What's the difference between citing a journal article and an online article?

Journal articles have volume/issue numbers and page ranges. Online articles often use DOI or article numbers instead of pages, and may include access dates.

Should I always include the DOI?

Yes, include the DOI when available as it provides a permanent, stable link to the article. It's preferred over URLs in medical citations.

What if the online article will be published in print later?

Cite the online version with DOI or article number. You can note 'Published online' if necessary, and include both online and print citations if both are available.

How to Cite an Online Article in AMA Style

Online articles represent an increasingly significant portion of medical and health sciences literature. AMA style has adapted to accommodate digital publishing formats, including the use of Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) and article numbers. This guide covers the nuances of citing online articles properly.

Basic Format for Online Articles

The fundamental format for citing an online article in AMA style is:

Author(s) initials. Last name. Title of article. Journal Name. Year;Volume(Issue):article number or pages. doi:xxxxx

Key elements:

Author names with initials
Complete article title
Journal name abbreviated according to MEDLINE standards
Publication year
Volume and issue numbers
Article number or page range
DOI (when available)

Online Journal Articles With DOI

Most modern online articles include a Digital Object Identifier, which should be included in the citation:

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

Example: Smith JA, Johnson BC. Effectiveness of combination therapy in hypertension management. J Hypertens. 2023;41(8):1523-1535. doi:10.1097/HJH.0000000000003456

Breaking this down:

Authors: Smith JA, Johnson BC
Title: “Effectiveness of combination therapy in hypertension management”
Journal: J Hypertens (Journal of Hypertension)
Year: 2023
Volume: 41, Issue: 8
Pages: 1523-1535
DOI: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000003456

Online Articles With Article Numbers

Some online-only journals use article numbers instead of page numbers:

Author(s) initials. Last name. Title of article. Journal Name. Year;Volume:article number. doi:xxxxx

Example: Garcia SC, Martinez JL. Emerging approaches in immunotherapy. Front Immunol. 2024;15:e123456. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2024.123456

Articles Published Online Ahead of Print

For articles that appear online before print publication:

Author(s) initials. Last name. Title of article. Journal Name. Published online Month Day, Year. doi:xxxxx

Example: Williams RT, Brown LD. Novel diagnostic markers in cardiac disease. Lancet. Published online February 15, 2026. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(26)12345-6

Online Articles Without DOI

If an online article lacks a DOI, include the URL:

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

Example: Davis KE, Green MC. Precision medicine in clinical practice. N Engl J Med. 2024;390(5):456-467. Accessed March 16, 2026. www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra2214567

Online Magazine and News Articles

For online articles from magazines or news sources:

Author initials. Last name. Article title. Magazine Name. Published Month Day, Year. Accessed Month Day, Year. URL

Example: Peterson JM. Breakthroughs in cancer immunotherapy. Scientific American. Published March 10, 2026. Accessed March 16, 2026. www.scientificamerican.com/article/cancer-immunotherapy-breakthrough

Online Journal Supplements

For supplemental online materials:

Author(s) initials. Last name. Title of article. Journal Name. Year;Volume(Issue):page numbers. doi:xxxxx. Supplemental material available at: URL

Example: Thompson RD, Russell CT. Advanced statistical methods in epidemiology. Am J Epidemiol. 2023;192(7):1234-1247. doi:10.1093/aje/kwad156. Supplemental material available at: www.aje.oxfordjournals.org/

Early View/Online First Publications

Articles appearing in “Early View” or “Online First” sections:

Author(s) initials. Last name. Title of article. Journal Name. Published online Month Day, Year. doi:xxxxx

Example: Nelson KP, Wilson SK. Advanced gene therapy applications. Nature Med. Published online March 5, 2026. doi:10.1038/s41591-026-1234-5

Complete Online Article Examples

Example 1: Standard Online Journal Article With DOI

Smith JA, Johnson BC. Cardiovascular outcomes of new antihypertensive agents. Circulation. 2023;147(12):1523-1535. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.123.065432

Example 2: Online Article With Article Number

Garcia SC. Artificial intelligence in medical diagnosis. Open Med. 2024;18:e56789. doi:10.1093/openmedicine/odae089

