Contents
Overview
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) style is the referencing standard for electrical engineering, computer science, telecommunications, and related technology disciplines. It is a numbered citation system: each source receives a unique number in the order it is first cited, and that number is used every time the source is referenced. In-text citations appear as bracketed numbers: [1], [2], [3,4].
The IEEE reference list is arranged in citation order, not alphabetically. Authors' first names are abbreviated to initials and precede the surname.
In-Text Citations
Place the bracketed citation number immediately after the claim, before the period. Citations go inside the sentence for lists or mid-sentence references, and at the end before the period otherwise.
| Situation | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Single source | [n] | …as shown in previous work [3]. |
| Multiple sources | [n], [m] or [n]–[m] | …demonstrated in several studies [2], [4], [7]. |
| Consecutive range | [n]–[m] | …as discussed in [3]–[6]. |
| Source cited again | Same number | The algorithm in [3] was extended as follows… |
| Specific page or figure | [n, p. X] or [n, Fig. 2] | [5, p. 14] or [5, Fig. 3] |
Unlike Harvard or APA, IEEE never writes author names in the running text as part of the citation. The number alone carries the reference. "Smith [3] demonstrated…" is acceptable in IEEE only if you are making a specific point about that author's work.
Reference List Rules
- Title the section References.
- List entries in the order they were first cited (not alphabetically).
- Each entry begins with the citation number in square brackets: [1], [2], etc.
- Author initials precede the surname: J. Smith not Smith, J.
- Author initials have periods and are followed by a space before the surname.
- Journal and conference titles are abbreviated (IEEE maintains an official list).
- Article titles use title case; journal and book titles are in italics.
Journal Articles
Conference Papers
Books and Chapters
Technical Standards
Patents
Online Sources
Common IEEE Errors
| Error | Correct approach |
|---|---|
| Alphabetical reference list | IEEE reference list is in citation order |
| Surname before initials: Smith, J. | Initials first: J. Smith |
| Square brackets omitted: 3 instead of [3] | Always use square brackets: [3] |
| Full journal name not abbreviated | Use IEEE journal abbreviations (e.g., IEEE Trans. Neural Netw.) |
| Month omitted for periodicals | Include month (abbreviated) and year for journal articles |
| No "doi:" prefix | Include doi: before the DOI number |