AMA Format In-Text Citation Examples

Explore practical examples of AMA format in-text citations for research papers.
By Jamie

Understanding AMA Format In-Text Citations

The American Medical Association (AMA) format is widely used in the medical and scientific communities for writing research papers. Proper in-text citation is crucial for giving credit to original sources and enhancing the credibility of your work. Below are three diverse examples that illustrate how to format in-text citations in the AMA style.

Example 1: Citing a Journal Article

Context: When discussing the impact of exercise on mental health, you might reference a journal article that provides empirical evidence on the topic.

According to a study by Smith et al. (2020), regular physical activity significantly reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. This finding aligns with previous research that supports exercise as a therapeutic intervention.

Note: When citing a source with multiple authors, list the first three authors followed by “et al.” if there are more than three authors.

Example 2: Citing a Book

Context: If you are writing a paper on the fundamentals of pharmacology, you may need to reference a standard textbook in your field.

The principles of pharmacokinetics are thoroughly discussed in the book by Johnson (2018), which outlines the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs. This foundational knowledge is essential for understanding drug interactions and patient safety.

Note: When citing a book, provide the author’s last name and the year of publication in parentheses.

Example 3: Citing a Website

Context: In a research paper analyzing the effects of COVID-19 on public health, you may want to include statistics from a reputable health organization’s website.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that as of October 2023, there have been over 600 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide (WHO, 2023). This statistic underscores the ongoing impact of the pandemic on global health systems.

Note: For websites, include the organization name followed by the year of publication.