IEEE Common Mistakes
Identify and fix common IEEE citation errors to ensure proper formatting and academic integrity
IEEE Numbering System Errors
The IEEE numbered citation system has specific rules that are often misunderstood:
❌ Mistake: Alphabetical Numbering
Incorrect Reference List:
[1] A. Anderson, "First alphabetically..."
[2] B. Brown, "Second alphabetically..."
[3] C. Chen, "Third alphabetically..."
❌ References ordered alphabetically instead of by appearance
Correct Approach:
[1] C. Chen, "First cited in text..."
[2] A. Anderson, "Second cited in text..."
[3] B. Brown, "Third cited in text..."
✅ References ordered by first appearance in text
❌ Mistake: Changing Reference Numbers
Incorrect Text Citations:
Smith's algorithm [1] outperforms traditional methods. Later, Smith's improved version [4] shows even better results.
❌ Same author gets different numbers for related work
Correct Approach:
Smith's algorithm [1] outperforms traditional methods. Later, Smith's improved version [1] shows even better results, while newer approaches [2], [3] explore different directions.
✅ Consistent numbering for same source throughout paper
❌ Mistake: Incorrect Multiple Citations
Several studies [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8] support this conclusion.
❌ Should use range notation for consecutive numbers
Several studies [1], [3]-[6], [8] support this conclusion.
✅ Proper range notation and comma separation
IEEE Formatting Mistakes
Common formatting errors that violate IEEE style guidelines:
❌ Mistake: Incorrect Author Format
[1] Smith, John and Brown, Mary, "Title," Journal...
❌ Full first names instead of initials
[1] J. Smith and M. Brown, "Title," Journal...
✅ First initial and last name format
❌ Mistake: Wrong Title Capitalization
[2] R. Johnson, "Machine Learning For Signal Processing Applications," IEEE Trans....
❌ Title case for article titles
[2] R. Johnson, "Machine learning for signal processing applications," IEEE Trans....
✅ Sentence case for article titles
❌ Mistake: Incorrect Journal Abbreviation
[3] K. Davis, "Title," IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing...
❌ Full journal name instead of IEEE abbreviation
[3] K. Davis, "Title," IEEE Trans. Signal Process....
✅ Standard IEEE journal abbreviation
❌ Mistake: Missing Italics
[4] M. Lee, "Title," IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 45...
❌ Journal name not italicized
[4] M. Lee, "Title," IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 45...
✅ Journal name properly italicized
IEEE Punctuation Problems
Punctuation errors that affect IEEE citation clarity and compliance:
❌ Mistake: Incorrect Volume/Issue Format
[1] J. Smith, "Title," Journal, Volume 15, Issue 3, pages 45-67...
❌ Words instead of abbreviations
[1] J. Smith, "Title," Journal, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 45-67...
✅ Proper IEEE abbreviations
❌ Mistake: Missing Commas
[2] R. Brown "Article title" IEEE Journal vol. 5 no. 2 pp. 123-135 Mar. 2023.
❌ Missing commas between elements
[2] R. Brown, "Article title," IEEE Journal, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 123-135, Mar. 2023.
✅ Proper comma placement
❌ Mistake: Wrong Quote Usage
[3] K. Wilson, 'Single quotes for title,' Journal...
❌ Single quotes instead of double quotes
[3] K. Wilson, "Double quotes for title," Journal...
✅ Double quotes for article titles
Reference List Organization Issues
Problems with reference list structure and ordering:
❌ Mistake: Inconsistent Spacing
[1] First reference with normal spacing
[2] Second reference also normal
[3] Third reference with extra space above
❌ Inconsistent spacing between references
[1] First reference with consistent spacing
[2] Second reference with same spacing
[3] Third reference maintains consistency
✅ Consistent double-spacing between all references
❌ Mistake: Missing Hanging Indent
[1] J. Smith and M. Brown, "A very long title that extends to multiple lines and should demonstrate proper formatting," IEEE Trans. Signal Process., vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 567-582, Mar. 2023.
❌ No hanging indent for wrapped lines
[1] J. Smith and M. Brown, "A very long title that extends to
multiple lines and should demonstrate proper formatting," IEEE
Trans. Signal Process., vol. 71, no. 3, pp. 567-582, Mar. 2023.
✅ Proper hanging indent for continuation lines
❌ Mistake: Skipped Reference Numbers
[1] First reference cited in text
[2] Second reference cited in text
[4] Fourth reference (skipped [3])
[5] Fifth reference
❌ Missing reference [3] creates gap
[1] First reference cited in text
[2] Second reference cited in text
[3] Third reference cited in text
[4] Fourth reference cited in text
✅ Sequential numbering with no gaps
Digital Source Citation Errors
Common mistakes when citing online and digital sources:
❌ Mistake: Missing Access Date
[1] Company Name, "Documentation," Website, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://example.com.
❌ No access date for changing online content
[1] Company Name, "Documentation," Website, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://example.com. Accessed: Jan. 15, 2024.
✅ Access date included for online sources
❌ Mistake: Incorrect DOI Format
[2] Author, "Title," Journal, vol. 5, pp. 23-45, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1109/example.2023.123456.
❌ Full DOI URL instead of just identifier
[2] Author, "Title," Journal, vol. 5, pp. 23-45, 2023, doi: 10.1109/example.2023.123456.
✅ DOI identifier with "doi:" prefix
❌ Mistake: Missing [Online] Indicator
[3] Author, "Web article," Website, 2023. Available: https://example.com. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2024.
❌ Missing [Online] indicator before URL
[3] Author, "Web article," Website, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://example.com. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2024.
✅ [Online] indicator properly placed
Digital Source Checklist
- Include [Online] for web-based sources
- Add access date for changing content
- Use "doi:" prefix for DOI identifiers
- Include version numbers for software
- Specify platform for social media
- Use "Available:" before URLs
🔧 Quick Fix Strategies
- Use citation tools: Automated generators reduce errors
- Create templates: Consistent format for similar sources
- Check twice: Review citations before final submission
- Follow examples: Use this guide's correct formats
- Validate DOIs: Ensure DOIs are working and correct