The document provides information on referencing styles, specifically the Vancouver referencing technique. It discusses key terms related to referencing, the importance of referencing, types of references, in-text citations, and examples of referencing journal articles, books, editorials, and electronic sources based on the Vancouver style. The style is a numbered referencing technique developed by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors.

1. Referencing
with Special Emphasis on
Vancouver Referencing
Technique
Prof. Abdulsalam Y Taha
College of Medicine/University of
Sulaimania/Sulaimania/Kurdistan/Iraq
2019

2. In this Lecture
• Reference vs. Referee
• Author vs. Editor vs. Publisher vs. Librarian
• Types of references.
• Reference List vs. Bibliography
• In-text citation (Arabic numbers between round or
square brackets or superscript numbers).
• Bibliographic elements.
• Punctuation marks.
• Vancouver Style vs. Harvard Style
• Plagiarism
• The EndNote Referencing Style Software
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 2

3. Terms…
• Reference is to use a source of information to ascertain
something.
• Referee is a person chosen to examine and assess a
scientific or other academic work for publication.
• Author is a writer of a book, article or a report.
• Editor is a person who is in charge of determining the
final content of a text, particularly a newspaper or
magazine.
• Publisher is a person or company that prepares and
issues books, journals, music, or other works for sale.
• Plagiarism is the practice of taking someone else's
work or ideas and passing them off as one's own. All
academics know its serious consequences.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 3

4. Referencing
Why?
• Acknowledge debts to other writers.
• Demonstrate the body of knowledge
upon which your assignment is based.
• Enable the reader(s) to locate your
sources easily.
• Referencing is important to avoid
plagiarism.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 4

5. Types of References
• Book
• Dictionary or Encyclopedia
• Journal Article
• Conference Papers
• Newspaper and Magazine Article
• Reports and other Government
Publications
• Thesis
• Web Pages
• Other Internet Sources
• Personal Communication (verbal,
written and e mail)
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 5

6. Types of References…
• Pamphlet
• Package Inserts
• Lecture Notes
• Video or DVD
• Film or Broadcast
• Tables
• Figures
• Images or Appendices.
• In this lecture, we are going to study how
to refer to journal articles and books. For
other types of references, we need to
read the original Vancouver document.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 6

7. Vancouver Group
• In 1978, a group of editors met in
Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada.
• The group called itself the International
Steering Committee, a name that was later
changed to the International Committee of
Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).
• Because of its original meeting place,
however, the ICMJE has often been called
“the Vancouver group”.
• The main topic at the 1978 meeting was
formats for references.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 7

8. What is the Vancouver Referencing
Technique?
• A uniform set of requirements for
bibliographic references.
• Also known as: Uniform Requirements
for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical
Journals.
• It follows rules established by the
International Committee of Medical
Journal Editors.
• It is a "numbered" style.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 8

9. Vancouver Style
• The commonly used style in medical and scientific
journals.
• Reference list identifies references cited in sufficient
detail so that others may locate and consult them.
• The reference list appears at the end of the
essay/report with the entries listed numerically and
in the same order that they have been cited in the
text.
• If you have cited sources from the Internet, these
should also be in your reference list.
• Punctuation marks and spaces in the reference list
and citations are very important. Follow the
punctuation and spacing exactly as in the following
examples.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 9

10. Citation
•The way that you (the writer)
refer to texts that you wish to
include in your work.
•It is in the form of a number that
correlates with a source in your
reference list. If the source is
referred to again, the same
number is used.
•Citation (Extract) also refers to
the information retrieved from a
bibliographical database search.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 10

11. Look at this Paragraph…
• Foreign body aspiration is common [1]. It is
a life-threatening condition (2). Children
under the age of 5 years are the usual
sufferers.3 Family negligence is to be blamed
[1,3,4] particularly in low socioeconomic
class population [1-5]. The event of
aspiration is characterized by chocking
while eating, laughing or crying [1]-[4].
Death may occur due to suffocation with a
big foreign body blocking the larynx.1,6
Strider may result from inhalation of a
foreign body that resides within the larynx
or trachea.2,4,6-8 It is vital to educate parents
to take care of their children to prevent this
potentially fatal problem [1p32] [3].
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 11

12. Look at this Paragraph…
• John et al [9] as well as other authors 10,11
believe that the incidence of foreign body
aspiration can be greatly reduced by
increasing the awareness of people. William
[cited in 5] states that unresolved cough in a
child should be looked at seriously as it may
indicate a foreign body aspiration. Ali et al
quoted Ahmed in their article [12] who
recommends bronchoscopy for children
with unresolved cough to exclude foreign
body aspiration.
• As one can see, there are different methods of in-text citation.
Journals may differ in their preferred citation style. This is
usually explained in the “Instruction to Authors” posted in the
web site of each journal.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 12

