20. References

20. References

Accurate and complete referencing is essential to maintain the scientific integrity, credibility, and traceability of published research. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all references cited in the manuscript are accurate, complete, and relevant to the study.

The Pakistan Journal of Gastroenterology (PJG) follows the Vancouver Referencing Style, as recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

Authors should verify every reference before manuscript submission. Inaccurate, incomplete, or incorrectly formatted references may delay the editorial process.

20.1 In-Text Citations

References should be cited in the text using Arabic numerals in superscript or square brackets, according to the journal's formatting style.

References should be numbered consecutively in the order in which they first appear in the text.

If a reference is cited more than once, the same reference number should be used throughout the manuscript.

20.2 Reference List

The reference list should:

  • Appear at the end of the manuscript.
  • Be arranged in the order of citation.
  • Include only references cited in the text.
  • Be complete and accurate.
  • Include DOI numbers whenever available.

Authors are encouraged to cite recent and relevant literature.

20.3 Journal Articles

For journal articles, references should include:

  • Author(s)
  • Article title
  • Journal title (Index Medicus abbreviation where applicable)
  • Year of publication
  • Volume number
  • Issue number
  • Page numbers
  • DOI (if available)

20.4 Books

Book references should include:

  • Author(s) or Editor(s)
  • Book title
  • Edition (if applicable)
  • Publisher
  • Place of publication
  • Year of publication
  • Page numbers (where applicable)

20.5 Book Chapters

Book chapter references should include:

  • Chapter author(s)
  • Chapter title
  • Editor(s)
  • Book title
  • Publisher
  • Place of publication
  • Year
  • Page range

20.6 Online Resources

When citing online resources, authors should include:

  • Author or organization
  • Title of the webpage or document
  • Website name
  • Publication or update date (if available)
  • Date accessed
  • Complete URL

Only reliable and authoritative sources should be cited.

20.7 DOI

Authors should include the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for references whenever available, as it improves the accessibility and traceability of published literature.

20.8 Accuracy of References

Authors are responsible for ensuring that:

  • All references are correctly cited.
  • Author names are accurate.
  • Titles are complete.
  • Publication details are correct.
  • URLs and DOIs are functional.
  • Every in-text citation appears in the reference list.
  • Every reference in the reference list is cited in the text.

The Editorial Office may request corrections if significant errors are identified.

20.9 Unacceptable References

Authors should avoid citing:

  • Retracted articles unless necessary for discussion.
  • Predatory journals.
  • Unverified websites or blogs.
  • Personal communications (unless essential).
  • AI-generated content as a primary reference.

References should primarily consist of peer-reviewed scientific literature.

Notes

  • Authors are encouraged to use reference management software such as EndNote, Mendeley, or Zotero.
  • References should be checked carefully before submission.
  • Excessive self-citation should be avoided.

Editorial Tip

Accurate referencing strengthens the credibility of scientific research and enables readers to locate the original sources of information. Authors should ensure that all references are complete, relevant, and formatted according to the Vancouver style.