IEEE Citation Style Made Easy - A Comprehensive Guide

Are you looking for guidelines to format your academic paper according to the IEEE citation format? Worry no more. 

Many students and researchers face a common challenge—the complicated technical language and specific rules can create confusion, making it difficult to get your citations just right.

But don't worry; we're here to make things simpler. In this guide, we'll explain the IEEE citation style and show you how to format different types of sources in this style.

So, continue reading for a straightforward breakdown!

What is the IEEE Citation Format?

The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) citation format is one of the most widely used citation styles in academic writing. Particularly used in fields like engineering and computer science, it provides a structured method for acknowledging the work of others and giving due credit to research papers.

In IEEE, citations are expressed using:

• Numbers in square brackets, like this [1]
• Reference list entries that correspond to the citation numbers used in-text

The IEEE citation format is preferred in technical and scientific writing because of its simplicity and clarity. It allows researchers to focus on the content of their work while ensuring proper acknowledgment of the sources that contribute to their ideas.

We’ll first help you understand how to follow the general IEEE paper formatting guidelines, then move on to the in-text citations next.

General IEEE Paper Formatting Guidelines

The paper format of the IEEE style depends on the specific journal, organization, or publication which you’re submitting your paper to. However, the general IEEE formatting guidelines are as follows: 

After understanding the basic paper formatting guidelines, you should know how to cite references in the text while following the IEEE style. Let’s understand how to format in-text citations. 

In-Text Citation Using the IEEE Format

In your paper, when referring to sources, use a simple numbering system provided by IEEE. 

Here's how to format IEEE citations in-text:

Citing a Single Work

For a single source, use their assigned number in square brackets. For example: “The study revealed intriguing findings [1].”

Citing Two Sources

When there are two sources, cite both with their respective numbers: “Previous research has shown promising results [2], [3].”

Multiple Citations in One Sentence

If you're referencing multiple sources in a single sentence, separate the numbers with commas. 

For example: “Several studies have explored this phenomenon [5], [6], [7].”

Repeating Citations

If you cite the same source again, use the original number. 

For Example: “The hypothesis was later confirmed in subsequent studies [4].”

Remember, these numbers match up with the full details in your references list at the end of your paper. Keep it simple, and your readers will easily follow where your information is coming from.

How to Format Reference Lists Using the IEEE Standard?

The reference page in the IEEE typically follows the name, “References” at the top of the page.  The heading should be bold, and you can either align it in the middle or to the left of the page. 

Here are the formatting guidelines for the IEEE reference list entries: 

• Numerical Order

List your references numerically in the order they appear in your paper. The numbers are enclosed in square brackets.

• Author Names

Write the author names in the order they appear in the original source. Use initials and last names, separating them with commas.

• Title of the Source

Italicize the titles of books, journals, and conference papers. Capitalize only the first word of the title and any proper nouns.

• Title of the Journal

Italicize the title and abbreviate it. Include the volume, issue (if applicable), and page numbers.

• Title of the Conference

Italicize and capitalize the title. Include the location and date of the conference.

• Publication Information

For books, include the city of publication and the publisher. For journals, include the publication year.

• Online Sources

Include the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) if available. If not, include the URL.

• Consistency is Key

Maintain a consistent format throughout your reference list. Follow the same pattern for all types of sources.

IEEE Reference List Examples

Here are some IEEE citation examples for various sources.

For Printed Books 

Format: Author(s) Initial(s). Last name, Title of Book, xth ed. City: Publisher, year.

Example: 

For E-books:

Format: Author(s) Initial(s). Last name, Title of Book, xth ed. City: Publisher, year. [Online]. Available: URL or DOI.

Example:

For Chapter in a Book:

Format: Author (s) Initial(s). Last name, “Title of Chapter,” in Title of Book, xth ed. City: Publisher, year, pp. xxx-xxx.

Example:

For Journal Article

E-journal from Database:

Format: Author(s) Initial(s). Last name, “Title of Paper,” Abbrev. Title of Journal, vol. x, no. x, pp. xxx-xxx, Month, year. [Online]. Available: Database name.

Example: 

E-journal from The Internet:

Format: Author(s) Initial(s). Last name, “Title of Paper,” Abbrev. Title of Journal, vol. x, no. x, pp. xxx-xxx, Month, year. [Online]. Available: URL.

Example: 

IEEE Citation Website

Entire Website:

Format: Author/Source. (Year, Month Day). Title of Webpage. [Online]. Available: URL.

Example: 

For Newspaper Article

Format: [7] Author(s) Initial(s). Last name, “Title of Article,” Title of Newspaper, vol. x, no. x, pp. xxx-xxx, Month, day, year.

Example:

For Thesis & Dissertation

Format: [8] Author(s) Initial(s). Last name, “Title of Thesis/Dissertation,” Ph.D. or Master's thesis, Abbrev. Dept., Abbrev. Univ., City, Country, year.

Example: 

For Conferences and Presentations

Format: [9] Author(s) Initial(s). Last name, “Title of Paper,” in Abbrev. Title of Conference, City, Country, year, pp. Xxx-xxx.

Example: 

For Technical Reports

Format: [10] Author(s) Initial(s). Last name, “Title of Report,” Abbrev. Co., City, Country, Tech. Rep. number, year.

Example: 

For Datasets

Format: [11] Author/Source. (Year,  Month Day). Title of Dataset. [Online]. Available: URL.

Example:

For Government Documents

Format: [12] Government Agency. (Year). Title of Document, City, Country: Government Publisher.

Example: 

For Patents

Format: [13] Inventor(s) Initial(s). Last name, “Title of Patent,” Patent number, Month day, year.

Example:

By following the above formats and examples, you can accurately cite sources in the references page of your IEEE formatted academic paper.

Formatting the Section Headings in IEEE Style

Creating a well-organized paper relies on clear section headings. The following table provides a straightforward guide on how to format these headings in IEEE style.

Here’s how you can list the various headings in your document: 

This table provides a straightforward guide on how to format section headings in IEEE style. 

In summary, following the outlined instructions guarantees clear, consistent, and professional academic writing. Whether you're incorporating in-text citations or creating reference lists in the IEEE format, these guidelines offer a standardized approach to presenting information.

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