13. • In the Vancouver Style, in-text
citations are identified by Arabic
numbers in round brackets.
When multiple references are
cited at a given place in the text,
use a hyphen to join the first and
last numbers that are inclusive.
Use commas (without spaces) to
separate non-inclusive numbers
in a multiple citation e.g.
(2,3,4,5,7,10) is abbreviated to
(2-5,7,10).
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 13

14. Journal Articles
• Russell FD, Coppell AL, Davenport AP. In vitro
enzymatic processing of radio-labled big ET-1
in human kidney as a food ingredient. Biochem
Pharmacol 1998;55:697-701.
• Note:
• Author(s) name: Surname followed by
2 initials separated by comma. Do not
use ‛and’ before the last name.
• All author names should be written.
However, some journals require to
write ‛et al’ after the 3rd or 6th author's
name in the list of references.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 14

15. (Et al) in (Vancouver) Style
• The words et al are used in the in-text
citation if there are 3 or more authors
but not in the reference list.
• Reference list example:
Skalsky K, Yahav D, Bishara J, Pitlik S, Leibovici L, Paul M. Treatment of
human brucellosis: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized
controlled trials. BMJ 2008 Mar 29;336(7646):701-4.
• In-text citation:
By using meta-analysis, Skalsky et al ...
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 15

16. Et al
• Another reference list example:
Hanna JN, McBride WJ, Brookes DL, Shield J, Taylor CT,
Smith IL, Craig SB, Smith GA. Hendra virus infection in
a veterinarian. Med J Aust 2006 Nov 20;185(10):562-
64.
• In-text citation
Hanna et al21 report in this article that ...
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 16

17. Editorial in a Journal
Coffee drinking and cancer of the pancreas [editorial].
BMJ 1981;283:628.
• A piece of writing, displayed in a prominent position,
that expresses a strong view on a matter of importance
to a publication’s readers. They are also called leading
articles or leaders.
• The name of the journal should be in standard PubMed
abbreviations, full journal name should not be written.
BMJ stands for British Medical Journal.
● So, for editorial, no author is given as it represents the
opinion of the journal as a whole rather than a person.
● Nevertheless, sometimes, there is a “signed editorial”
written by a personal author.
● So, the essential elements for referencing journals are:
author, title of article, journal title, date, volume
number, issue number, page numbers.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 17

18. Electronic Articles
● Fletcher D, Wagstaff CRD. Organisational
psychology in elite sport: its emergence,
application and future. Psychol Sport Exerc
2009;10(4):427-34.
doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2009.03.009.
● Lemanek K. Adherence issues in the medical
management of asthma. J Pediatr Psychol [
Internet]. 1990 [cited 2010 Apr 22];15(4):437-
58. Available from:
http://jpepsy.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/
15/4/437
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 18

19. Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 19

20. Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 20

21. Books with a Personal Author(s) but
without Editor
• Getzen TE. Health economics: fundamentals
and flow of funds. New York (NY): John
Wiley & Sons; 1997.
• Note:
1. Getzen TE: author's name. It should be exact as
existing.
2. Health economics: fundamentals and flow of funds:
book's title.
3. New York (NY): place of publication.
4. John Wiley & Sons: publishers.
5. 1997: year of publication.
In-text citation: Getzen [1] believes that…
● so, the essential elements for referencing books are:
author, title, edition, place of publication, publisher,
date (year).
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 21

22. Books with Editor but without
author(s)
• Millares M, editor. Applied drug
information: strategies for information
management. Vancouver,WA: Applied
Therapeutics, Inc.; 1998.
• Electronic Book:
Bartlett A. Breastwork: Rethinking
breastfeeding [monograph online]. Sydney,
NSW: University of New South Wales Press;
2005 [cited 2009 Nov 10]. Available from:
NetLibrary
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 22

23. Books with Editions
• Australian Government Publishing Service.
Style manual for authors, editors and
printers. 5th ed. Canberra: Australian
Government Publishing Service; 1994
• Note “Australian Government Publishing
Service” is the author and also the
publisher.
• Here, an organization stands as an author.
• No need to mention 1st ed.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 23

24. Book Chapters [with edition] and a Series
• Bennett GL, Horuk R. Iodination of chemokines
for use in receptor binding analysis. In: Horuk
R, editor. Chemokine receptors. New York (NY):
Academic Press; 1997. p. 134-48. (Methods in
enzymology; vol 288).
• Note:
1. Bennett GL, Horuk R: authors of the chapter.
2. Iodination of chemokines for use in receptor
binding analysis: title of the chapter.
3. Chemokine receptors: the title of the book.
4. Methods in enzymology: the title of the series.
In-text citation: Bennett and Horuk [1] believe
that…
Up to 6 authors, mention all names in the reference list.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 24

