How do I cite a pdf in PLOS?

To cite a pdf in PLOS (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 PLOS?

In PLOS, the in-text citation for the example above is [1]

How to Cite a PDF in PLOS (current)

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

PLOS Reference List Format

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

PLOS Example for a PDF

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

1. Open Scholarship Council. Annual review of open scholarship. Geneva: Open Scholarship Council; 2023. Available: https://www.example.org/reports/2023.pdf

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 PLOS (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 PLOS 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: plos.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 PLOS?: To cite a pdf in PLOS (current), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the PLOS format for a pdf citation?: The PLOS format for a pdf is: 1. Open Scholarship Council. Annual review of open scholarship. Geneva: Open Scholarship Council; 2023. Available: https://www.example.org/reports/2023.pdf
What does the in-text citation look like for a pdf in PLOS?: In PLOS, the in-text citation for the example above is [1]