The Ultimate Guide to AMA Citation Generators
Artificial Intelligence

The Ultimate Guide to AMA Citation Generators

Mandi D 13 September 2023

Citing sources correctly is a crucial part of any research or academic paper. Proper citations give credit to authors whose work you have referenced, allow readers to locate those sources, and demonstrate that you have done adequate research to support your paper’s claims.

The American Medical Association (AMA) citation style is commonly used in medical and scientific writing. It provides guidelines for citing sources within the text of a paper and creating a reference list. However, manually formatting citations and references according to the intricate AMA style guidelines can be tedious and time-consuming. This is where an AMA citation generator comes in handy!

An AMA citation generator is an online tool that automatically creates citations and references for you in the proper AMA format. In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about using an AMA citation generator to seamlessly cite sources and create your reference list when writing a research paper.

What is an AMA Citation Generator?

An AMA citation generator is a software tool that formats academic citations and references for you in the American Medical Association (AMA) style. It takes in the relevant details about a source, such as the author name(s), article title, journal name, volume and issue number, page range, DOI or URL, and publication year. The generator then automatically structures this information into the proper AMA format for both in-text citations and reference list entries.

AMA citation generators are available online through various academic and writing websites. Some popular generators include Citationsy, CiteThisForMe, and Scribbr. Many generators have both free and paid subscription options, with the paid versions providing additional features like plagiarism checkers, bibliographies, in-text citation management, and more.

The key benefits of using an AMA citation generator include:

  • Saving time – No need to manually apply formatting rules for each source
  • Reducing errors – Generators insure citations are structured properly
  • Convenience – Web-based generators can be used on any device

Whether you’re a student composing a research paper or a professional academic looking to publish a study, an AMA citation generator is an invaluable tool that takes the work out of referencing sources accurately.

How AMA Citation Generators Work

AMA citation generators operate using a simple fill-in-the-blanks format. The key information required is:

  • Author(s) names
  • Article/chapter/book title
  • Journal/magazine/website name
  • Publication date
  • Volume, issue, and page numbers or URL

This data is inputted into the generator’s form fields. The generator then takes this information and structures it into a properly formatted AMA citation based on the source type (journal article, website, book, etc.).

Most AMA citation generators will require you to select the type of source you are referencing from a drop-down menu. Common options include:

  • Journal article
  • Entire journal issue
  • Magazine article
  • Newspaper article
  • Book
  • Book chapter
  • E-book
  • Website
  • Social media
  • YouTube video
  • Dataset
  • Dissertation/thesis
  • Government report
  • Press release
  • Personal communication
  • Conference presentation
  • Lecture notes
  • Package insert

After choosing the appropriate source type, you will be presented with the relevant fields to complete, such as volume and issue number for a journal or publisher and edition for a book. Most generators have separate sections for inputting in-text citation data and reference list data.

Once all necessary information is entered, the generator will structurally assemble an AMA style citation with the correct punctuation, formatting, and ordering of elements based on whether it is an in-text, parenthetical, or reference list citation. The generated citations can then be copied and pasted directly into your paper.

Key Benefits of Using an AMA Citation Generator

Using an AMA citation generator offers several key advantages for researchers, academics, students, and publishers:

Saves time – Manually formatting citations and references in AMA style is tedious and time-consuming. Generators create them almost instantly. This gives you more time for actual writing and research.

Reduces mistakes – AMA style has precise formatting rules for elements like author names, punctuation, capitalization, and more. It’s easy to make minor mistakes when manually applying the rules. Generators ensure accuracy.

Provides consistency – Formatting citations consistently throughout a long research paper can be challenging. Generators ensure uniformity for every citation.

** Allows switching styles easily** – Most generators allow choosing between commonly used styles like AMA, APA, and MLA. You can easily change the citation style without redoing all your citations manually.

Supports various source types – Generators can structure citations for journals, books, websites, videos, social media, and more. Handling so many source types manually would be difficult.

