The AMA Manual of Style is a must-have resource for anyone involved in medical, health, and scientific publishing.
Written by an expert committee of JAMA Network editors, this latest edition addresses issues that face authors, editors, and publishers in the digital age.
Extensive updates are included in the References chapter, with examples of how to cite digital publications, preprints, databases, data repositories, podcasts, apps and interactive games, and social media.
When viewing the Manual online, look for the "Table of Contents" on the right side of the screen to find information on particular citations.
This link opens in a new windowReferences 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 number1 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:
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.
The most recent AMA Manual strongly discourages citing sources without looking at them directly and relying on what another author has written about them. If it is unavoidable, follow this example to indicate the original source and where it was cited.
Jacob T, Gummesson C, Normark E, et al. Perceived stress and sources of stress among physiotherapy students from 3 countries. J Phys Ther Educ. 2012;26(3):57-65. doi:10.1097/00001416-201207000-00008. Cited by Dutton L, Anderson CEP. How stressed are they?: levels and sources of stress in doctor of physical therapy students. J Allied Health. 2021;50(4):277-283. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34845484/
Finding treatments for breast cancer is a major goal for scientists.1,2 Some classes of drugs show more promise than others. Gradishar evaluated taxanes as a class.3 Other scientists have investigated individual drugs within this class, including Andre and Zielinski2 and Joensuu and Gligorov.4 Mita et al.'s investigation of cabazitaxel5 seems to indicate a new role for this class of drugs.
1. Cancer Research Funding. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/cancertopics/factsheet/NCI/research-funding. Publication date unavailable. Updated June 6, 2011. Accessed November 3, 2012.
2. Andre F, Zielinski CC. Optimal strategies for the treatment of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer with currently approved agents. Ann Oncol. 2012;23(Suppl 2):vi46-vi51.
3. Gradishar WJ. Taxanes for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Breast Cancer (Auckl.). 2012;6:159-171.
4. Joensuu H, Gligorov J. Adjuvant treatments for triple-negative breast cancers. Ann Oncol. 2012; Suppl 6:vi40-45.
5. Mita AC, Figlin R, Mita MM. Cabazitaxel: more than a new taxane for metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer? Clin Cancer Res. 2012;18(24):OF1-OF6.
Adapted from USC Norris Medical Library, AMA: Citing Your Sources. Includes content adapted with permission from the New York Medical College.
Shepard TH. Catalog of Teratogenic Agents. 7th ed. Johns Hopkins University Press; 1992.
Baselt RC, Cravey RH. Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man. 4th ed. Chemical Toxicology Institute; 1995.
Armitage JO, Antman KH, eds. High-dose Cancer Therapy: Pharmacology, Hematopoietins, Stem Cells. Williams & Wilkins; 1995.
Degner LF, McWilliams ME. Challenges in conducting cross-national nursing research. In: Fitzpatrick JJ, Stevenson JS, Polis NS, eds. Nursing Research and its Utilization: International State of the Science. Springer; 1994:211-215.
Davidoff RA. Migraine: Manifestations, Pathogenesis, and Management. FA Davis; 1995. Contemporary Neurology Series; No 42.
Moldofsky H. Sleep, neuroimmune and neuroendocrine functions in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Adv Neuroimmunol. 1995;5(1):39-56.
Raux H, Coulon P, Lafay F, Flamand A. Monoclonal antibodies which recognize the acidic configuration of the rabies glycoprotein at the surface of the virion can be neutralizing. Virology. 1995;210(2):400-408.
Quiroz YT, Schultz AP, Chen K, et al. Brain imaging and blood biomarker abnormalities in children with autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease: a cross-sectional study. JAMA Neurol. 2015;72(8):912-919. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2015.1099
Fanin M, Angelini C. Progress and challenges in diagnosis of dysferlinopathy. Muscle Nerve. Published online August 8, 2016. doi:10.1002/mus.25367
If a DOI is not available for an online journal article, a URL and accessed date may be used.
Meeker D, Linder JA, Fox CR, et al. Effect of behavioral interventions on inappropriate antibiotic prescribing among primary care practices: a randomized clinical trial. Supplement 1. Study protocol and changes to analysis plan. JAMA. 2016;315(6):562-570. Accessed June 18, 2019. https://www-jamanetwork-com.suproxy.idm.oclc.org/journals/jama/fullarticle/2488307
King MW. The Medical Biochemistry Page. http://themedicalbiochemistrypage.org. Updated July 14, 2009. Accessed July 14, 2009.
Guyatt G, Rennie D, Meade MO, Cook DJ. Users’ Guides to the Medical Literature: A Manual for Evidence-Based Clinical Practice. 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill Education; 2015. Accessed August 15, 2016. https://jamaevidence-mhmedical-com.suproxy.idm.oclc.org/book.aspx?bookID=847
Sudarsky L. Gait and balance disorders. In: Kasper DL, Fauci AS, Longo DL, Hauser SL, Jameson JL, Loscalzo J, eds. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. 19th ed. McGraw-Hill; 2015:chap 32. Accessed February 10, 2016. http://www.harrisonsim.com/index.php
Amoxicillin. Micromedex (electronic version). Merative; 2024. Accessed March 15, 2024. https://www.micromedexsolutions.com
Amoxicillin. Lexidrug. Wolters Kluwer Health; 2024. Accessed March 15, 2024. http://online.lexi.com
These sources will help you find abbreviations for journal titles. They will also help you find complete journal titles when you have only the title abbreviations.