What is NLM citation style?
NLM style follows the National Library of Medicine’s Citing Medicine guidance and is widely used for biomedical references. NeatCite’s NLM output uses numbered citations and NLM journal abbreviations.
Key NLM formatting rules
- Number references in citation order and reuse the assigned number for later citations to the same source.
- Use NLM journal abbreviations where an established abbreviation is available.
- Include authors, article title, journal, publication date, volume, pages or article number, and DOI as available.
- Verify PubMed-supplied metadata, especially electronic publication dates and article numbers, before submission.
Worked NLM journal-article example
- Source metadata
- Journal article: Dawei Wang and 13 coauthors, “Clinical Characteristics of 138 Hospitalized Patients With 2019 Novel Coronavirus–Infected Pneumonia in Wuhan, China,” JAMA 323(11), page 1061 (2020), DOI 10.1001/jama.2020.1585. Verify the source record.
- Reference-list entry
- 1. Wang D, Hu B, Hu C, Zhu F, Liu X, Zhang J, et al. Clinical Characteristics of 138 Hospitalized Patients With 2019 Novel Coronavirus–Infected Pneumonia in Wuhan, China. JAMA. 2020 Mar 17;323(11):1061. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.1585
- In-text citation
- (1)
Rendered with the bundled NLM CSL rule file using the same normalized metadata as the other examples.
NLM source-type checklist
The formatter can only use the fields supplied by the source record. Check these details before submitting your work.
| Source type | Fields to verify |
|---|---|
| Journal article | Authors, article title, NLM journal abbreviation, publication date, volume, issue when applicable, locator, and DOI. |
| Book | Authors or editors, title, edition, place, publisher, year, and medium-specific details when required. |
| Book chapter | Chapter authors and title, editors, book title, place, publisher, year, and chapter pages. |
| Website | Author or organization, page title, site name, publication or update date, access date, and stable URL. |
| Report or dataset | Responsible organization, title, edition or report number, publisher, date, DOI or URL, and access date as applicable. |
How to cite in NLM with NeatCite
- 1Keep NLM selected in the generator above.
- 2Paste a DOI, PMID, ISBN, or web address—or use manual entry when an identifier is unavailable.
- 3Compare the imported authors, title, date, and publication details with the original source.
- 4Copy the formatted NLM reference and in-text citation, or export the list to Word, BibTeX, or RIS.
How output is produced
- The NLM rule file is bundled locally and rendered with the open citeproc-js engine.
- Identifier lookups can retrieve metadata from Crossref, PubMed, and Open Library; you can edit every field before copying.
- No account is required, and your citation list remains in your browser unless you export or clear it.
NLM citation questions
Is NLM the same as Vancouver?
They are closely related numbered biomedical systems, but individual punctuation, author, date, and journal requirements can differ.
Does NeatCite replace a journal’s author instructions?
No. Journal-specific instructions take priority, so compare the final reference list with the publication’s current requirements.
Can I build an NLM reference from a PMID?
Yes. NeatCite can retrieve available PubMed CSL metadata from a PMID. Check author order, journal abbreviation, date, and article locator against the PubMed and publisher records.
Why is the journal title abbreviated?
NLM references use established abbreviated journal titles. Confirm unfamiliar abbreviations in the NLM Catalog rather than inventing a shorter title.