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Learning Resources for Medicine: Referencing different sources in Vancouver Style

This guide will lead you to resources that help your study and research in the field of Medicine. There are also a range of learning tools that will allow you to develop your research and study skills.

What is Referencing?

Referencing is a method used to demonstrate to your readers that you have conducted a thorough and appropriate literature search, and carried out appropriate reading.

A reference is required if you:

  • Quote (use someone else’s exact words);
  • Copy (use figures, tables or structure);
  • Paraphrase (convert someone else’s ideas into your own words);
  • Summarize (use a brief account of someone else’s ideas).

Referencing FAQs

What if there is no date or more than one publication year given?

What if there is no obvious author for an item on the Web?

What is the difference between a bibliography and a reference list?

What should I do if there is more than one place of publication given?

If an author has more than one family name, do I need to write both of them?

Do I have to reference lecture notes?

I'm re-using a source that I referred to earlier - do I give it another number and list it again?

I've used two chapters from an edited book. Should I reference the whole book in my bibliography as well as the chapters?

Why do I reference?

References enhance your writing and assist your reader by:

  • showing the breadth of your research;
  • strengthening your academic arguments;
  • showing the reader the source of your information;
  • allowing the reader to consult your sources independently;
  • allowing the reader to verify your data.

Vancouver Referencing

Print Book with 1-6 Authors

Print Book with more than 6 Authors

Print Book with no authors

Print Book with multiple volumes

Print Book in a series

Print Book with Corporate author

Electronic Book

Chapter in an edited book

Translated book

Book in a Foreign Language

Journal Article Print

Journal Article Online

Journal Article cited in another (Secondary referencing)

Conference proceedings: whole

Conference proceedings: individual paper

Theses

Newspaper articles: print

Newspaper articles: online

Reports

Web pages and websites (professional)

Web pages and websites (general)

Emails

Podcasts

Interviews

Presentations/lectures

Images- from print source

Images- from online source

Brochure or pamphlet

UpToDate

DynaMed

Mobile App

Cochrane Review

Dissertation-Print

Dissertation-Online

Have a referencing query?

Send your question to me at bnair@rcsi-mub.com