IEEE

Note: Always read your assignments carefully and defer to your instructors’ guidelines if they differ
from IEEE. Instructors may have their own preferences about citing and formatting. This handout 
represents the IEEE citation style according to the IEEE Reference Guide and IEEEDataPort. A printable version of this information is available here.

If you need more help, schedule an appointment at your writing center!

• Undergraduate Writing Center Appointments
• Graduate Writing Center Appointments

In-Text Citations

• IEEE uses numbers in brackets to indicate in-text citations.
  • The first citation is [1], the second is [2], etc.
  • From then on, that citation will always have that number, no matter where it comes in the paper.
• If part of direct quote, the number comes after the quotation marks and before the period. (e.g., “….more than ever” [8].)
• If there is more than one citation, list them in numerical order, with each number in its own set of brackets. (e.g., …conclusive [2], [5], [17].)
• The reference number can stand in place of the authors’ names, even if sentence seems grammatically incorrect. (e.g., According to [3], the number…)
• Specific formatting, such as font size, margins, and title requirements, depends on the type of IEEE publication you are creating (e.g., journal article, conference paper, etc.). Refer to your instructor’s guidelines for details about paper formatting. 

Example paragraphs to demonstrate in-text citations:

       The U.S. Army’s TACOM (Tank-Automotive Armaments Command) manages approximately 60% of the Army’s total equipment [1]. Inefficiency in supply chain, both domestic and abroad [2] – [5], increases the amount of time required to properly equip units with necessary supplies [6]. Examples of this include munitions, MREs (meals ready to eat), fresh meat and produce, automotive parts, and uniforms [3].

      “Improvements to supply-chain visibility through inactive RFID chips transformed how TACOM operated, now we are hoping to implement the next generation of technology to keep our soldiers equipped at all times” [4]. This challenge incorporates not just RFID. For example, see [7]. Building on this background, [3] shows how strategically implemented technology can improve logistics.

References

• References should be listed in the order they appear in the paper, not alphabetically.
• The numbers should be in brackets to the left of the page, then indent the information.
• Each reference is single spaced if more than one line.
• References should be double spaced from each other.
• Authors are listed by their initial(s) then last name.
• List up to six (6) authors. If more than six, use the primary author followed by et al. (italicized).