• 3-minute read
• 19th November 2021

How to Cite Social Media in Vancouver Referencing

In today’s increasingly online world, you may even need to reference a tweet or Facebook post in your next essay. But how do you cite these sources correctly? In this post, we’ll show you how to cite social media in Vancouver style.

How to Cite Social Media in Vancouver Referencing

Vancouver referencing is a number–endnote citation style. This means that, when using this system, you’ll need to cite sources using numbers in brackets.

You will give these numbers in the main text, with sources numbered consecutively in the order you first cite them. Each number will then refer to a corresponding entry, or endnote, in the reference list at the end of the essay. This means you start with “(1)” for the first citation of the first source. For example:

Up to 48% of the decline in British moth species is due to climate change (1).

The “(1)” here shows the reader that we’re citing the first source in the reference list (where full source information is provided). And if we referred to the same post again later, we would simply repeat the same endnote number.

Social Media in a Vancouver Reference List

Regardless of which social media platform you’re citing, you can use the following basic format when citing social media in Vancouver referencing:

(Source number) Author’s name or account name. Post title or short excerpt. [Date of post.] URL of post (not just account) [Accessed date]

Here, for example, are how a Facebook post and tweet might appear:

(1) RSPB Love Nature. 48% of moth decline in the UK is due to climate change. [October 12, 2021.] https://fb.watch/9jkSaMRITe/ [Accessed November 16, 2021]

(2) Bat Conservation Trust. What are the causes of wing tears in #bats? [October 31, 2021.] https://twitter.com/_BCT_/status/1454847482362531841 [Accessed November 16, 2021]

Expert Vancouver Proofreading

Vancouver referencing has many variations! And while the style above should be fine for general purposes, you should always check your style guide if you have one.

This will tell you the exact version of Vancouver referencing to use in your work, including how to cite sources (e.g., whether to place citations in brackets or use superscript numbers) and how to format your reference list.

If you don’t have a style guide, just remember to present your sources clearly and consistently. And don’t forget to have your work proofread! Our team includes experts in all referencing styles, including Vancouver. Why not submit a sample document for free and see how we can help your writing reach its full potential?