In the Vancouver style, numbers are used to denote in-text citations in your research paper. Numbers are allocated consecutively to each reference as it is cited for the first time in the text of the assignment (i.e. the first citation that appears in-text is number one, the next unique citation that appears in-text is number 2 and so on). This number becomes the unique identifier of that source and if the source is cited again in-text, the same number is repeated. Vancouver uses superscript numbers in-text, e.g. 1-4,10,12
Include citations:
Multiple citations can be inserted at a single point in-text, separated by a comma with no spaces in between, e.g. This issue has been faced by many in the industry.1,2,4,7 When there are three or more consecutive citations, join the first and last in the series with a hyphen, e.g. The condition has been reported in a number of studies.4-7
If citing different pages from a single source at different places in the text, page numbers can be included in the citation and the source listed once in the reference list. Place the page number(s) in brackets directly following the numbered citation. Use p for a single page or pp for multiple pages, e.g. …pain response should be considered.8(p83),9,12(pp3,5)
Please check with your tutor if they require you to provide page numbers for direct quotes.
If mentioning authors in text, only surnames (family names) are used. For a reference with two authors include both surnames, e.g. Avery and Williams1 highlight the importance of this method. For references with three or more authors, list the first author then et al (meaning and others), e.g. Azar et al2 reported on this association.
In Australia falls are one of the main causes of injury-related hospitalisations, with the elderly representing the majority of cases.1 Accidental falls in older persons can have a detrimental effect on their mental wellbeing.2,3 “The psychological aspects, especially fear of falling, loss of confidence and increased anxiety, can be more disabling than the physical ones.”3(p18) It is therefore important that effective programs are implemented to reduce the incidence of falls.4-6
REFERENCES
See a sample journal article in the Vancouver referencing style:
Before using GenAI tools in your assessment, check the unit outline or assessment guidelines, or speak with your unit coordinator to confirm whether GenAI use is permitted.
If you use a GenAI tool, such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot, when completing an assessment, it is recommended to declare your use. Additionally, if you have used GenAI to create content that you include in your work, you must reference this use as a source of information.
Referencing is a standardised way of acknowledging sources such as books, articles, and websites to show that your work is based on credible evidence. GenAI must be cited if used as an information source. This is required in the same way as any other information you include in your work that comes from an external source.
It is important to understand that AI-generated content is considered a non-recoverable source. This means that the content produced is usually not accessible to anyone other than the person who generated it. Unless the GenAI tool provides a shareable link to the chat, other people cannot be directed to the exact location where the content was created. This makes it difficult to verify claims in the same way as traditional sources.
GenAI tools are also not considered scholarly sources at this time. Their responses are created from large training datasets, and the original source of the information is often unknown. For this reason, GenAI outputs should be used with care in academic work.
If the GenAI text discusses theories or specific ideas, you should include additional sources to support them with scholarly research.
If you are allowed to use GenAI in your work, it is good practice to include:
You should follow your Unit Coordinator’s instructions or use the Library’s declaration template to clearly explain how GenAI supported your work. You may also wish to include the prompts you used as a list or by sharing a link to the chat.
This is required if the generated text has been quoted, paraphrased or summarised in your written work.
In-text citation
As there is no entry in the reference list, the details of the tool used should be provided in-text using the following format:
(Communicator, type of communication, Month Day, Year).
In-text example
Fall reduction strategies can only be successful if a multi-faceted approach is adopted, one which addresses both personal and environmental risk factors (ChatGPT, response to question from author, February 22, 2023).