How to prepare references for submission

Go to Author Information Center | Examples of formatted references

Created September 2, 2021 | Revision history

Reference formatting

  • Journal staff strongly encourages authors to use EndNote in Microsoft Word to ensure that the format is correct.
  • Ensure that all citations have a corresponding reference, all references are cited, and there are no duplicates.
  • Staff may return a submission if references are not prepared according to Journal format.

Reference citations

  • References are cited sequentially in the text
  • Citations appear as numerals in parentheses preceded by a space; for example,
    • “as described previously (1, 2)”
    • “several research groups (3–10) have found”
    • “as discussed previously (11, 13, 15–20)”
  • Do not use superscript, brackets, italics, or other formatting.

Reference list

  • References are numbered in the order in which they are cited in the text.
  • Bibliographical information is presented according to the most recent edition of the AMA Manual of Style, with the following exception: when a publication has 3 or more authors, include only the first author, followed by “, et al.”
  • Abbreviate names of journals according to the NLM Catalog–Journals database.
  • Do not include extraneous information such as PubMed identification (PMID).
  • Manuscripts accepted for publication are treated as numbered references (see "In press" example below).

Special references

  • URLs: In the main text, limit use to citation of online databases and similar websites; URLs representing publications should be treated as numbered references, with complete bibliographic details.
  • Preprints: Only preprints that have been uploaded to a recognized preprint server (e.g., arXiv, bioRxiv, medRxiv) should be included in the reference list (see example below).
  • Preprints uploaded to a non-recognized preprint server; submitted manuscripts; manuscripts in preparation; unpublished observations; personal communications; and preliminary reports:
    • Reference parenthetically in the main text (do not include in the Reference list);
    • If the source is someone outside your research group:
      • Specify the affiliation and location)
      • Submit written permission (an email is sufficient)
    • Examples:
      • “in preliminary results from our research group (unpublished observations)”
      • “confirmed by the test (Rajiv M. Patel, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, personal communication)"
 

Examples of formatted references

[Top of page]

Journal articles

  • Keane L, et al. mTOR-dependent translation amplifies microglia priming in aging mice. J Clin Invest. 2021;131(1):e132727.
  • Khan SS, Greenland P. Comprehensive cardiovascular health promotion for successful prevention of cardiovascular disease. JAMA. 2020;324(20):2036–2037.

Online ahead of print

  • van der Hoek L. Identification of a new human coronavirus [published online October 21, 2009]. Nat Med. https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1024.

In press

  • Jacovina AT. Homocysteine inhibits neoangiogenesis in mice through blockade of annexin A2–dependent fibrinolysis. J Clin Invest. In press.

Preprints

  • Baumgart J, et al. Soluble tubulin is locally enriched at mitotic centrosomes in C. elegans [preprint]. https://doi.org/10.1101/543066. Posted on bioRxiv February 6, 2019.

Entire books

  • Ellis RW, Brodeur BR, eds. Bacterial Vaccines. Landes Bioscience; 2003.

Articles in books

  • Jacobsen D. Practical chemistry of homocysteine and other thiols. In: Carmel R, Jacobsen D, eds. Homocysteine in Health and Disease. Cambridge University Press; 2001:9–20.

Websites

  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Asthma Risk Factors and Prevention Research. http://stemcells.nih.gov/policy/2009guidelines. Updated April 5, 2018. Accessed November 5, 2020.

Data in repositories

  • Cutter AD, Gray JC. Data from: Ephemeral ecological speciation and the latitudinal biodiversity gradient. Dryad Digital Repository. Deposited August 17, 2016. doi:10.5061/dryad.734v9. Accessed July 13, 2026.

Software

  • R: A language and environment for statistical computing. Version 4.2.0. R Foundation for Statistical Computing; 2022. https://www.R-project.org/.

Patents

  • Doe J, inventor; Corporation Name, assignee. Patent name here. US Patent 1234567. January 5, 2025.

Presentations at meetings

  • Morales M, Zhou X. Health practices of immigrant women: indigenous knowledge in an urban environment. Paper presented at: 78th Association for Information Science and Technology Annual Meeting; November 6–10, 2015; St. Louis, Missouri, USA. https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/2857070.2857108. Accessed March 15, 2020.
 
Advertisement