How to Cite a Book in AMA Style

Books are fundamental research sources in medical and health sciences writing. AMA style provides clear formatting guidelines for citing books in their entirety, specific chapters, and edited volumes. This comprehensive guide covers all book citation scenarios.

Basic Format for Citing Complete Books

The standard format for citing a complete book in AMA style is:

Author(s) initials. Last name. Book Title. Edition (if not first). Publisher; Year.

Components include:

• Author names with initials only
• Complete book title in italics
• Edition information if applicable
• Publisher name
• Publication year

Single-Author Book Citation

For a book with one author:

Author initials. Last name. Book Title. Publisher; Year.

Example: Wilson RT. Clinical Pharmacology: Principles and Applications. Elsevier; 2024.

Breaking this down:

• Author: Wilson RT
• Title: Clinical Pharmacology: Principles and Applications
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Year: 2024

Multiple-Author Books

For books with two or more authors, list all authors if there are six or fewer:

Author 1 initials. Last name, Author 2 initials. Last name, Author 3 initials. Last name. Book Title. Publisher; Year.

Example: Smith JA, Johnson BC, Williams RT. Advanced Diagnostic Imaging. McGraw-Hill; 2023.

For more than six authors, list the first three followed by “et al.”:

Author 1 initials. Last name, Author 2 initials. Last name, Author 3 initials. Last name, et al. Book Title. Publisher; Year.

Example: Martinez JL, Garcia SC, Thompson RD, et al. Molecular Mechanisms in Disease. Oxford University Press; 2024.

Books With Edition Numbers

If the book is not the first edition, include the edition information after the title:

Author initials. Last name. Book Title. Edition. Publisher; Year.

Examples:

• 2nd ed.
• 3rd ed.
• Revised edition
• Updated edition

Full example: Brown LD. Cardiac Pathophysiology. 4th ed. Elsevier; 2023.

Citing Chapters in Edited Books

When citing a specific chapter from an edited book, the format differs:

Chapter author initials. Last name. Chapter title. In: Editor initials. Last name, ed. Book Title. Edition. Publisher; Year:page range.

Components:

• Chapter author name
• Chapter title (not italicized)
• “In:” followed by editor name
• Editor designation: “ed.” for one editor, “eds.” for multiple editors
• Book title in italics
• Edition if applicable
• Publisher and year
• Page range of the chapter

Example: Davis KE. Immunotherapy advances in oncology. In: Green MC, ed. Modern Cancer Treatment Approaches. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill; 2023:145-167.

Multiple Editors

When a book has multiple editors, follow this format:

Chapter author initials. Last name. Chapter title. In: Editor 1 initials. Last name, Editor 2 initials. Last name, eds. Book Title. Edition. Publisher; Year:page range.

Example: Wilson RT. Drug interactions in elderly patients. In: Brown LD, Adams JM, eds. Geriatric Pharmacology. 3rd ed. Elsevier; 2024:234-256.

Complete Book Examples

Example 1: Single Author, First Edition

Thompson RD. Molecular Biology in Clinical Practice. Springer; 2024.

Example 2: Multiple Authors, Revised Edition

Peterson JM, Russell CT, Nelson KP, Williams SK. Clinical Laboratory Standards. Revised ed. AACC Press; 2023.

Example 3: Chapter from Edited Book

Harris JL. Advanced imaging techniques in neurology. In: Martinez NP, ed. Neurological Diagnostics. 5th ed. Oxford University Press; 2024:567-589.

Example 4: Multiple Editors

Taylor KL. Pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine. In: Adams JM, Green MC, Brown LD, eds. Precision Medicine Framework. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill; 2023:123-145.

Example 5: Book With Organization as Author

American Heart Association. Guidelines for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention. 2024 ed. American Heart Association; 2024.

E-Books and Online Sources

For electronic books, include the URL or DOI:

Author initials. Last name. Book Title. Publisher; Year. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL

Or with DOI:

Author initials. Last name. Book Title. Publisher; Year. doi:xxxxx

Example with URL: Smith JA. Digital Health Implementation Guide. Elsevier; 2024. Accessed March 16, 2026. www.elsevier.com/books/digital-health

Example with DOI: Johnson BC. Advanced Medical Genetics. Oxford University Press; 2024. doi:10.1093/med/9780199123456.001.0001

Books With Translators

When citing a translated book, include the translator information:

Author initials. Last name. Book Title. Translator initials. Last name, trans. Publisher; Year.

