LibGuides: Writing &amp; Citing: CSE

CSE (Council of Science Editors) Name-Year Style

This style is frequently used in Biology, Ecology, Zoology, and Medical sciences. Most courses at Cal State LA use the name-year system, but some may use citation-sequence and citation-name systems. If you are not sure of which system to use, double-check with your professor.

9th Edition Style Guide

CSE Style Guide 9th Edition

8th Edition Style Guide

CSE Scientific Style and Format Online This link opens in a new window
A manual for CSE citation style, frequently used in biology, ecology, zoology, and medical sciences. This online resource covers all aspects of the style, plus tools to aid in manuscript preparation.

CSE is currently on the 9th edition. The 8th edition is also available, if necessary.

Scientific Style and Format Citation Quick Guide
From the Council of Science Editors.

Scientific Style and Format by Council of Science Editors
Call Number: Level 1 North T11 .S386 2006
ISBN: 9780226116495
Publication Date: 2014-05-07
For more than fifty years, authors, editors, and publishers in the scientific community have turned to Scientific Style and Format for authoritative recommendations on all matters of writing style and citation. Developed by the Council of Science Editors (CSE), the leading professional association in science publishing, this indispensable guide encompasses all areas of the sciences.

8th Edition Reference List Examples

Basic Format

Author AA, Author BB. YEAR. Article title. Journal Title Abbreviated. Volume(issue):pages. URL.

*Reminder: while not shown here, CSE uses hanging indent (each line starting with the second line is indented). See the formatting page on how to use a hanging indent.

Single Author

Last name first, followed by initials.

Ford TL. 2021. Article title. Journal Title. Volume(issue): pages. DOI.

Two Authors

Separate author names with a comma. Do not use “and.”

Ford TL, Audi AB. 2021. Article title. Journal Title. Volume(issue): pages. URL.

Three to Ten Authors

Separate author names with a comma. Do not use “and.”

Cevik M, Bamforrd CGG, Ho A. 2020. COVID-19 pandemic - a focused review for clinicians. Clin Microbiol Infect. 266(7):842-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2020.04.023.

Ten or More Authors

List the first ten authors followed by et al.

Pizzi C, Caraglia M, Cianciulli M, Fabbrocini A, Libroia A, Matano E, Contegiacomo A, Del Prete S, Abbruzzese A, Martignetti A, et al. 2002. Low- dose recombinant IL-2 induces psychological changes: monitoring by Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Anticancer Res. 22(2A):727–732. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12014643/.

8th Edition In-Text Examples

One Author: (Ford 2021)
Two Authors: (Ford and Audi 2018)
Three or more Authors: (Cevik et al. 2003)

CSE Style Reminders

Include the DOI at the end of your citation for online journals.
There is no space between journal, volume, and page numbers.
You want to abbreviate your journal title. You can look up the journal abbreviations on the CAS Source Index.
Your reference list (bibliography) will be organized alphabetically by author and then year.
Your references should be single spaced. Every line after the first line of a reference you should be indented.