AMA STYLE: QUICK TIPS GUIDE
CMU WRITING CENTER
I. GENERAL GUIDELINES & BASIC FORMATTING in AMA (source: Publication Manual, American
Medical Association. 10th ed.).
 Always check to see if your instructor or the journal you’re submitting to has any different
requirements or specifications for your paper. For example, some graduate FNS classes are told to
number all lines. Do not use a title page unless requested by the instructor. Paragraphs are indented 5
spaces (one typical tab). The paper’s left margin is justified; the right margin is uneven (do not right- or
full-justify the text).
 Use past tense (e.g., asserted) or present perfect (e.g., has asserted) when discussing the results of others’
research
 Grammar: comma rules are the same as APA except that according to the AMA Manual of Style, a
comma is not necessary if the introductory phrase is short such as: “In some patients midazolam
produces paradoxic agitation.” However, use a comma to avoid ambiguous or awkward juxtaposition of
words. “Outside, the ambulance siren shrieked” (AMA Manual 10th edition pg. 337).
II. INTEGRATING SOURCES IN AMA (In Text Citations)
Like all other citation styles, AMA provides a standardized system for giving credit to others for their
contribution to your work. AMA style is used by the medical sciences, including some nutrition classes (FNS).
 In-text citations use a numerical superscript (or a number in brackets or parentheses at the end of
the sentence, depending on the instructor).
 Each Reference entry is assigned a number, and within the text, the citation is the number that
corresponds to that entry – every time that source is cited. The in-text citations containing author and
year of publication are replaced by numbers and the Reference list corresponds to their order within the
text.
 If quotations are 4 lines or longer, they should be represented in block quotation format:
 Begin a new line. No quotation marks. Can use reduced type font
 Space is often added above and below longer quotations.
 Direct quotations should be “framed” using your own words, i.e., blended with your own views and/or
by using a signal phrase. AMA typically favors the use of paraphrases. (A list of “framing” verbs
appears at the end of this guide.)
In-text Example with Superscript:
It is the most common form of hereditary ataxia with an estimated 2–3 affected individuals per 100,000 in
European populations.1 [or use [1] or (1)] Check with the professor for which is expected/preferred.
In-text Example with Brackets or Parentheses:
It is the most common form of hereditary ataxia with an estimated 2–3 affected individuals per 100,000 in
European populations. (1)


For superscript in Word, simultaneously press Ctrl, Shift, + OR check the “font” menu.
Superscript numerals AND numbers in brackets/parentheses should be placed outside commas and
periods, inside semicolons and colons.
Updated April 25, 2013
References:
1
Filla A, De Michele G, Barbieri F, Campanella G. Early onset hereditary ataxias of unknown
etiology. Review of a personal series. Acta Neurol (Napoli) 1992;14:420–430
Personal Communication:
Personal communications (conversations, interviews, emails, etc.) are not listed on the References page. The
format for in-text is as follows:
In a conversation with A. R. Schmidt, PhD (April 2013)…
According to a letter from M. A. Crawford, MD, in January 2012….
Similar arguments have been made by Graves, Loebig, MD, and Rogers, PhD regarding treatment (written
communication, August 2004).
III. REFERENCES PAGE IN AMA
Lists of works cited are titled “References” and listed numerically by order of appearance within the paper (not
alphabetized).
Also, AMA minimizes the use of punctuation in the citation information (see below).
For Example:
In-text:
Friedreich’s Ataxia is a rare neurodegenerative disorder. However, it is the most common form
of hereditary ataxia with an estimated 2–3 affected individuals per 100,000 in European populations and
an estimated carrier frequency of 1 in 110.1 This is the most common of the genetic ataxias which are
sometimes reported only in specific populations or families and which may contribute to an overall
percentage of sporadic ataxia.2 An increase in the number of occurrences of hereditary ataxia being
reported today suggest that Friedriech’s Ataxia may also be increasing.1
References:
1
Filla A, De Michele G, Barbieri F, Campanella G. Early onset hereditary ataxias of unknown
etiology. Review of a personal series. Acta Neurol (Napoli) 1992;14:420–430
2
Fogel BL, Lee JY, Lane J, et al. Mutations in rare ataxia genes are uncommon causes of sporadic
cerebellar ataxia. Movement disorders. 2012.
Basic Order of Information:
Number entries by order of appearance within the text; the first entry would be the citation labeled (1)
within the paper (which would still be cited as (1) if used later in the paper).
Updated April 25, 2013
Examples of AMA References
Type of Entry
Book—single author
Reference List
Last name First initial Middle initial if known. Title. Edition number if known. Location
published: Publisher; Year of publication.
Shepard TH. Catalog of Teratogenic Agents. 7th ed. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins
Press; 1992.
Book—more than
one author
(list all authors if six
or fewer; if more, list
first three followed
by "et al.")
Book—with editors
Last name First initial Middle initial if known, Repeat as needed for number of authors.
Title. Edition number if known. Location published: Publisher; Year of publication.
Baselt RC, Cravey RH. Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man. 4th ed.
