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AMA Citation Style

Reference Examples

This guide contains a selection of examples for the most common format types in AMA Style. For more information and additional reference type examples, consult the full manual.

In-Text Citations

  • References should be numbered as they are cited in the text, table, or figures using superscript arabic numeral.
  • Superscript numbers should be used immediately next to the idea, fact or quotation being cited; numerals should be outside periods and commas, but inside colons and semicolons.
  • References used multiple times should keep the first number under which it was cited.
  • Commas and hyphens can be used to cite more than one work.
  • Unpublished works and personal communications should be cited in the text,  but not included in the Reference list.

 

An example of in-text citations in AMA Style can be found within the full manual, Chapter 3.1 (beginning on page 60) and below:

Much has been written about problems with bibliographic inaccuracies1 (eg, an author’s name is misspelled, the journal’s name is incorrect, the year of publication or the volume, issue, or page numbers are incorrect).

The Reference List

  • On a separate page at the end of your paper, left justify the word References, then double space and start with the first.
  • References should be numbered consecutively with arabic numerals in the order in which they are cited in the text, rather than alphabetically.
  • Single space each reference, double space between references; do not indent if the citation extends to a second line.
  • Authors should be listed by their surname, followed by initials with no periods.
  • Up to six authors can be listed in the reference; if there are more than six authors, list the first three follow by "et al."
  • Names of journals should be italicized and abbreviated according to the NLM Catalog Database, with all major words capitalized. Single word titles are not abbreviated.
  • DOIs are preferred over URLs; whichever is used should be at the end of the reference with no period (so as not to interfere with linking).

An example of what the reference list would look like for Chapter 3.1 of the AMA Manual of Style (starting on page 110) is as follows:

 

References

1. Meyer CA. Reference accuracy: best practices for making the links. J Electron Publ. 2008;11(2). doi:10.3998/3336451.0011.206

2. On citing well. Nat Chem Biol. 2010;6(2):79. doi:10.1038/nchembio.310

3. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals. Updated December 2018. Accessed June 23, 2019. http://www.icmje.org/icmje-recommendations.pdf

4. Samples of formatted references for authors of journal articles. National Library of Medicine. Updated May 25, 2016. Accessed August 5, 2016. https://www-nlm-nih-gov/bsd/uniform_requirements.html

5. Patrias K, Wendling DL, eds. Citing Medicine: The NLM Style Guide for Authors, Editors, and Publishers. 2nd ed. National Library of Medicine; 2007-. Updated October 2, 2015. Accessed August 11, 2016. https://www-nlm-nih-gov.edu/books/NBK7526

6. ANSI/NISO Z39. 29-2005 (R2010) Bibliographic References. National Information Standards Organization. Approved June 9, 2005, by the American National Standards Institute; reaffirmed May 13, 2010. Accessed August 5, 2016. https://www.niso.org/apps/group_public/download.php/12969/239_29_2005_R2010.pdf

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