CSE (Council of Science Editors)
CSE is the citation style of the Council of Science Editors, and it is commonly used for scientific writing. CSE allows three different systems for in text citation style and ordering your reference list; you must pick one and be consistent.
- Name-year: In text citations are in name-year format, e.g., (Barrow 2004), and the reference list is ordered alphabetically by author.
- Citation-sequence: In text citations are numbered, and the reference list numbering is based on order of appearance in the paper.
- Citation-Name: In text citations are numbered, and reference list numbering is alphabetical by author.
References in the reference list are formatted the same regardless of which system you use.
CSE Style Guides
The U of A Library's CSE-style QuickGuide, available in PDF and Google Doc formats, gives brief introductory information as well as templates and examples of the most common kinds of references, using the Name-Year system.
CSE's own QuickGuide includes examples of how to cite different types of sources using the three systems of CSE style (citation-sequence, citation-name, and name-year):
- The CSE-Style Citation Quick Guide - 9th ed. (CSE)Provides details and examples of how to cite different types of sources using the three systems of CSE style (citation-sequence, citation-name, and name-year).
Complete Manual
The CSE Manual, Ninth Edition (online)The 2024 edition of the manual includes guidelines for scientific writing and publication, including instructions and examples for references.
Scientific Style and Format, eighth edition (online and print available)Includes guidelines for scientific writing and publication, including instructions and examples for references.