Saves references – Most generators export generated citations into a bibliography or reference list that can be downloaded for adding to papers.

Provides access anytime & anywhere – Web-based generators can be used on all devices with an internet connection for instant access from anywhere.

Offers advanced features (paid versions) – Paid generator subscriptions often include handy features like cloud syncing across devices, collaboration tools, plagiarism checkers, citation management, and more.

Free to use (basic version) – Many generators offer free access to basic citation and referencing features, allowing students, academics, and researchers to properly cite sources at no cost.

Using a citation generator like an AMA citation generator essentially provides an effortless way to create properly structured citations so you can focus your energies on the actual content of your paper.

How to Use an AMA Citation Generator

Most AMA citation generators are fairly intuitive and easy to use. However, here are some general steps to follow when using a generator:

1. Select your source type

Start by choosing the type of source you want to cite from options like journal article, book, website, and more. This ensures the generator applies the correct AMA formatting style.

2. Input source information

Accurately fill in the details like author, article title, journal name, publisher, URL, etc. in the provided fields for the source type selected.

3. Generate citation

Click the “Generate” or “Create Citation” button. The platform will automatically structure the inputted details into a properly formatted AMA citation.

4. Copy & paste citation

The formatted citation will appear in a box. Copy and paste it directly into your paper.

5. Export citation

Use provided options to export or download the generated citation into a reference list or bibliography that you can include in your paper.

6. Save citations

Create an account to save and access all your citations in one place for easy referencing anytime.

7. Upgrade for advanced features

For features like mobile support, collaboration tools, PDF management, plagiarism checker, citation editing, and more, upgrade to a paid subscription.

The basic steps are quite simple and take only a few seconds to complete once you input the source data. Advanced features may have additional steps, but generators provide guides on how to use them.

Types of AMA In-text & Parenthetical Citations

The AMA citation style has specific formats for in-text citations, used when source information is integrated into the text flow, and parenthetical citations that appear at the end of a sentence/passage. An AMA citation generator will structure in-text and parenthetical citations based on the number and type of authors.

AMA In-text Citations:

Single Author – Sullivan1 found that…

Two Authors – Sullivan and Smith1 found that…

Three or More Authors – Sullivan et al1 found that…

Group Author with Abbreviation – American Medical Association (AMA)1 guidelines state…

Group Author without Abbreviation – Researchers for the National Institutes of Health1 found…

AMA Parenthetical Citations:

Single Author – …obesity leads to higher morbidity (Sullivan1).

Two Authors – …obesity leads to higher morbidity (Sullivan and Smith1).

Three or More Authors – …obesity leads to higher morbidity (Sullivan et al1).

Group Author with Abbreviation – …guidelines recommend regular exercise (AMA1).

Group Author without Abbreviation – …the study had a large sample size (Researchers for the National Institutes of Health1).

The generator will properly abbreviate and order author names, group authors, organizations, etc. when creating AMA style in-text and parenthetical citations.

Elements of an AMA Reference List Citation

In AMA format, the reference list appears at the end of the paper and provides full bibliographic details for all in-text citations. The elements generally included in AMA reference list citations are:

  • Author(s) – Listed last name followed by initials without periods
  • Article Title – Enclosed in quotation marks
  • Journal Title – In italics (abbreviated if possible)
  • Publication Year – In parentheses
  • Volume Number – Preceded by “vol”
  • Issue Number – In parentheses preceded by “no”
  • Page Range – Preceded by a colon
  • DOI or URL – Preceded by “doi:” or “Available at:”

AMA citation generators will correctly order and punctuate these elements based on the type of source being cited.

Here are some examples of common AMA reference list citations:

Journal Article

Moreno JD, Fletcher M, Sullivan S. Measurement of obesity and affluence in developed nations. J Epidemiol. 2020(3):160-174. doi:10.1016/j.je.2020.01.003

Entire Journal Issue

Thomas J, ed. Advances in Genetics Research. Genetics Journal. 2017;35(2).

