APA vs Vancouver: which format to use in your thesis

"Which format do I need?" is probably the most frequent question we receive from Honduran students. The answer depends on your major, your university and your advisor. This guide helps you distinguish between the two most commonly used formats in Honduras.

APA 7 (American Psychological Association)

Where it's used

• Social sciences, psychology, education
• Business administration, marketing
• Most programs at UNITEC, UTH, CEUTEC
• UNAH (except health sciences)

In-text citation

Uses the author-year system:

• One author: (Lopez, 2024)
• Two authors: (Lopez & Martinez, 2024)
• Three or more: (Lopez et al., 2024)

Reference list

Ordered alphabetically by first author's surname.

Key characteristics

• Hanging indent in references
• Double spacing throughout the document
• 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins on all sides
• Recommended font: Times New Roman 12pt or Calibri 11pt

Vancouver

Where it's used

• Health sciences: Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry
• Pharmacy, Nutrition, Microbiology
• UNAH Faculty of Medical Sciences
• UNICAH health programs

In-text citation

Uses the sequential numerical system:

• First citation: (1)
• Second new citation: (2)
• Reusing first: (1) — repeat the original number

Reference list

Ordered numerically by order of appearance.

Side-by-side comparison

Aspect	APA 7	Vancouver
System	Author-year	Sequential numerical
Reference order	Alphabetical	By appearance
Et al.	3+ authors	7+ authors
DOI	Required if available	Optional
Italics	Journal/book titles	Not used
Journal abbreviation	Full name	Abbreviated (Index Medicus)

What Honduran universities require

University	Primary format	Notes
UNAH	APA 7 (general), Vancouver (health)	Depends on faculty
UNITEC	APA 7	All programs
UTH	APA 7 or institutional	Check with advisor
CEUTEC	APA 7	Standardized
UNICAH	APA 7 (general), Vancouver (health)	Similar to UNAH

Mistakes to avoid

• Mixing formats — Never use APA and Vancouver in the same document
• Using outdated versions — APA 6 is no longer current; use APA 7
• Not verifying with your advisor — Even within the same university, different advisors may have preferences

We apply any academic format — APA 7, Vancouver, Chicago, IEEE and institutional formats from every Honduran university. Quote your format review.

Which to choose if you have freedom

1. APA 7 for social sciences, education, psychology or business research
2. Vancouver for health sciences or biomedical research
3. Chicago for history, arts or humanities (uncommon in Honduras)
4. IEEE for electrical engineering or computing

Not sure which format you need? We know each program and university's requirements. Write to us for free guidance.