A title can look perfect, then one tiny word ruins the whole line. Was it “with” or “With”? Should “phase 3” be capped? In medical writing, those small choices affect trust.
This guide breaks down AMA title case rules from the AMA 11th edition in plain language, shows where AMA prefers sentence case instead, and gives 60 ready-to-paste examples for common medical topics.
Where AMA uses title case (and where it does not)
In AMA Manual of Style, capitalization depends on what you are writing, not just how the phrase looks. Many writers learn “title case” first, then get surprised when AMA asks for sentence case in places that look like “titles.”
Here is the quickest way to avoid the most common mismatch.
| Element in AMA-style writing | Typical capitalization | What that means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Journal titles (in references) | Title case | Capitalize major words in the abbreviated journal title; keep short function words lowercase |
| Book titles (in references) | Title case | Same idea as journal titles |
| Journal article titles (in references) | Sentence case | Capitalize first word, first after a colon, proper nouns, standard abbreviations |
| Headings and subheadings inside many AMA manuscripts | Sentence case (often) | Reads like a normal sentence, not a headline |
If you only remember one thing: AMA commonly uses sentence case for article titles in the reference list, even when the journal name uses title case.
For the primary source, check the official platform for the manual at AMA Manual of Style on Oxford Academic. As of February 2026, the 11th edition remains the current edition, and you should follow your target journal’s instructions if they add house rules.
AMA title case rules you can apply to journal and book titles
When the AMA Manual of Style calls for title case (most often for journal names and full book titles in references), use a simple “major vs minor words” test.
In title case, capitalize:
- Nouns, pronouns, verbs (including “Is” and “Be”), adjectives, adverbs
- Capitalize 2-letter verbs
- Subordinating conjunctions (Because, Although, While)
- The first and last word (even if they are short)
In title case, usually lowercase in the middle:
- Articles: a, an, the
- Coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet
- Prepositions of 3 or fewer letters: of, in, to, on, at, by, per
Many teams also capitalize longer prepositions in AMA title case (for example, With, Between, Through). If “with” keeps causing edits, this quick explainer on when to capitalize “with” in title case can help you decide fast.
A few high-yield punctuation rules:
- Subtitle capitalization: After a colon, capitalize the first word of the subtitle.
- Hyphenated compounds: For hyphenated compounds, capitalize the first element, then capitalize the second element if it is one of the major words (keep it lowercase if it is a preposition of 3 or fewer letters or article).
If you switch between style guides at work, it also helps to see how Chicago differs, especially on prepositions, see Chicago title case rules.
Medical terms that trigger capitalization mistakes
Scientific manuscripts require specific formatting for technical terms. Medical titles include abbreviations, symbols, and drug or trial language that does not behave like everyday English. Keep these habits in mind:
In AMA style, author names and academic degrees should be handled without periods.
Citation formatting relies on in-text citations marked by superscript numerals.
Abbreviations stay as they are. Write SARS-CoV-2, DNA, HbA1c, and eGFR in their standard forms, even in sentence case.
Greek letters are not “capitalization.” A β-blocker stays β-blocker. Don’t change the symbol to match nearby caps.
Hyphens and prefixes matter. Terms like “anti-PD-1” and “dose-response” often function like single units. Capitalize based on position and word type, not on how “important” the term feels.
For a practical secondary reference (and to align with common publisher workflows), you can also skim the Wiley AMA Manual of Style user guide (PDF) and a library-friendly summary like the AMA quick reference (PDF). Always include the digital object identifier (DOI) for online references.
61 copy-paste AMA capitalization examples (title case and sentence case)
These copy-paste examples are suitable for structured abstracts, tables and figures, journal and book titles, article titles, and headings. Examples 1 to 30 show AMA-style title case for journal and book titles. Examples 31 to 61 show AMA-style sentence case for article titles and many headings.
- Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
- The New England Journal of Medicine
- Wrong: Journal Of Clinical Epidemiology. Right: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology.
- Randomized Trials in Cardiovascular Medicine
- Wrong: Randomized Trials In Cardiovascular Medicine. Right: Randomized Trials in Cardiovascular Medicine.
- Meta-Analysis Methods for Evidence Synthesis
- Wrong: Meta-analysis methods For Evidence Synthesis. Right: Meta-Analysis Methods for Evidence Synthesis.
- Public Health Ethics in Emergency Response
- Wrong: Public health ethics in emergency response. Right: Public Health Ethics in Emergency Response.
- Principles of Molecular Genetics
- Wrong: Principles of molecular genetics. Right: Principles of Molecular Genetics.
