AMA Manual of

Style 11th Edition Overview

The American Medical Association (AMA) manual of style is written by the editors of JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) and the JAMA Network journals and is published by bylines around the world for concise and persuasive scholarly communication, including research papers.

The latest version of the style is the 11th edition, published in 2020.

AMA Style

• In-Text Citation
• Reference List

Note. Source Kermit The Frog Reaction [Gif], 2016, (http://gph.is/1xhfQug).

AMA 11th

The AMA 11th edition changes include the use of:

• Patient-first inclusive language
• Updated guidance on legal and ethical issues
• Comprehensive updates of references for digital formatting and social media

https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hpu-ebooks/reader.action?docID=6130874&ppg=937

General Format

The AMA Manual does not state specific instructions regarding title page format, page numbers, headings, font style and size, and margins. Please ask your instructor for their preferences!

• Double space within the text of the paper.
• Single space within the abstract, notes, titles and headings,  block quotes, tables and figures, and references.

General Format

Headings are used to help organize the information presented.

Level 1 Headings should always be listed first, with additional subheadings as appropriate.

When using subheadings, you should have at least two under the larger heading, do not directly go from Level 1 to Level 2 to Level 3.

All headings are left-justified. Headings should use a consistent style and typeface for each level, but the type used will vary. Ask your instructor.

Remember you are trying to emulate a template, so find the best one out there.   

In-text Citation

OR 

In-text Citation

Try to avoid placing multiple citation numbers at the end of a sentence. Place the citation number next to the cited idea.

If the document uses the same reference multiple times, use the same number throughout.

When more than two references are cited at a given place, use hyphens to join the first and last numbers of a closed series; use commas without spaces to separate other parts of a multiple citation.

In-text Citation

You may also use author names in your writing, as long as numbered citations accompany these mentions.

For materials with one or two authors, include both names. For materials with three or more authors, include the first author's name and then et al.

In-text Citation

To prevent confusion avoid adding superscript after a number. Try to add the superscript before or after within the context of the narration.

 Quotations

Use quotation marks to enclose a direct quotation of no more than four lines from textual material or speeches.

Brackets are used to indicate your own editorial changes or additions within a quotation.

Block Quotations

Use a block quote for more than four lines of text. The block quote is in a smaller type, without quotation marks.

The first line is indented only if it is the first line of a paragraph in the original text.  Space is often added both above and below these longer quotations.

Figures, Graphs, and Pictures

You may use pictures from websites, books, journals, etc., in your school work without obtaining copyright permissions.

You must cite these pictures, figures, graphs, etc. Include the reference number in the legend or caption of the figure, and include in the reference list the journal, book, website, etc., where the figure was originally published.

Secondary Sources

Reference may be made to one author’s citation of, or quotation from, another’s work. The AMA Manual, 11th edition does not include a specific ruling for this.  Ask your professor if secondary sources are acceptable to cite in assignments.

Citation of the original document is preferred unless it is not readily available. Only items actually consulted should be listed. 

• Distinguish between citation (work mentioned) and quotation (words actually quoted).
• In the text, the name of the original author, rather than the secondary source, should be mentioned.

Remember in-text citations are a trail for your readers leading them to your references

Reference Page

This is a separate page at the end of your paper. Each citation in the text must be listed on the References page; each listing on the References page must appear in the text.

Left-justify the word References.  Then double space and start your list with 1.

References are listed numerically in the order they are cited in the text of the paper.  Put a period after each number.

Single space each reference.  Double space between references. If the citation extends to a second line, do NOT indent.

Example Reference Page

Authors in Reference Page

Always include the author's last name and the first and middle initial without punctuation when writing up your references page. However, use a comma to separate more than one author in a single bibliographic group.

If there is no named author, follow the citation style for the item, and omit the author name field.

If the item is authored by a person going by the name Anonymous, use the word "Anonymous" as if it were the author's complete name, and then use the appropriate style.

