GB/T 7714 Format Guide | Chinese National Standard for References and Citations

What this page helps you do first

• Understand numbered sequence vs author-year format selection
• Complete examples for journals, books, theses, and web resources
• Special requirements from CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP platforms

What is GB/T 7714 and how does it differ from international formats

GB/T 7714-2015 is the national standard for references and citations published by China's Standardization Administration. It is the most commonly required format for Chinese university theses, academic journals, and research reports. Unlike APA's author-year system, GB/T 7714 supports both the numbered sequence and author-year systems.

Most Chinese universities specify "references shall follow GB/T 7714" in their thesis formatting guidelines, though journal editors may add their own variations.

Numbered sequence vs author-year: how to choose

• Numbered sequence: Number references in citation order, use brackets in text like [1][2][3]. Reference list is ordered by number. Suitable for engineering and computer science
• Author-year: Cite with author surname and year in text like (Zhang, 2023). Reference list is alphabetical by author surname. Common in management, economics, humanities
• Some universities mandate one format, others allow choice. Science/engineering prefer numbered sequence; humanities prefer author-year
• Whatever you choose, consistency throughout the paper is mandatory—no mixing

Numbered sequence format examples

• Journal article: [Number] Authors. Title[J]. Journal, Year, Vol(Issue): Pages.
• Example: [1] Zhang S, Li H. Article title[J]. Journal Name, 2023, 45(3): 12-25.
• Book: [Number] Author. Title[M]. Place: Publisher, Year.
• Example: [2] Wang W. Book title[M]. Beijing: Higher Education Press, 2022.
• Thesis: [Number] Author. Title[D]. Institution, Year.
• Example: [3] Zhao L. Thesis title[D]. Tsinghua University, 2023.

Author-year format examples

• Journal article: Author. Year. Title[J]. Journal, Vol(Issue): Pages.
• Example：Zhang S, Li H. 2023. Article title[J]. Journal Name, 45(3): 12-25.
• Book: Author. Year. Title[M]. Place: Publisher.
• Example：Wang W. 2022. Book title[M]. Beijing: Higher Education Press.
• Chinese references in reference list are ordered alphabetically by author surname Pinyin
• Multiple authors: list all names separated by commas, ending with Chinese period

Electronic and web resource citation rules

• Webpage: Author (optional). Title[EB/OL]. Place (optional): Publisher (optional), Update date/Access date. URL.
• Example：Li S. 2023. Webpage title[EB/OL]. 2023-05-10. https://www.example.com.
• Database resources: Include DOI when available, format as https://doi.org/10.xxxx/xxxxx
• For CNKI/Wanfang resources without DOI, note the database name and URL
• WeChat/Weibo content: Include author, title, post date, and access date

Common GB/T 7714 mistakes and corrections

• Mistake 1: Incorrect author name format → English names: surname first, initials after, e.g., "John A. Smith" becomes "Smith J A."
• Mistake 2: Irregular journal title capitalization → Chinese journals no book title marks; English journal title major words capitalized
• Mistake 3: Missing publication place → Books must include place like "Beijing: Higher Education Press", or "[s.l.]" if unknown
• Mistake 4: Confusing volume/issue format → Correct format is "45(3)", not "Vol.45 No.3"
• Mistake 5: Mixing DOI and URL → List DOI when available, skip URL

Frequently asked questions

Can GB/T 7714 and APA be used together?

No. A single paper must use one citation format consistently. Choose whichever format your university or target journal requires.

How do I handle references with more than three authors?

GB/T 7714 states: for more than three authors, keep the first three and add "et al." (English). Some journals require all names—check your target journal's requirements.

What are the rules for foreign author name abbreviations?

English names are recorded as "surname-first, initial-after": "John A. Smith" becomes "Smith J A." For Chinese author translations, treat surname and given name the same way.

Do I repeat reference numbers for multiple citations of the same source?

In numbered sequence format, use the same number for all citations of one source. Add page numbers in brackets if citing specific pages, like [1](p.25) or [1:25].

How can I quickly check if my GB/T 7714 formatting is correct?

Use the AcademicIdeas reference format checker tool to upload or paste your reference list and get automatic error detection and correction suggestions.