How to Use the ASME Citation Format

Engineering communication demands the same level of precision as the mechanical systems it describes. Using the ASME citation format is the standard for researchers and practitioners submitting work to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. This system ensures that technical data, previous studies, and theoretical foundations are easily traceable and consistently presented.

At its core, the ASME format utilizes a numerical, end-note style of citation. This means sources are cited in the order they appear in the text and are listed at the end of the document. Understanding the nuances of this system—from the standard bracketed in-text references to the specific six-digit Citation Identifiers (CIDs) used in modern digital journals—is essential for any contributor to the field of mechanical engineering.

The Mechanics of In-Text Citations

In-text citations in the ASME style are straightforward but require strict adherence to numbering. References must be cited in numerical order based on their first appearance in the paper. Once a source is assigned a number, that number is used throughout the paper whenever that source is referenced.

Basic Placement and Formatting

The numbered reference citation within the text should be enclosed in square brackets. It is common practice to place the bracketed number at the end of the phrase or sentence to which it refers, before the period, unless the author's name is part of the sentence structure. For example, a statement regarding plume width would appear as follows:

It was shown by Prusa [1] that the width of the plume decreases under these specific conditions.

If the author's name is not mentioned in the sentence, the citation simply sits at the end of the technical claim:

The width of the plume decreases under these conditions [1].

Handling Multiple Sources

When multiple sources support a single point, the ASME style provides clear rules for separation. For two citations, the numbers should be separated by a comma. If more than two citations are used consecutively, they should be separated by a dash to indicate a range.

• Two citations: "Previous studies [1, 2] indicate a trend in thermal conductivity."
• Three or more consecutive citations: "Various methods for heat transfer analysis have been documented [5-7]."

This numerical system keeps the text clean, allowing the technical flow to remain uninterrupted by long strings of author names and years, which is particularly beneficial in data-heavy engineering reports.

Constructing the Reference List

The reference list appears at the very end of the paper. It is not a bibliography of works consulted, but a list of works specifically cited in the text. This section must be arranged in numerical order, matching the sequence of the citations in the body of the work. Footnotes should not be used for this purpose; all source information must live within this dedicated section.

General Author Naming Rules

Consistency in author names is a hallmark of the ASME citation format. For journal articles and conference papers, the standard practice involves listing the author's last name followed by their initials or full first and middle names.

When dealing with multiple authors, ASME guidelines specify that if there are two authors, their names are separated by "and." If there are more than two, a series of commas is used, with the final author preceded by "and." In cases where the author list is extremely long—specifically 11 or more authors—the convention is to list the first seven followed by "et al."

Citing Journal Articles

Journal articles are the most common sources in engineering research. The format varies slightly depending on whether the article was accessed in print or through a digital collection.

The Standard Journal Format

For a traditional journal article, the citation should include the following elements in order:

1. Citation number in brackets.
2. Author names (Last name, First name/Initials).
3. Publication year.
4. "Title of the Article" (in quotation marks).
5. Journal Name (italicized or standardized abbreviation).
6. Volume number.
7. Issue number.
8. Page range or CID.
9. DOI or URL (for online access).

An example of a standard journal citation looks like this:

[3] Adams, Z., 2014, “Bending of an Infinite Beam on an Elastic Substrate,” ASME J. Appl. Mech., 3, pp. 221-228.

The Citation Identifier (CID) System

Since 2008, ASME has moved away from traditional page numbers for its journals, transitioning to a system of Citation Identifiers (CIDs). This change supports an article-at-a-time publication model, allowing research to be published online as soon as it is ready, rather than waiting for an entire issue's page sequence to be finalized.

A CID is a six-digit number that replaces the page range in a citation. For example:

[4] Smith, A., and Jones, B., 2008, “Paper Title,” ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, 130, 021007.

Understanding the 6-digit CID structure can be helpful for identifying the nature of the article:

• First two digits (01-12): Indicate the issue number within the volume.
• Middle two digits (01-99): Indicate the article type or subject area (e.g., 10 for research papers, 08 for review articles).
• Last two digits (01-99): Indicate the publication order within that specific issue and section.

When citing an article with a CID, do not use the hyphenated page numbers that appear on the individual PDF pages (e.g., 021007-1, 021007-2). Only the six-digit identifier is required for the reference list.

Books and Book Chapters

Citing textbooks or monographs requires the inclusion of the publisher's name and the city of publication. If you are citing an entire book, the title should be italicized.

Textbook Citation Example

[10] Gibson, T. A., and Tucker, M. T., 2008, The Big Book of Cellular Studies, John Wiley and Sons, NY.

If you are only citing a specific chapter within an edited volume, the chapter title is placed in quotation marks, and the book title is italicized. You must also include the page range of the chapter.

Book Chapter Citation Example

[21] Wions, T. T., and Mills, C. D., 2006, “Structural Dynamics in Parallel Manipulation,” Proceedings of the IDETC/CIE, New Orleans, LA, September 10-13, 2005, ASME Paper No. DETC2005-99532, pp. 777-798.

