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Tips on Citing: AMA Citations

Correct Citing

AMA Style

Additonal Resources

When to Cite

  • Anything that is printed or spoken, except widely known facts or common knowledge
  • Specific phrases from a speaker or writer
  • Photos, drawings, charts, graphs, etc.
  • Someone else's unpublished research findings

AMA Style

All fields of research agree on the need to document scholarly borrowings, but documentation conventions vary because of the different needs of various disciplines. AMA (American Medical Association) style for documentation is used in many medical fields; though APA style is also commonly used. AMA tends to be quite concise and utilizes standardized abbreviated names for journal titles, which can be found at the NLM (National Library of Medicine) website.

Examples of AMA Citations

Citing a Book with Seven or More Authors  

   Simon LS, Lipman AG, Jacox AK, et al. Pain in Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Juvenile Chronic Arthritis. 2nd ed. Glenview, IL: American Pain Society; 2002.

Citing a Chapter in a Book

   Solensky R. Drug allergy: desensitization and treatment of reactions to antibiotics and aspirin. In: Lockey P, ed. Allergens and Allergen   Immunotherapy. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Marcell Dekker; 2004:585-606.

Citing an Academic Journal
   Rainier S, Thomas D, Tokarz D, et al. Myofibrillogenesis regulator 1 gene mutations cause paroxysmal dystonic choreoathetosis. Arch Neurol. 2004;61(7):1025-1029.

Citing a Government or Agency Bulletins
   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance, 2000. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and  Prevention, US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2001.

Citing a Thesis and Dissertations
   Fenster SD. Cloning and Characterization of Piccolo, a Novel Component of the Presynaptic Cytoskeletal Matrix [dissertation]. Birmingham:   University of Alabama; 2000.

Citing an Online Journal
   Duchin JS. Can preparedness for biological terrorism save us from pertussis? Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158(2):106-107.   http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content /full/158/2/106. Accessed June 1, 2004.

Citing a Website

   Recommendations for the care and maintenance of high intensity metal halide and mercury vapor lighting in schools. National Electrical Manufacturers Association. http://www.nema.org/stds/halide-schools.crm#download. Accessed December 6, 2017.

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Paraphrasing

6 Steps to Effective Paraphrasing

  1. Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning.
  2. Set the original aside, and write your paraphrase on a note card.
  3. Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind you later how you envision using this material. At the top of the note card, write a key word or phrase to indicate the subject of your paraphrase.
  4. Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately expresses all the essential information in a new form.
  5. Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed exactly from the source.
  6. Record the source (including the page) on your note card so that you can credit it easily if you decide to incorporate the material into your paper.

Taken from the Purdue Online Writing Lab on Paraphrasing