IEEE Citation Guide: Cite Your Sources Accurately

Have you ever been confused about how to cite sources for your technical paper?

You’re not alone! Many students struggle with the correct way to cite sources, especially in fields like engineering and computer science. 

But don’t worry, this blog will make IEEE citations easy for you.

We’ll cover everything you need to know, from in-text citations to creating a reference list. By the end, you’ll feel confident about using IEEE citations.

Let’s get started!

What is IEEE Citation?

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) citation style is mostly used for technical writing in fields like engineering, IT, and computer science. It’s based on the Chicago Manual of Style, but it’s designed for technical papers.

The main goal of IEEE citation is to give credit to original sources and help readers find them easily. If you’re writing a technical report or research paper, you’ll likely use IEEE style.

Now, let’s talk about how to use this citation style.

IEEE Citation Basic

In IEEE style, you need to do two main things:

1. In-text citations: Briefly mention your source in your paper.
2. Reference list: Provide the full details of your source at the end of the document.

First, let’s look at how to create an IEEE citation in text

In-Text Citations

In-text citations in IEEE style use numbers inside square brackets, like [1] or [2]. These numbers match the sources in your reference list. You should place the citation number right after the sentence or phrase where you used the source.

You must number the citations in the order they appear in the text. For example, the first source you mention will be [1], the second [2], and so on.

Example:
"Buttercream cakes are perfect for special occasions due to their smooth texture [1]."

Now, let’s talk about how to create the reference list.

Reference List Entries

In IEEE, your reference list comes at the end of your paper. The sources are listed in numerical order, based on how they appear in the text. This is different from APA or MLA, where sources are listed alphabetically.

Here’s an IEEE book citation example:
[1] A. Baker, The Art of Buttercream Cakes, 2nd ed. New York: Cake Masters Publishing, 2022.

Next, let’s discuss how to handle in-text citations in more detail.

Citing In-Text Citations in IEEE Style

Here are some important tips for citing sources in IEEE style:

• Use numbers in square brackets, like [1].
• If you use the same source again, use the same number.
• If you cite more than one source at once, separate the numbers with commas or dashes.

Here is an IEEE in text citation example:
"Buttercream cakes have been trending due to their versatility [2], [3], [4]."

Now, let’s see how to format the reference list properly.

Formatting IEEE Reference List

The reference list is the last section of your document. It must follow specific formatting rules.

General Formatting Rules

• Put the reference list at the end of your document.
• Label it as "References" (no bold or underline).
• List references in numerical order.
• Place reference list flush left.
• Use the same font throughout your document (e.g., Times New Roman, 12 pt).
• Indent the second line of each reference (hanging indentation).

Example of a Proper IEEE Reference List

Here is what a reference list looks like:

How to Cite Different Source Types in IEEE Citation Format

Different sources need different formats in IEEE style. Below are some IEEE citation examples of common types of sources.

Citing Books in IEEE Format

For books, the format is:
Author(s), Title, edition (if applicable), place of publication, publisher, year.

Example:
[1] A. Baker, The Art of Buttercream Cakes, 2nd ed., New York: Cake Masters Publishing, 2022.

Citing Journal Articles in IEEE Format

For IEEE journal citation, use:
Author(s), "Title of article," Journal Name, vol. X, no. Y, pp. Z-Z, Month Year.

Example:
[2] J. Doe, "Modern buttercream techniques," Journal of Cake Design, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 45-56, Apr. 2023.

Citing Websites in IEEE Format 

For IEEE citation website, the format is:
Author(s), "Title of page," Website Name. [Online]. Available: URL. [Accessed: Month Day, Year].

Example:
[3] M. Sweet, "Best buttercream cake recipes," Baking World. [Online]. Available: www.bakingworld.com/buttercream-recipes. [Accessed: Sept. 15, 2023].

Citing Conference Papers in IEEE Format

For conference papers, use:
Author(s), "Title of paper," in Conference Name, City, Year.

Example:
[4] M. Frost, "Buttercream piping tips," presented at International Cake Expo, London, 2021.

Citing Technical Reports in IEEE Format

To cite technical reports, use:
Author(s), Title of report, report number, organization, year.

