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AMA (11th ed.) Style Guide: Citation Accuracy: Computer vs. Your Brain

An introductory guide to creating end-of-paper references in accordance with the 11th edition of the AMA Manual of Style (2020).

Citation Accuracy: Computer vs. Your Brain

 

VERIFYING THE ACCURACY OF COMPUTER-GENERATED REFERENCES

Computer-generated references are oftentimes incorrectly formatted. So you always always always need to verify the accuracy of references generated by databases (ex. PsycINFO, MEDLINE) and citation management software (ex. Zotero, RefWorks).

 

 

EXAMPLES OF INCORRECTLY FORMATTED REFERENCES GENERATED BY DATABASES

 

AMA style reference generated by database (CINAHL Plus with Full Text)

Berkowitz O, Hooker RS, Nissanholtz-Gannot R, Zigdon A. Israeli Willingness to be Treated by a Physician Assistant. Journal of Community Health. 2020;45(6):1283-1290. doi:10.1007/s10900-020-00835-7

 What's Wrong Above? 

  • The article title includes too much capitalization.
  • The journal title should be abbreviated.

 

AMA style reference generated by database (MEDLINE with Full Text)

McWeeney M. Association Between Stress and Program Length in Underrepresented Minority Physician Assistant Students. The journal of physician assistant education : the official journal of the Physician Assistant Education Association. 2022;33(4):336-340. doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000460

 What's Wrong Above? 

  • The article title includes too much capitalization.
  • The journal title should be abbreviated.
  • The journal titled should be properly capitalized
  • The journal title should not include a subtitle.

 

AMA style reference generated by database (PubMed)

Halter M, Drennan V, Chattopadhyay K, Carneiro W, Yiallouros J, de Lusignan S, Gage H, Gabe J, Grant R. The contribution of physician assistants in primary care: a systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2013 Jun 18;13:223. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-13-223. PMID: 23773235; PMCID: PMC3698179.

 What's Wrong Above? 

  • Too many author names are included.
  • The journal title should be italicized.
  • The month and day of publication should not be included.

 

 

EXAMPLES OF INCORRECTLY FORMATTED REFERENCES GENERATED BY ZOTERO

 

AMA style reference generated by Zotero (accessing CINAHL Plus with Full Text)

Berkowitz O, Hooker RS, Nissanholtz-Gannot R, Zigdon A. Israeli Willingness to be Treated by a Physician Assistant. J COMMUNITY HEALTH. 2020;45(6):1283-1290. doi:10.1007/s10900-020-00835-7

 What's Wrong Above? 

  • The article title includes too much capitalization.
  • The journal title should not be fully capitalized.

 

AMA style reference generated by Zotero (accessing MEDLINE with Full Text)

McWeeney M. Association Between Stress and Program Length in Underrepresented Minority Physician Assistant Students. J Physician Assist Educ Off J Physician Assist Educ Assoc. 2022;33(4):336-340. doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000460

 What's Wrong Above? 

  • The article title includes too much capitalization.
  • The journal title should not include a subtitle.

 

AMA style reference generated by Zotero (accessing PubMed)

van den Driesschen Q, de Roo F. Physician assistants in the Netherlands. JAAPA Off J Am Acad Physician Assist. 2014;27(9):10-11. doi:10.1097/01.JAA.0000453240.00098.83

 What's Wrong Above? 

  • The journal title should not include a subtitle.