The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) is a highly respected, peer-reviewed medical journal that publishes original research articles, reviews, and clinical trials. Properly citing articles from this prestigious publication is crucial for academic integrity and allows readers to locate the original source of information. The citation format can vary slightly depending on the citation style guide you are following, such as AMA (American Medical Association), APA (American Psychological Association), or MLA (Modern Language Association). However, the core components of a citation remain consistent.
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Key Components of a NEJM Citation
Regardless of the specific style guide, a complete citation for a NEJM article will generally include the following information:
- Author(s): The full names of all authors, or the first author followed by “et al.” if there are many authors, as specified by the citation style.
- Article Title: The complete title of the article, including any subtitles.
- Journal Abbreviation or Full Name: The official abbreviation of the journal (e.g., N Engl J Med) or its full title.
- Year of Publication: The year the article was published.
- Volume Number: The volume in which the article appears.
- Issue Number: The specific issue number within the volume.
- Page Numbers: The starting and ending page numbers of the article.
- DOI (Digital Object Identifier): A unique alphanumeric string assigned to identify a document. This is increasingly important for online access.
Citation Styles Explained
Here’s how to cite a NEJM article using some of the most common styles:
AMA (American Medical Association) Style
AMA style is widely used in medical and scientific writing. It emphasizes conciseness.
- List authors’ last names and initials.
- Article title.
- Journal abbreviation (often found on the journal’s website or in databases).
- Year;Volume(Issue):Pages.
- DOI (if available), preceded by “doi:”.
Example:
Author AA, Author BB, Author CC. Article title. Abbreviated Journal Name. Year;Vol(Issue):Pages. doi:XX.XXXXXXX
APA (American Psychological Association) Style
APA style is common in social sciences and behavioral sciences, including some health-related fields.
- List authors’ last names and initials.
- (Year).
- Article title;
- Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Pages.
- DOI (if available), as a hyperlink.
Example:
Author AA, Author BB, & Author CC. (Year). Article title. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), Pages. https://doi.org/XX.XXXXXXX
MLA (Modern Language Association) Style
MLA style is often used in the humanities.
- Author(s)’ last name, first name.
- “Article Title.”
- Journal Title,
- Vol. Volume, no. Issue,
- Year, pp. Pages.
- DOI (if available).
Example:
Author AA, Author BB, and Author CC. “Article Title.” Journal Title, vol. Volume, no. Issue, Year, pp. Pages. DOI.
Finding Citation Information
You can find all the necessary information to cite a NEJM article on the article itself, the journal’s website, or in academic databases like PubMed, Scopus, or Web of Science. Most databases provide a “cite” or “citation” feature that can generate citations in various styles, which can be a helpful starting point.
Importance of Consistency
It is vital to maintain consistency throughout your document with the chosen citation style. Inconsistent citations can detract from the professionalism of your work and may lead to confusion for your readers.
By understanding these components and following the guidelines of your preferred citation style, you can accurately and effectively cite articles from the New England Journal of Medicine.
