APA vs Vancouver differences: which to use in your thesis (2026)
Reviewed: September 26, 2026. Sources, review and corrections methodology
DIRECT ANSWER
APA uses author and year (Lopez, 2024); Vancouver uses numbers in order of appearance. Differences table, citation examples and when each style is used.
"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
- Frequently used in social-science and business contexts; confirm the program guide
- Do not infer one style for an entire institution
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
Vancouver is a numerical system used by many health-science journals and programs. It is not tied to one country and cannot be assigned automatically to an entire degree: the journal, faculty or program must state the variant and edition that apply. For step-by-step citation and reference-list rules, see the Vancouver citation guide 2026.
Where it's used
- Health sciences: Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry
- Pharmacy, Nutrition, Microbiology
- Common in health-science publishing and some programs; confirm the current source
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 | Confirm with the faculty | Verify style, edition and local adaptations |
| UNITEC | Confirm with the program | Requirements may vary by degree and course |
| UTH | Confirm with the program | Request the guide that applies to your cohort |
| CEUTEC | Confirm with the program | CEUTEC is part of UNITEC, but the applicable document may vary |
| UNICAH | Confirm with the program | Do not infer Vancouver from the subject area alone |
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 review APA 7, Vancouver, Chicago and IEEE against your program's current source. We do not assume one institutional format for an entire university. Quote your format review.
Which to choose if you have freedom
- APA 7 is common in social sciences, education, psychology and business research
- Vancouver is common in health-science and biomedical publishing
- Chicago for history, arts or humanities (uncommon in Honduras)
- IEEE for electrical engineering or computing
Not sure which format you need? Send us the current guide or rubric and we can compare it with your document. Request guidance.
Primary and academic sources
These sources support the editorial review of this guide. Always verify the current rules of your own program.
- APA Style: Style and Grammar Guidelines, American Psychological Association
- Purdue Online Writing Lab, Purdue University
- Metadata Search and DOI Resources, Crossref
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