- Diabetes Care and Education Essentials
- Wrong: Diabetes Care And Education Essentials. Right: Diabetes Care and Education Essentials.
- Imaging of the Chest in Acute Infection
- Wrong: Imaging Of The Chest in Acute infection. Right: Imaging of the Chest in Acute Infection.
- Pharmacology of β-Blocker Therapy
- Wrong: Pharmacology of β-blocker therapy. Right: Pharmacology of β-Blocker Therapy.
- Oncology: Immunotherapy With Anti-PD-1 Agents
- Wrong: Oncology: immunotherapy with anti-PD-1 agents. Right: Oncology: Immunotherapy With Anti-PD-1 Agents.
- Pediatrics in Primary Care Practice
- Wrong: Pediatrics In Primary Care Practice. Right: Pediatrics in Primary Care Practice.
- Health Policy for Rural Hospitals
- Wrong: Health Policy For Rural Hospitals. Right: Health Policy for Rural Hospitals.
- Nutrition in Type 2 Diabetes Management
- Wrong: Nutrition in Type 2 diabetes management. Right: Nutrition in Type 2 Diabetes Management.
- Screening and Prevention in Older Adults
- Wrong: Screening And Prevention in Older Adults. Right: Screening and Prevention in Older Adults.
- Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission
- Wrong: Epidemiology Of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission. Right: Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission.
- Methods and Metrics in Clinical Research
- Treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults
- Wrong: Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in Adults. Right: Treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults.
- Effects of β-blocker use after myocardial infarction
- Wrong: Effects of β-Blocker Use After Myocardial Infarction. Right: Effects of β-blocker use after myocardial infarction.
- SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake in health care workers
- Wrong: SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Uptake in Health Care Workers. Right: SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake in health care workers.
- Association between HbA1c and all-cause mortality: a cohort study
- Wrong: Association Between HbA1c and All-Cause Mortality: A Cohort Study. Right: Association between HbA1c and all-cause mortality: A cohort study.
- Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) reporting in outpatient labs
- Wrong: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) Reporting in Outpatient Labs. Right: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) reporting in outpatient labs.
- Adverse events in a randomized clinical trial of anti-PD-1 therapy
- Wrong: Adverse Events in a Randomized Clinical Trial of Anti-PD-1 Therapy. Right: Adverse events in a randomized clinical trial of anti-PD-1 therapy.
- Meta-analysis of statin intensity and stroke risk
- Wrong: Meta-Analysis of Statin Intensity and Stroke Risk. Right: Meta-analysis of statin intensity and stroke risk.
- Phase 3 trial outcomes in chronic kidney disease
- Wrong: Phase 3 Trial Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease. Right: Phase 3 trial outcomes in chronic kidney disease.
- Diagnostic accuracy of rapid antigen tests in symptomatic patients
- Wrong: Diagnostic Accuracy of Rapid Antigen Tests in Symptomatic Patients. Right: Diagnostic accuracy of rapid antigen tests in symptomatic patients.
- Trends in opioid prescribing in emergency departments
- Wrong: Trends in Opioid Prescribing in Emergency Departments. Right: Trends in opioid prescribing in emergency departments.
- Patient-reported outcomes in oncology clinics
- Wrong: Patient-Reported Outcomes in Oncology Clinics. Right: Patient-reported outcomes in oncology clinics.
- Risk factors for sepsis in older adults
- Wrong: Risk Factors for Sepsis in Older Adults. Right: Risk factors for sepsis in older adults.
- Methods: units of measure, sample collection, and storage
- Wrong: Methods: Units of Measure, Sample Collection, and Storage. Right: Methods: units of measure, sample collection, and storage.
- Results: primary end point, P values, and subgroup analyses
- Wrong: Results: Primary End Point, P Values, and Subgroup Analyses. Right: Results: primary end point, P values, and subgroup analyses.
- Discussion: inclusive language and clinical implications for primary care
- Wrong: Discussion: Inclusive Language and Clinical Implications for Primary Care. Right: Discussion: inclusive language and clinical implications for primary care.
- Citation example with DOI: trends in opioid prescribing in emergency departments. J Emerg Med. 2023;64(2):150-160. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2023.01.005.
Conclusion
AMA capitalization feels picky because it has two systems that sit side by side. Use title case for journal and book titles, then switch to sentence case for many article titles and headings. Title page formatting is another critical area for consistency. When edits pile up, come back to these AMA title case rules, consult the NLM Catalog for standard journal abbreviations, ensure your reference list stays consistent, copy an example that matches your situation, and keep your document consistent from first draft to final proof.
