AMA (American Medical Association) Reference Citation Format

This tip sheet contains most frequently requested information. For complete style manual online see: AMA Manual of Style Online
or the print American Medical Association Manual of Style 10th Edition on Reserve in the Health Sciences Library, Call # WZ 345 A511 2007.

References:

  • Cited works are numbered in order of initial appearance in the text, and appear in the Reference List in numerical order.
  • Use arabic superscript numerals outside periods and commas, and inside colons and semicolons.
  • Authors’ names are inverted, and use only initials for first and middle names. No periods between initials.
  • In article titles only the first word and proper nouns and abbreviations that are ordinarily capitalized are capitalized.
  • Use accepted Index Medicus abbreviations of journal names (see the List of Journals Indexed in Index Medicus).
  • For journals use issue numbers in parentheses after the volume number. If there is no issue number specify month before the year.

In-Text Examples:

Diabetes mellitus is associated with a high risk of foot ulcers.1-3
Several interventions have been successful at increasing compliance.11,14-16
The data of Smith et al18 is further evidence of this effect.
As reported previously,1,3-6
The results were as follows4:

Reference List Examples:

Journal article (1-6 authors):
1.  

Hu P, Reuben DB. Effects of managed care on the length of time that elderly patients spend with physicians during ambulatory visits. Med Care. 2002;40(7):606-613.
 

Journal article with more than six authors:

2. Geller AC, Venna S, Prout M, et al. Should the skin cancer examination be taught in medical school? Arch Dermatol. 2002;138(9):1201-1203.
 
Journal article with no named author or group name:
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Licensure of a meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menveo) and guidance for use--Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2010;59(9):273.
   
Electronic Journal article:
If you have a doi (preferred):
4. Gage BF, Fihn SD, White RH. Management and dosing of warfarin therapy. The American Journal of Medicine. 2000;109(6):481-488. doi:10.1016/S0002-9343(00)00545-3.
 
If you do not have a doi:
5. Aggleton JP. Understanding anterograde amnesia: disconnections and hidden lesions. Q J Exp Psychol. 2008;61(10):1441-1471. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pbh&AN=34168185&site=ehost-live Accessed March 18, 2010.
 

Entire Book:

6. McKenzie BC. Medicine and the Internet: Introducing Online Resources and Terminology. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 1997.
 

Book Chapter:

7. Guyton JL, Crockarell JR. Fractures of acetabulum and pelvis. In: Canale ST, ed.Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby, Inc; 2003:2939-2984.
 
 

Electronic Book:

8. Rudolph CD, Rudolph AM. Rudolph's Pediatrics. 21st ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2002. http://online.statref.com/Document/Document.aspx?DocID=1&StartDoc=1&EndDoc=1882&FxID=13&offset=7&SessionId=A3F279FQVVFXFSXQ . Accessed August 22, 2007.
 

Internet Document:

9. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2003. http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/CAFF2003PWSecured.pdf. Accessed March 3, 2003.
 

Staff of the Health Sciences Library developed this guide to provide basic assistance in applying AMA style. The examples above do not cover every possible type of publication or exception.

Questions may be directed to (914) 594-4210 or hsl_nymc@nymc.edu.
M. Ascher, Updated 8/25/2010
Stay in touch with us on  Follow nymclibrary on Facebook Follow nymclibrary on TwitterNYMCat Account | Staff | Suggestions | Touro Libraries © Health Sciences Library
New York Medical College, 15 Dana Rd., Valhalla, NY 10595
Tel. (914) 594 4200