American Medical Association (AMA) Style Quick Guide

Emails

Email and electronic mailing list messages should be listed parenthetically in text, not in the reference list. The name and highest academic degree of the message sender, their affiliation, and the send date, should be included. Be sure to obtain permission from the author to include this and any other personal communication.

Format

Running text, reference to Author first initials and last name, Author academic degree(s) (Date of email).

Example

The findings were noted by J. Q. Public, MPH (email communication, August 1, 2021).

Format:

Last Name First and Middle Initials. Article Title [published online date]. Abbreviated Journal Title in Italics. doi or URL. 

Example:

Keren R, Shah SS, Srivastava R, et al. Comparative effectiveness of intravenous vs oral antibiotics for postdischarge treatment of acute osteomyelitis in children [published online December 15, 2014].  JAMA Pediatr. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.2822.

Online methods of publication have given rise to manuscripts that may be uploaded by the authors to a public server. These articles are typically not peer-reviewed, but may have DOIs. 

• Preprints:

  • Articles where the research is finished but has not gone through peer review. Use the preprint server as the journal title.

• ePub:

  • Articles which have gone through peer review and are accepted by the journal, but have not have the final version published. Pagination may not be available, in which case the citation should reference the date published online and the DOI.

• Newly Published:

  • Articles which have been officially published by the journal.