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American Medical Association style (AMA style)

The AMA style conforms to the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts submitted to Biomedical journals 5th edition, 1997 (sometimes referred to as the Vancouver group). This Uniform Requirement style was adopted and developed by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM style) and was first published in 1979. The three styles, usually used by authors of biomedical journals, have certain similarities. It is recommended that authors keep to a particular style for consistency. In view of this, we have chosen to feature the AMA style 9th edition here.

Below are highlights of some rules from the AMA style manual for documenting references cited at the end of an article:
 

  1. References are numbered by Arabic numerals in the order it is cited in the text of the article.
  2. Use author's surname followed by initials without periods.
  3. Surnames that contain prefixes or particles (e.g. von, de, van) are spelled and capitalized according to the preference of the persons named.
  4. Names of authors: if more than 6 authors - the first 3 authors names are used followed by "et al"; If has 6 or less authors - all the authors names are included. (This follows the 1997 ed of the Uniform requirements...or Vancouver style)
  5. If article has no author, start reference with title. Unless "anonymous" or something similar was actually used.
  6. Abbreviate names of journals according to the abbreviations given in List of journals indexed for MEDLINE, e.g. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.
    The index is available as follows:
        1) Print copies in NUS Libraries
        2) Search LocatorPlus, NLM online catalogue
        3) Download the full index in PDF from NLM
  7. For articles, capitalize only the first letter of the first word, proper names and abbreviations that are ordinarily capitalized.

For more information, please refer to the American Medical Association manual of style: A guide for authors and editors, [R119 Ame], available in the Medical Library Reference collection.

Examples:
Book Cantor CR, Smith CL. Genomics: the science and technology behind the Human Genome Project. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons; 1999.
Chapter in book Reilly PR. Laws to regulate the use of genetic information. In: Rothstein MA, ed. Genetic secrets: protecting privacy and confidentiality in the genetic era. New Haven: Yale University Press; 1997:369-391.
   
Journal article George AL Jr, Neilson EG. Genetics of kidney disease. Am J Kidney Dis. 2000;35(4 Suppl 1):S160-169.
Unpublished conference paper Eisenberg J. Market forces and physician workforce reform: why they may not work: Paper presented at: Annual Meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges; October 28, 1995; Washington, DC.
Thesis Thein GT. Mutations and polymorphisms of the androgen receptor gene causing partial and minimal androgen insensitivity syndromes [M Med thesis]. Singapore: Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore; 1998.
Database CANCERNET-PDQ [database online]. Bethesda, Md: National Cancer Institute; 1996. Updated March 29, 1996.
Online Journal Ferrell BG. Critical elements approach to developing checklists for a clinical performance examination. Med Edn Online [serial online]. 1996;1(3):1-7. Available from: http://www.med-ed-online.org/res00001.html. Accessed March 7, 2000.
Online web site Terre Haute Center for Medical Education. The THCME Medical Biochemistry page. Available at: http://web.indstate.edu/thcme/mwking/home.html. Accessed August 24, 1999.

 

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Last updated 17-04-2008

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