How to Cite in CSE Style: Council of Science Editors Guide

This guide will help you understand how to properly cite sources in CSE format, the essential citation format for biology, natural sciences, and scientific research, ensuring your academic work meets the necessary standards.

What is the CSE Citation Format?

The Council of Science Editors (CSE) style is the go-to citation format for researchers in biology, ecology, environmental science, and other natural sciences. Originally developed in the 1960s as the Council of Biology Editors (CBE) style, it has evolved into a comprehensive system used by scientific journals worldwide. The current standard is the CSE Manual, 9th Edition (2024).

Quick Overview: CSE Citation Format

CSE offers three distinct documentation systems, and you should confirm with your instructor or target journal which one to use:

Citation-Sequence: Sources are numbered in the order they first appear in your text. Your reference list follows the same numerical order.
Citation-Name: Sources are numbered alphabetically by author surname. Numbers remain consistent throughout the text regardless of when sources appear.
Name-Year: Similar to APA, this system uses parenthetical citations with author surnames and publication years. The reference list is arranged alphabetically.

A key feature across all CSE systems: journal titles are abbreviated without periods (e.g., "J Exp Biol" not "J. Exp. Biol."), and author initials appear without periods or spaces.

In-Text Citations in CSE

Citation-Sequence System

Number sources sequentially as they appear:

Recent studies have examined bacterial resistance mechanisms¹. The molecular pathways involved show remarkable complexity²,³. Earlier work established foundational concepts¹.

For multiple consecutive references, use an en dash: ⁵⁻⁷

For non-consecutive references, use commas: ²,⁴,⁸

Citation-Name System

Numbers correspond to alphabetical reference list order:

According to research by Adams⁵ and earlier findings by Chen¹...

Name-Year System

Include author surnames and year in parentheses:

Bacterial resistance has been well documented (Morrison and Chen 2023). For three or more authors, use "et al." (Patel et al. 2024).

Reference List Format

Journal Articles

Citation-Sequence/Citation-Name format:

Name-Year format:

For more than 5 authors, list the first author followed by "et al.":

Books

Single author:

Edited volume:

Websites

Include the accessed date and URL:

National Institutes of Health. Positive emotions and your health [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): NIH; 2015 Aug [cited 2025 Jan 2]

Dissertations and Theses

Liang S. Transport properties of topological semimetals and non-symmorphic topological insulator [dissertation]

CSE Citation Examples by Source Type

Conference Papers

Government Reports

Preprints

Medina M et al. Surface morphometrics reveals local membrane thickness variation [preprint]

Common CSE Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting journal abbreviations: CSE requires abbreviated journal titles. Use the ISSN List of Title Word Abbreviations to find correct forms.
Including periods in author initials: Write "Morrison JK" not "Morrison J.K." or "Morrison, J. K."
Using "and" or "&" between authors: Separate all authors with commas, including the last author.
Inconsistent system use: Stick to one citation system throughout your paper—don't mix citation-sequence with name-year.
Missing access dates for online sources: Always include when you accessed internet sources.

CSE Citation Tools

Reference managers like Zotero and Mendeley include CSE style templates. For quick verification, the CSE Citation Quick Guide provides formatted examples directly from the publishers.

References

Council of Science Editors. Scientific Style and Format: The CSE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers. 9th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press; 2024.
Duke University Libraries. Council of Science Editors (CSE) Citation Style Guide [Internet]. Durham (NC): Duke University; [cited 2025 Jan 2]. Available from: https://guides.library.duke.edu/cse
Dalhousie University Libraries. CSE 8th Edition Citation Style Guide [Internet]. Halifax (NS): Dalhousie University; [cited 2025 Jan 2]. Available from: https://dal.ca.libguides.com/CitationStyleGuide/CSE

When working with scientific literature, Wonders can help you discover relevant sources and organize your research in any of the three CSE systems.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between CSE and Vancouver style?

Vancouver style is actually derived from CSE and follows similar conventions. The main difference is that Vancouver was developed specifically for biomedical journals by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, while CSE covers broader scientific disciplines including ecology, geology, and environmental sciences. In practice, they're often interchangeable for medical papers, but always check your target journal's specific requirements.

Should I include DOIs in my CSE citations?

Yes, including DOIs is strongly recommended when available. The CSE Manual encourages providing DOIs as full URLs (https://doi.org/...) to improve reference accessibility and permanence. Place the DOI at the end of your reference entry.

Can I cite personal communications in CSE style?

CSE recommends handling personal communications within the text rather than in the reference list, since readers cannot verify them. Include the nature of the communication, the person's name, and the date in parentheses within your text: “(A. Smith, personal communication, 2024 Mar 15).” You may need written permission from the person cited.

How do I cite a source with no author in CSE?

When no individual author is identified, begin the citation with the title of the work. For organizational authors (like government agencies or institutions), use the organization's name in place of an author. For example: “World Health Organization. Global tuberculosis report 2024. Geneva: WHO; 2024.”

How do I handle in-press or forthcoming articles?

For articles accepted but not yet published, include as much information as available, add “[forthcoming]” or “Forthcoming” after the journal title, and include a DOI if one has been assigned. Update the citation with complete information once the article is published.