How do I reference reports … in the NLM style?

‘Reports’ is a wide-ranging category and can include government reports, technical papers, research reports, case studies and working papers. This sort of literature is sometimes known as grey literature, which can also encompass press releases, issue briefs, annual reports, and codes of ethics. The format is similar to that used for books, but attention needs to be paid to include any additional information such as the edition, version, report number or series which can aid in the retrieval of the document.  

What information do you need in the reference? 

• Author/Group author – surname initials e.g. Cowley L. 

• Title of report, including version number if applicable, and medium in square brackets e.g. [Internet]. 

• Place of publication, and publisher name. 

• Date of publication, and date cited (if accessed online) in square brackets. 

• Details of report series and number 

• Available from (either a URL or DOI, if accessed online and available) 

Below are some examples for you to follow, which demonstrate how to form the reference from the above elements for different report types: 

Report 

Hamilton T, Ochmanek D. Operating low-cost, reusable unmanned aerial vehicles in contested environments: preliminary evaluation of operation concepts. Santa Monica (CA): RAND Corporation; 2020. Report No.: RR-4407-AF. 

Report by a government agency or other organisation  

Ministry of Defence. Joint Service safety publication for the storage and handling of gases part 1: directive [Internet]. V4.4 Nov 19. London: Ministry of Defence; 2019 [cited 2020 Nov 5]. (JSP 319 Part 1). Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/ uploads/attachment_data/file/920955/20190924-JSP_319_v4.4_Part_1_Directive-O.pdf 

You can find other examples of government reports along with legal documents in the section on Official Publications in the NLM referencing guide.

Market research report  

Use this format for reports from databases such as Passport, BMI Research, Mintel, etc. If the report doesn’t have a named individual author, use the database name for the author:

Allinson Y. Hard coal mining in the UK [Internet]. Industry report B05.100. Los Angeles: IBISWorld; 2022 Jan. Available from: IBISWorld 

For all your referencing questions – please contact Cranfield Libraries. 

Please note: Cranfield supports two different referencing styles – APA7 (Author-date) and Numbered (NLM). Please make sure you use the style preferred by your supervisor or lecturer. 

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