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Physician Assistant (PA): AMA Style

What is AMA Style?

The AMA Manual of Style provides detailed guidelines on authorship, conflicts of interest, scientific misconduct, intellectual property, and the protection of individuals' rights in scientific research and publication as well as citations and manuscript preparation. AMA Style is the preferred citation style for the medical, social sciences and scientific publishing communities.

Use the link below to access the manual online.

Important things to remember

  • Use superscript Arabic numbers within the text to cite information (e.g.,1, 2, 3…).
  • Place the corresponding references in a numbered list at the end of your paper.  The references are listed in the order they were cited in the paper, not alphabetically by author's last name.
  • The format for author names is "Surname1 AB, Surname2 CD,...".  Note that there is a comma between each full name, but there is no punctuation within each name. 
  • If a reference has up to six authors, include them all.  If there are more than six authors, list the first three, followed by "et al."
  • AMA style requires that you use abbreviated journal titles. (EndNote will do this for you)

Journals Abbreviations

  • Search for official abbreviations
  • Find full titles from the journals abbreviations  

Citation Examples

Names of all authors should be given unless there are more than 6, in which case the names of the first 3 authors are used, followed by “et al.”

Print Journal Article:

​Author(s). Article title. Journal Name Abbreviation. Year;vol(issue no.): pages.

  • Example: Rainier S, Thomas D, Tokarz D, et al. Myofibrillogenesis regulator 1 gene mutations cause paroxysmal dystonic choreoathetosis. Arch Neurol. 2004;61(7):1025-1029.

Online Journal Article: Note that the DOI is preferred over a URL.

Authors(s). Article title. Journal Name Abbreviation. Year;vol(issue no.): pages. DOI

  • Example: Gasbarrini GB, Mangiola F, Gerardi V, Ianiro G, Corazza GR, Gasbarrini A. Coeliac disease: an old or a new disease? History of a pathology. Intern Emerg Med. 2014;9(3):249–256. doi:10.1007/s11739-013-1044-5

OR

Authors(s). Article title. Journal Name Abbreviation. Year;vol(issue no.): inclusive pages. Accessed [date]. URL

  • Example: Gore D, Haji SA, Balashanmugam A, et al. Light and electron microscopy of macular corneal dystrophy: a case study. Digit J Ophthalmol. 2004;10. Accessed December 6, 2005. http://www.djo.harvard.edu/site.php?url=/physicians/oa/671

Entire Print Book: 

Author(s). Book Title. Edition number (if it is the second edition or above). Publisher; copyright year.

  • Example: Modlin J, Jenkins P. Decision Analysis in Planning for a Polio Outbreak in the United States. Pediatric Academic Societies; 2004.

Chapter in a Print Book:

Author(s). Chapter Title. In: Eidtor(s), eds. Book Title. Edition number (if it is the second edition or above). Publisher; copyright year: pages.

  • Example: Solensky R. Drug allergy: desensitization and treatment of reactions to antibiotics and aspirin. In: Lockey P, ed. Allergens and Allergen Immunotherapy. 3rd ed. Marcel Dekker; 2004:585-606.

Chapter in an Online Book:

Author(s). Chapter Title. In: Editor(s) eds. Book Title. Edition number e. (if it is the second edition or above; mention of first edition is not necessary) Publisher; copyright year. Accessed date. [provide URL and verify that the link still works as close as possible to the time of publication]

  • Example: Sorkness CA, Blake KV. Asthma. In: DiPiro JT, Talbert RL, Yee GC, Matzke GR, Wells BG, Posey L. eds. Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach, 10e. McGraw-Hill; 2017. Accessed July 16, 2020. https://accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/Book.aspx?bookid=1861

Author(s), if given (often, no authors are given). Title of the specific item cited (if none is given, use the name of the organization responsible for the site). Name of the website. [Date published]. Updated [date]. Accessed [date]. URL [provide URL and verify that the link still works as close as possible to publication]

Examples: 

  • International Society for Infectious Diseases. ProMED-mail website. Accessed April 29, 2004. http://www.promedmail.org

 

  • Interim guidance about avian influenza A (H5N1) for US citizens living abroad. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Updated November 18, 2005. Accessed December 6, 2005. http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/avian_flu_ig_americans_ abroad_032405.htm

Authors(s). Item title. Published [date]. Updated [date if available]. Accessed [date]. URL

Example: U.S. Department of Health, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR-3): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma - Summary Report 2007. Published October, 2007. Accessed October 24, 2012. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthsumm.htm

References are numbered in  consecutive order in the text, tables, or figures.

Use superscript arabic numerals to cite material, e.g., 1    The first reference used in a written document is listed as 1 in the reference list.

Where to place the superscript?  The superscript number 1  is inserted into the document immediately next to the fact, concept, or quotation being cited.  If citing more than one reference at the same point, separate the numbers with commas and no spaces between. 

The Superscript number is inserted:

  • Immediately next to the fact, idea or quotation being cited.  Ex. This drug is used to treat hepatitis.1
  • Outside periods and commas. Ex. Storing latex at high heat may cause degradation, 2,3-5,7  but it is difficult to keep materials cool in a desert environment.
  • Inside colons and semi-colons. Ex. Some physicians choose to store prescription pads in locked cabinets 8; others keep them in their coats at all times. 9
  • When more than 2 references are cited at a given place in the manuscript, use hyphens to join the first and last numbers of a closed series; use commas without space to separate other parts of a multiple citation.  Ex. As reported previously,1,4-7,19,24

If a reference is used multiple times in one paper, use the same number throughout.

At the end of the document, include a reference list with full citations to each item. Name it References. Order citations as they appear in your paper.

Using author's names in-text: You may use author names in your text, as long as these mentions are accompanied by numbered citations. Use last names only.  For items with one or two authors, include both names. For items with 3 or more authors, include the first author's surname and then 'et al' or 'and colleagues'.                                                                                                                                                                    

  • Ex. Smith and Jones2 reported on the questionnaire.
  • Ex. Hammersmith et al3 reported on the survey.

 

Secondary Citations- The AMA Manual. section 3.13.10 Secondary citations, states:  Reference may be made to one author’s citation of, or quotation from, another’s work. Distinguish between citation and quotation (ie, between work mentioned and words actually quoted).

  • In the text, the name of the original author, rather than the secondary source, should be mentioned. (See also 3.11.12, References to Print Journals, Discussants.)
  • As with citation of an abstract of an article rather than citation of the original document (see 3.11.9, References to Print Journals, Abstracts and Other Material Taken From Another Source), citation of the original document is preferred unless it is not readily available. Only items actually consulted should be listed.

Ex.  Cauley JA, Lui L-Y, Ensrud KE, et al. Osteoporosis and fracture risk in women of different ethnic groups. JAMA. 2005;293(17):2102-2108. Cited by: Acheson LS. Bone density and the risk of fractures: should treatment thresholds vary by race [editorial]? JAMA. 2005;293(17):2151-2154.

content take from University  of Washington https://guides.lib.uw.edu/hsl/ama/intext