Foster City, CA: Chemical Toxicology Institute; 1995.
Last name First initial Middle initial if known, ed. Title. Edition number if known.
Location published: Publisher; Year of publication.
Armitage JO, Antman KH, eds. High-dose Cancer Therapy: Pharmacology,
Hematopoietins, Stem Cells. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins; 1995.
Chapter from a book
Last name First initial Middle initial if known, Repeat as needed for number of authors.
Chapter title. In: Last name First initial Middle initial, eds. Title. Edition number if
known. Location published: Publisher; Year of publication.
Degner LF, McWilliams ME. Challenges in conducting cross-national nursing research.
In: Fitzpatrick JJ, Stevenson JS, Polis NS, eds. Nursing Research and its Utilization:
International State of the Science. New York, NY: Springer; 1994:211-215.
Serial publications
Last name First initial Middle initial if known. Title. Location given: Sponsor; Year.
Series title, Number.
Davidoff, RA. Migraine: Manifestations, Pathogenesis, and Management. Philadelphia,
PA: FA Davis; 1995. Contemporary Neurology Series, No. 42.
Article from
journal—single
author
Last name First initial. Article title (First word and proper nouns capitalized only).
Journal Title (list of acceptable abbreviations in AMA Manual). Date of publication;
volume number:pages.
Gillman J. Religious perspectives on organ donation. Crit Care Nurs Q.
November 1999;22:19-29.
Article from
journal—
organization as
author
Name of Organization. Article title (First word and proper nouns capitalized only).
Journal Title (list of acceptable abbreviations in AMA Manual). Date of
publication;volume number:pages.
Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group. Prevalence of age-related macular
degeneration in the United States. Arch Ophthaloml. 2004;122(4):564-572.
Updated April 25, 2013
Newspapers
Government or
Agency Bulletins
Last name First initial. Article title (First word and proper nouns capitalized only).
Newspaper Title (no abbreviations). Date of publication:pages.
Connolly C. A small win for proponents of drug importation. Washington Post. April
23, 2004:E1.
Name of Organization or Author. Title of Bulletin. Place of publication: Name of issuing
agency, department, or bureau; Date of publication: pages (if applicable). Publication
number or series number (if applicable).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance,
2000. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Dept of Helth and
Human Services; 2001.
Secondary Sources
Original author(s). Article title (First word and proper nouns capitalized only). Journal
(sources noted
Title (list of acceptable abbreviations in AMA Manual). Date of publication; volume
within other sources) number:pages. Cited/Quoted by: Author of secondary article. Article title (First word
and proper nouns capitalized only). Journal Title (list of acceptable abbreviations in
AMA Manual). Date of publication; volume number:pages.
Online journals with
volume and page
information
Cauley JA, Lui L-Y, Ensrud KE, et al. Osteoporosis and fracture risk in women of
different ethnic groups. JAMA. 2005;293(17):2102-2108. Cited by: Acheson LS. Bone
density and the risk of fractures: should treatment thresholds vary by race [editorial]?
JAMA. 2005;293(17):2151-2154.
Last name First initial. Article title (First word and proper nouns capitalized only).
Journal Title (list of acceptable abbreviations in AMA Manual). Year of publication;
volume number (issue No.): pages. URL optional. Published date. Updated date.
Accessed date.
Simon JA, Hudes ES. Relationship of ascorbic acid to blood lead levels. JAMA.
1999;281: 2289-2293. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10386552 Published June
23, 1999. Accessed July 11, 2009.
Online journals
without volume and
page information
Authors. Article title. Journal title. Year of publication. URL optional. Published date.
Updated date. Accessed date.
Online web site
Fogel, BL, Lee JY, Lane J, et al. Mutations in rare ataxia genes are uncommon causes of
sporadic cerebellar ataxia. Movement disorders. 2012. Accessed May 2, 2013.
Site sponsor. Site title. Site web address. Updated date. Accessed date.
Audiotapes,
Videotapes, DVDs
National Institutes of Health. National Institute of Mental Health Page.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml. Updated Feb. 13, 2012. Accessed Feb. 14, 2012.
Name of host/reporter. Title of Film or Recording [Type of media]. Place: Distributor or
Publisher Name; year.
Ayers S. Terrorism: Medical Response [DVD]. Edgartown, MA: Emergency Film
Group; 2002.
