---
name: citation-style-ama
description: Use when asked to cite sources, format in-text citations, or build a reference list in AMA (American Medical Association) citation style, 11th edition, used in medical journals and the clinical sciences; numbered like [[citation-style-vancouver]], but with superscript numbers and its own manual.
---

# AMA Citation Style

AMA (American Medical Association) citation style, 11th edition is the style commonly required in medical journals and the clinical sciences. Family: Numbered, in order of first citation.

## Input required

- The sources to cite, with author, title, date, publisher or journal, volume, issue, pages, and DOI or URL.
- The edition, institution, or journal whose rules apply.

## Questions to ask first

1. Which edition or institutional variant must the work follow?
2. Is the output in-text citations, reference-list entries, or both?
3. What type is each source (book, article, web page, report, legal authority)?
4. Is any information missing, such as the date, pages, or DOI?

## In-text citations

- Superscript Arabic numerals in order of first citation, placed after periods and commas but before colons and semicolons.
- A source keeps the same number each time it is cited.
- Several sources: `1,3` or a range `2-4`, in superscript.

## Reference format

A numbered `References` list in citation order. Authors are surname plus initials with no punctuation; list all authors up to six, and for seven or more list the first three followed by `et al`. Journal names are abbreviated and italic.

## Example pattern

The names, title, and numbers below are placeholders showing the pattern, not a real source.

```text
1. Smith JA, Lee K. Title of the article in sentence case. *J Abbrev*. 2020;12(3):45-67. doi:xx.xxxx/xxxxx
```

## Ground rules

- Use only the details the user supplied or that can be checked. Never invent authors, dates, DOIs, page numbers, or sources.
- If a detail is missing, leave a clear placeholder and say so.
- Apply one style consistently throughout the document.
- When the user's institution or journal differs from this guide, follow theirs.

## Self-check before answering

- Does every in-text citation have a matching reference entry, and the reverse?
- Are the ordering, capitalization, punctuation, and italics consistent with this style?
- Were any details guessed? Remove or flag them.

## Common pitfalls

- **Parenthetical numbers instead of superscript** — AMA uses superscript in the body text.
- **Punctuation order** — the superscript follows a period or comma but precedes a colon or semicolon.
- **Alphabetical list** — the list follows citation order.
- **Listing every author in a long list** — truncate as the manual specifies.

## Learn more

- Compare with the other styles: [[citation-style-apa]], [[citation-style-mla]], [[citation-style-chicago]], [[citation-style-harvard]], [[citation-style-vancouver]], [[citation-style-ieee]], [[citation-style-oscola]].
- Official guidance: [AMA Manual of Style](https://www.amamanualofstyle.com/).