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Q. Journal article endnote references don't include a cited date (Vancouver style)

I am using the Vancouver St-Andrews referencing style and journal article references aren't including a date cited. How can I fix this?

Answered By: Sharon Nangle
Last Updated: Apr 14, 2025     Views: 27

Firstly you should check that your journal articles are entered into Endnote with the Reference Type 'Journal article' and that you have a date entered in the Access Date field.  If you make any changes to a reference in your endnote library make sure to Save it before you close it.  

Then go to your word document, click 'Update Citations and Bibliography'.  Check if the cited date appears in the journal article reference, e.g.:

1.    Abdelhamid MHM, Almsellati IA, Annajar BB, Abdulhamid AH, Alemam H, Etikar M. Hospitalization among vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection after dose sparing strategies in Libya: A cohort study. PLoS ONE [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 Apr 14]; 17(11):e0276425.  Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36327290/.
 

If there is still no cited date in your references then you may be using a older version of the Vancouver St-Andrews style.  An up to date version of the style can be found on the Medicine Subject guide.  Scroll on the right hand side of the guide and select Vancouver St Andrews:

 

snip of the webpage on the right  two Endnote referencing styles are listed Endnote Harvard and Vancouver St Andrews.  Vancouver St Andrews has a yellow box around it to highlight this should be selected/

Click the file to download it.  The file will go to wherever your default download files go to, e.g. your Downloads folder.

Find the downloaded file and double click to open it.  This will open the style within Endnote:

  • Click File
  • Save as
  • Give the file a name which will help you select the style in Word e.g. Vancouver St Andrews 2
  • Save the file
  • Close the style editor in Endnote.

Now go back to your Word document:

  • In the Endnote toolbar in Word select the Style option. 
  • Choose 'Select another style'
  • Enter 'V' to see all the styles beginning with V and scroll down to find the style you have saved
  • Click the style you want and click "Ok"
  • All your references should update and you should see the cited date in your journal article references
  • If the references don't automatically update click 'Update Citations and Bibliography'

If this doesn't work, or you are having problems with Endnote email library@st-andrews.ac.uk with the details.

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