Writing@CSU

Writing Guides

CSE - Council of Science Editors (Citation/Sequence System)

 

CSE References Formatting Rules

CSE References formatting rules call for the end documentation to begin on the last page of your document, not on a separate one. If your document is 6½ pages long, the References list should begin on page 7, directly below the concluding text of your document.

The References list formatting rules are as follows:

  • References is the most common title, however Cited References or Literature Cited are acceptable titles as well.
  • The title should be placed flush-left on the page and may appear Bold, Underlined, or capped in UPPERCASE letters.
  • Double space between title and first entry; single-space all other entries.
  • Set font-size one or two point (type) sizes smaller than the document text.
  • Page numbers are included when specific passages rather than entire sources are being cited and in the case of quotations.
  • Arrange entries numerically, following their initial in-text order of appearance. Each number should be followed by a period and one space.

Individual entries may be formatted in the following three ways:

  • No indentation. All lines in each entry flush-left.
  • Numbers flush-left. All lines in each entry indented one or two spaces.
  • Indent the first line of each entry five spaces from the left margin (the normal tab-button default space). Subsequent lines are flush-left.

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