CSE (a.k.a. CBE) documentation style

(pdf)

Each academic discipline has its own expectations for style and documentation. Often, these disciplines rely on a broad system of guidelines that are determined by professional organizations in the field. In the natural and physical sciences as well as mathematics, the standard style is CSE (Council of Science Editors, also called the Council of Biology Editors). Scientific Style and Format: The CBE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers (6th edition) contains complete information about documentation in the sciences.

CBE PERMITS TWO DISTINCT STYLES FOR IN-TEXT CITATIONS: the citation-sequence system (formerly superscript number) and the name-year system.

In classes, students should check to see which system the instructor prefers. For publication, writers should preview the journal to which they are submitting.

IN THE CITATION-SEQUENCE SYSTEM, each source is assigned a number in superscript.

For example, the first time a study by Browne is mentioned, the line is labeled this way:

In the thorough study by Browne¹, it was determined that this method was not feasible.

Thereafter, each time this study is mentioned, it is labeled with a superscript 1. Subsequent studies would be labeled 2, 3, 4, etc.

 

IN THE NAME-YEAR SYSTEM, authors are identified by name (either in the main text or in parentheses) and the date of the study is given. When multiple references are cited, they are arranged chronologically starting with the earliest date.  

In the thorough study by Browne, it was determined that this method was not feasible (2001).

Future studies confirmed this finding (Wagner 2002; Williams and Hunt 2003).

A LIST OF PUBLICATION INFORMATION CALLED “REFERENCES” SHOULD FOLLOW YOUR PAPER. The format for this list is contingent on the in-text citation style you choose.

• Citation-sequence system:  Number the list items to match the in-text numbering.
• Name-year system:  List the items alphabetically; you do not need to number them.

THE PLACEMENT OF DATES IN THE REFERENCES LIST IS ALSO CONTINGENT ON THE IN-TEXT STYLE.

• Citation-sequence system:  For books, place the date after publisher's name; for journals, place the date after the journal name.
• Name-year system:  Place the date immediately after the author's name.

OTHER FEATURES OF THE REFERENCES PAGE ARE UNIFORM.

• Author names are listed as last name and first initial (no comma after last name).
• Do not underline book or journal titles.
• For book entries, list number of pages in book.

The following is an example of a REFERENCES LIST USING THE CITATION-SEQUENCE SYSTEM. (Note: Sources are listed in the order they appear in your paper. Please also note that in an actual reference list in CSE style, all references would have hanging indents after the first line. See pdf version for an example.)

Book with one author              

1. Hughes T. Nocturnal activity. Boston: Bantam; 1999. 356 p.

Book with two authors                        

2. Albert R., Stevenson P. New findings in mRNA. Toronto: Science Trail Books; 1980. 403 p.

Periodical                                

3. Shafer W. Polar bears in the wild. National Geographic 1985 Mar 59(1): 15-29.

Newspaper article                  

4. Miller K. Unpacking the beauty myth. The Wall Street Journal 2002 May 21; Sect F: 3 (col 1).

World Wide Web site              

5. Browning M. 5 June 1999. Alcoholism and its causes; 1999 June 5. Available from: http://www.alcoholism.org. Accessed 2002 April 26.

 

The following is an example of a REFERENCES LIST USING THE NAME-YEAR SYSTEM. (Note: Sources are listed alphabetically. Please also note that in an actual reference list in CSE style, all references would have hanging indents after the first line. See pdf version for an example.)

Book with two authors                        

Albert R., Stevenson P. 1980. New findings in mRNA. Toronto: Science Trail Books. 403 p.

World Wide Web site              

Browning M. 5 June 1999. Alcoholism and its causes. Available from: http://www.alcoholism.org. Accessed 2002 April 26.

Book with one author              

Hughes T. 1999. Nocturnal activity. Boston: Bantam. 356 p.

Newspaper article                  

Miller K. 2002 May 21. Unpacking the beauty myth. The Wall Street Journal; Sect F: 3 (col 1).

Periodical                                

Shafer W. 1985 Mar. Polar bears in the wild. National Geographic 59(1):15-29.

For more information:

Huth EJ. 1994. Scientific style and format: the CBE manual for authors, editors, and publishers. 6 th ed. Boston: Cambridge University Press. 825 p.

Faigley L. 2006. The penguin handbook. New York: Pearson. 560 p.