Public Library of Science Referencing Guide
(updated Mar 2024)


Last updated:
How to do citations in Public Library of Science style?

This is the Citationsy guide to Public Library of Science citations, reference lists, in-text citations, and bibliographies.
The complete, comprehensive guide shows you how easy citing any source can be. Referencing books, youtube videos, websites, articles, journals, podcasts, images, videos, or music in Public Library of Science.

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cite Public Library of Science  — Referencing Guide



How do you cite a book in the Public Library of Science referencing style? (2024 Guide)

Books are written works or compositions that have been published, many of which might be in digital version. Here’s how to cite a book in Public Library of Science

Here’s an example book citation in Public Library of Science using placeholders:
1.
Last Name FN. Title. Edition. Editor Last Name EFN, editor. City: Publisher; 2000.
So if we want to cite, for example, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou we’d do so like this:
Public Library of Science citation:
1.
Angelou M. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. 1st ed. New York: Random House; 1969.
And an in-text citation book citation in Public Library of Science looks like this: [1]


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How to reference a journal article in the Public Library of Science citation style?

How do you cite scientific papers in Public Library of Science format?

To cite a research paper or journal article following the Public Library of Science formatting guide, follow these easy steps

Here’s a Public Library of Science journal citation example using placeholders:
1.
Author1 LastnameAF, Author3 LastnameAF. Title. Container. 2000;Volume: pages Used. doi:DOI
So if we want to reference this scientific article: “Testing consumer preferences for iced-coffee: Does the drinking environment have any influence?” by C. Petit and J.M. Sieffermann in Public Library of Science:
1.
Petit C, Sieffermann J. Testing consumer preferences for iced-coffee: Does the drinking environment have any influence?. 2007;18: 161-172. doi:10.1016/j.foodqual.2006.05.008
And an in-text citation would look like this: [1]


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How to cite a website in a paper in Public Library of Science style?

Although not all open web content is appropriate as scholarly evidence, you might find yourself wanting to reference a web page in Public Library of Science. Here’s a quick and simple guide on how to do it

Here’s an Public Library of Science example website reference:
1.
Author1 LastnameAF, Author2 LastnameAF. Title. In: [Internet]. Publisher; 1Jan.2000 [cited 28Mar.2024]. Available: https://www.example.com
To reference the article located at this link:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/05/uselections20083
on The Guardian website:
1.
Tran M. Barack Obama To Be America’s First Black President. In: [Internet]. The Guardian; 5Nov.2008 [cited 28Mar.2024]. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/05/uselections20083
And an in-text citation would look like this: [1]

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How to cite a YouTube video Public Library of Science in 2024

If you’ve previously cited a video from a website in Public Library of Science, then the process for citing a video from YouTube is basically the same. Here’s how to do it

Here’s a Public Library of Science citation YouTube video example:
1.
ChannelName. Title. In: YouTube [Internet]. 1Jan.2000 [cited 28Mar.2024]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXXXXX
So how to cite a video Public Library of Science?
1.
Pixar. Pizza Clip — Inside Out. In: YouTube [Internet]. 3Jun.2015 [cited 28Mar.2024]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W6rntBADUQ
And an in-text video citation would look like this: [1]

How to cite a podcast using Public Library of Science referencing style

Podcasts can be perfect sources of information for your research paper. They cover a wide range of topics you may want to address in your paper. Here’s how to cite them in Public Library of Science

It is becoming more and more common to reference podcasts in essays or other school work.
Here’s how to reference a podcast it in Public Library of Science.
1.
Lastname F. Title. Publisher; 2000. Available: http://www.example.com
Podcast referencing example in Public Library of Science using “This American Life” episode 640:
1.
This American Life. 640: Five Women. WBEZ Radio; 2018. Available: https://thisamericanlife.org/640/five-women
And an in-text citation would look like this: [1]

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How to cite a piece of music or a song using Public Library of Science referencing style?

Have you found a song you would like to cite and include in your essay? Here’s how to cite a song in Public Library of Science

An example song citation in Public Library of Science.
1.
Lastname F. Song Title. Album. 2000. Available: http://www.example.com
Let‘s say we want to reference “Here Comes the Sun” off The Beatles “Abbey Road” album in Public Library of Science:
1.
The Beatles. Here Comes the Sun. Abbey Road. 1969. Available: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/here-comes-the-sun/401186200?i=401187150
And an in-text citation would look like this: [1]


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