Vancouver In-Text Citations
Master Vancouver's numerical citation system for medical and scientific literature
Numerical Citation System
Vancouver style uses a numerical citation system where sources are numbered consecutively in the order they first appear in the text.
✓ Correct
Recent studies show improved outcomes (1,2).
✗ Incorrect
Recent studies show improved outcomes [Smith 2023].
Citation Placement
Single Citation
The treatment showed significant improvement (1).
Multiple Citations
Several studies support this finding (1-3,5,7).
Citation After Punctuation
The results were conclusive (1). Additional research confirms this (2).
Formatting Rules
Citation Format Guidelines:
- • Use Arabic numerals in parentheses: (1)
- • Place citations after punctuation marks
- • Use commas to separate non-consecutive numbers: (1,3,5)
- • Use hyphens for consecutive numbers: (1-4)
- • Combine ranges and individual numbers: (1-3,5,7-9)
- • No spaces around hyphens or commas
Special Situations
Citing Multiple Sources
Consecutive numbers: Multiple studies (1-4) demonstrate...
Non-consecutive: Research findings (1,3,7-9) suggest...
Page Numbers
Specific pages: As noted in the literature (1 p.45)...
Note: Page numbers are rarely used in Vancouver style unless citing specific data or quotes.
Author Names in Text
Smith et al. (1) reported that treatment outcomes improved significantly.
Superscript vs. Parentheses
Some Vancouver implementations use superscript numbers instead of parentheses. Check your journal's specific requirements.
Parentheses (Standard)
The treatment was effective (1).
Superscript (Alternative)
The treatment was effective¹.
Common Mistakes
⚠ Avoid These Errors
- • Using author names instead of numbers
- • Placing citations before punctuation
- • Adding spaces around hyphens: (1 - 3) ✗
- • Using square brackets: [1] ✗
- • Inconsistent numbering order
- • Citing the same source with different numbers