| Rule | Example |
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In-text citation numbers may accompany text/sentences, figures, tables, and boxes. |
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Citations should take the form of arabic numerals set within square [ ] or curved brackets ( ). Choose one and be consistent throughout your document. Superscript numerals are allowed, but less commonly used. |
The control group showed signs of behaviour change.[5] The control group showed signs of behaviour change.(5) The control group showed signs of behaviour change.5 |
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Citations should be placed outside of periods and commas, and inside colons and semicolons. Leave a space between a word and a citation, and no space between a citation and punctuation marks (e.g., periods, commas). |
As Sanchez has noted,[12] the results are problematic... The assessment tool asks the following [12]: ... |
| Citations may be placed at the end of a sentence or within the sentence at relevant positions. | A second study [5] put into question Patel's argument.[6] |
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Citation numbers should be sequential and correspond to the cited source in the reference list. |
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| When more than 2 references are cited at a given place in the text, use hyphens without spaces to join the first and last numbers of a series. | Further evidence is needed to support a revision to clinical practice.[5-8] |
| Use commas without spaces to separate citations that are not sequential. | Smith et al have reported on results from various surveys.[8,15,35] |
| If using superscript numerals, avoid placing the superscript right after a number or unit of measure to reduce confusion between the reference and an exponent. |
Avoid: A normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 mcL.14 Better: A normal platelet count14 ranges from 150,000 to 450,000 mcL. |
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If quoting a passage or if referencing a specific page, you may include page numbers after the citation number (with a space between them). If using superscript numerals, use curved brackets for the page number (without a space between the citation and page number). |
Emergency room wait times improve with "dedicated system administration support and resources."[54 p2] Emergency room wait times improve with "dedicated system administration support and resources."54(p2) Lakić [9 p16-18] found that flight nurses require ongoing counseling to provide patient care in high-pressure scenarios. |
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When citing a source that has already been cited elsewhere in the text, use the original citation numeral again. Do not assign a new number. |
