Format a reference (APA 7 & Vancouver)
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APA 7 vs Vancouver — the essentials
The two styles differ in order, punctuation, and emphasis:
- APA 7 (author–date; psychology, education, social sciences): Author, A. A. (Year). Title. Journal, Vol(Issue), pages. DOI — journal and volume in italics, article title in sentence case.
- Vancouver (numbered; medicine, biomedical): Author AA. Title. Journal. Year;Vol(Issue):pages. — surnames + initials with no punctuation between initials, abbreviated journal names, no italics.
- Authors: APA lists up to 20 (then … and the final author); Vancouver lists up to 6 then “et al.”.
This formatter covers the common source types. Always confirm edge cases — group/corporate authors, no-date works, translations, preprints — against the official APA Publication Manual or ICMJE (Vancouver) guidance.
Frequently asked questions
How do I enter author names?
One author per line as “Family, Given” — e.g. “Smith, John A.” or “Smith, J. A.”. The tool derives initials and applies the chosen style.
What’s the difference between APA and Vancouver?
APA is author–date with italics; Vancouver is numbered, uses surname + initials without punctuation, abbreviates journals, and avoids italics.
Does it handle DOIs?
Yes — paste the bare DOI (10.xxxx/…) or the full link; APA renders it as https://doi.org/…, Vancouver appends doi:….
Is the output guaranteed correct?
It applies the standard rules for common sources — a strong starting point. Verify edge cases against the official manuals.
Does it store anything?
No. Formatting runs entirely in your browser; nothing is uploaded or saved.
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