Start with the principle
What you need to know
IEEE assigns each source a number when it first appears. The same source keeps that number throughout the document, and the reference list follows numerical—not alphabetical—order.
A practical method
Check it step by step
- 01
Number by first appearance
Assign [1] to the first source cited, [2] to the next new source and continue in sequence.
- 02
Reuse existing numbers
When citing a source again, use its original number.
- 03
Check ranges and groups
Make sure every number in a grouped citation or range exists in the list.
- 04
Keep the list numerical
Do not alphabetise IEEE references.
Apply the guidance
Examples
The proposed model improves throughput [1].
Related approaches appear in [2], [4], and [7].
[1] S. I. Patel and A. Khan, “Digital research habits among university students,” Journal of Learning Practice, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 44–59, 2025.
Before submission
Final checklist
- Numbers follow first appearance
- Repeated sources reuse numbers
- Every bracketed number exists
- List is not alphabetical
- Source type follows IEEE formatting
Course, university and publisher requirements vary. Confirm final punctuation, capitalisation and presentation against the guide you have been instructed to use.