Style Comparison

AMA vs Vancouver

Understand when a medical paper asks for AMA style and when it asks for Vancouver style.

AMA citation style is a numbered citation style commonly used in medical and scientific writing. It uses superscript numbers in the text and a numbered reference list at the end of the paper.

  • Last reviewed: June 2026
  • Based on AMA Manual of Style, 11th edition
  • Not affiliated with the American Medical Association
  • Examples checked against AMA 11th edition citation rules

Generate an AMA citation

Reference List Citation

In-text Citation

Manual review required: verify generated medical citations before submitting. This tool does not guarantee publication compliance.

Citation list

Is AMA the same as Vancouver?

No. AMA and Vancouver are both numbered citation styles used in medical and scientific writing, but they are not identical. If an assignment, journal, or institution asks for AMA 11th edition, follow AMA formatting rules.

AMA vs Vancouver citation format

AMA

Commonly uses superscript in-text numbers and AMA-specific reference formatting.

Smith JA. Article title. Journal Name. 2025;332(4):301-309. doi:10.1001/example

Vancouver

Uses numbered citations too, but journal and publisher requirements may follow different punctuation and formatting conventions.

Smith JA. Article title. Journal Name. 2025;332(4):301-309.

FAQ

Can I submit Vancouver when the instructions say AMA?

No. Use the citation style requested by your instructor, institution, or journal.

Are AMA and Vancouver both numbered styles?

Yes. Both are numbered styles, but formatting details differ.