How to Cite a Website in Vancouver Style
Learn the exact format with examples, in-text citations, and common mistakes to avoid.
Citation Format
Basic Template
[#] Author/Organization. Page Title [Internet]. Website Name; Year [cited Year Month Day]. Available from: URL
Citation Components
Reference Number
Numbered [1], [2], [3], etc. in order of appearance.
Author or Organization
Full name or organization. If no author, start with title.
Page Title
Sentence case. Not italicized.
[Internet]
Include [Internet] designation.
Website Name
Name of website.
Year
Year of publication and access.
URL
Full web address.
Real-World Example
Example Source
1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
COVID-19 vaccines
CDC
2023
2023 June 15
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/
Formatted Citation
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19 vaccines [Internet]. CDC; 2023 [cited 2023 Jun 15]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/
In-Text Citation
[1]
[1] - numbered citations in brackets
Common Mistakes
Wrong:
1. CDC. COVID vaccines. www.cdc.gov. 2023.
Right:
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19 vaccines [Internet]. CDC; 2023 [cited 2023 Jun 15]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/...
Why: Use numbered format [1], full organization name, [Internet] designation, and 'Available from:' with complete URL.
Wrong:
[CDC 2023] COVID-19 vaccines [Internet]
Right:
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19 vaccines [Internet]. CDC; 2023 [cited 2023 Jun 15]. Available from: URL
Why: Use sequential numbers [1], [2], etc., not abbreviations. Include [Internet] and full access information.
Wrong:
[1]. CDC. COVID vaccines. CDC.gov accessed June 15, 2023.
Right:
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19 vaccines [Internet]. CDC; 2023 [cited 2023 Jun 15]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/...
Why: Use semicolon after website name, format [cited Year Mon Day], and include 'Available from:' with full URL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are citations numbered in Vancouver style? ▼
Vancouver uses numbered citations [1], [2], [3] in the order they appear in your text, which saves space and is common in medical/scientific writing.
Do I always need the access date? ▼
Yes, Vancouver requires [cited Year Month Day] format for online sources.
How do I format the date abbreviations? ▼
Use three-letter month abbreviations: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.
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