AMA In-Text Citation: Rules, Format & Examples
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0 sourcesAMA In Text Citation uses superscript Arabic numerals placed in the order sources first appear in your text. Each number matches a numbered entry in the reference list. Numbers sit outside periods and commas but inside colons and semicolons.
What is an AMA in-text citation?
An AMA in-text citation is a superscript Arabic numeral that marks where you use a source. AMA is a citation-sequence system: the first source cited becomes reference 1, the second becomes 2, and so on. There are no parenthetical author-date tags.
Once a source receives a number, it keeps that number every time you cite it again. So if reference 3 reappears on page 8, it is still cited as 3, not renumbered. The superscript number connects directly to the matching entry in your numbered reference list at the end of the paper.
In textBeta-blockers reduced mortality in the trial cohort.1
How do you format the superscript number?
Type the citation as a superscript Arabic numeral with no space before it and no parentheses or brackets. Attach the number tight against the last word or punctuation mark it follows. Do not use a full-size number, a raised parenthetical like (1), or the author’s surname in the citation itself.
Avoid placing a superscript reference number immediately after a numeral or an abbreviated unit of measure, because readers may mistake it for an exponent. Reword the sentence instead — for example, cite the source earlier in the clause.
| Situation | Correct | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Single source | outcomes improved.2 |
outcomes improved (2). |
| After a number | The dose was 40 mg daily.3 |
403 mg |
| Reusing a source | reappears as2 |
renumbered as5 |
Where does the number go around punctuation?
Place the superscript number outside periods and commas, but inside colons and semicolons. It also sits outside closing quotation marks and closing parentheses. This is the single rule AMA writers get wrong most often, so check every citation against it.
| Mark | Number goes | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Period | After (outside) | reduced pain.4 |
| Comma | After (outside) | reduced pain,4 though… |
| Colon | Before (inside) | one conclusion4: the drug works |
| Semicolon | Before (inside) | results varied4; however… |
| Quotation mark | After closing mark | “a landmark finding”4 |
How do you cite multiple sources at once?
List several sources in one superscript group. Separate individual numbers with commas and no spaces, and use a hyphen to compress three or more consecutive numbers into a range. Combine both forms when needed for a mix of consecutive and non-consecutive references.
- Two non-consecutive sources:
2,7 - A consecutive range:
4-7(means 4, 5, 6, and 7) - Mixed:
1,4-6,9
In textMultiple randomized trials confirmed the benefit.3,5-8
Can you add page numbers or name the author?
Yes. For a direct quotation, add the page in parentheses immediately after the superscript number, using p for one page and pp for a range. There is no space inside the parentheses. This pinpoints the exact location of quoted material.
QuoteThe authors called it “the clearest signal yet in preventive cardiology.”5(p1442)
RangeThe protocol is described in detail.6(pp88-90)
You may also name an author in your sentence for emphasis, but the superscript number is still required. Use “et al” (no period after “al”) for works with more than one author when you mention them in text.
NamedReynolds et al7 reported a 22% relative risk reduction.
What does the matching reference entry look like?
Every superscript number points to a full entry in your numbered reference list. For a journal article, AMA lists up to 6 authors (first 3 plus “et al” for 7 or more), a sentence-case article title, an italicized abbreviated journal name, then year, volume, issue, pages, and DOI.
1 in your list)- Authors — surname then initials, no periods between initials, entries separated by commas
- Article title — sentence case, not italicized, ends with a period
- Journal — abbreviated per PubMed and set in italics
- Year;volume(issue):pages — no spaces around the semicolon or colon
- DOI — lowercase
doi:, no space, nohttps://, listed last
BookKatz DL, Elmore JG, Wild DMG, Lucan SC. Jekel’s Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Preventive Medicine, and Public Health. 4th ed. Elsevier Saunders; 2014.
WebsiteAmerican Heart Association. Understanding blood pressure readings. Accessed July 10, 2026. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure
How accurate is this guide, and what are the limits?
These rules reflect the AMA Manual of Style, 11th edition, the current authority. The core mechanics — superscript numerals, citation-sequence numbering, and punctuation placement — are stable and widely reproduced by university library guides. Our examples use realistic names and real DOIs to model correct output.
Limits apply. Instructors and journals sometimes impose house variations, such as requiring bracketed rather than superscript numbers, or specific DOI URL formats. AMA also covers many source types — datasets, preprints, package inserts, social media — with detailed rules this page does not exhaust. Always confirm against your assignment brief or target journal, and check any generated reference against the original source before submitting.
AMA in-text citation FAQ
Does AMA use author names or numbers in the text?
AMA uses superscript Arabic numbers, not author-date tags. You may name an author in your sentence for emphasis, but a superscript number is still required and always links to the numbered reference list.
Where does the superscript number go with a period?
The number goes outside (after) the period and comma. It goes inside (before) colons and semicolons, and outside closing quotation marks and parentheses.
How do I cite the same source more than once?
Reuse its original number every time. A source numbered 3 on first use stays 3 throughout the paper, no matter how often you cite it again.
How do I cite several sources in one spot?
Group them in one superscript. Separate non-consecutive numbers with commas and no spaces, and use a hyphen for consecutive ranges — for example, 2,4-6.
Do AMA in-text citations include page numbers?
Only for direct quotations. Add the page in parentheses right after the number, using p for a single page or pp for a range, as in 5(p1442).
Does AMA number references alphabetically?
No. AMA numbers references in the order they first appear in the text, not alphabetically. The reference list is ordered by citation number, not by author surname.