How do I cite a pdf in Nature?

To cite a pdf in Nature (current), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for a pdf in Nature?

In Nature, the in-text citation for the example above is 1

How to Cite a PDF in Nature (current)

Learn how to cite PDF documents and reports in Nature format (current). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Nature Reference List Format

Here is the standard Nature format for citing a pdf in your reference list:

Nature Example for a PDF

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

1. Open Scholarship Council. Annual Review of Open Scholarship. https://www.example.org/reports/2023.pdf (2023).

Matching in-text citation: 1

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your pdf.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Nature (current) 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 Nature 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: nature.csl

Metadata to collect

actual source type
author
title
publisher or journal
date
DOI or stable URL

Common metadata traps

PDF is a file format, not usually the source type.
Prefer publisher metadata or a DOI over text scraped from a PDF.

Read the detailed source guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a pdf in Nature?: To cite a pdf in Nature (current), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Nature format for a pdf citation?: The Nature format for a pdf is: 1. Open Scholarship Council. Annual Review of Open Scholarship. https://www.example.org/reports/2023.pdf (2023).
What does the in-text citation look like for a pdf in Nature?: In Nature, the in-text citation for the example above is 1