Council of Science Editors (CSE) Citation Style: Detailed Guide
Introduction
CSE (Council of Science Editors) style is widely used in scientific disciplines, particularly in the biological sciences. It emphasizes clarity and conciseness in scientific writing and offers three main citation systems: Citation-Sequence, Name-Year, and Citation-Name. This document provides a detailed overview of CSE citation style, focusing on its core principles and common publication types.
CSE Citation Systems
The CSE Manual presents three systems for referring to references within the text of a scientific publication:
- Citation-Sequence: References are numbered consecutively in the order they first appear in the text. The reference list is then ordered numerically.
- Name-Year: In-text citations consist of the author’s last name and the year of publication in parentheses. The reference list is arranged alphabetically by author.
- Citation-Name: References are listed alphabetically by the first author’s surname and then numbered. In-text citations use these assigned numbers.
This guide will primarily focus on the Citation-Sequence and Name-Year systems, as they are the most commonly used.
In-Text Citations
Citation-Sequence System
References are indicated by a superscript number in the text, corresponding to the numbered entry in the reference list.
Example: …as shown in a recent study.1
If citing multiple sources at once, use a hyphen for consecutive numbers and commas for non-consecutive numbers.
Example: …several studies have confirmed this.2-4,7
The same number is used for subsequent in-text references to the same document.
Name-Year System
In-text citations consist of the author’s last name and the year of publication in parentheses.
Example: (Smith 2023)
If the author’s name is mentioned in the text, only the year is needed in parentheses.
Example: Smith (2023) reported that…
Multiple Authors:
- Two Authors: (Smith and Jones 2023)
- More than Two Authors: (Smith et al. 2023)
No Author: Use a shortened title and year.
Example: ("New Discoveries" 2023)
Reference List
Citation-Sequence System
- The reference list is titled "References" and is ordered numerically based on the order of appearance in the text.
Name-Year System
- The reference list is titled "References" and is arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name.
General Reference List Formatting Rules
- Author(s): List authors in the order they appear in the original text. For more than one author, names are separated by a comma. For articles with more than 5 authors, list the first author followed by "et al."
- Punctuation: Periods follow author(s), article title, and journal title. A semicolon separates the date from volume and issue. A colon precedes the location (page range or article number).
- Journal Titles: Generally abbreviated according to the List of Title Word Abbreviations.
- Online Sources: For online sources, add a URL to the end of the reference. A DOI-based URL (https://doi.org/) should be preferred when available.
Publication Types and Formatting
Journals
Basic Format:
Author(s). Article title. Journal title. Date;volume(issue):location. URL (if online)
Examples (Citation-Sequence/Citation-Name):
Haasnoot M, Lawrence J, Magnan AK. Pathways to coastal retreat. Science. 2021;372(6548):1287–1290. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abi6594
Ashraf M et al. Interaction between the distribution of diabetic retinopathy lesions and the association of optical coherence tomography angiography scans with diabetic retinopathy severity. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2020;138(12):1291–1297. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.4516
Examples (Name-Year):
Haasnoot M, Lawrence J, Magnan AK. 2021. Pathways to coastal retreat. Science. 372(6548):1287–1290. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abi6594
Ashraf M et al. 2020. Interaction between the distribution of diabetic retinopathy lesions and the association of optical coherence tomography angiography scans with diabetic retinopathy severity. JAMA Ophthalmol. 138(12):1291–1297. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.4516
Volume with no issue or other subdivision:
Kim KY, Kim BS. 2020. The effect of regional warming on the East Asian summer monsoon. Clim Dyn. 54:3259–3277. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-020-05169-7
Volume with issue and supplement:
Yohannes AM, Kaplan A, Hanania NA. 2018. Anxiety and depression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: recognition and management. Cleve Clin J Med. 85(2 Suppl 1):S11–S18. https://doi.org/10.3949/ccjm.85.s1.03
Volume with supplement but no issue:
Bhaskar ST, Dholaria BR, Sengsayadeth SM, Savani BN, Oluwole OO. 2022. Role of bridging therapy during chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy. eJHaem. 3(Suppl 1):39–45. https://doi.org/10.1002/jha2.335
Multiple volume numbers:
Bibi S, Alam K, Chishtie F, Bibi H, Rahman S. 2017. Temporal variation of black carbon concentration using Aethalometer observations and its relationships with meteorological variables in Karachi, Pakistan. J Atmos Sol Terr Phys. 157–158:67–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2017.03.017
Article number but no volume or issue:
Liu L, Bai P, Liu C, Tian W, Liang K. 2020. Changes in extreme precipitation in the Mekong Basin. Adv Meteorol. 8874869. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8874869
Books
Basic Format:
Author(s). Title. Edition. Publisher; year of publication.
Examples (Name-Year):
De Doncker RW, Duco WJP, Veltman A. 2020. Advanced electrical drives: analysis, modeling, control. Springer.
Organization as author:
Advanced Life Support Group. 2020. Acute psychiatric emergencies: a practical approach. Wiley-Blackwell.
Editor in place of author:
Gupta HK, editor. 2021. Encyclopedia of solid earth geophysics. 2nd ed. Springer.
Author(s) plus editor(s) or translator(s):
Klarsfeld A, Revah F. 2003. The biology of death: origins of mortality. Brady L, translator. Cornell University Press.
Luzikov VN. 1985. Mitochondrial biogenesis and breakdown. Galkin AV, translator; Roodyn DB, editor. Consultants Bureau.
Chapter or other part of a book, same author(s):
Everard M. 2017. Ecosystem services: key issues. Routledge. Chapter 8, Regenerative landscapes: reversing the cycle; p 141–169.
Chapter or other part of a book, different author(s):
Geisslitz S, Scherf K. 2021. The holy grail of ancient cereals. In: Boukid F, editor. Cereal-based foodstuffs: the backbone of Mediterranean cuisine. Springer. p 269–301.
Volume in a multivolume set:
Rabinovich AB, Fritz HM, Tanioka Y, Geist EL, editors. 2019. Global tsunami science: past and future. Vol 3. Birkhäuser.
Online book:
Agarwal A et al, editors. 2022. Oxford handbook of clinical surgery. 5th ed. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/med/9780198799481.001.0001
Dissertations and Theses
Basic Format:
Author(s). Title [type of publication]. University; year.
Example (Name-Year):
Liang S. 2020. Transport properties of topological semimetals and non-symmorphic topological insulator [dissertation]. Princeton University. https://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/dsp01vm40xv52n
Patents
Basic Format:
Inventor(s); assignee. Title. Country patent number. Date.
Example (Name-Year):
Engelhardt TP et al, inventors; Roche Diabetes Care, Inc, assignee. 2020. Diabetes manager for glucose testing and continuous glucose monitoring. United States patent US10568511B2. Feb 25.
Newspapers
Basic Format:
Author(s). Article title. Newspaper title. Date;section:page(s).
Example (Name-Year):
Zimmer C. 2021. To speed vaccination, Biden will use Defense Production Act. New York Times. Jan 22;Sect. A:1.
Websites
Basic Format:
Author(s). Title. Name of website. Date of publication/update;[date accessed]. URL.
Example (Name-Year):
National Cancer Institute. 2023. What is cancer? National Cancer Institute. [accessed 2023 Oct 26]. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer
This guide provides a concise overview of CSE citation style. For more detailed information and specific examples, always consult the official Scientific Style and Format by the Council of Science Editors.
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