How to Cite a PDF in American Medical Association (AMA)
To cite a PDF in AMA, treat it by what it actually is, usually a report or document, giving the author or issuing organization, the title, the publisher, the year, then the URL and accessed date. The PDF format itself is not the citation type; the content is.
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How to cite a pdf in AMA step by step
- Identify the source type. Decide whether the PDF is a report, government document, or article, and cite it in that form rather than as a generic file.
- Name the author or organization. Use the personal author, or the issuing agency or organization when no individual is named.
- Give the document title. Enter the full document title as printed on the PDF.
- Add publisher and year. Name the publisher or issuing body and the year of publication.
- Add the URL. Give the direct URL to the PDF so readers can download the same file.
- Record the accessed date. End with the date you accessed the file, since online documents can be revised or moved.
AMA pdf citation format
An AMA reference to a PDF report runs author or organization, title, publisher, year, URL, and accessed date, with the superscript number in the text. AMA cites by the nature of the document, not by its file type.
Common pdf citation variations
How do I cite a government report PDF in AMA?
Use the issuing agency as the author, give the report title and any report number, then the publisher, year, URL, and accessed date.
How do I cite a PDF with no author in AMA?
Use the issuing organization as the author. If none exists, begin with the title and keep the year and accessed date.
Do I write the word PDF in an AMA citation?
No. AMA cites the document as a report or article. The URL signals that it is an online file without labeling it PDF.
How do I cite a PDF of a journal article in AMA?
Cite it as a journal article with author, title, journal, year, volume, issue, and pages, since the PDF is just a copy of that article.
Cite any source in AMA
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PDF citation FAQ
Does AMA have a separate PDF citation type?
No. You cite the underlying work, most often a report or article, and the URL shows it was a downloadable file.
Do I need a page number for a PDF in AMA?
Give a specific page only when you quote or reference one part. Otherwise the document title and source are enough.