CSE citation format: citation-sequence, citation-name and name-year with examples

This guide shows each system with the same real papers, so you can see exactly what changes. It is part of our citation styles series; the hub is the APA reference list guide, and you can format any source in CSE with the free CSE citation generator.

What is CSE citation format?

CSE is a scientific citation style that pairs a short in-text marker (a number, or the author and year) with a full reference list at the end of the paper. The Council of Science Editors publishes it in Scientific Style and Format [1], which also covers scientific writing conventions such as units, nomenclature and numbers. The reference rules draw heavily on the National Library of Medicine's Citing Medicine [2], so CSE references look a lot like Vancouver references.

You will meet CSE in biology, ecology, agriculture, environmental science and some chemistry and health courses. Many biology departments ask for it in lab reports. The style used to be called CBE, after the Council of Biology Editors, which became the Council of Science Editors in 2000.

The three CSE systems at a glance

Pick the system your instructor or target journal names and use it throughout. Never mix two systems in one paper.

How do you format a CSE reference?

A CSE journal reference gives authors (surname and initials), the article title in sentence case, the abbreviated journal name, then year, volume, issue and pages, followed by the DOI. Here is the basic pattern for the two numbered systems:

Number. Author AA, Author BB. Title of article. Abbreviated Journal Name. Year;Volume(Issue):first page–last page. doi:xxxx.

The rules that trip people up:

CSE citation-sequence: examples

In citation-sequence, the first source you cite is number 1, the second new source is number 2, and so on; a source keeps its number every time you cite it again. This is the most common CSE system and the one our CSE generator uses by default.

In-text citations

Use superscript numbers or numbers in square brackets (follow your instructor). Cite several sources with commas, and ranges with an en dash.

• Superscript: The double-helix model of DNA¹ was supported by X-ray diffraction data from two other groups²,³.
• Brackets: The double-helix model of DNA [1] was supported by X-ray diffraction data from two other groups [2,3].
• A range: Several early studies [1–3] appeared in the same issue of Nature.

Reference list

The heading is "References" (some instructors use "Cited References"). Entries are numbered in the order cited:

1. Watson JD, Crick FHC. Molecular structure of nucleic acids: a structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid. Nature. 1953;171(4356):737–738. doi:10.1038/171737a0.
2. Wilkins MHF, Stokes AR, Wilson HR. Molecular structure of deoxypentose nucleic acids. Nature. 1953;171(4356):738–740. doi:10.1038/171738a0.
3. Franklin RE, Gosling RG. Molecular configuration in sodium thymonucleate. Nature. 1953;171(4356):740–741. doi:10.1038/171740a0.

All three are real papers from the same 1953 issue of Nature, so you can check every detail through the DOI.

CSE citation-name: examples

In citation-name, you sort the reference list alphabetically by first author's surname, number it, and then use those numbers in the text, whatever order you cite them in. The reference entries are formatted exactly as in citation-sequence. Only the numbering changes.

Reference list (sorted first, then numbered)

1. Franklin RE, Gosling RG. Molecular configuration in sodium thymonucleate. Nature. 1953;171(4356):740–741. doi:10.1038/171740a0.
2. Watson JD, Crick FHC. Molecular structure of nucleic acids: a structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid. Nature. 1953;171(4356):737–738. doi:10.1038/171737a0.
3. Wilkins MHF, Stokes AR, Wilson HR. Molecular structure of deoxypentose nucleic acids. Nature. 1953;171(4356):738–740. doi:10.1038/171738a0.

In-text citations

The same sentence as above now reads:

• The double-helix model of DNA² was supported by X-ray diffraction data from two other groups¹,³.

Notice that the first number in the paper is 2, not 1. That is correct in citation-name and a mistake in citation-sequence. If you add a source by an author named Avery while drafting, every number shifts by one, so leave numbering to software until the final draft.

Citation-sequence vs citation-name: which to choose

CSE name-year: examples

In name-year, the text gives the author's surname and the year in parentheses, and the reference list is alphabetical with the year placed straight after the authors. It reads like APA or Harvard, but with CSE punctuation: no comma between name and year, and no ampersand.

In-text citations

Reference list

Franklin RE, Gosling RG. 1953. Molecular configuration in sodium thymonucleate. Nature. 171(4356):740–741. doi:10.1038/171740a0.

Watson JD, Crick FHC. 1953. Molecular structure of nucleic acids: a structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid. Nature. 171(4356):737–738. doi:10.1038/171737a0.

Wilkins MHF, Stokes AR, Wilson HR. 1953. Molecular structure of deoxypentose nucleic acids. Nature. 171(4356):738–740. doi:10.1038/171738a0.

Compare the Watson and Crick entry in the two forms. In the numbered systems, the year sits after the journal: Nature. 1953;171(4356):737–738. In name-year it moves forward: 1953. … Nature. 171(4356):737–738. That single move is the most common mistake when students switch systems.

How do you abbreviate journal names in CSE?

Abbreviate each word of the journal title using a standard list, drop the full stops, and keep one-word titles in full. CSE follows the ISO 4 standard, applied through the ISSN International Centre's List of Title Word Abbreviations (LTWA) [4]. For biomedical journals, the quickest lookup is the NLM Catalog, which shows each journal's abbreviation as the "NLM Title Abbreviation" [3].

Two real examples with abbreviated journals:

1. Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ. Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem. 1951;193(1):265–275. doi:10.1016/S0021-9258(19)52451-6.
2. Sanger F, Nicklen S, Coulson AR. DNA sequencing with chain-terminating inhibitors. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1977;74(12):5463–5467. doi:10.1073/pnas.74.12.5463.

