How do I cite a book chapter in Vancouver?

To cite a book chapter in Vancouver (ICMJE), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What is the Vancouver format for a book chapter citation?

The Vancouver format for a book chapter is: Author AA. Title of chapter. In: Editor AA, editor. Title of book. Place: Publisher; Year. p. xx–xx.

What does the in-text citation look like for a book chapter in Vancouver?

In Vancouver, the in-text citation for the example above is (1)

How to Cite a Book Chapter in Vancouver (ICMJE)

Learn how to cite chapters and essays in edited books in Vancouver format (ICMJE). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Vancouver Reference List Format

Here is the standard Vancouver format for citing a book chapter in your reference list:

Author AA. Title of chapter. In: Editor AA, editor. Title of book. Place: Publisher; Year. p. xx–xx.

Vancouver Example for a Book Chapter

A complete Vancouver reference for a book chapter, formatted by the official Vancouver CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

1. Kowalski A. Teaching citation as a habit of mind. In: Reyes S, Kim J, editors. Handbook of Writing Instruction. 2nd ed. Boston: Academic Press; 2021. p. 203–21.

Matching in-text citation: (1)

Vancouver In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(1)

Narrative

One chapter (1) argues that...

Key Vancouver Formatting Rules

Name the chapter author and title, then "In:" the editor(s) followed by "editor." or "editors."
Italics are not used; give the book title, place, publisher, and year.
End with the chapter page range as p. xx–xx.
Number references in order of first appearance in the text.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your book chapter.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Vancouver (ICMJE) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Vancouver requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: vancouver.csl

Metadata to collect

chapter author
chapter title
book editor
book title
edition
publisher and year
chapter page range
DOI

Common metadata traps

Cite the chapter author, not the book editor, as the author of the entry.
Give the full page range of the chapter, not only the pages you quoted.

Editorial sources

Read the detailed source guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a book chapter in Vancouver?: To cite a book chapter in Vancouver (ICMJE), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Vancouver format for a book chapter citation?: The Vancouver format for a book chapter is: Author AA. Title of chapter. In: Editor AA, editor. Title of book. Place: Publisher; Year. p. xx–xx.
What does the in-text citation look like for a book chapter in Vancouver?: In Vancouver, the in-text citation for the example above is (1)