Nature In-Text Citations
Master Nature (current) in-text citations with this complete guide. Learn the correct format for every scenario, including single and multiple authors, direct quotes, and sources with missing information.
In-Text Citation Rules
Below are the Nature in-text citation rules for every common scenario you will encounter when writing your paper.
Single Author
Superscript number after punctuation¹ — numbered in order of first mention
Two Authors
Same superscript number — both authors cited in the reference list
Three or More Authors
Same superscript number — all authors listed in the reference list (no et al. in reference list)
Direct Quote
Superscript number¹; page number cited in the text if applicable
No Author
Use the organization or dataset name; numbered in order of first mention
No Date
Include the year if available; for preprints use the posted year
Quick Examples
Here are real-world Nature in-text citation examples for different source types:
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Cite in Nature Now →Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I format an Nature in-text citation?
- For a single author in Nature, use the format Superscript number after punctuation¹ — numbered in order of first mention. For two authors, use Same superscript number — both authors cited in the reference list. For three or more authors, use Same superscript number — all authors listed in the reference list (no et al. in reference list).
- How do I cite a direct quote in Nature?
- For direct quotes in Nature (current), use the format: Superscript number¹; page number cited in the text if applicable.
- What if there is no author or no date in Nature?
- When there is no author in Nature, use: Use the organization or dataset name; numbered in order of first mention. When there is no date, use: Include the year if available; for preprints use the posted year.