Skip to Main Content

Vancouver 2022

Reference list

When you’ve cited another author’s words or ideas in the text of your assignment, you need to include a reference list entry at the end of your document, recording the full details of the cited source. The reference list should include all and only those references you have cited in the text (However, do not include unpublished items such as personal emails). This is an overview of the rules given in the AMA Manual of Style, 11th ed. for creating a reference list, found in Chapter 3.

Setting up your list

Format Rule
Page The reference list appears on a new page at the end of your paper, before appendices if included
Title Title the list 'References'. This title can be centred or justified to the left - you can choose
Indent The example reference list below is not indented, but you may choose to indent your references in your own list
Order of list References are listed in numerical order, and in the same order in which they are cited in the text.
Author names Include initials for all of the given names for each author, without spaces or punctuation between the initials.  For example, the author John Thomas Halloran would be listed in the reference list as Halloran JT.
  List authors in the order they appear in the publication
Journal titles Abbreviate journal titles as per the NLM (National Library of Medicine) Catalog of journals referenced in the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) Databases. Only use abbreviations from this list, do not make up your own journal abbreviations
URLs Avoid using really long URLs (Uniform Resource Locator) in references as it can look very cluttered. You can convert really long URLs to tiny URLs for a cleaner look

Formatting rules and examples

Reference list
Format

Author AA

Example

1.    Tarzia L. “It went to the very heart of who I was as a woman”: the invisible impacts of intimate partner sexual violence. Qual Health Res. 2021;31(2):287-297. doi:10.1177/1049732320967659

Tips
  • If there is no year of publication write date unknown  
  • If there is no publisher write Publisher unknown
  • If there is no author, do not replace it with Anonymous, unless Anonymous is actually published as the author in the byline
Less than six authors
Format

Author AA, Author BB, Author CC, Author DD, Author EE

Example

Mason S, Merga M. Less ‘prestigious’ journals can contain more diverse research, by citing them we can shape a more just politics of citation. LSE blog. October 15, 2021. Accessed November 9, 2021. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2021/10/11/less-prestigious-journals-can-contain-more-diverse-research-by-citing-them-we-can-shape-a-more- -politics-of-citation/


Martin DS, Moores DF, Luft P. Selection of curriculum: a philosophical position. In: Moores DF, Martin DS, eds. Deaf Learners: Developments in Curriculum and Instruction. Gallaudet University Press; 2006:15-25. Accessed October 19, 2022. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/monash/detail.action?docID=4860673

More than six authors
Format

Author AA, Author BB, Author CC et al.

Example

Zhang Y, Liang S, Feng Y, et al. Automation of literature screening using machine learning in medical evidence synthesis: a diagnostic test accuracy systematic review protocol. Syst Rev. 2022;11. Published online January 15, 2022. doi:10.1186/s13643-021-01881-5

References

1.    Tarzia L. “It went to the very heart of who I was as a woman”: the invisible impacts of intimate partner sexual violence. Qual Health Res. 2021;31(2):287-297. doi:10.1177/1049732320967659

2.    Mason S, Merga M. Less ‘prestigious’ journals can contain more diverse research, by citing them we can shape a more just politics of citation. LSE blog. October 15, 2021. Accessed November 9, 2021. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2021/10/11/less-prestigious-journals-can-contain-more-diverse-research-by-citing-them-we-can-shape-a-more- -politics-of-citation/

3.    Manchha AV, Walker N, Way KA, et al. Deeply discrediting: a systematic review examining the conceptualizations and consequences of the stigma of working in aged care. Gerontologist. 2021;61(4):e129-e146. doi:10.1093/geront/gnaa166 

4.    Booth A. Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review. 3rd ed. SAGE; 2022.

5.    Zhang N, Parsons RD. Field Experience: Transitioning from Student to Professional. Sage; 2015. Accessed January 12, 2021. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/monash/detail.action?docID=4733116

6.    Page MJ, Shamseer L, Altman DG, et al. Epidemiology and reporting characteristics of systematic reviews of biomedical research: a cross-sectional study. PLoS Med. 2016;13(5):e1002028. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002028 

7.    Groombridge C. Clinician Performance During Resuscitation: Stress, Decision-Making and Life-Saving Interventions. PhD thesis. Monash University; 2022. doi:10.26180/20748748.v1

8.    Martin DS, Moores DF, Luft P. Selection of curriculum: a philosophical position. In: Moores DF, Martin DS, eds. Deaf Learners: Developments in Curriculum and Instruction. Gallaudet University Press; 2006:15-25. Accessed October 19, 2022. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/monash/detail.action?docID=4860673

9.    Lacaze P, McNeill J. Data from: ASPREE Genome-wide SNP Genotyping Dataset. Bridges. Deposited October 18, 2022. doi: 10.26180/21097654.v1


Tips
  • Check with your unit coordinator for any specific referencing or formatting requirements.
  • When you cite a source you are indicating that you have read it, so avoid citing something you have only read about in another source. Check the reference details against the actual source
  • See Chapter 3.12 of the AMA Manual of Style, 11th edition for more details about dealing with missing elements of a reference

Did you find this page helpful?