Updated April 25, 2013
Example AMA Paper1
Introduction
Diabetes is a growing public health burden across the world, particularly in the developing countries.1–3 The prevalence of diabetes
in China has reached epidemic proportions, affecting about 92.4 million people aged 20 years (9.7% of the adult population).3 The
threatening effect of diabetes for these patients is its complications, including cardiovascular and neuronal disorders3,4. Diet is widely
believed to play an important role in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the associated complications.3,4 Homeostasis of the trace
elements such as zinc, copper, iron, and magnesium (Mg) has been found to play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and
diabetic complications.5–9 Mg, one of the important components of many foods such as grains, nuts, and green leafy vegetables, is the fourth
most abundant cation in our body and plays a key role in many fundamental biological processes, including energy metabolism. Mg has
received considerable attention for its potential in improving insulin sensitivity and preventing diabetes and its cardiovascular
complications.10–13 However, results are inconsistent among the studies.14,15 By following-up for 6 years, for instance, Atherosclerosis Risk in
Communities Study group examined the risk for T2D in over 12,000 middle-aged adults without diabetes at baseline examination, but they
did not find any statistical association between dietary Mg intake and incidence of T2D in either black or white research subjects.15 In
addition, observations in Caucasian diabetics have linked hypomagnesaemia as being an additional risk factor for the development of diabetic
retinopathy (DR), but this correlation was not observed in black African diabetics.14 Therefore, inconsistent findings for the correlation of
serum Mg with the risk of diabetes and diabetic complications is not only attributed to the difference in population,14,15 but also attributed to
difference in the measurements.16
There was not much information for the effect of serum Mg levels on the prevalence of diabetes and diabetic complications, based
on Chinese population.17 Therefore, we have examined the Mg levels in the serum and urine of Northeast Chinese population at different
categories of insulin sensitivity (metabolic syndrome) and diabetes with and without diabetic complications.
Research Design and Methods
Ethics Statement
This study was approved by the institutional ethics committee of the First Hospital of Jilin University and written informed
consent was obtained from all subjects before their enrollment into the study. For the patients who were younger than 18 year old, the
informed consents were obtained from their parent by written. Patients and their general information From January 2010 to October 2011,
there were 189 patients and 50 healthy control enrolled (30 males and 20 females, at the age range of 20–59 with a median age of 50 years
old). These patients were diagnosed as impaired fasting glucose (IFG, n = 12, 8 males and 4 females, age range of 31–53), IGT (n = 15, 9
males and 6 females with an age range of 40–56), type 1 diabetes References
(T1D,
1.n Shaw
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Resand
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= 25, JE,
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and
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median ageofofdiabetes
25 years),
T2D
= 137,
85 males
52Pract
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Roglicwith
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the year 2000
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Among
theprevalence
patients with
T2D, patients
with for
nephropathy
(DN,and
n =projections
24, 19 males
5
Diabetes
females, Care
with a27:1047–1053.
median age of 60 from 28 to 84 years old), and patients with DR (n =34, 15 males and 19 females, ages from 29 to 74 with a
3.median
Yang W,
Jia and
W, Jiperipheral
L, et al. (2010)
Prevalence
diabetes
men21and
womenages
in China.
N to
Engl
Meda 362:
1090–1101.
ageLu
at J,
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old),
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(DPN,of
n=
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79 Jwith
median
age of 56
4.years
Mangou
old).A, Grammatikopoulou MG, Mirkopoulou D, Sailer N, Kotzamanidis C, et al. (2012) Associations between diet quality, health status
and diabetic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes and comorbid obesity. Endocrinol Nutr 59: 109–116.
5. Li B, Tan Y, Sun W, Fu Y, Miao L, et al. (2012) The role of zinc in the prevention of diabetic cardiomyopathy and nephropathy. Toxicol
Mech Methods. Oct 6. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 23039870
6. Liu Q, Sun L, Tan Y, Wang G, Lin X, et al. (2009) Role of iron deficiency and overload in the pathogenesis of diabetes and diabetic
complications. Curr Med Chem 16: 113–129.
7. Sun L, Franco OH, Hu FB, Cai L, Yu Z, et al. (2008) Ferritin concentrations, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes in middle-aged and
elderly Chinese. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 93: 4690–4696.
8. Sun L, Yu Y, Huang T, An P, Yu D, et al. (2012) Associations between ionomic profile and metabolic abnormalities in human population.
PLoS One 7: e38845.
9. Zheng Y, Li XK, Wang Y, Cai L (2008) The role of zinc, copper and iron in the pathogenesis of diabetes and diabetic complications:
therapeutic effects by chelators. Hemoglobin 32: 135–145.
macrovascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus with serum magnesium
levels.
Metab
Xu J, Xu W,
YaoDiabetes
H, Sun W,
ZhouSyndr
Q, et5:al.41–44.
(2013) Associations of serum and urinary magnesium with the pre-diabetes, diabetes and diabetic complications in the
Chinese northeast population. PLoS One 8(2): e56750. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056750
11. Kousa
A, Puustinen N, Karvonen M, Moltchanova E (2012) The regional
Updated April
25, 2013
1
association of rising type 2 diabetes incidence with magnesium in drinking water
among young adults. Environ Res 112: 126–128.
Some Framing Verbs
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
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accept
add
agree
assert
claim
contend
concede
correspond
describe
discuss
dispute
endorse
grant
imply
maintain
note
outline
refute
report
show
think
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acknowledge
affirm
argue
believe
comment
contradict
correlate
deny
disagree
disprove
emphasize
explain
highlight
insist
negate
observe
propose
reject
respond
suggest
verify
Additional resources:
AMA Manual website: http://www.amamanualofstyle.com/
Samford University’s quick guide: http://www4.samford.edu/schools/pharmacy/dic/amaquickref07.pdf
Updated April 25, 2013