Pharmacy Resources: AMA Style Guide

Citation managers are used to collect, organize and cite references. 

• In your bibliography, references are listed in the order they are cited. 
• In-text citations use superscript numbers in numberical order. ¹
• Use the NLM catalog to find journal title abbreviations. 
• In your references, authors should appear in the order they appear in the item. Don't use punctuation between the last name and initials. 
• When there are more then 6 authors, include only the first three authors followed by et al. 

Learn why it is important to cite your sources and how to avoid plagiarism. 

Find examples of how to cite electronic and print journals articles, electronic and print books, and online resources like UpToDate Lexidrug (formerly Lexicomp) and UpToDate.

Instructions on how to cite additional sources not included in this list can be found in the AMA Manual of Style, available in the reference section at any of the MCW Libraries locations. 

Notes: When the DOI is given for a journal article, AMA style prefers that the DOI is cited instead of the URL. If not DOI is given, include the URL. Do not cite both. If there are more than 6 authors listed, include the first three followed by et al.

Print

1. Author(s). Article title. Abbreviated Journal Name. Year;volume(issue):pages.

Online, DOI

2. ​Author(s). Article title. Abbreviated Journal Name. Year;volume(issue):pages. doi:.

Online, URL

3. Author(s). Article title. Abbreviated Journal Name. Year;volume(issue):pages. URL. Publication date. Updated date. Accessed date.

Online, Epub Ahead of Print

4. Author(s). Article title [published online ahead of print, date].  Abbreviated Journal Name. doi:.

Examples

1. Culshaw J, Kendall D, Wilcock A. Off-label prescribing in palliative care: a survey of independent prescribers. Palliat Med. 2013;27(4):314-319.
2. Bouwmeester C, Kraft J, Bungay KM. Optimizing inhaler use by pharmacist-provided education to community-dwelling elderly. Respir Med. 2015;109(10)1363-1368. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2015.07.013.
3. Hummer J. Lean process in pharmacy renewal. AAACN Viewpoint. 2010;32(1)1-11. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,cpid&custid=s6945693&db=c8h&AN=105302731&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Accessed August 1, 2017.
4. Park BK. Ultrasound-guided genitourinary interventions: principles and techniques [published online ahead of print May 29, 2017]. Ultrasonography. doi: 10.14366/usg.17026.

Note: When referring to an entire book, rather than pages or a specific section, use the Print or Online formats.  When citing an entire book, all major words in the title should be capitalized. If you are citing pages from a print book, include the page numbers at the end of the citation. e.g. copyright year:xxx-xxxx.

Print

1. Author(s) or Editors(s) {If you are listing the editors, include ", eds." after the list of editors}. Book Title. Edition number (do not indicate 1st edition). City, State (or, Province or Country) of publication: Publisher name; copyright year.

Online

2. Author(s) or Editors(s) {If you are listing the editors, include ", eds." after the list of editors}. Book Title. Edition number (do not indicate 1st edition). City, State (or, Province or Country) of publication: Publisher’s name; copyright year. URL. Accessed date.

Book Chapter, Online

3. Author(s) of chapter. Chapter title. In: editor(s), ed. Book Title. Edition number (do not indicate 1st edition). City, State (or, Province or Country) of publication: Publisher name; copyright year. URL. Accessed date.

Examples

1. Bertino JS. Pharmacogenomics: An Introduction and Clinical Perspective. New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2013.
2. Abbas AK, Lichtman AH, Pillai S. Basic Immunology: Functions and Disorders of the Immune System. 5th ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2016. https://www-clinicalkey-com.proxy.lib.mcw.edu/#!/browse/book/3-s2.0-C20140041366. Accessed August 1, 2017.
3. Moores KG, Kee VR. Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. In: Malone PM, Kier KL, Stanovich JE, Malone MJ, eds. Drug Information: A Guide for Pharmacists. 5th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2013. http://accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com.proxy.lib.mcw.edu/content.aspx?bookid=981&sectionid=54480670. Accessed August 01, 2017.

Note: The AMA Manual of Style does not have a specific example for referencing UpToDate.

From UpToDate: Cite the UpToDate topic as a chapter in a book titled UpToDate, edited by Ted. W. Post, published by UpToDate in Waltham, MA. There are no page numbers to cite, and the publication year for any topic should be the current year.

Example from MCW Libraries

1. Ferguson GT, Make B. Stable COPD: Initial pharmacologic management. In: Post TW, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate; Updated December 17, 2019. Accessed July 17, 2020.

Template:

Drug Name. In: (Specific database title). Publisher. Publication date (if available). Updated date. Accessed date. URL (no period after the URL)

Example:

1.  Enoxaparin. In: Lexi-Drugs. UpToDate Inc; 2024. Updated July 18, 2024. Accessed July 18, 2024
   You can obtain the “drug updated” information from the Lexidrug results page:

Article author(s).  Title of the topic. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University; 2019. Available from https://www.unboundmedicine.com. Accessed date. 

Example

1. Dzintars K, Pham PA. Docosanol. In: Auwaerter PG, Bartlett JG. eds. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University; 2019. Available from https://www.unboundmedicine.com. Accessed June 18, 2019.  

Note:  Only cite what information is available (e.g. author name, updated date, etc.).

Author(s). Title of specific item cited (or, if unavailable, give the name of the organization responsible for the site). Name of Web Site. URL. Publication date. Updated date.  Accessed date.

Example

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship. https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/improving-prescribing/core-elements/core-outpatient-stewardship.html Updated September 24, 2018. Accessed January 14, 2019.

Grateful acknowledgement to Caitlin Carter, MLIS, Liaison Librarian for Pharmacy at the University of Waterloo for permission to use and modify her template.