25. Book with 6 or more Authors
• In the list of references:
Hofmeyr GJ, Neilson JP, Alfirevic Z, Crowther CA,
Gulmezoglu AM, Hodnett ED et al. A Cochrane
pocketbook: Pregnancy and childbirth. Chichester,
West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons Ltd; 2008.
• In-text citation:
Professionals in collaboration [1] mentioned…
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 25

26. Chapter in a Book (with an author but no
editor)
● Speroff L, Fritz MA. Clinical gynaecologic
endocrinology and infertility. 7th ed.
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins;
2005. Chapter 29, Endometriosis; p.1103-33.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 26

27. Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 27

28. List of References
1. Siow SL, Wong CM, Hardin M, Sohail M. Successful laparoscopic
management of combined traumatic diaphragmatic rupture and
abdominal wall hernia: a case report. Journal of medical case reports.
2016 Jan 18;10:11. PubMed PMID: 26781191. Pubmed Central PMCID:
4717597.
2. Thiam O, Konate I, Gueye ML, Toure AO, Seck M, Cisse M. Traumatic
diaphragmatic injuries: epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic
aspects. SpringerPlus. 2016;5(1):1614. PubMed PMID: 27652187.
Pubmed Central PMCID: PMC5028363. Epub 2016/09/22. eng.
3. Gao JM, Du DY, Li H, Liu CP, Liang SY, Xiao Q,. Traumatic diaphragmatic
rupture with combined thoracoabdominal injuries: Difference between
penetrating and blunt injuries. Chinese journal of traumatology =
Zhonghua chuang shang za zhi. 2015;18(1):21-6. PubMed PMID:
26169090.
4. Bunya N, Sawamoto K, Uemura S, Toyohara T, Mori Y, Kyan R. How to
manage tension gastrothorax: a case report of tension gastrothorax
with multiple trauma due to traumatic diaphragmatic rupture.
International journal of emergency medicine. 2017 Dec;10(1):4.
PubMed PMID: 28127711. Pubmed Central PMCID: PMC5267754.
Epub 2017/01/28. eng.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 28

29. Vancouver: Librarian's System
Why?
● Librarian is a person, typically with a
degree in library science, who
administers or assists in a library.
● For a librarian, each written work is just
a number, whether done by the most
brilliant scientist or the most ordinary
writer.
● He works by giving each work a number
(tag).
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 29

30. Harvard Style
• “Harvard Style” is a generic term for any
referencing style which uses in-text
references such as (Smith, 1999) and a
reference list at the end of the document
organized by author name and year of
publication.
• Huffman, L. M. (1996). Processing whey
protein for use as a food ingredient. Food
Technology, 50 (2), 49-52.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 30

31. Vancouver vs. Harvard
• Both systems have advantages.
• Vancouver is good for categorizing and
indexing.
• Harvard is good for research and
reading.
• Vancouver can incorporate good points
of Harvard and become the prime
referencing system.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 31

32. Bibliography
• The bibliography is a separate list from
the reference list and should be arranged
alphabetically by author or title.
• A bibliography lists sources not cited in
the text but which are relevant to the
subject and were used for background
reading.
• A list of material you have used for
information or inspiration but have not
referred to directly in the text.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 32

33. The EndNote Referencing Style Software
• EndNote is a software program that assists in creating
reference list. It can be downloaded from the internet.
• It can be used to import references from online database,
using Pubmed as an example.
• It can be used to create a custom group and add a reference
to it.
• It can be used to find full text to download PDFs for
references.
• It can be used to insert a reference in a Word document.
• It can be used to format a bibliography, using the Vancouver
style as an example.
• It can be used to add page numbers to a citation.
• And even more…
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 33

34. Take Home Messages
• Good academic work should be well
referenced.
• Overall, recent articles from high quality
specialist journals are preferred as
references. Avoid citing articles from
predatory journals.
• The academic writer should master
referencing techniques and be capable of
proper in-text citation and creating lists
of references.
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 34

35. Take Home Messages…
• Referencing Software Programs are available.
They are very useful for the academic writer to
facilitate citing while writing as well as
importing references from websites, inserting
citation, creating and formatting reference
lists…etc.
• The time-consuming and tedious process of
referencing that is used be done manually and
liable for making mistakes can be replaced by
this precise quick computer job just like many
things in our digital world.
• Nevertheless, EndNote should not be our
‟Start” in studying Referencing!!
Prof. A Y Taha/ Referencing7/10/2019 35