AMA Formatting
“Cliffnotes”
Patrick Cross, PT, DPT, RHF
Reference Citation in Paragraphs
• Site frequently vs. infrequently
• Avoid secondary citations if possible
– See AMA 3.13.10 [10th ed]
• References are in order of use throughout the
paper
– EndNote is a program that may be a beneficial tool
• Note that it is not perfect and one needs to edit references
before submitting
Reference Citation in Paragraphs
• If whole paragraph from same source, site first
and last sentences
• When changing citations, site the last sentence
by one author.X
– Then site the first sentence by the next author.Y
• Citations come after the comma or period.Z
• Citations come before the colon or semicolonA;
Reference Citation in Paragraphs
• Don’t use the author’s first name, just use the last
name
• If one author, just state the last name when refer to
the study
– In the study by Karges,#
• If two authors, state both names
– In the study by Cross and Berg,#
• If three or more authors, state the last name of the
first author and then et al, and colleagues, etc.
– Svien et al#
• It is best to site right after the name rather than the
end of the sentence.
– Osborn and colleaguesB found…
Direct Quotes
• Use as few direct quotes as possible
• Use quotation marks to enclose a direct quote of
no more than 4 typewritten lines (run-on quote)
– May be more than 4 lines if enclosing conversational
dialogue (see AMA page 359 [10th ed])
• Direct quotes need a page number with each
citation…
– “Using a sample of convenience, 14 women were
selected in a consecutive manner to participate in the
study at a clinic that participates in women’s
health.”1(p138)
Direct Quotes
• Follow wording, spelling, and punctuation of the
original quote exactly
– Do not omit citations embedded within original material
quoting, but do not include them in the list of references
– If omit text from a quotation, use ellipsis points
• Three periods with a single space, before, between, and after
each period
• If between sentences use period to end sentence plus the 3
ellipsis points
• Not used when opening of a sentence or end of a sentence is
being omitted for a run-on quote
– If block quote and initial words of first sentence are being
omitted, begin with a paragraph indention and 3 ellipsis
dots
Direct Quotes
• Quotes greater than 4 typewritten lines have to
be in a block format: (see AMA page 361 [10th
ed])
– Reduced type
– No quotation marks
– Indented on the left margin (1/2 inch or same
distance as paragraph indent)
• Only add another paragraph indent to the first line of text if
it is found in the original
– Single spaced for research papers, but may be double
spaced in manuscripts submitted for publication
– Set off from the text by additional spacing above and
below the block
Numbers and Abbreviations
• Write out numbers that begin a sentence unless
it begins with a year
– Regarding numbers, see AMA Chapter 18 and 19.2.1
[10th ed]
• Avoid starting sentences with abbreviations/
acronyms like COPD, PT, etc.
• All state abbreviations are the same as postal
abbreviations
– Use state abbreviation in references
– State has to be written out in the text
– See AMA page 451 [10th ed]
Numbers and Abbreviations
• Write out unless used more than five times in an
article or a familiar acronym
– Expanded the first time with abbreviation following in
parentheses
• Physical therapists (PTs)
• Write plurals without an apostrophe
– PTs, not PT’s
• Rarely periods (DPT, not D.P.T. unless quoted
from another source)
Numbers and Abbreviations
– Abbreviate names of journals in reference list
according to PubMed Journals database
• See AMA 3.11.2 [10th ed] and 14.10
• Other helpful sites:
– Journal Abbreviations and List of Serials Indexed for
Online Users from the National Library of Medicine
Writing Hints
• Avoid 1 and 2 sentence paragraphs, but don’t
have paragraphs that are 2 pages in length
either
• When reporting on studies that others have
done, past tense is preferred
– However, present tense may by used to “express a
general truth, a statement of fact, something
continually true.”2(p320)
• See AMA Pages 320-321 [10th ed]
Writing Hints
• Try not to say “the study found,” the “article
suggested,” etc.
– Instead, state that “results indicated” or the “authors
suggested”
• Try not to make a general comment about
“many studies” and then only cite one or two
references
– If refer to “several studies,” then should cite several
studies
• When listing numerous studies, and first time presenting in
paper, then place in order they appear next in paper.
