How to Cite a Journal Article in AMA Style

Citing journal articles is one of the most common citation tasks in medical and health sciences writing. AMA style provides a clear, standardized format that ensures proper attribution while keeping references concise and professional. This guide walks you through the exact process.

Basic Format for Journal Articles in AMA

The fundamental structure for citing a journal article in AMA style follows this pattern:

Author(s) initials. Last name, Author(s) initials. Last name. Title of article. Journal Name. Year;Volume(Issue):page numbers.

Breaking this down:

• Author names with initials only (no first names)
• Article title in regular font (not italicized)
• Journal name in italics
• Year without any prefix
• Volume number followed by issue number in parentheses
• Page range for the article

Step-by-Step Citation Process

Step 1: Identify the Authors

Locate the author names on the title page or first page of the article. Write them in the following order:

• First author’s initials followed by last name
• Subsequent authors in the same format
• Separate authors with commas

For three authors, the format is: Smith JA, Johnson BC, Williams RT.

Step 2: Record the Article Title

Write the complete article title exactly as it appears in the journal. The title appears in regular (non-italic) format and should include all words from the original title.

Title example: “Effectiveness of combination therapy in hypertension management”

Step 3: Identify the Journal Name

Locate the journal name, typically found in the header or footer of the article. Use the MEDLINE standard abbreviation rather than the full journal name. Some common examples:

• New England Journal of Medicine → N Engl J Med
• Journal of the American Medical Association → JAMA
• American Journal of Cardiology → Am J Cardiol
• Archives of Internal Medicine → Arch Intern Med

Step 4: Find Publication Details

Locate and record:

• Year: The publication year only (e.g., 2023)
• Volume: The volume number (e.g., 41)
• Issue: The issue number in parentheses (e.g., (8))
• Pages: The starting and ending page numbers (e.g., 1523-1535)

Step 5: Locate the DOI (Optional but Recommended)

If available, find the Digital Object Identifier (DOI). This appears on the first page of most modern journal articles. The DOI provides a permanent link to the article and is increasingly required or recommended.

Complete Examples

Example 1: Three Authors

Smith JA, Johnson BC, Williams RT. Effectiveness of combination therapy in hypertension management. J Hypertens. 2023;41(8):1523-1535.

In this example:

• Three authors are listed completely
• The article title is “Effectiveness of combination therapy in hypertension management”
• The journal is abbreviated as J Hypertens
• Published in 2023
• Volume 41, issue 8
• Pages 1523-1535

Example 2: More Than Six Authors (Using et al.)

Martinez JL, Garcia SC, Thompson RD, et al. Novel diagnostic approaches in cardiovascular disease. Circulation. 2024;149(5):612-625.

When there are more than six authors, list the first three followed by “et al.” This maintains important attribution while keeping the citation concise.

Example 3: With DOI

Green MC, Brown LD, Davis KE. Pharmacokinetics of new immunotherapy agents. Cancer Res. 2023;83(12):2341-2359. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-23-1234

The DOI is added at the end of the citation after the page numbers.

Example 4: Single Author

Wilson RT. Clinical applications of precision medicine. N Engl J Med. 2024;390(3):201-215.

Single-author citations follow the same format with just one author name.

Example 5: Two Authors

Adams JM, Taylor KL. Advances in immunotherapy for melanoma. JAMA Oncol. 2023;9(4):567-575.

Two authors are listed completely without using “et al.”

Handling Special Situations

Online-First Articles

For articles published online before print publication:

Author(s). Title. Journal. Published online Month Day, Year. doi:xxxxx

Example: Thompson RD, Garcia SC. Emerging treatments in rare genetic disorders. Lancet. Published online February 15, 2026. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(26)12345-6

Articles With No Clear Volume/Issue

Some online-only journals don’t use traditional volume and issue numbers:

Author(s). Title. Journal. Year;Article number. doi:xxxxx

Example: Nelson KP, Russell CT. Digital health innovations in primary care. Open Med. 2024;e123456. doi:10.1093/openmedicine/abc123

Advance Articles

When citing articles published ahead of print:

Author(s). Title. Journal. Year. doi:xxxxx

Example: Peterson JM, Wilson SK. Next-generation sequencing in clinical diagnostics. Nat Med. 2026. doi:10.1038/s41591-026-1234-x

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Mistake 1: Incorrect Author Count

Wrong: Smith JA, Johnson BC, Williams RT, Brown LD, Davis KE, Green MC, Harris JL, Martinez NP. Correct: Smith JA, Johnson BC, Williams RT, et al.

Only list the first three authors when there are more than six.

Mistake 2: Full Journal Name Instead of Abbreviation

Wrong: Smith JA. Title. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2023;89(4):234-241. Correct: Smith JA. Title. JAMA. 2023;89(4):234-241.

Always use MEDLINE abbreviations.

Mistake 3: Italicizing the Article Title

Wrong: Smith JA. Title of the article in italics. Journal. 2023;89(4):234-241. Correct: Smith JA. Title of the article not in italics. Journal. 2023;89(4):234-241.

Only the journal name is italicized, not the article title.

Mistake 4: Missing Issue Numbers

Wrong: Smith JA. Title. Journal. 2023;89:234-241. Correct: Smith JA. Title. Journal. 2023;89(4):234-241.

Include the issue number in parentheses.

Mistake 5: Incomplete Page Numbers

Wrong: Smith JA. Title. Journal. 2023;89(4):234. Correct: Smith JA. Title. Journal. 2023;89(4):234-241.

Always provide the complete page range.

In-Text Citation

In the text of your paper, cite the article using a superscript number:

“A recent study¹ demonstrated the effectiveness of combination therapy in hypertension management.”

The number corresponds to the reference list entry where the complete citation appears.

Using Citation Managers

Citation management software can help ensure accuracy:

• Zotero: Free and open-source, excellent AMA support
• Mendeley: Popular with medical researchers
• EndNote: Comprehensive citation management
• PubMed: Provides pre-formatted citations for articles

These tools typically can export AMA-formatted citations directly from journal databases.

Finding Complete Citation Information

PubMed

Visit PubMed.gov and search for your article. Click “Cite” to access pre-formatted citations in multiple styles including AMA.

Journal Database

Most journal websites provide citation information in multiple formats, including AMA style.

Manual Verification

Always verify citation details against the original article, especially author names and page numbers.

Practical Checklist

Before finalizing your journal article citation, verify:

• All author names spelled correctly
• Correct number of authors (first three or all if six or fewer)
• Article title matches the original exactly
• Journal name abbreviated correctly according to MEDLINE standards
• Publication year is correct
• Volume and issue numbers are included
• Page range is complete
• DOI is included if available
• Formatting follows AMA style exactly

Conclusion

Citing journal articles in AMA style is straightforward once you understand the required elements and their order. By following these step-by-step instructions and using the provided examples, you’ll create accurate, professionally formatted citations that meet the standards of medical and health sciences publishing. Remember to consult the MEDLINE journal abbreviation list and verify all details against the original source.