Skip to Main Content

Pharmacy

Citing

A citation is the method that is used within a document to give credit to the original author(s). A reference list, also known as a works cited or bibliography, is usually found at the end of the document. It contains full citation details like: name of author and work, date published, page number, and if applicable, volume and issue number, place of publication, DOI, (digital object identifier), and website link.

Your professor will tell you which format or style manual to use when for a research paper, presentation, or poster. Most pharmacy professors use the AMA format, but other styles are used on occasion.

It is also important to note that style guides offer so much more than just a template for creating a citation. They discuss paper templates, writing style, how to use abbreviations, and so much more. Your writing can be greatly improved simply by following the suggestions given in the writing section of the style manual!

AMA Style

AMA Basics

All citation styles are based on similar information - that is, whatever information a reader would need to find your original source. In AMA Style, this typically follows the pattern

► Author name ► Title of the Specific Work ► Journal or Publisher Information ► Item Identifier

Where citation styles tend to differ is the formatting of these pieces of information in relation to each other and the punctuation used. While we provide samples from a few of the most popularly cited source types, always refer to the AMA Style Guide for your specific situation.

Author AA, Author BB, Author CC. Title in sentence case: Only capitalize first words and proper nouns. Abbreviated Journal Title In Italics. Year;Volume #(Issue #):First page # of article-Last page # of article. doi:

Mullins CF, Walsh S, Rooney A, McCrory C, Das B. A preliminary prospective observational study of the effectiveness of high-concentration capsaicin cutaneous patch in the management of chronic post-surgical neuropathic pain. Ir J Med Sci. 2022;191(2):859-864. doi:10.1007/s11845-021-02632-0

  • Names are formatted as "Last name FirstInitialMiddleInitial"
  • If there are more than 6 authors, the words “et al.” are used after citing the first three authors first.
  • If you’re not sure what the abbreviation for a journal is, look up the journal in PubMed
  • Volume = how many years the journal has been issued
    Issue = how many times the journal has been issued within that year
  • If you are citing an article in the middle of your paper, you would only include the page of the article you are referring to. If you adding the citation to the references section at the end of a paper, you would include the entire page range of the article.
  • Some instructors want the DOI link at the end of a citation, some don't. Always follow your instructor's guidelines first.

Author AA, Author BB, Author CC. Title in Title Case: Capitalize Every Major Word. In: Author DD, Author EE, Author FF, eds. Title of Entire Book. Edition #. Publisher; Year:chap #. Access Date.

Phillips J, Sheehan A, Gettig J, Kendrach MG. Drug Literature Evaluation I: Controlled Clinical Trial Evaluation. In: Malone PM, Witt BA, Malone MJ, Peterson DM, eds. Drug Information: A Guide for Pharmacists. 7th ed. McGraw Hill; 2022:chap 4. Accessed September 13, 2023. https://accesspharmacy-mhmedical-com.ulm.idm.oclc.org/content.aspx?bookid=3132&sectionid=262760178

  • Last name FirstInitialMiddleInitial,
  • Commas in the middle of the list, period at the end of the list
  • If there are more than 6 authors, the words “et al.” are used.
  • If you’re citing a specific chapter, put the chapter title first, followed by “In:” and the citation for the whole book.
  • The title of the book is italicized

Author AA. Title. Publisher. Date Published. Date Accessed. Website link

Doctrow B. Scientists translate brain activity into music. National Institutes of Health. September 5, 2023. Accessed September 13, 2023. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/scientists-translate-brain-activity-into-music

  • Last name FirstInitialMiddleInitial,
  • Commas in the middle of the list, period at the end of the list
  • If there are no authors mentioned, skip to the title of the webpage
  • If there is no title on the webpage, use the name of the organization responsible for the site. If there is a title for both the webpage and website, use both.
  • If the date of publication is available, list it before the date you accessed the page. Differentiate the two by adding an “Accessed” before the second date.
  • Copy/paste the URL at the end of the citation. Don’t add a period at the end. Verify the link still works as close as possible to submitting your work.

Follow us on Facebook   Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on X (Twitter)   Follow us on X (Twitter)