Zotero Citation Style Customization | Modifying CSL Styles & Formatting

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Step-by-step guide to customizing citation styles in Zotero, modifying CSL XML files, editing bilingual author lists, and adjusting GB/T 7714 bibliography formats.

• Learn how to use the online Visual CSL Editor to drag-and-drop citation nodes
• Solve the bilingual et-al conflicts where Chinese lists use et-al and English lists use Deng
• Adjust in-text citation superscript markers, parenthetical styles, and bracket formats
• CSL structure: Each style is a `.csl` XML file consisting of header info, in-text citation layouts, and bibliography parameters.

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What this page helps you do first

• Learn how to use the online Visual CSL Editor to drag-and-drop citation nodes
• Solve the bilingual et-al conflicts where Chinese lists use et-al and English lists use Deng
• Adjust in-text citation superscript markers, parenthetical styles, and bracket formats

Introduction to Zotero Styles and CSL

Zotero does not render citations natively; it relies on style definition files structured in CSL (Citation Style Language), an XML-based formatting standard.

When your university or target journal requests custom variations—such as changing citation square brackets to parentheses, or capitalization styles in author lists—you only need to modify the corresponding XML elements in the style sheet.

• CSL structure: Each style is a `.csl` XML file consisting of header info, in-text citation layouts, and bibliography parameters.
• Zotero integration: Import custom styles via Preferences -> Cite -> Styles, then upload your local `.csl` stylesheet.
• Visual editing: Use the official web-based Visual CSL Editor to drag and drop nodes and preview bibliography edits live.

Fixing Bilingual et al. vs. Chinese Deng Conflicts

This is a major pain point when compiling papers containing both Chinese and English references. Since CSL stylesheets default to a single global locale, you might see English authors followed by "Deng" or Chinese authors followed by "et al."

To resolve this, you must edit the CSL code to evaluate the language field, directing the engine to format Chinese and English bibliography lists separately.

• Metadata language flags: Set the "Language" field in your Zotero item details to `zh` for Chinese sources, leaving English sources blank or as `en`.
• CSL condition blocks: Locate the author macro in your CSL XML and insert a conditional statement `<choose><if variable="language" match="any" values="zh">`.
• Configure rules: Define `et-al-term="Deng" (representing the Chinese term for et-al)` inside the Chinese conditional branch, leaving the default branch as `et-al-term="et al."`.

Modifying Superscripts and Parenthesis Punctuation

In-text citation numbering preferences vary widely. Some styles require superscript brackets like `[1]`, some require body-line parentheses like `(1)`, and others demand author-year systems like `(Smith, 2026)`.

These layout settings are defined in the `<citation>` block of your CSL file. Modifying parent attributes or adding vertical-align tags changes how Zotero inserts citation markers.

• Superscript setting: Add `vertical-align="sup"` to the `<layout>` or `<text>` tags inside the citation block.
• Prefix and suffix strings: Adjust prefix (e.g., `[`) and suffix (e.g., `]`) attributes of the layout element to customize surrounding characters.
• Continuous citation collapse: Set the collapse attribute (e.g., `collapse="citation-number"`) to automatically format `[1],[2],[3]` as `[1-3]`.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find pre-made CSL files for Chinese universities?

Start by searching the official Zotero Style Repository. If it is not listed there, search GitHub for "University Name Zotero CSL" to find open-source configurations created by other students.

How do I refresh my Word document after updating a CSL file?

Re-import the updated CSL into Zotero (incrementing the version number to prevent local cache conflicts). In Word, click Zotero -> Document Preferences, select the new style, and click Refresh.

Why are some fields (like issue numbers or DOIs) missing in my citations?

Zotero exports whatever metadata is stored in your library. Open Zotero, fill in the missing fields (e.g., Issue, Pages) for the selected book or journal item, and click Refresh in Word.