Do not guess. "J Bio Chem" or "Journal Biol. Chem." look close, but a reader or editor will spot them. If a journal has no listed abbreviation, write the title in full.

CSE format for common sources

Books, chapters, web pages and theses follow the same logic as articles: authors first, then title, then publication details, in plain type. The patterns below are for citation-sequence and citation-name. For name-year, move the year to just after the authors and drop it from the end.

Dates in CSE are written year, abbreviated month, day with no punctuation: 2026 Nov 14.

Common CSE mistakes

• Mixing systems. Numbers in the text with an alphabetical, unnumbered list, or the reverse.
• Wrong numbering in citation-sequence. Giving a source a new number the second time you cite it. It keeps its first number.
• APA habits. Full stops in initials, an ampersand, title case or italic journal names.
• Year in the wrong place. Year after the authors in a numbered list, or after the journal in name-year.
• Made-up abbreviations. Check the NLM Catalog or the LTWA [3,4].
• Missing DOI. Add it when the source has one; it is the fastest way for a reader to check the reference.

CSE checklist before you submit

• One system used throughout, the one your instructor or journal asked for
• Every in-text number or name-year citation matches a reference
• Every reference is cited at least once
• Authors as Surname AB, up to 10, then "et al."
• Sentence-case titles, abbreviated journal names, no italics
• Year, volume, issue and pages in the right order for your system
• DOIs included and checked

For the wider rules on reference lists in any style, see how to format a reference list. For the numbered styles CSE most resembles, see the Vancouver generator and the IEEE citation format guide.

How to format CSE citations with AI for Research

AI for Research formats citations in CSE and more than 10,000 other styles, from real paper records rather than from memory.

1. Format one source (free). Paste a DOI, title or URL into the CSE citation generator to get the citation-sequence reference. For citation-name or name-year, search the style menu for "Council of Science Editors" and pick the alphabetical or author-date version.
2. Fix a whole list (free). Paste an existing reference list into the citation formatter. It looks up each line and re-formats it in CSE, and flags lines it cannot match so you can check them by hand.
3. Check the list against the text (free). The citation coverage checker shows sources cited but not listed, and listed but never cited.
4. Cite as you write. In the AI writing editor, find papers with Find Papers and click Cite. The in-text numbers and the list renumber when you move text, which matters most in citation-sequence and citation-name.
5. Check the references are real. The citation checker confirms each reference exists and flags retracted papers and preprints.

Citations, search and the free tools cost nothing. The Free plan also includes 45 credits a month for AI features. See pricing. Limits: automatic formatting is only as good as the record it starts from, so check author names, abbreviations and page numbers against the paper, and follow your instructor's handout where it differs from CSE.

FAQ

What is CSE citation format?

CSE format is the citation style of the Council of Science Editors, set out in Scientific Style and Format, 8th edition (2014). It is used mainly in biology and the life sciences. It offers three systems: citation-sequence and citation-name, which use numbers in the text, and name-year, which uses the author and year. References use surnames with initials, sentence-case titles and abbreviated journal names.

What is the difference between citation-sequence and citation-name?

Both put numbers in the text, but they number the list differently. Citation-sequence numbers sources in the order you first cite them, so the first source in your paper is number 1. Citation-name sorts the reference list alphabetically by first author, then numbers it, so the source by Adams is 1 even if you cite it last. The reference entries themselves look the same.

How do you cite in-text in CSE name-year?

Put the author's surname and the year in parentheses, with no comma between them: (Watson and Crick 1953). For three or more authors, use the first author and et al.: (Wilkins et al. 1953). Separate several sources with semicolons. If you name the authors in your sentence, put only the year in parentheses: Watson and Crick (1953) proposed a double helix.

Does CSE use italics or abbreviations for journal names?

CSE abbreviates journal names and sets them in plain type, with no italics and no full stops: Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, J Biol Chem. One-word titles such as Nature or Science stay in full. Take the abbreviation from the NLM Catalog or the ISSN List of Title Word Abbreviations rather than inventing one, and use the same form every time.

Is CSE the same as CBE style?

Yes. CSE grew out of the style of the Council of Biology Editors, which changed its name to the Council of Science Editors in 2000. Older guides and some instructors still say CBE. If an assignment asks for CBE, use the current CSE 8th edition rules unless your instructor gives an older handout to follow.

Next steps

• Format a source now with the CSE citation generator.
• Compare with the other science styles: ACS citation format for chemistry and IEEE citation format for engineering.
• Learn the general rules every style shares in how to cite a research paper.
• Go back to the series hub: APA reference list.

Sources

1. CSE Manual Subcommittee. Scientific style and format: the CSE manual for authors, editors, and publishers. 8th ed. Chicago (IL): Council of Science Editors, in cooperation with the University of Chicago Press; 2014. Online edition: https://www.scientificstyleandformat.org/
2. Patrias K. Citing medicine: the NLM style guide for authors, editors, and publishers. 2nd ed. Wendling DL, technical editor. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2007. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7256/
3. National Library of Medicine (US). NLM Catalog: journals referenced in the NCBI databases [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [accessed 2026 Nov 14]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog/journals
4. ISSN International Centre. List of Title Word Abbreviations (LTWA) [Internet]. Paris (France): ISSN International Centre; [accessed 2026 Nov 14]. https://www.issn.org/services/online-services/access-to-the-ltwa/