vancouver style is governed by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) through their Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals at icmje.org.

For detailed formatting, the ICMJE points to Citing Medicine, 2nd Edition published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), freely available at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7256.

Quick Overview

Vancouver uses a numbered citation system:

In-text citations — numbers in parentheses, brackets, or superscript
Reference list — numbered entries in order of first citation

The style originated in 1978 when medical journal editors met in Vancouver, Canada, to establish uniform manuscript requirements.

In-Text Citations

Citations are numbered consecutively in the order they first appear. You can use parentheses (1), square brackets [1], or superscript¹—be consistent throughout your paper.

Basic Citation

The treatment protocol has been validated in multiple trials (1).
The treatment protocol has been validated in multiple trials.¹

Multiple Sources

Separate with commas; use a hyphen for three or more consecutive numbers.

Several studies support this conclusion (1,3,7).
This finding has been replicated extensively (2-5).

Citing the Same Source Again

Reuse the original number each time you cite that source.

As noted previously (1), patient outcomes improved significantly.

Author Named in Text

You can mention authors, but still include the citation number.

Chen et al (3) demonstrated significant improvement in survival rates.

Reference List Basics

The reference list is numbered consecutively in citation order (not alphabetical). Each entry starts with the reference number.

Basic Structure

#. Author(s). Title of article. Journal Abbreviation. Year Mon;Volume(Issue):Pages.

Journal Article

Halpern SD, Ubel PA, Caplan AL. Solid-organ transplantation in HIV-infected patients. N Engl J Med. 2002 Jul 25;347(4):284-7.

Journal Article (More Than 6 Authors)

List the first six authors followed by "et al."

Rose ME, Huerbin MB, Melick J, Marion DW, Palmer AM, Schiding JK, et al. Regulation of interstitial excitatory amino acid concentrations after cortical contusion injury. Brain Res. 2002;935(1-2):40-6.

Journal Article with DOI

Zhang M, Holman CD, Price SD. Comorbidity and repeat admission to hospital for adverse drug reactions in older adults. BMJ. 2009;338:a2752. doi:10.1136/bmj.a2752.

Book

Murray PR, Rosenthal KS, Pfaller MA. Medical microbiology. 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby; 2002.

Chapter in Book

Meltzer PS, Kallioniemi A, Trent JM. Chromosome alterations in human solid tumors. In: Vogelstein B, Kinzler KW, editors. The genetic basis of human cancer. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2002. p. 93-113.

Website

Cancer Research UK. Cancer statistics for the UK [Internet]. London: Cancer Research UK; c2022 [cited 2024 Jan 15]. Available from: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics

Organization as Author

World Health Organization. The world health report 2002: reducing risks, promoting healthy life. Geneva: WHO; 2002.

Key Vancouver Conventions

Author names — surname first, then initials without periods: Halpern SD (not Halpern, S.D.)
Journal abbreviations — use NLM/MEDLINE standard abbreviations (e.g., N Engl J Med, BMJ, Lancet)
No italics — journal names and book titles are not italicized in Vancouver style
Dates — format as Year Mon Day: 2002 Jul 25
Page numbers — elide ending numbers: 284-7 (not 284-287)
Et al. — use after six authors when there are more than six
No period after journal abbreviation — use "N Engl J Med" not "N Engl J Med."

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Alphabetizing references — Vancouver references are numbered by citation order, not alphabetically.
Italicizing journal names — Vancouver does not use italics for journal or book titles.
Full page numbers — elide page ranges: use 284-7 not 284-287.
Periods in initials — no periods: Smith AB (not Smith A.B.)
Wrong journal abbreviations — use NLM standard abbreviations. Search the NLM Catalog to verify.
Inconsistent citation format — choose parentheses, brackets, or superscript and use it consistently throughout.

Who Uses Vancouver Style?

Vancouver is the standard for medical journals (NEJM, BMJ, Lancet, CMAJ), health and biomedical sciences, nursing research, clinical studies, public health publications, and many international medical journals.

Over 1,000 medical journals use Vancouver style, including all ICMJE member journals.

Further Resources

ICMJE Recommendations — official manuscript guidelines
Citing Medicine, 2nd Edition — free comprehensive NLM guide
NLM Sample References — quick reference examples

Need help generating Vancouver citations? Research tools like Wonders can export your sources in Vancouver format automatically.