Website
Website Example
Council of Science Editors. CSE style guide. CSE Online. 2024 Mar 15 [accessed 2024 Mar 20]. https://www.councilscienceeditors.org/style-guide
CSE Citation Generator
CSE style is published by the Council of Science Editors and is used primarily in biological and physical sciences. This citation generator follows the CSE Manual (8th edition).
Science
What sources can you cite in CSE format?
- Journal articles
- Books and book chapters
- Websites and databases
- Conference proceedings
- Government publications
- Technical reports
- Theses and dissertations
- Maps and audiovisual materials
How to create CSE citations
Reference list citations
CSE offers three documentation systems. Citation-Sequence: References are numbered in the order they appear in text; list is numbered accordingly. Citation-Name: References are alphabetized, then numbered; numbers used in text. Name-Year: References are alphabetized; author-date used in text. Format for journal articles: Author(s). Year. Article title. Journal Abbrev. Volume(Issue):Pages. Use sentence case for titles, abbreviate journal names, and include DOIs when available.
In-text citations
Citation-Sequence: Use superscript numbers¹ or numbers in parentheses (1) in order of first appearance. Citation-Name: Same format but numbers correspond to alphabetized reference list. Name-Year: Use (Author Year) format—e.g., (Smith 2024) or (Smith and Doe 2024). For 3+ authors: (Smith et al. 2024). Choose one system and use it consistently throughout your document.
CSE Citation Examples
See how to format different source types in CSE.
Journal Article
Journal Article Example
Smith J, Doe M. Scientific research methods. J Sci Res. 2024;45(2):123-45.
Book
Book Example
Brown C. Introduction to Science. 3rd ed. New York: Academic Press; 2023.
Quick CSE Rules
Author Format
Last name Initial(s). Use 'and' before last author. List all authors or use 'et al.' for 10+ authors.
Title Format
Sentence case for article titles. Journal names are abbreviated.
Date Format
Year. Include month and day for web sources.
Journal/Source
Abbreviated journal name, year;volume(issue):page range.
In-text Citations
Three systems: Citation-Sequence uses numbers [1], Citation-Name uses author names alphabetically (Smith 2024), Name-Year uses (Smith 2024).
About this CSE citation generator
This citation generator formats references according to the CSE Manual (8th edition) published by the Council of Science Editors. It supports all three CSE documentation systems: Citation-Sequence, Citation-Name, and Name-Year. The tool is designed for biological, physical, and life sciences publications. Always verify the preferred citation system with your target journal or institution before submitting.
Expert-Verified CSE Citations You Can Trust
Incorrect citations cost you grades. Our CSE citation generator is built by formatting experts who've refined every algorithm for precision. Trusted by educators and students worldwide, we help you cite sources correctly the first time.
Tom Atkinson
Citation Expert
Garrett Becker
Style Specialist
Briggs Knight
Citation Developer
Common CSE citation mistakes
- Mixing different CSE citation systems in the same document
- Using full journal names instead of standard abbreviations
- Forgetting to include accessed dates for online sources
- Using title case instead of sentence case for article titles
- Not including all authors in the reference list (CSE lists all authors)
- Placing punctuation incorrectly (semicolons separate volume from pages)
CSE Frequently Asked Questions
What is CSE citation style?
CSE (Council of Science Editors) style is used primarily in biological and physical sciences. It offers three citation systems: Citation-Sequence, Citation-Name, and Name-Year.
How do I cite a website in CSE?
Include author/organization, page title, website name, publication date, accessed date in brackets, and URL.
What are the three CSE citation systems?
Citation-Sequence uses numbers [1], Citation-Name uses author names alphabetically (Smith 2024), and Name-Year uses (Smith 2024) with chronological reference list.
Does CSE require DOIs?
Yes, CSE style recommends including DOIs for journal articles when available, placed after page numbers.
Other Citation Styles
Last updated: December 2025 — CSE formatting rules.