Example 3: Articles Published Online Before Print

Williams RT, Brown LD, Davis KE. Immunotherapy resistance mechanisms. Cell. Published online March 1, 2026. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2026.02.045

Example 4: Online Medical News Article

Martinez NP. FDA approves first gene therapy for hereditary blindness. JAMA Network. Published March 12, 2026. Accessed March 16, 2026. www.jamanetwork.com/fda-gene-therapy-approval

Example 5: Online Article From Professional Organization

Harris JL. Guidance on telehealth implementation in rural areas. American Academy of Pediatrics. Published February 2026. Accessed March 16, 2026. www.aap.org/telehealth-guidelines

DOI Formatting Guidelines

DOI Prefix

Always use “doi:” followed by the DOI number:

Correct: doi:10.1097/HJH.0000000000003456
Incorrect: DOI:10.1097/HJH.0000000000003456

Complete DOI Format

Use the full DOI, not shortened URLs:

Preferred: doi:10.1097/HJH.0000000000003456
Less preferred: https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000003456

Finding Online Article Information

PubMed Central

PubMed Central provides complete citations including DOI for free online articles.

Journal Websites

Most journal websites display DOI prominently on article pages.

CrossRef

CrossRef.org allows you to search for DOI information.

Article Databases

Science Direct, Web of Science, and other databases provide complete citation information.

In-Text Citation

Use superscript numbers to cite online articles in your text:

“Recent research¹ demonstrates the effectiveness of the new treatment protocol.”

For multiple citations:

“Studies have shown¹⁻³ consistent improvements in patient outcomes.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Omitting DOI When Available

Wrong: Smith JA. Article title. Journal. 2023;41(8):1523-1535. Correct: Smith JA. Article title. Journal. 2023;41(8):1523-1535. doi:10.1097/xxxxx

Always include the DOI if available.

Mistake 2: Using Shortened DOI URLs

Wrong: Smith JA. Title. Journal. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1097/xxxxx Correct: Smith JA. Title. Journal. 2023;41(8):1523-1535. doi:10.1097/xxxxx

Use the plain DOI number, not URL format.

Mistake 3: Missing Access Date When No DOI

Wrong: Williams RT. Title. Journal. 2024;50(3):456-467. www.journal.org/article Correct: Williams RT. Title. Journal. 2024;50(3):456-467. Accessed March 16, 2026. www.journal.org/article

Include access dates when DOI is unavailable.

Mistake 4: Incomplete Article Number or Pages

Wrong: Garcia SC. Title. Journal. 2024;18:e123 Correct: Garcia SC. Title. Journal. 2024;18:e123456

Use complete article numbers.

Mistake 5: Incorrect Journal Abbreviation

Wrong: Smith JA. Title. Journal of Hypertension. 2023;41(8):1523-1535. Correct: Smith JA. Title. J Hypertens. 2023;41(8):1523-1535.

Always use MEDLINE abbreviations.

Special Online Publication Types

Preprint Articles

Preprints from servers like medRxiv should include the preprint designation:

Author(s). Title. Server Name. Published Month Day, Year. doi:xxxxx. Preprint.

Example: Thompson RD. Novel approaches in vaccine development. medRxiv. Published February 28, 2026. doi:10.1101/2026.02.28.123456. Preprint.

Open Access Articles

Open access articles follow standard format; the open access status doesn’t change the citation:

Smith JA. Title. Journal. 2024;50(1):1-15. doi:10.xxxx/xxxx

Practical Citation Checklist

Before finalizing your online article citation, verify:

All author names are correct
Article title matches the online source exactly
Journal name is abbreviated correctly
Publication year is accurate
Volume and issue numbers are included
DOI is included and correct
Format matches AMA style exactly
Access date is included if no DOI

Conclusion

Citing online articles in AMA style requires attention to digital publication elements, particularly DOIs and article numbers. By following these guidelines, you’ll create accurate citations that capitalize on the permanent linking provided by DOIs. Online citations should be as complete and verified as print citations, ensuring that readers can locate your sources reliably regardless of platform or format changes.