For e-books or books accessed online, relevant format information or a URL/DOI should be appended to the end of the citation to guide the reader to the digital version.

Conference Proceedings

Conference papers are critical in rapidly evolving engineering fields. Because these are often published in bound volumes or digital collections, the citation must include the conference location and the specific dates the event took place.

Format: [Citation number] Last Name, First Name. “Paper Title.” Conference Proceedings Title. Paper # : pp. Conference City, State, Conference Dates, Year. DOI.

Example: [5] Ning, Xiang and Lovell, Mary Rose. “On the Sliding Friction Characteristics of Unidirectional Continuous FRP Deposits.” Proceedings of the ASME IDETC/CIE. DETC2005-99532: pp. 777-798. New Orleans, LA, September 10-13, 2005.

Technical Reports, Theses, and Dissertations

In engineering, technical reports from government agencies (like NASA) or private laboratories are common. Similarly, doctoral dissertations provide deep-dive data not always found in condensed journal articles.

Technical Reports

[27] Clinton, D., 2013, “Review of Rocket Technology,” NASA Report No. NASA RE-8842.

Dissertations

[25] Mollen, T. P., 2014, “Use of General Nonlinear Material in Articulated Systems,” Ph.D. dissertation, University of Boston, Boston, MA.

For these types of documents, it is vital to include the report number or the specific type of thesis so that the reader can locate the document in university or agency archives.

Standardized ASME Journal Abbreviations

To ensure consistency in citations, ASME provides a list of standardized abbreviations for its own journals. Using these abbreviations is preferred over writing out the full title, as it saves space and follows the established norms of the society.

Note that "ASME" is often placed in front of the journal title in the citation to distinguish these publications from other engineering journals.

Online Resources and Digital Media

As the engineering landscape becomes more digital, citing non-traditional sources like technical videos, software documentation, and websites is becoming more common. ASME generally follows the Chicago Manual of Style for these formats.

• Websites: Include the title of the page, the last modified date, the date you accessed the site, and the full URL. Wikipedia is strictly prohibited in ASME references.
• Videos: For technical demonstrations (e.g., on YouTube), include the author, video title, the platform, length, and the date it was posted.

Example for a website: [6] “Apple Privacy Policy,” last modified February 4, 2009, accessed July 19, 2010, http://www.apple.com/intl/en/privacypolicy.html.

Formatting Requirements for the Entire Paper

The ASME citation format exists within a larger framework of paper formatting. Authors should be aware of several overarching rules that affect how references and text are presented.

Font and Spacing

Most ASME publications require the use of 9-10 pt Times Roman font (or an equivalent). The text should be single-spaced and justified. This dense formatting is designed for the two-column layout typical of engineering journals.

The Abstract

The abstract is placed at the very beginning and must be limited to 250 words. It should concisely state the objective, methods, key results, and main conclusions without citing references within the abstract itself.

SI Units

All ASME papers must include SI units. If U.S. Customary units are used, the SI equivalents must be provided in parentheses. This applies to data within the text and any numerical values cited from other sources.

Equations, Figures, and Tables

Much like references, equations, figures, and tables are numbered consecutively.

• Equations are referred to as "Eq. (1)" in the text or "Equation (1)" at the start of a sentence.
• Figures are referred to as "Fig. 1" or "Figure 1" depending on their position in the sentence.
• Tables are referred to in numerical order and should be placed as close to their first mention as possible.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Even experienced researchers can make errors when implementing the ASME citation format. Here are some frequent mistakes to look out for:

1. Inconsistent Author Names: Mixing initials (A. B. Smith) with full names (Smith, Adam) in the same reference list. Choose one style or follow the specific journal's preference for full names.
2. Incorrect Brackets: Using parentheses (1) instead of square brackets [1] for in-text citations. This is a common error for those used to other styles like APA.
3. Mismatched Order: Listing references alphabetically instead of numerically by appearance. The ASME style is strictly chronological based on the text.
4. Missing DOIs: In the modern digital era, the DOI is considered a permanent link to a source. ASME strongly encourages including the DOI at the end of every journal and conference citation to improve findability.
5. Omitting the "ASME" Prefix: Forgetting to include "ASME" before the journal title for the society's own publications.

The Role of Precision in Documentation

Adopting the ASME citation format is about more than just following rules; it is about contributing to a robust and reliable body of engineering knowledge. When citations are formatted correctly, peer reviewers and other researchers can quickly verify calculations, replicate experiments, and build upon existing theories.

In a field where a misplaced decimal point or a misunderstood material property can have real-world consequences, the rigor applied to documentation is just as important as the rigor applied to the engineering design itself. By mastering these citation standards, you ensure that your contributions are professionally presented and that your sources are given the proper credit in a format recognized by the global engineering community.