{"id":161,"date":"2026-01-16T17:55:58","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T17:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ht.acm.org\/ht2026\/?page_id=161"},"modified":"2026-03-05T15:20:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T15:20:28","slug":"reference-styles-for-acm-papers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ht.acm.org\/ht2026\/open-calls\/submission-instructions\/reference-styles-for-acm-papers\/","title":{"rendered":"Reference Styles for ACM Papers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The ACM does not provide a single clear deconstruction of its \u2018print\u2019 style but this can be reversed engineered, for both non-LaTeX users and LaTeX, from the BibTeX-based styling used by the latter. These examples are correct at time of writing (January 2026) and they draw on the BibTeX styling package \u2018acmart<\/code>\u2019 v2.02.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from those items formally published\/edited (books, journals and conference proceedings), many of the types\u2019 boundaries are loosely-defined and so the author some has some choice as to how describe them. With a choice, pick what gives the clearest information to the reader<\/em> of the references.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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How The Style Examples Work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each style section will show a single (e.g. periodical) or several (e.g. book) variant types of reference. For each variant, the reference will be shown as a list of its source data components (i.e. from where each component is drawn), the data as styled in \u2018printed\u2019 form and as BiBTeX code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where pertinent the style will be shown both in full and minimal acceptable data forms. The \u2018minimal\u2019 form is that containing the required fields as defined by \u2018natbib<\/code>\u2019 and as further modified by \u2018acmart<\/code>\u2019. For LaTeX use, the minimal style will preclude any log warnings during compilation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further notes on general aspects of the ACM style follow below. For authors used to ACM submissions\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

jump straight to the list of style types and examples<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026 or else, read some general background notes first. The above-linked styles list is at the bottom of this page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the sections below, paragraphs starting \u2018BibTeX use<\/em>\u2019 indicate guidance only applicable to using reference data in BibTeX form.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Author Names<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Where possible ACM prefers full names, i.e. \u2018John Xavier Doe\u2019 not \u2018J. X. Doe\u2019. Citations use both first, middle (if found) and last names but are listed in order of the last name<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For multiple authors (also editors), one of four forms is used, depending on the number of authors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n