How to Cite a PDF in Council of Science Editors (CSE)
To cite a PDF in CSE name-year, cite the underlying document, usually a report, giving the author or organization, the year, the title, the place and publisher, then a medium designator with the URL and accessed date. CSE cites the content, not the file format.
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How to cite a pdf in CSE step by step
- Identify the document type. Decide whether the PDF is a report, government document, or article, and cite it in that form.
- Name the author or organization. Use the personal author, or the issuing organization when no individual is named.
- Add the year. Give the year of publication right after the author.
- Give the title and source. Enter the full document title, then the place and publisher or issuing body.
- Add medium and URL. Add a medium designator such as Internet, then the direct URL to the PDF.
- Record the accessed date. End with the date you accessed the file.
CSE pdf citation format
A CSE name-year reference to a PDF document runs author or organization, year, title, place, publisher, the Internet medium designator, URL, and accessed date. CSE cites by document type, not file format.
Common pdf citation variations
How do I cite a government report PDF in CSE?
Use the issuing agency as the author, add the year, give the report title and number, then the medium designator, URL, and accessed date.
How do I cite a PDF with no author in CSE?
Use the issuing organization as the author. If none exists, begin with the title and keep the year and accessed date.
Do I write PDF in a CSE citation?
No. CSE cites the report or article and marks the online form with a medium designator and URL, not the word PDF.
How do I cite a journal article PDF in CSE?
Cite it as a journal article with authors, year, title, journal, volume, and pages, since the PDF is a copy of that article.
Cite any source in CSE
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PDF citation FAQ
Does CSE have a separate PDF citation type?
No. You cite the underlying report or article, and a medium designator with a URL shows it was online.
Do PDFs need a page number in CSE?
Give a specific page only when you quote or reference one part of the document.