AMA In-Text Citations
Master AMA (11th edition) in-text citations with this complete guide. Learn the correct format for every scenario, including single and multiple authors, direct quotes, and sources with missing information.
In-Text Citation Rules
Below are the AMA in-text citation rules for every common scenario you will encounter when writing your paper.
Single Author
Superscript number after punctuation¹ — numbered in order of first mention
Two Authors
Same superscript number — e.g., Smith and Jones¹
Three or More Authors
List up to 6 authors; 7 or more use first 3 et al — referenced by the same number
Direct Quote
Superscript number placed after the quotation mark¹; page numbers cited in text if needed
No Author
Numbered in order of appearance; use institutional or organizational name in reference list
No Date
Include [published year unknown] or omit year with a note in the reference entry
Quick Examples
Here are real-world AMA in-text citation examples for different source types:
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Cite in AMA Now →Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I format an AMA in-text citation?
- For a single author in AMA, use the format Superscript number after punctuation¹ — numbered in order of first mention. For two authors, use Same superscript number — e.g., Smith and Jones¹. For three or more authors, use List up to 6 authors; 7 or more use first 3 et al — referenced by the same number.
- How do I cite a direct quote in AMA?
- For direct quotes in AMA (11th edition), use the format: Superscript number placed after the quotation mark¹; page numbers cited in text if needed.
- What if there is no author or no date in AMA?
- When there is no author in AMA, use: Numbered in order of appearance; use institutional or organizational name in reference list. When there is no date, use: Include [published year unknown] or omit year with a note in the reference entry.