How does Nature style cite sources in the text?

Nature uses superscript numbers placed after the relevant text, for example 'as reported previously¹'. The reference list at the end is numbered in citation order.

Is Nature style the same as Vancouver?

Both are numeric citation-order styles, but Nature has its own specific formatting rules for authors, journal name abbreviations, and the elements included in each reference type.

Can I use Nature style for journals outside the Nature portfolio?

Some journals adopt formatting rules similar to Nature, but always check the target journal's author guidelines, as requirements vary across publishers.

Nature Citation Generator

Generate accurate Nature citations in seconds. Search by title, DOI, ISBN, or URL — or add references manually. Free, instant, and works for books, journal articles, websites, and more.

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What is Nature?

Nature style is the citation format used by Nature and its family of journals. It is a numeric style in which sources are cited with superscript numbers in the order they first appear, and the reference list is arranged in citation order.

How to cite in Nature

Worked examples generated by CiteOrbit:

Book: 1.Kuhn, T. S. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. (University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1962).
Journal article: 1.Hilal, N. Anxiety and depression among medical students. European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences 8, 1–2 (2026).
Website: 1.CiteOrbit. What is a citation? CiteOrbit https://citeorbit.com/citation-generator (2026).

Nature FAQ

How does Nature style cite sources in the text?: Nature uses superscript numbers placed after the relevant text, for example 'as reported previously¹'. The reference list at the end is numbered in citation order.
Is Nature style the same as Vancouver?: Both are numeric citation-order styles, but Nature has its own specific formatting rules for authors, journal name abbreviations, and the elements included in each reference type.
Can I use Nature style for journals outside the Nature portfolio?: Some journals adopt formatting rules similar to Nature, but always check the target journal's author guidelines, as requirements vary across publishers.