E-Book

Kemp MG. Childhood Obesity Prevention in Urban Areas [e-book]. New York, NY: Springer Publishing; 2018. Available at: https://link.springer.com. Accessed December 10, 2020.

Website

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult obesity prevalence maps. Updated August 31, 2022. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/prevalence-maps.html. Accessed September 10, 2022.

Tips for Using an AMA Citation Generator

Here are some useful tips to optimize your experience using an AMA citation generator:

  • Carefully choose the correct source type so the generator applies the right formatting.
  • Double check all entered source data for accuracy before generating citation.
  • Generate citations as you write your paper to easily keep track of them.
  • Export citations into a Word doc or Excel sheet to easily manage them.
  • Format page numbers correctly – examples: 456-561, 23-26, 112.
  • Abbreviate group author names if they have a common abbreviation.
  • Save your citations so you can log back into your account and access them later.
  • Take advantage of advanced features offered in paid versions like mobile apps.
  • Contact customer support if you are unsure about citing a less common source type.
  • Confirm there are no errors in the final generated citation before adding it to your paper.

Following these useful tips will allow you to get the most out of using an AMA citation generator for your research paper or academic project.

Strengths & Limitations of AMA Citation Generators

Strengths

  • Save considerable time formatting citations manually
  • Ensure citations are structured properly in AMA style
  • Allow easy switching between common citation styles
  • Provide access to citations anytime from any device
  • Useful advanced features in paid versions like collaboration and PDF management
  • Handle various source types like books, journals, websites, and more
  • Offer customer support for questions or issues
  • Provide convenience of auto-generating reference list
  • Easy to use even for those unfamiliar with AMA style

Limitations

  • Cannot discern finer stylistic details a human would catch
  • Requires internet access to use web-based generators
  • Requires entering source data manually
  • Potential for errors if incorrect source data is entered
  • May need to double check final citation for mistakes
  • Paid versions can be costly for long-term use
  • Limited knowledge base for unusual or less common sources
  • Does not confirm accuracy of citation content
  • Some advanced features may have a learning curve

Overall though, the significant time savings and convenience provided by AMA citation generators far outweigh their limitations for most students, academics, researchers, and publishers when used properly.

5 popular AMA citation generators for 2023

  1. Citation Machine (citationmachine.net) – A free and easy to use web-based citation generator that supports AMA format along with 7,000+ other styles. Allows citation creation and management.
  2. BibMe (bibme.org) – A free online citation generator with support for AMA, MLA, APA, and Chicago formats. Offers a manual entry option for sources. Has a bibliography creator and citation guide.
  3. Scribbr (scribbr.com) – Provides an AMA citation generator alongside 9,000+ other styles. Includes plagiarism checker and grammar check features. Has paid subscription plans for extra functions.
  4. Citationsy (citationsy.com) – An AMA citation tool with support for books, journals, websites and more. Allows collaboration, cloud syncing and has iPhone/iPad apps available. Has a paid Cite Pro plan.
  5. EasyBib (easybib.com) – A citation generation site with an AMA format citation builder. Has manual entry options and barcode scanning to create citations. Provides a citation guide for reference.

Conclusion

AMA citation generators are indispensable tools that make correctly formatting in-text citations and references effortless. They allow you to swiftly create properly structured AMA citations, export them into your paper or bibliography, and even switch between styles like APA if needed. Generators are easy to use – simply choose the source type, input the details, auto-generate the citation, and copy it into your paper.

Features like cloud syncing, collaboration options, plagiarism checkers, citation management, and more are available through paid subscriptions that provide additional functionality beyond basic citation creation. While generators may have some limitations in terms of capability relative to a human, their ability to save huge amounts of time and minimize errors makes them an essential resource for any writer or researcher using the AMA format. Making the most of an AMA citation generator will immensely boost your productivity and insure you are properly citing sources.