Authors in Reference Page

All authors should be given in the references page unless there are more than six, in which case the names of the first three authors are used, followed by et al.

Journal Citation 

Complete references for a journal article will include:

• Author’s surnames and initials
• Title of article and subtitle (as applicable)
• Abbreviated name of journal
• Year (or online publication date)
• Volume number
• Issue number
• Part or supplement number, when pertinent
• Location (page[s] or e-locator)
• DOI or URL

Use PubMed abbreviations for journal titles. See Journals referenced in the NCBI Databases.

If no PubMed journal abbreviation exists, use standard abbreviations in the AMA Manual of Style (section 13.10) to construct an abbreviated title.

Journal Citation 

Author AA, Author BB, Author CC. Title of article: lower case letter for subtitle. Abbreviated Title of Journal.  Year;Volume number(Issue number):page numbers. Date published online [if given]. Date accessed. DOI or URL

Note that there is no period at the end of the DOI or URL in online journal article citations.

Book Citation 

Complete book references including the following:

• Authors’ surnames and initials (All listed unless more than six, in that case list first three and "et al")
• Title of book and subtitle, if any
• Volume number and volume title, when there is more than one volume
• Edition number (do not indicate first edition)
• Name of publisher
• Year of copyright
• Page numbers, when specific pages are cited

Author AA, Author BB. Title of Book: Subtitle of Book. Edition.  Name of publisher; Year of publication.

eBook Citation 

Author AA, Author BB, Author CC. Title of Book: Subtitle of Book. Edition. Name of publisher; Year of publication. Date accessed. URL

eBooks are cited in the same manner as regular books with the addition of an accessed date and link.

e-book from Library: You may consider E-books obtained from a library database as print books.

Book Chapter Citation 

Book chapters should be capitalized the same way as a journal article title and do not use quotation marks.

Cite author name (surname and initials) and name of chapter followed by In: rest of the whole book citation

Author AA, Author BB. Title of chapter. In: Editor AA, Editor BB, eds. Book Title. Vol no. Nth ed. Publisher; Year:page numbers. Accessed Month DD, YYYY. DOI or URL

Website Citation 

Include the following elements, if available:

• Authors' names 
• Title of the specific item cited
• Name of the website
• Date published
• Date updated
• Date accessed
• URL

Author(s). Title of work (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].

1.

Government or Agency Reports

Include the following elements, if available:

• Authors' names  (if given)
• Title of report/bulletin
• Name of the bureau, agency, department, or government division.
• Date publication
• Page number (if specified)
• Publication number (if given)
• Series number (if given)
• Date accessed
• URL

There is no guidance provided in the Manual for how to differentiate between "reports issued by a department or agency of a government" or a "government/organization report," and so there is no way to determine which of these is "more correct."

Be consistent in your choices for citation in your document.

Government or Agency Reports

Individual or group author name(s). Title of Report/Bulletin Italicized. Name of Government Agency/Division/Department. Date of Publication;Pages (if needed). Publication Number (if given). Series Number (if given). Accessed Date. URL

Conference Presentations

Author AA, Author BB, Author CC. Title of poster.  Poster presented at: Name of conference; Month, Day Year; City, State abbreviation.

If materials presented at a conference or meeting are published elsewhere as a book, issue of a journal, or other medium, AMA instructs you to cite them using that reference style. Only use this style for materials not formally published as part of another publication.

Personal Communications

AMA Style states that personal communications, such as phone calls, emails, conversations, etc., are not included in the reference list.

However, you should cite these materials parenthetically within the text. Provide the author's name, highest academic degree, type of communication, and date sent. If this would compromise patient anonymity, replace the name with a title and remove the day of communication.

Other Citations

Please note: Read the AMA Manual of Style, Section 3, to find guidance for citing many other types of publications.

Read Section 4 for more information on tables, figures and multimedia.

If there is no guidance in the Manual on your specific type of publication-- which there may be, as the Manual does not include everything-- adapt an existing AMA citation style.

Alas, you might need help.    

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