– If do not appear again, then ABC order by last name of
primary author
Writing Hints
• Avoid non-parallel lists
– …collecting information, data analysis, and a
summary of the results  not good
– …collecting information, analyzing data, summarizing
results  better
• Avoid the passive voice
– Data were collected from 300 patients by the student
researchers.  avoid
– Student researchers collected data from 300 patients.
 better
– See AMA page 320 [10th ed]
Writing Hints
• Avoid misplaced modifiers
– The patient was referred to the physical therapist
with an ACL injury.  who has the ACL injury, the
patient or the PT?
– The patient with the ACL injury was referred to the
physical therapist.
– See AMA pages 322-323 [10th ed]
• Subject verb agreement is important
– AMA Section 7.8 [10th ed]
Writing Hints
• Avoid subjects that require the use of singular
pronouns if possible
– What we typically see written is “The student worked
on their assignment”  incorrect
– The student worked on his/her assignment  correct,
but harder to read.
– The students worked on their assignment  better to
use plural if one can
Headings
TYPICAL LEVEL ONE HEADING
Typical Level Two Heading
Typical level three heading. Then the
paragraph wraps back to the left margin….
Reference Page
• References start on a new page
• Reference page comes before tables, figures and
appendices
• Typically single spaced
– May be double spaced in manuscripts submitted for
publication
• References are numbered in the order they
appeared in the text
– See slide #12 regarding numerous references
• No commas after the last names of the authors
– Cross, PS  incorrect
– Cross PS  correct
• If >6 authors, list first 3 then “, et al.”
– See AMA 3.7 [10th ed]
Reference Page
• Period after each section of the reference citation
– Author(s). Article title. Journal Name. Year;volume(issue):page
numbers.
• Article title has only the first word capitalized unless
there are proper nouns, etc.
– If there is a colon, the first word after the colon is not
capitalized
• Use the appropriate journal abbreviations
– Journal title is italicized
• No space after semi-colon and colon for the year,
volume(issue) and page numbers
– 2005;3(2):123-133
• Remove hyperlinks from Web site/ page addresses
– Note “Web” is capitalized, with space between Web and site, but
site or page not capitalized
Reference Page
• The citations for books (3.12.2 and 3.12.4),
Web sites (3.15.3), online journals (3.15.1), etc.
is all different than for journal articles
– Do not reference an entire book unless using “entire
book”  reference a chapter in a book
– Use the AMA Chapter 3 [10th ed]!
Basic Reference Examples
1. Karges JR, Mark BE, Stikeleather SJ, Worrell
TW. Concurrent validity of upper-extremity
volume estimates: comparison of calculated
volume derived from girth measurements and
water displacement volume. Phys Ther.
2003;83(2):134-145.
– Journal article <6 authors
2. Cameron MH. Physical Agents in Rehabilitation:
From Research to Practice. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA:
W.B. Saunders; 2008.
– Entire book
Basic Reference Examples
3. Cochran TM, Cross PS. American Indian
culture. In: Black JD, Purnell LD, eds.
Developing Cultural Competence in Physical
Therapy Practice. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis;
2005:238-259.
– Chapter in a book with editors
Basic Reference Examples
4. Ekstrum J, Cross P, Sheridan S, Voltz JD. The
last buffalo hunt: designing and implementing a
culturally and community-driven model for
health and wellness in an American Indian
community. Paper presented at: The National
Rural Health Association 13th Annual Rural and
Minority and Multicultural Health Conference:
Traditional Health Customs and Practices: In
Our Own Words; May 15, 2007; Anchorage,
AK.
–
Presentation at a meeting, but not published
Basic Reference Examples
5. American Physical Therapy Association. Physical
fitness for special populations. American Physical
Therapy Association Web site.
http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section
=Physical_Fitness_for_Special_Populations1&Te
mplate=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&
TPLID=267&ContentID=30270. Updated
September 24, 2007. Accessed July 28, 2008.
– Some my argue that no author given, but I would
argue that it came from the organization so APTA is
the author.
Tables
• See examples regarding spacing, alignment, etc.
Other Resources
• http://www.docstyles.com/amaguide.htm
Search for the answer to the unknown in the AMA book and/or
appropriate Web sites, ask for assistance from writing center
and/or instructors
WHAT I TELL MY STUDENTS:
IGNORANCE IS NOT AN
ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE