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AMA Guide-11th Edition

General Guidelines

AMA Tips

  • Each word in a title is lowercase, with the exception of the first word and proper nouns.
  • References are numbered consecutively with Arabic numerals.
  • Each in-text citation must also be listed on the reference page. Likewise, each reference must have a corresponding in-text citation. 
  • References are listed numerically (in the order they are cited in the paper). A period follows each number.
  • Single space each reference. Double space between references.
  • There are no hanging indents in AMA.
  • Journal titles are abbreviated according to the National Library of Medicine.
    • Journal abbreviations are listed in the AMA Manual on pages 574-602. 

Journal Articles

  • Print: Author(s). Article title. Abbreviated Journal Name. Year;vol(issue No.):inclusive pages. DOI, if provided
  • Online: Author(s). Article title. Abbreviated Journal Name. Publication date. DOI, if provided

Books

  • Print: Author(s). Book Title. Edition number (if it is the second edition or later). Publisher's name; copyright year.
  • Online: Author(s). Book Title. Edition number (if it is the second edition or later). Publisher's name; copyright year. Accessed [date]. URL (or DOI, if provided)
  • Website: Author (if no author is available, the name of the organization responsible for the site). Title (or, if no title is available, the name of the organization responsible for the site). Name of the website. Published [date]. Updated [date]. Accessed [date]. URL

When a source has more than six authors, use "et al." after the first three names.

1 Author: Smith KH.

2-6 Authors: Smith KH, Johnson EH, Brown ST, Miller CR, Rodriguez LM, Anderson DE. (list them all)

7+ Authors: Smith KH, Johnson EH, Brown ST, et al.

Group Author: The Breakfast Club

If there is no date, write "date unknown" in all lowercase letters in place of the date. 

AMA Style. University of Maryland; date unknown. Accessed June 26, 2021. www.umaryland.edu/media/umb/oaa/campus-life/writing-center/documents/AMA-Style.pdf

Missing volume and issue: If a journal does not have a volume or issue number, then insert the issue date.

Johnson KM, Pike SM, et al. A metanalysis of sugar consumption in Europe. Nutr Assoc. June 2021:855-864. doi:10.1007/s11682-020-0029

Missing volume only: If only the volume number is missing, leave it out and keep the rest of the reference as normal.

 Smith KM. Why volleyball is the most amazing sport. Sports FN. 2013;(23):7-21. doi:10.1007/s11682-w5-004