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How to Cite a Patent in ACS (4th edition)

Learn how to cite a patent or intellectual property filing in ACS format (4th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

ACS Reference List Format

Here is the standard ACS format for citing a patent in your reference list:

ACS Example for a Patent

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

(1) Lindqvist, E. Automated Bibliographic Reference Parser. US 10,482,119 B2, November 19, 2019. https://patents.example.org/US10482119.

Matching in-text citation: 1

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your patent.
  2. Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the ACS (4th edition) template shown above.
  3. Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
  4. Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
  5. Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match ACS requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model.

CSL style record: acs.csl

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a patent in ACS?
To cite a patent in ACS (4th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the ACS format for a patent citation?
The ACS format for a patent is: (1) Lindqvist, E. Automated Bibliographic Reference Parser. US 10,482,119 B2, November 19, 2019. https://patents.example.org/US10482119.
What does the in-text citation look like for a patent in ACS?
In ACS, the in-text citation for the example above is 1

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Cite a Patent in Other Styles

Patent in APAPatent in MLAPatent in ChicagoPatent in HarvardPatent in VancouverPatent in IEEEPatent in AMAPatent in TurabianPatent in CSEPatent in BibTeXPatent in NaturePatent in OSCOLAPatent in BluebookPatent in AGLCPatent in ASAPatent in APSAPatent in AAAPatent in NLMPatent in ACMPatent in APSPatent in AIPPatent in CellPatent in SciencePatent in PLOSPatent in BMJPatent in LancetPatent in JAMAPatent in Elsevier HarvardPatent in Springer

Cite Other Sources in ACS

Website in ACSBook in ACSJournal Article in ACSYouTube Video in ACSPodcast in ACSNewspaper Article in ACSMagazine Article in ACSBlog Post in ACSWikipedia in ACSPDF in ACSInterview in ACSSocial Media Post in ACSGovernment Document in ACSDissertation or Thesis in ACSConference Paper in ACSLecture or PowerPoint in ACSWebinar in ACSOnline Course in ACSPowerPoint Presentation in ACSImage or Photograph in ACSMovie or Film in ACSDocumentary in ACSTV Show in ACSSong or Music in ACSPoem in ACSCourt Case in ACSEncyclopedia Entry in ACSDictionary Entry in ACSDataset in ACSSoftware or App in ACSVideo Game in ACSPress Release in ACSReport in ACSPreprint in ACSBook Chapter in ACSChatGPT in ACSBible in ACSTED Talk in ACSEmail in ACSReddit or Forum Post in ACSX (Twitter) Post in ACSMap in ACS

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