---
name: citation-style-ieee
description: Use when asked to cite sources, format in-text citations, or build a reference list in IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) citation style, used in engineering, computer science, and electronics; numbered like [[citation-style-vancouver]], but with initials first and a distinct punctuation pattern.
---

# IEEE Citation Style

IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) citation style is the style commonly required in engineering, computer science, and electronics. Family: Numbered, in order of first citation.

## Input required

- The sources to cite, with author, title, date, publisher or journal, volume, issue, pages, and DOI or URL.
- The edition, institution, or journal whose rules apply.

## Questions to ask first

1. Which edition or institutional variant must the work follow?
2. Is the output in-text citations, reference-list entries, or both?
3. What type is each source (book, article, web page, report, legal authority)?
4. Is any information missing, such as the date, pages, or DOI?

## In-text citations

- Square-bracket numbers in order of first citation: `[1]`.
- Several sources: `[1], [3]` or a range `[2]–[4]`.
- The number can serve as a noun: `as shown in [1]`.

## Reference format

A numbered `References` list in citation order. Author initials come before the surname; article titles are in double quotation marks and in sentence case; the journal name is italic and abbreviated. Long author lists are shortened with `et al.`; check the current IEEE reference guide for the threshold.

## Example pattern

The names, title, and numbers below are placeholders showing the pattern, not a real source.

```text
[1] J. A. Smith and K. Lee, "Title of the article," *J. Abbrev.*, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 45–67, 2020, doi: xx.xxxx/xxxxx.
```

## Ground rules

- Use only the details the user supplied or that can be checked. Never invent authors, dates, DOIs, page numbers, or sources.
- If a detail is missing, leave a clear placeholder and say so.
- Apply one style consistently throughout the document.
- When the user's institution or journal differs from this guide, follow theirs.

## Self-check before answering

- Does every in-text citation have a matching reference entry, and the reverse?
- Are the ordering, capitalization, punctuation, and italics consistent with this style?
- Were any details guessed? Remove or flag them.

## Common pitfalls

- **Surname-first authors** — IEEE puts initials first.
- **Reordering the list alphabetically** — the list follows citation order.
- **Skipping `vol.`, `no.`, and `pp.` labels** — IEEE spells them out.
- **Treating the bracket as part of a sentence** — the bracket goes before the period.

## Learn more

- Compare with the other styles: [[citation-style-apa]], [[citation-style-mla]], [[citation-style-chicago]], [[citation-style-harvard]], [[citation-style-vancouver]], [[citation-style-ama]], [[citation-style-oscola]].
- Official guidance: [IEEE Author Center](https://ieeeauthorcenter.ieee.org/).