How to Cite a Journal Article in AMA (11th edition)
Learn how to cite peer-reviewed and academic journal articles in AMA format (11th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
AMA Reference List Format
Here is the standard AMA format for citing a journal article in your reference list:
Author AA, Author BB. Title of article. J Abbrev. Year;volume(issue):pages. doi:xxxxx.
AMA Example for a Journal Article
A complete AMA reference for a journal article, formatted by the official AMA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
1. Rivera M, Chen D. The mapping of meaning: A study of citation practice. Journal of Scholarly Communication. 2021;12(3):145-162. doi:10.1000/jsc.2021.145
Matching in-text citation: 1
AMA In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
1
Narrative
Smith and Jones1 found...
Key AMA Formatting Rules
- Abbreviate journal names per Index Medicus/PubMed.
- List up to 6 authors; for 7 or more, list first 3 then et al.
- Include DOI if available.
- Use a semicolon between year and volume, colon before pages.
- References are numbered in order of appearance in the text.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your journal article.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the AMA (11th edition) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match AMA requirements.
Evidence and review notes
Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.
CSL style record: ama.csl
Metadata to collect
- authors
- article title
- journal title
- year
- volume and issue
- page range or article number
- DOI
Common metadata traps
- Confirm that the DOI resolves to the same title, authors, and version.
- Distinguish a preprint from the final version of record.
Editorial sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a journal article in AMA?
- To cite a journal article in AMA (11th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the AMA format for a journal article citation?
- The AMA format for a journal article is: Author AA, Author BB. Title of article. J Abbrev. Year;volume(issue):pages. doi:xxxxx.
- What does the in-text citation look like for a journal article in AMA?
- In AMA, the in-text citation for the example above is 1
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