How to Cite a Book Chapter in Vancouver

This guide explains how to format a book chapter citation in Vancouver. Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a book chapter in Vancouver:

Template

Author(s). Title of chapter. In: Editor(s), editor(s). Title of book. Edition. Place: Publisher; Year. p. page range.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(1)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Garcia M. Cognitive behavioral interventions for anxiety. In: Thompson HL, Davis RJ, editors. Handbook of clinical psychology. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2020. p. 125-148.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the chapter author(s)
Write the chapter author's surname followed by initials (no full stops).
2
Write the chapter title
Use sentence case. Do not use quotation marks or italics. End with a full stop.
3
Add the editor(s) and book title
Write 'In:' followed by the editor surname(s) and initials, then 'editor' or 'editors' and a full stop. Write the book title in sentence case.
4
Include edition and publication details
Add the edition (if not the first), city, publisher, semicolon, and year. End with a full stop.
5
Add page numbers
Write 'p.' followed by the page range using a hyphen. End with a full stop.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting to include 'In:' before the editor name(s).
Not writing 'editor' or 'editors' after the editor name(s).
Italicising the book title (Vancouver does not use italics).
Using 'pp.' instead of 'p.' for page ranges (Vancouver uses 'p.' for both single and multiple pages).
Omitting the place of publication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I use 'pp.' or 'p.' for page ranges in Vancouver?

Vancouver uses 'p.' for both single pages and page ranges. This differs from many other styles that use 'pp.' for multiple pages.

How do I format the editor's name in Vancouver?

Write the editor's surname followed by initials (no full stops), then 'editor' (one editor) or 'editors' (multiple). Example: Thompson HL, Davis RJ, editors.

Does Vancouver use 'In:' with a capital I and colon?

Yes. Write 'In:' with a capital I and a colon before the editor name(s). This is a required element in Vancouver style for book chapters.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your book chapter:

Chapter author(s)
Year of publication
Chapter title
Editor(s)
Book title
Edition (if not the first)
Page range
Publisher
DOI or URL

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Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the chapter author(s)

Write the chapter author's surname followed by initials (no full stops).

Write the chapter title

Use sentence case. Do not use quotation marks or italics. End with a full stop.

Add the editor(s) and book title

Write 'In:' followed by the editor surname(s) and initials, then 'editor' or 'editors' and a full stop. Write the book title in sentence case.

Include edition and publication details

Add the edition (if not the first), city, publisher, semicolon, and year. End with a full stop.

Add page numbers

Write 'p.' followed by the page range using a hyphen. End with a full stop.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting to include 'In:' before the editor name(s).

Not writing 'editor' or 'editors' after the editor name(s).

Italicising the book title (Vancouver does not use italics).

Using 'pp.' instead of 'p.' for page ranges (Vancouver uses 'p.' for both single and multiple pages).

Omitting the place of publication.