IEEE Citation Format

IEEE Citation Format With Examples

IEEEcitationformat, like MLA, APA, and Chicago, is used to cite sources in our paper. IEEE stands for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, which publishes papers in engineering, computer science, and electronics. Students in these fields also need to cite their academic papers in IEEE format.

It helps students and researchers properly cite articles, books, websites, and other sources in a consistent format. IEEE citation in text and a separate reference page at the end of the paper are two ways to cite sources in IEEE, which we explore in this guide, along with relevant IEEE citation example.

Basic IEEE Citation Format Rules

The IEEE citation style uses numerical citations within the text and in the reference list at the end of the paper. Here’s a breakdown of some common rules to follow in IEEE format citation.

  1. Citations are numbered in order of their appearance, such as the first source uses [1], the second [2], and so on.
  2. The exact number is reused if the same source appears multiple times in your paper.
  3. The IEEE reference style list appears numerically (not alphabetically) at the end of the paper.
  4. Use brackets [ ] to indicate numbers in text and reference page entries.
  5. Each reference entry follows a unique structure depending on the source type used (Article, book, website).

IEEE in text Citation

In IEEE single author citation, a source number in brackets is used, which indicates a relevant reference to the reader. However, the same number would be repeated in the entire text if one source appears multiple times. You may also use the author’s name in the format of IEEE in-text citation, but it’s optional. Additionally, an IEEE in text citation format refers to using source numbering at the relevant point in the sentence, but before the punctuation. It could be at the start of a sentence, as a part of a sentence, or after a direct quote.

IEEE in text citation example:

At the end of a sentence: AI has changed the entire healthcare industry [1]

As part of the sentence: According to a study in [2], cloud computing has a lot of drawbacks.

Place citation after direct quote: “Blockchain ensures confidentiality through encryption” [6].

In academic writing, it’s common to use IEEE multiple authors citation within a single line. In such a situation, IEEE allows you to separate individual citations using commas. But if indicating a range of sources, use a hyphen. This way, the author keeps the text clean and your references organized.

IEEE multiple in text citation example

Several studies have explored this topic [3]-[5]

Many amplifier studies have supported this claim [2],[5],[8]

Doubtful about your content?

Now, it is best to check the originality of your work with our efficient plagiarism checker.

  • It’s 100% free
  • Error-free citation
  • Compare work with millions of pages
  • Highlight duplicate content
  • Provide results in seconds
word-count-cta-img

IEEE Reference Page

The IEEE reference citation list provides complete details of sources so the reader can locate them easily. Each IEEE reference entry has its own set of specific elements that differentiate it from others. But usually, the reference entries include the author’s name, the source’s title, the publication date, information about the publisher, and sometimes a DOI. Furthermore, there are three parts to format an ieee reference citation entry, which include

  • The author’s name should be listed as the first name initial, followed by the full last name.
  • Title of the article, conference paper, or patent within quotation marks.
  • The journal or book name in italics.
  • For multiple author citations, include the first name initial, then full last name for the first 6 authors, separated by commas. After that, use et al.

IEEE Website Citation

Format Style: Author(s), “Webpage title,” Website name, Publication date. [Online]. Available: URL. Accessed date.

Example: K. Jacob, “Future of climate change,” ClimateTalk, Mar. 20, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://techtalk.com/climate-future. [Accessed: Apr. 5, 2025].

IEEE Image Citation

Format Style: Author(s), “Image title/caption,” Source/website, Date published. [Online]. Available: URL. Access date.

Example: M. Clark, “Neural Network Diagram,” Neuralgraphics, Feb. 10, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://neuralgraphics.com/diagram. [Accessed: Apr. 5, 2025].

IEEE Book Citation

Format style: Author(s), Book name, Edition, Publisher, Year.

Example: T. Brown, Introduction to electronics, 3rd ed., Pearson, 2020.

IEEE journal citation

Format Style: Author(s), “Title of paper,” Journal name, vol. x, no. x, pp. xx–xx, Month Year.Example: L. Chen and R. Patel, “Advances in Wireless Technology,” IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 68, no. 4, pp. 123–130, Apr. 2021.

Worrying about Research Paper Writing?
Get help with creating a research paper.
  • Comprehensive research and analysis
  • Plagiarism free and 100% human content
  • Affordable, customized, and reliable
Research-Paper-Writing-cta-img

IEEE Reference Format

The ieee reference style page appears at the end when writing a research paper with the title “References”. The title text appears in bold and can be left or centre-aligned. Afterwards, include the actual references, which will be numbered in the order they appear in the body text of the paper.  Once you set up the ieee citation reference page title, do these four things.

  • Place the references flush left.
  • There is a 1-space limit between reference entries and a 2-space limit between two references.
  • Numbering the references in the left margin within enclosed brackets.
  • Ensure the text is indented within each entry.

Below is a well-equipped and formatted IEEE reference example to follow for your paper.

IEEE Reference Format Example of a research paper

Format your Electrical Engineering research paper with expert help!

Writing a research paper for the electronics or computer science field? Then you need to ensure that your citations are perfectly formatted in IEEE style. However, if you struggle with the IEEE citation format, we can assist. At Perfect Essay Writing, our expert research paper writers not only deliver well-structured, original papers but also handle the required formatting style. Learn more about our research paper writing service and let us support your academic success.

FAQs

An IEEE citation is needed when you use sources in your paper from the field of electrical and electronic engineering, computer science, and related IT fields. Additionally, use IEEE citation format when a specific publication or event you are submitting the paper to ask for IEEE format.

In IEEE format, enclose the direct quotes in single quotation marks and add the citation in square brackets. However, for longer quotes with more than three lines, use a block quotation in a smaller font and indent it on both sides, then use the citation in square brackets.

The IEEE standard format differs from other citation styles. Here’s how

  • IEEE uses numerical in-text citation instead of author-date or name-page format.
  • The reference list in IEEE is numbered, not alphabetized as in MLA.
  • Designed for technical and engineering papers, unlike social science (APA), and history and humanities (Chicago format).

Essential elements to include in an IEEE citation include:

  • Reference number for in-text citation
  • Author(s)
  • Title of the work
  • Source (Book, journal, article, website, etc.)
  • Publisher or platform
  • Publication date
  • Access date
  • URL (for website)
  • DOI (for journal article)

The IEEE format paper uses Times New Roman 12-point font with single spacing. But in the reference section, the space between references would be double-spaced.

Our Free Features
Unlimited Revisions
$08FREE
Paper Formatting
$05FREE
Referencing & Bibliography
$10FREE
Cover Page
$05FREE
24/7 Order Tracking
$05FREE
Related Blogs
feature-experienced-writer
EXPERIENCED WRITERS
feature-exclusive-discount
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT OFFERS
feature-plagiarism-free
100% PLAGIARISM FREE
feature-24-hours
24/7 ONLINE PRESENCE
feature-money-back
100% MONEYBACK ASSURANCE