Example: Muller JK. Fundamentals of European Medicine. Smith RT, trans. Elsevier; 2024.

Reference Books and Encyclopedias

For encyclopedias and reference works, include the entry title:

Entry author initials. Last name. Entry title. In: Reference Work Title. Edition. Publisher; Year:page range.

Example: Williams RT. Hypertension. In: Encyclopedic Dictionary of Medical Terms. 2nd ed. Medical Publishers; 2023:456-458.

Government and Organizational Publications

When the author is an organization or government agency:

Organization Name. Publication Title. Publication number (if applicable). Publisher; Year.

Example: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments Handbook. CDC-2025-1045. U.S. Government Publishing Office; 2025.

In-Text Citation Format

In your paper, cite the book using a superscript number corresponding to the reference list:

“According to recent research,¹ the pharmacokinetics of this drug class remain poorly understood.”

For citing specific pages:

“Studies have shown² that this treatment approach is ineffective.”

The superscript number refers to the complete citation in the reference list.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Italicizing the Chapter Title

Wrong: Davis KE. Immunotherapy advances in oncology. In: Green MC, ed. Modern Cancer Treatment Approaches. Correct: Davis KE. Immunotherapy advances in oncology. In: Green MC, ed. Modern Cancer Treatment Approaches.

Only the book title is italicized, not the chapter title.

Mistake 2: Missing Edition Information

Wrong: Brown LD. Cardiac Pathophysiology. Elsevier; 2023. Correct: Brown LD. Cardiac Pathophysiology. 4th ed. Elsevier; 2023.

Always include edition information for revised editions.

Mistake 3: Incorrect Editor Designation

Wrong: Davis KE. Chapter title. In: Green MC, Brown LD, ed. Book Title. Publisher; Year. Correct: Davis KE. Chapter title. In: Green MC, Brown LD, eds. Book Title. Publisher; Year.

Use “eds.” for multiple editors.

Mistake 4: Incomplete Chapter Page Range

Wrong: Davis KE. Immunotherapy advances. In: Green MC, ed. Cancer Treatment. Publisher; Year:145. Correct: Davis KE. Immunotherapy advances. In: Green MC, ed. Cancer Treatment. Publisher; Year:145-167.

Always provide the complete page range.

Mistake 5: Too Many Authors Listed

Wrong: Martinez JL, Garcia SC, Thompson RD, Brown LD, Davis KE, Green MC, Harris JL. Book Title. Publisher; Year. Correct: Martinez JL, Garcia SC, Thompson RD, et al. Book Title. Publisher; Year.

Use “et al.” when there are more than six authors.

Finding Complete Book Information

Library Catalogs

Most university and medical libraries provide complete publication information in their catalogs.

Publisher Websites

Visit the publisher’s website to find exact titles, edition numbers, and publication dates.

ISBN Databases

ISBN listings provide standardized book information.

GoogleBooks

Google Books shows publication details, though verify against authoritative sources.

Practical Citation Checklist

Before finalizing your book citation, verify:

• All author/editor names spelled correctly
• Complete book title matches the source exactly
• Book title is italicized
• Chapter title is included if citing a chapter
• Edition number is included if not first edition
• Publisher name is correct
• Publication year is accurate
• Page range is complete for chapters
• Format matches AMA style exactly

Using Citation Managers

Citation managers simplify book citation:

• Zotero: Free tool with excellent book citation support
• Mendeley: User-friendly interface for managing sources
• EndNote: Comprehensive reference management
• RefWorks: Web-based citation tool

Conclusion

Citing books in AMA style requires attention to specific formatting details, but the process becomes straightforward with practice. Whether you’re citing a complete book, a specific chapter, or an edited volume, these guidelines will help you create accurate, professionally formatted citations. Remember to verify all details against the original source and maintain consistency throughout your reference list. Proper book citations demonstrate scholarly rigor and allow readers to locate your sources easily.