How ACS in-text citations work
ACS supports three in-text citation modes: superscript numbers, italic numbers in parentheses, and author-date citations. The correct option depends on the journal, professor, or department requirement.
Superscript ACS citations
Superscript numbers are compact and common in chemistry writing. The number points readers to the matching reference list entry.
Italic numbers in parentheses
Some ACS assignments use italic numbers in parentheses instead of superscript numbers. Keep one style consistent throughout the paper.
Author-date ACS citations
Author-date ACS citations include the first author surname and year, which can be useful when an instructor asks for a name-year style.
ACS citation tools
Sources and method
Citation examples are maintained from public ACS citation patterns and checked against authoritative identifier and metadata sources. Always follow the final requirements from your instructor, department, or target journal.
- ACS Guide to Scholarly CommunicationPrimary style guide for ACS scholarly writing and reference patterns.
- Crossref REST APIDOI metadata source used when the tool imports article details from a DOI.
- DOI Foundation HandbookBackground on DOI identifiers and persistent links.
- Google PatentsPublic patent records used as a practical source for patent numbers and stable patent pages.
- ChemRxivCommon chemistry preprint source that often supplies DOI-backed records.
Editorial review
Last reviewed: June 2026. Chem Citation Tools is an independent educational project for chemistry citation workflows. The site is not affiliated with the American Chemical Society, and generated citations should be reviewed before academic or journal submission.
FAQ
- What is ACS citation style?
- ACS citation style is a reference format commonly used in chemistry and related scientific fields.
- Does ACS use numbered citations?
- Yes. ACS style can use numbered in-text citations, including superscript numbers or italic numbers in parentheses.
- How do I cite a patent in ACS?
- An ACS patent citation usually includes the inventor, patent title, patent number, assignee, and publication date.
- Can this page generate journal article citations?
- Yes. The embedded tool can generate reference list entries and in-text citations.