CSE - Council of Science Editors (Name/Year System)

---

Related Resources
Print-Friendly Page
Authors & Contributors

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.

• The first line of each entry is flush-left. Indent each subsequent line five spaces from the left margin (the normal tab-button default space).

• Arrange entries alphabetically.

CSE Bibliography formatting rules differ slightly from the References rules:

• The title--Bibliography--replaces the word References at the top of a separate page.

• Entries are arranged alphabetically, last name first.

• Optional elements such as author affiliations, original language, notes, etc., may be included here. More information on their placement is available online in National Library of Medicine Recommended Formats for Bibliographic Citation, (pdf file).