Free AMA Citation Generator
Generate AMA 11th edition numbered references and superscript in-text citations for medical papers, clinical research, and health sciences assignments.
Standard for medicine, nursing, health sciences, and biomedical research
Why Use Our AMA Citation Generator?
Real Medical Databases
Search 250M+ works from PubMed, OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, and CrossRef. Every AMA citation links to real, verifiable medical literature.
AMA 11th Edition Compliant
Automatically formatted according to the AMA Manual of Style (11th edition). Proper author abbreviations, journal abbreviations, and punctuation.
Numbered References Ready
Citations are formatted for AMA's numbered reference system. Ready to paste into your reference list in order of first citation.
Superscript In-Text Citations
Get both the full reference entry and the superscript number format for easy insertion into medical papers and health sciences assignments.
How to Cite in AMA 11th Edition
AMA citations use a numbered reference system. Sources are numbered in order of first appearance in the text. Here are the most common formats:
Journal Article
Book
Website
Book Chapter
Key AMA Formatting Rules
- Authors listed by last name followed by initials (no periods, no commas between name parts)
- Journal names abbreviated per NLM/MEDLINE standards
- References numbered in order of first citation (not alphabetical)
- Superscript numbers used for in-text citations
- DOIs included when available (no "https://doi.org/" prefix)
AMA 11th Edition Citation Examples
Journal Article
Book
Website
Online Video
Chapter in Edited Book
7+ Authors (et al.)
In-text: superscript number (e.g., ¹)
Examples formatted in AMA 11th Edition
AMA Superscript In-Text Citations
Single Source
Place superscript number after punctuation:
...as shown in recent studies.1Multiple Sources
Use commas for non-consecutive, hyphens for ranges:
...confirmed by multiple trials.1,3,5-7AMA vs APA: Quick Reference
| Feature | AMA (11th Edition) | APA (7th Edition) |
|---|---|---|
| In-text format | Superscript numbers (1, 2, 3) | (Author, Year) |
| Reference list order | Numbered, by first citation | Alphabetical by author |
| Used in | Medicine, nursing, health sciences | Psychology, social sciences, education |
| Author format | Last name + initials (Smith AA) | Last name, Initials. (Smith, A. A.) |
| Journal names | Abbreviated (NLM style) | Full journal name |
Not sure which to use? AMA is required by most medical journals and health sciences programs. Try our APA generator
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AMA citation format?
AMA (American Medical Association) format is a citation style used primarily in medical, health sciences, and biomedical research. It uses superscript numbers in the text and a numbered reference list at the end of the paper, ordered by first appearance. The current version is the AMA Manual of Style, 11th edition (2020).
How do I cite a journal article in AMA format?
For journal articles in AMA format, list authors (last name followed by initials without periods), the article title, abbreviated journal name in italics, year, volume, issue in parentheses, pages, and DOI. Example: Smith AA, Johnson BB. Machine learning in diagnostics. Nat Med. 2024;29(4):123-145. doi:10.1038/s41591-024-00001
What is the current AMA edition?
The current edition is the AMA Manual of Style, 11th edition, published in 2020. It is the standard reference guide for medical and scientific publishing, covering citation formatting, grammar, nomenclature, and ethics.
How do AMA in-text citations work?
AMA uses superscript Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) placed after punctuation in the text. Sources are numbered in the order they first appear. If the same source is cited again, it keeps its original number. Example: "Recent studies have shown improvement in outcomes.¹"
Is this AMA citation generator free?
Yes. CiteMe lets you generate AMA 11th edition citations for free. Search real academic databases including PubMed, OpenAlex, and Semantic Scholar to find and format medical references automatically.
What is the difference between AMA and APA?
AMA uses superscript numbers for in-text citations and a numbered reference list (ordered by first citation), while APA uses author-date in-text citations (Smith, 2024) and an alphabetical reference list. AMA is standard in medicine and health sciences; APA is used in psychology and social sciences.
How do I cite a website in AMA format?
For websites, include the author (if available), title of the page, website name, publication date, accessed date, and URL. Example: Smith AA. Mental health guidelines. World Health Organization. Published January 10, 2024. Accessed March 1, 2026. https://www.who.int/mental-health
When should I use AMA citation style?
Use AMA style when writing for medical journals (such as JAMA, Archives of Internal Medicine), health sciences courses, nursing programs, or any biomedical research publication. Many medical schools and health-related academic programs require AMA formatting.
How do I list multiple authors in AMA format?
List up to 6 authors by last name and initials (e.g., Smith AA, Johnson BB, Williams CC). If there are 7 or more authors, list the first 3 followed by "et al." Do not use "and" between author names.
How is the AMA reference list ordered?
Unlike APA or MLA, the AMA reference list is numbered and ordered by first appearance in the text — not alphabetically. Each source receives a unique number when first cited, and that number is reused for subsequent citations of the same source.
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