Example:
[5] S. Cream, Buttercream Frosting Guide, Rep. No. 101, Cake World Institute, 2020.

Citing figures in IEEE Format

For IEEE figure citation, follow this format:
Figure number, Title of figure, Source. Include a description if necessary.

Example:
666 Figure 1, "Buttercream decoration techniques," from Buttercream Artistry, 2022.

Citing Images in IEEE Format

For IEEE image citations, use the following format:
Author(s), "Title of image," website, URL, access date.

Example:
777 J. Baker, "Beautiful Buttercream Cakes," ButtercreamGallery.com, www.buttercreamgallery.com/images/beautiful-cakes, accessed on Oct. 3, 2024.

Special Cases in IEEE Citation

Some sources need special treatment when using IEEE citation style. This is especially true for sources with many authors or when there is no author or date. Here’s how to handle these situations:

Citing Multiple Authors

When citing sources with multiple authors, follow these simple rules:

Two Authors: 

If a source has two authors, list both names. For example:

[1] J. Smith and R. Jones, “Buttercream Frosting Recipe,” Baking Journal, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 15-20, 2024.

Three to Six Authors: 

If there are three to six authors, list all their names. For example:

[2] A. Brown, B. Green, and C. White, “Ultimate Buttercream Techniques,” Pastry Magazine, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 30-35, 2024.

More than Six Authors: 

If a source has more than six authors, list the first author's name followed by "et al.," which means "and others." For example:

[3] D. Black et al., “Creative Buttercream Designs,” Cake Decorating Journal, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 100-110, 2024.

Using "et al." helps keep your citations shorter and clearer.

Citing Anonymous Works or Works Without a Date

Sometimes you may find works that have no author or no date. Here’s how to deal with these cases:

No Author: 

If there is no clear author, start the citation with the title of the work. For example:

[4] “The Best Buttercream Recipes,” Buttercream Cookbook, 2024.

No Date: If the publication date is missing, write "n.d." (which means "no date") in the citation. For example:

[5] “Buttercream Frosting Tips,” Baking Guide, n.d.

This way, readers can still find the source, even if some details are missing.

How to Cite Quotes in IEEE Citations

Here are the key points to cite quotes in IEEE citations:

• In-Text Citations: Use bracketed numbers that correspond to the reference list, e.g., “This method is effective [1].”
• Direct Quotes: Include the page number when quoting directly, e.g., “This method is effective [1, p. 23].” Use quotation marks around the quoted text.
• Citing Multiple Sources: Separate multiple citation numbers with commas, e.g., [1], [3], [5].
• Reference List: Ensure all cited sources are numbered and listed in the order they appear in your text.
• Formatting References: Follow specific formats for different source types like books, journal articles, and conference papers.
• Abbreviations: Use standard abbreviations for months and well-known organizations in your references.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in IEEE Citations

Avoid these common errors when using IEEE citations:

• Wrong order: Always cite sources in the order they appear in your text.
• Incorrect formatting: Follow the IEEE format closely. Make sure you use the right style for authors, titles, and sources.
• Inconsistent citations: Use the same format for all your citations, whether they are books, articles, or websites.
• Missing citation numbers: Ensure every source mentioned in your text has a matching number in the reference list.
• Using different numbers for the same source: Use the same number every time you refer to the same source.
• Misplaced citations: Place the citation number right after the sentence or idea that needs a reference, not before punctuation marks.
• Wrong use of "et al.": Only use "et al." when there are more than six authors.
• Skipping important details: Make sure to include all necessary information, like edition, volume, or page numbers for books and articles.
• Incorrect placement of the reference list: Always put the reference list at the end of your paper.
• Improper formatting for URLs: Include the full URL and the date you accessed online sources.
• Wrong use of quotation marks or italics: Titles of books should be in italics, and article titles should be in quotation marks.

Checklist for Final Citation Review

Before you finish, use this checklist to make sure your citations are correct:

Before submitting your paper, use this checklist to ensure your IEEE citations are correct:

So there you have it!

Using IEEE citations correctly is important for technical writing. It helps you give proper credit and makes your paper more professional. By following the rules, you’ll soon be able to cite sources with confidence!

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