How to Cite a Book in Vancouver (ICMJE)
Learn how to cite printed and electronic 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 in your reference list:
Author AA. Title of book. Edition. Place: Publisher; Year.
Vancouver Example for a Book
A complete Vancouver reference for a book, formatted by the official Vancouver CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
1. Okafor A. The craft of research writing. 2nd ed. Cambridge: University Press; 2019.
Matching in-text citation: (1)
Vancouver In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(1)
Narrative
Smith (1) describes...
Key Vancouver Formatting Rules
- Do not italicize the title.
- Abbreviate author first names to initials.
- Include edition, place, publisher, and year.
- Use a semicolon before the year.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your book.
- 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
- author or editor
- book title
- edition
- publisher
- publication year
- ISBN
Common metadata traps
- Match the ISBN and year to the edition you actually used.
- Do not cite the whole book when your source is a chapter by another author.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a book in Vancouver?
- To cite a book 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 citation?
- The Vancouver format for a book is: Author AA. Title of book. Edition. Place: Publisher; Year.
- What does the in-text citation look like for a book in Vancouver?
- In Vancouver, the in-text citation for the example above is (1)
Generate This Citation Automatically
Skip the manual formatting. Paste a DOI, URL, or ISBN into CitationEasy and get a perfectly formatted Vancouver citation in seconds.
Cite in Vancouver Now →Generate this citation
Paste a URL, DOI, ISBN, or the source details and get a finished Vancouver citation for a Book.
Open the Book Citation Generator →Bibliography Studio
Saved citations build a full bibliography in the Studio