ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication

ACS citation generator

Format ACS references from a URL, DOI or ISBN in the free web app, then check them against the ACS style rules and examples below.

Create ACS citations freeAll citation styles
  • Free account required
  • Auto-fill from URL, DOI or ISBN
  • 16 source types
Citation generator in the Plagiarism Checker Plus web app: auto-fill a source from a URL, DOI or ISBN, or pick one of 16 source types
The rules

How to cite in ACS style

ACS style comes from the American Chemical Society. It allows three in-text formats, and numbered superscripts are the most common.

In the text

  • Superscript numbers, the most common: “… was reported previously.3”
  • Italic numbers in parentheses: “… was reported previously (3).”
  • Author-date: (Watson and Crick, 1953). Use it only if your instructor or journal asks for it.
  • With numbers, cite sources in the order they first appear and reuse a number for later citations. Superscripts go after punctuation.
  • Choose one format and use it throughout the paper.

In the reference list

  • Number references in citation order. With author-date, list them alphabetically by first author.
  • Write authors as surname, initials, separated by semicolons: Watson, J. D.; Crick, F. H. C. List up to ten, then add “et al.”
  • Use title case for article titles, with no quotation marks. Italicize book titles and abbreviated journal names.
  • In journal references, set the year in bold and the volume in italics: Nature 1953, 171, 737–738.
  • End with the DOI. Web pages also get an access date: (accessed 2026-03-10).

Based on the ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication, which replaced The ACS Style Guide (3rd edition). Individual ACS journals may ask for small variations, so check their author guidelines.

Examples

ACS citation examples

The in-text citation and the numbered reference entry for four source types chemistry students cite most.

  • Journal article

    Watson and Crick, Nature, 1953

    In-text
    The double-helix model was proposed in 1953.1
    Author-date
    (Watson and Crick, 1953)
    Reference
    (1) Watson, J. D.; Crick, F. H. C. Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids: A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid. Nature 1953, 171 (4356), 737–738. DOI: 10.1038/171737a0

  • Book

    Kuhn, 1962

    In-text
    Kuhn described scientific change as a series of paradigm shifts.2
    Reference
    (2) Kuhn, T. S. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions; University of Chicago Press: Chicago, IL, 1962.

  • Book chapter

    Placeholder pattern

    In-text
    The method is described in an edited volume.3
    Reference
    (3) Author, A. A.; Author, B. B. Title of the Chapter. In Title of the Book; Editor, E. E., Ed.; Publisher: City, State, Year; pp 12–34.

  • Website

    Placeholder example

    In-text
    A safety data sheet lists hazards in a fixed order.4
    Reference
    (4) Doe, J. How to Read a Safety Data Sheet. Example Chemistry Hub, March 3, 2024. https://www.example.org/sds-guide (accessed 2026-03-10).

The journal article and book are real sources. The chapter and website use placeholders and an example URL to show the pattern. The issue number (4356) is optional in ACS.

Before you submit

Common ACS citation mistakes

Mistakes to check for

  • Separating authors with commas or “and” instead of semicolons.
  • Forgetting to bold the year and italicize the volume.
  • Putting article titles in quotation marks.
  • Spelling out journal names instead of using CASSI abbreviations.
  • Mixing superscript numbers and author-date in one paper.
  • Leaving out the access date for a web page.

When to use ACS style

ACS style is used in chemistry and related sciences, in American Chemical Society journals, and in many university chemistry courses for lab reports, theses and posters.

  • Chemistry and biochemistry
  • Chemical engineering
  • Materials and environmental science
  • Lab reports and ACS journal submissions
In the app

Create ACS citations in three steps

The citation generator lives in the Plagiarism Checker Plus web app. It fills in the source details and formats the ACS reference for you.

  1. Create a free account

    Sign up for the web app. The citation generator needs a free account.

  2. Choose ACS

    Pick ACS, then paste a URL, DOI or ISBN, or fill in one of 16 source types.

  3. Check and copy

    Check the journal abbreviation and authors, then copy the entry into your reference list.

After pasting, check that the year is bold and the journal and volume are italic, since not every editor keeps formatting. The Chrome extension only cites in APA 7, MLA 9, Chicago and Harvard, so use the web app for ACS.

FAQ

ACS citation questions

Yes. The citation generator in the Plagiarism Checker Plus web app is free to use, but it needs a free account. Sign up, choose ACS and add a source by URL, DOI or ISBN, or enter the details by hand.

Build your ACS reference list

Sign up free, choose ACS and add your sources by URL, DOI or ISBN.