How to Cite Journal Articles in AMA Style

AMA Journal Article Citation Basics

Journal articles are among the most frequently cited sources in medical and scientific writing. AMA provides a standardized format that ensures consistency and clarity while making it easy for readers to locate the original research. Understanding the correct structure is essential for maintaining academic integrity in medical publications.

The AMA format for journal articles emphasizes essential information while omitting elements less critical to identifying the source. This streamlined approach respects the specialized nature of medical literature, where readers expect precise, efficient citation.

Complete Journal Article Format

The standard AMA format for journal articles is:

Number. Author(s). Article title. Journal Title Abbreviation. Year;Volume(Issue):Page range. DOI

Example with all elements:

1. Martinez JL, Rodriguez CP, Thompson MK. Efficacy of novel antibiotic therapy in resistant infections. Lancet Infect Dis. 2025;25(3):342-351. https://doi.org/10.1234/lancet.2025.001

Breaking down this example:

• 1. = Reference number
• Martinez JL, Rodriguez CP, Thompson MK = Authors (up to 6, then et al.)
• Efficacy of novel antibiotic therapy in resistant infections = Article title
• Lancet Infect Dis = Journal abbreviation (italicized)
• 2025 = Publication year
• 25(3) = Volume 25, Issue 3
• 342-351 = Page range
• DOI = Digital Object Identifier for online retrieval

Author Name Formatting for Journal Articles

List authors exactly as they appear in the article, using last name followed by initials:

Smith JA, Johnson BC, Williams DD

When there are more than 6 authors, list only the first 3:

Smith JA, Johnson BC, Williams DD, et al.

Ensure proper spacing: no periods between initials, but spaces after each initial.

Article Title Formatting

The article title appears in quotation marks with only the first word and proper nouns capitalized (sentence case):

"Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in adolescent depression"

However, if the title contains acronyms or chemical names that would normally be capitalized, maintain that capitalization:

"Novel CRISPR-Cas9 approaches to treating sickle cell anemia"

Journal Title Abbreviations

Journal titles must be abbreviated according to PubMed’s standard abbreviations. Some common examples:

• Journal of the American Medical Association → JAMA
• New England Journal of Medicine → N Engl J Med
• The Lancet → Lancet
• American Journal of Medicine → Am J Med
• PLOS Medicine → PLOS Med
• The BMJ → BMJ

Journal titles are italicized in the reference list. You can find official abbreviations through PubMed’s journal list or your institution’s library database.

Volume and Issue Formatting

Volumes appear in bold followed by issue numbers in parentheses:

2025;25(3):342-351

However, if a journal uses continuous pagination throughout the year (rather than restarting page numbers each issue), you may omit the issue number:

2025;25:342-351

Check your specific journal’s formatting requirements, as practice varies.

Page Number Conventions

Always include the full page range where the article appears:

342-351

Some journals use abbreviated final page numbers (e.g., 342-51), but AMA prefers full numbers. When referencing specific pages within an article, cite the complete range.

DOI and URL Inclusion

Including DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or URL is increasingly important for journal citations:

https://doi.org/10.1234/lancet.2025.001

Or for URL:

https://www.journalname.com/article/2025/25/3/342

If both are available, prefer DOI as it provides a more stable link to the article.

Electronic Journal Articles

For online-only journals or articles with electronic publication dates:

2. Anderson KL, Peterson RJ. Remote patient monitoring in chronic disease management. J Telemed Telecare. Published online March 15, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1234/jtelecare.2026.001

Note the “Published online” designation with the specific date.

Ahead-of-Print Articles

For articles published ahead of print (before official volume/issue assignment):

3. Chen ML, Walsh SJ. Immunotherapy advances in oncology. Cancer Cell. Published online February 2026. https://doi.org/10.1234/cancercell.2026.045

Include the publication date rather than volume and issue information.

Supplementary Materials

When citing supplementary materials published with an article:

4. Johnson TA, Williams BC. Clinical outcomes in complex procedures. Arch Surg. 2025;160(2):145-153. Supplementary material available at: https://doi.org/10.1234/archsurg.suppl.2025

Retracted Articles

If citing a retracted article, note the retraction:

5. Smith JA, Rodriguez MC. Initial findings on experimental treatment. New Engl J Med. 2024;390(15):1425-1430. Retracted in: New Engl J Med. 2025;392(3):267.

Using GenText for Journal Article Citations

GenText streamlines journal article citation formatting by automatically organizing author information, abbreviating journal titles correctly, and structuring all elements according to AMA standards. The platform saves time and eliminates the manual lookup required for accurate journal abbreviations and formatting details.

Common Errors in Journal Citations

Error 1: Using full journal names instead of abbreviations. Incorrect: “Journal of the American Medical Association” Correct: “JAMA”

Error 2: Incorrect author count or missing “et al.” for articles with many authors.

Error 3: Failing to italicize journal titles.

Error 4: Omitting issue numbers when the journal is paginated by issue.

Special Citation Circumstances

Multiple Articles by Same Author, Same Year: Distinguish them with letters (a, b, c):

6a. Thompson JR. First article title. Journal Name. 2025;25(1):10-20.
6b. Thompson JR. Second article title. Journal Name. 2025;25(2):45-55.

Articles with Organizational Authors: When no individual authors are listed:

7. American Academy of Pediatrics. New guidelines for pediatric immunizations. Pediatrics. 2025;155(3):e20250245.

Verification Checklist

Before finalizing your citations:

• Verify all author names and author count
• Confirm journal abbreviation matches PubMed standards
• Check volume and issue numbers against the original article
• Verify page numbers are complete and accurate
• Include DOI or URL
• Ensure italicization of journal titles
• Confirm publication year

Conclusion

Properly citing journal articles in AMA style demonstrates your commitment to academic rigor and helps readers locate your sources efficiently. By understanding the format and using tools like GenText to manage citations, you maintain professional standards while focusing on the quality of your research. The investment in accurate citation practices pays dividends in credibility and impact.