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CSE Style Guide: In-text Using Name-Year

Citation style tips based upon the Scientific Style and Format: The CSE Manual for Author, Editors and Publishers, 7th edition, 2006.

Types of In-Text Citations

  • In-text (parenthetical citations) using the name-year system usually contain the author's name and publication year of the reference.
  • If authorship is uncertain, use the first word or first few words of the title, followed by an ellipsis and the date (p 494).
  • Each in-text citaton should correspond to a citation in the list of references at the end of the paper.

How to cite references in your text

In the name-year system, in-text references contain the name of the author(s) and the year of publication of the document. Enclose the name and year in parenthesis. Leave a space between name and year. No punctuation is necessary.

In-text example:

The most recent report (Brown 2006) on the use of . . . 

Exceptions to this rule occur when no definitive author or publication date is present or a publication has multiple dates. This often occurs when citing websites.

In This Guide

CSE In-Text Examples