How to Format a Nature References
The references is one of the most important parts of any academic paper formatted in Nature (current). It provides readers with the full details of every source you cited, allowing them to locate and verify your references. Getting the formatting right is essential for academic credibility. This guide covers the exact rules, shows real examples, and highlights the most common mistakes students make.
Formatting Rules
Follow these rules when creating your Nature references:
1.Title the section "References" at the end of the manuscript
2.Number references consecutively in the order they appear in the text
3.For journals: Author, A. B. & Author, C. D. J. Abbrev. Name vol, pages (year).
4.Do NOT include article titles for journal references
5.Abbreviate journal names in italics
6.Use '&' between authors — not 'and'
7.List all authors — do not use et al. in the reference list
Example References
Here is how a Nature references looks with entries for different source types:
Journal Article
Lee, A. B. & Park, C. Modern citation practices. J. Acad. Writ. 15, 45–67 (2024).
Book
Smith, J. D. The Art of Research (Academic Press, 2024).
Website
World Health Organization. Global health statistics. WHO https://www.who.int/statistics (2024).
Conference Paper
Smith, J. D. New approaches to citation. In Proc. Int. Conf. Acad. Writing 100–105 (Academic Press, 2024).
Preprint
Garcia, M. Citation trends in open science. Preprint at https://doi.org/10.1101/example (2024).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These are the five most frequent formatting errors students make when creating a Nature references:
- Missing or incorrect hanging indent: Every entry should have the first line flush left and all subsequent lines indented by 0.5 inches. Use your word processor's paragraph settings rather than pressing the Tab key.
- Incorrect alphabetization or ordering: Entries must be arranged according to Nature rules. Ignore articles like "A," "An," and "The" when alphabetizing. For numbered styles, list entries in the order they first appear in the text.
- Inconsistent spacing: Double-check your line spacing throughout the entire references. Mixing single and double spacing is a common error that is easy to miss.
- Wrong use of italics: Italicize titles of standalone works such as books and journals, but do not italicize article or chapter titles. Check Nature guidelines for exactly which elements should be italicized.
- Missing or broken DOIs and URLs: Always include a DOI when one is available, formatted as a clickable link. Test every URL before submitting your paper to make sure it leads to the correct source.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a Nature References?
- A Nature References is the section at the end of your paper that lists all the sources you cited in your text, formatted according to Nature Journal Style (current) guidelines. It allows readers to locate and verify each source you referenced.
- How do I format a Nature references?
- Start on a new page, title it "References," and list all sources you cited in your paper. Follow the specific Nature rules for hanging indents, spacing, alphabetization or numbering order, and italics.
- What is the difference between a references and a bibliography?
- A references includes only the sources you directly cited in your paper, while a bibliography may also include sources you consulted but did not cite. In Nature (current), the end-of-paper list is called the "References."