References
We recommend the use of a tool such as EndNote for reference management and formatting.
Please number references consecutively in the order in which they are mentioned in the text. Identify references in text, tables, and figure legends presented numerically in brackets. References cited only in tables or figure legends should be numbered last. Use the style of the following examples, which are based with slight modification on the formats set forth in "Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals," also known as the "Vancouver" style for biomedical journals (JAMA 1993;269:22282-6).
"Unpublished observations" and "personal communications" may not be used as references, but should be inserted in parentheses in the text.
Include among the references, papers accepted but not yet published; designate the journal and add "In press."
The titles of journals should be abbreviated according to the style used in Index Medicus.
Examples of correct reference styles are given below:
Journal articles
Main elements of a journal reference:
Author's surname Author's first name or initial**. Title of article. Title of the Journal [abbreviated] Year of publication Month Date; Volume Number (issue number): Page numbers of the article.
Example: Withrow R, Roberts L. The videodisc: Putting education on a silver platter. Electron Learn 1987 Oct 21; 1(5):43-4.
**More than 6 authors: Give the first six names in full and add “et al”. The authors are listed in the order in which they appear on the title page.
Example: Chang AB, Nickson BC, Eliasson DG, Gold LA, Aver E, Petterson PA, et al. The videodisc: Putting education on a silver platter. Electron Learn 1987 Oct 21; 1(5):43-4.
Organisation as author:
Example: Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group. Hypertension, insulin and proinsulin in participants with impaired glucose tolerance. Hypertension. 2002; 40(5):679-86.
Books
Main elements of a reference to a book:
Author's surname Author's first name or initial/Editor/Compiler’s surname initials**. Title of the Book. Ed. [if not the first] Place of publication: Publisher's name; Year of publication.
Example: Groenewegen D, Anderson A.. The Real Thing?: The Rock Music Industry and the Creation of Australian Images. 2nd ed. Golden Square, Victoria: Moonlight Publishing; 1997.
**More than 6 authors: Give the first six names in full and add “et al”. The authors are listed in the order in which they appear on the title page.
Example: Chang AB, Nickson BC, Eliasson DG, Gold LA, Aver E, Petterson PA, et al. What is the function of skin? 3rd ed. Paris: Sunshine Publishing; 2000.
Chapter in a book
Author's surname Author's first name or initial. Title of chapter. In: Editor's surname Editor's first name or initial, editors. Title of the book. Edition [if not first]. Place of publication: Publisher's name; Year of publication. p. page numbers of chapter.
Example: Blaxter P. Social health and class inequalities. In: Carter C, Peel J, editors. Equalities and inequalities in health. 7th ed. London: Academic Press; 1976. p. 165-78.
Organisation as an author/sponsoring by institution, corporation or other organisation
Organisation, department. Title of the Book. Ed. [if not the first] Place of publication: Publisher's name; Year of publication.
Example: Royal Adelaide Hospital; University of Adelaide, Department of Clinical Nursing. Compendium of nursing research, 2000. Adelaide (Australia): Adelaide University; 2001.
Conference papers
Main elements of a reference to a conference paper:
Author's surname Author's first name or initial, editor. Title of paper. Number and Name of the Conference; Date of Conference; City where the conference took place: Place of publication.
Example: Anderson JC. Current status of chorion villus biopsy. In: Tudenhope D, Chenoweth J, editors. Proceedings of the Fourth Congress of the Australian Perinatal Society; 1986 Sept. 3-6; Brisbane, Queensland.
Pamphlets
Main elements of a reference to a pamphlet:
Author. Title of brochure/pamphlet [pamphlet]. Place of publication: Publisher; Year of publication.
Example: Pharmaceutical Society of Sweden. Medicines and driving [pamphlet]. Stockholm: Pharmaceutical society of Sweden; 2012.
Newspaper articles
Main elements of a reference to a newspaper:
Author's surname, Author's first name or initial, editor. Article title. Newspaper title (edition of paper fx. Weekend edition). Date of publication – year month day: Sect. Location
Example: Svensson J. Wound Management. The Courier Mail (Weekend Edition). 2011 Oct 5-6:Sect. ETC:15.
Reports and other Government publications
Author(s). Title of report. Place of publication: Publisher; Date of publication – year month if applicable. Total number of pages if applicable. Report No.: (if applicable)
Example: United Kingdom. Government. Department of Energy and Climate Change. Climate policy report. London: Department of Energy and Climate Change. 2011 Feb. 50 p. Report No.:2.
Web pages
Author/editor's surname author/editor's first name or initial. Editor, if appropriate [Internet]. Title of page. Place of publication: Publisher’s name; [updated year month day; cited year month day]. Available from: URL.
Example: Hudson P. PM [Internet]. Costello liars: Former bank chief. London: Hudson P. PM; [2011 Oct 16;2009 Sep 15]. Available at [URL].
Some commonly used abbreviations:
c. = circa (about, approximately in time)
ch. = chapter
ed. = edition
et al = and others
fig ; figs = figure(s)
ill ; Ills = illustrator(s)
p. = page(s)
para ; paras = paragraph(s)
pt; pts = part(s)
rev = revised
suppl = supplement
It is very important that you use the right punctuation and that the order of details in the reference is also correct.
Tables
Type each table double-spaced on a separate sheet of paper. Number tables consecutively using Arabic numerals in the order of their first citation in the text and supply a brief title for each. Place explanatory matter in footnotes, not in the heading. Explain in footnotes all nonstandard abbreviations that are used in each table.
If the table has been published, written permission must be obtained and appropriate acknowledgment must be made.
Illustrations
Please note that illustrations should be forwarded in graphical formats i.e.: jpg, psd, ai, tiff in a high resolution (300 dpi at 100% enlargement).
Submit one complete set of figures with the manuscript. All figures must be either professionally drawn and photographed or produced with appropriate computer graphics. No freehand or typewritten lettering is acceptable. Titles and detailed explanations belong in the illustration legends, not on the illustrations themselves.
If photographs of persons are used, either the subjects must not be identifiable or their pictures must be accompanied by written permission to use the photograph. Figures should be numbered consecutively according to the order in which they have been cited in the text. If a figure has been published, acknowledge the original source and submit written permission from the copyright holder to reproduce the material.
Illustrations legends
Type legends for illustrations double-spaced starting on a separate page, with Arabic numerals corresponding to the illustrations. Explain each symbol used in the illustration, including the internal scale.
Units of measurements
Measurements of length, height, weight, and volume must be reported in metric units or their decimal multiples.
Temperatures should be given in degrees Celsius and blood pressures in millimeters of mercury.
All hematologic and clinical chemistry measurements should be reported in the metric system in terms of the International System of Units (SI).
Footnotes
All nonstandard abbreviations should be grouped into one footnote, with all footnotes placed on a separate page of the manuscript. Footnotes in the text should be denoted with a superscript numeral.
For any questions, please contact the journal editorial office ewma@ewma.org