CSE Citation Examples for the Source Types You're Actually Citing

CSE has three documentation systems, and the reference-list entry for identical source information changes shape depending on which one applies — the underlying facts (author, title, journal, year) stay the same, but where the year sits and how the in-text mark works do not.

In the citation-sequence and citation-name systems, the CSE Manual's own quick guide gives this journal article example: Haasnoot M, Lawrence J, Magnan AK. Pathways to coastal retreat. Science. 2021;372(6548):1287–1290 — cited in-text as a plain number, like [1].

In the name-year system, a journal article instead reads: MacRae TH. 1997. Tubulin post-translational modifications: enzymes and their mechanisms of action. Eur J Biochem. 244(2):265-278 — note the year moves right after the author names, and the in-text citation becomes (MacRae 1997) instead of a number. Same kind of source, genuinely different-looking reference.

A chapter in an edited book, per the CSE Manual's citation-sequence/name example: Geisslitz S, Scherf K. The holy grail of ancient cereals. In: Boukid F, editor. Cereal-based foodstuffs: the backbone of Mediterranean cuisine. Springer; 2021. p 269–301. The editor of the whole book is credited separately from the chapter's actual author.

An encyclopedia entry, shown in name-year format by Thompson Rivers University's CSE guide: Raymer M, Reese DJ. Hospice. 2008. In: Mizrahi T, Davis LE, editors. Encyclopedia of social work. Vol. 2. 20th ed. Washington (DC): National Association of Social Workers. p. 383-388 — cited in-text as (Raymer and Reese 2008).

A magazine article, per Northwest Missouri State University's CSE library guide: Chasteen B. 2019 Apr. Snake thieves: Poachers push Missouri's wild reptiles closer to the edge of existence. Missouri Conservationist. [accessed 2019 Apr 12];80(4):22-27 — magazines get a full publication date, not just a year, which is the detail people most often get wrong.

A government or technical report, per Thompson Rivers University's guide: Shardlow TF. 2013. Activity, behaviour, and rates of use of Pacific salmon carcasses by large vertebrate scavengers. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 3036. Nanaimo (BC): Fisheries and Oceans Canada Science Branch, Pacific Region. Report No.: Fs 97-6/3036E; [accessed 2022 Jan 24]. CSE doesn't have a separate "PDF" category — a report stays a report whether you read it as a printed document or downloaded it as a PDF; what changes is adding an accessed date and URL for anything you found online.

A website, per the CSE Manual's own citation-sequence/name example: Health equity considerations and racial and ethnic minority groups. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Division of Viral Diseases; 2020 Apr 30 [updated 2022 Jan 25] — note the bracketed update date, which CSE wants when a webpage lists one.

An online video, in name-year format per Thompson Rivers University's guide: Kriebel G. 2008. Kamloops, BC Tourism Commercial [Internet]. YouTube.com; [cited 2011 Jan 25] — cited in-text as (Kriebel 2008), with [Internet] marking the medium the way [video] or [PDF] would for other formats.

A generator handles the mechanical part well once you've picked a system and a source type — correct name order, italics, and punctuation. It won't tell you on its own whether your instructor wants citation-sequence, citation-name, or name-year, and it won't catch a source type it's misidentified (a report filed as a website, say). Cross-check less common types like reports and encyclopedia entries against a real example before you submit, since these are exactly the formats people get subtly wrong.