How to Cite a YouTube Video in AMA Format

This guide explains how to cite a YouTube video in AMA format and gives clear examples you can copy. AMA (American Medical Association) style is commonly used in medicine, nursing, and health sciences, so accurate citations matter for publications, coursework, and clinical reports.

Read step-by-step instructions for YouTube videos, plus quick examples for books, journals, websites, and a few other common source types. If you want an instant formatted reference, use Rephrasely's free citation generator.

Introduction — What AMA Is and Who Uses It

AMA style defines citation rules, in-text numbering, and reference list formatting for scholarly medical writing. It emphasizes brevity and consistent presentation, using superscript numerals for in-text citations and a numbered reference list ordered by first appearance.

Users of AMA include authors submitting to medical journals, students in health sciences, and clinical researchers. Knowing how to cite multimedia items like YouTube videos prevents attribution errors and supports reproducible scholarship.

General Rules — Key Formatting Rules

Use superscript numbers for in-text citations in the order sources appear (for example, 1).
Reference list entries are numbered and listed in order of citation, not alphabetically.
Include the uploader or author, the video title, the medium label in square brackets (eg, [video]), the hosting site (YouTube), publication date, full URL, and the access date.
Use sentence case for titles (only the first word and proper nouns capitalized) and enclose the medium label in brackets exactly as [video].
Always include an access date for online content that might change or be removed.

How to Cite by Source Type

How to cite a YouTube video (step-by-step)

Follow these quick steps when preparing an AMA reference for a YouTube video:

Identify the uploader name. Use the real name if provided on the video page; otherwise use the channel/username.
Copy the exact video title from YouTube and use sentence case.
Add the medium label: [video].
List "YouTube" as the hosting website.
Record the published date shown on the video and the full URL.
Include the date you accessed the video.

Standard AMA reference format for a YouTube video:

Uploader. Video title [video]. YouTube. Published Month Day, Year. URL. Accessed Month Day, Year.

Example with a personal uploader:

Smith J. How vaccines work [video]. YouTube. Published January 5, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXXXXXXXXXX. Accessed February 10, 2024.

Example with a channel username (no real name listed):

MedChannelOfficial. Understanding insulin resistance [video]. YouTube. Published March 8, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYYYYYYYYYY. Accessed February 10, 2024.

Tip: If a creator lists a real name and a username, use the real name as the uploader. If only a username is present, cite the username.

How to cite a book

AMA book references require author(s), book title in sentence case, edition (if not first), publisher, year, and page numbers when applicable.

Last FM, Second AB. Title of Book. 3rd ed. Publisher Name; 2018.

How to cite a journal article

Journal articles in AMA list authors (up to six; use et al. after six), article title, journal title abbreviation, year, volume(issue):pages, and DOI if available.

Jones CM, Patel R. New approaches to wound care. J Wound Care. 2022;31(4):215-222. doi:10.1000/jwc.2022.12345

How to cite a website

For web pages, include author or organization, page title, website name (if different), published or updated date if available, URL, and access date.

American Heart Association. Understanding cholesterol. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol. Accessed February 10, 2024.

How to cite a podcast episode

Podcasts require host(s), episode title, medium label [podcast episode], podcast title, release date, URL, and access date if applicable.

Lee S, host. Nutrition myths and facts [podcast episode]. The Nutrition Hour. Published July 10, 2020. https://podcasts.example.com/episode123. Accessed February 10, 2024.

In-Text Citations — Rules and Examples

In AMA style, cite sources using consecutive superscript numbers placed after punctuation unless readability requires placement elsewhere. Numbers correspond to the reference list.

Single citation example:

The video explains the immunization steps.1

Multiple citations:

The review covered viral transmission studies.2,5

Ranges are shown with a hyphen:

Several studies support this approach.3-6

Actionable tip: When referring directly to a portion of a video (for example, a specific demonstration or timestamp), include the superscript number for the reference and clarify the timestamp in the narrative: "see demonstration at 2:15–2:30 in video 1." AMA does not require timestamps in the reference list, but including them in the text improves clarity.

Reference List — Formatting Rules and Example

The reference list appears at the end of your document as a numbered list in the order sources are first cited. Use a hanging indent for each entry and maintain consistent punctuation and spacing.

Key points:

Number entries in order of citation, starting at 1.
Use the uploader/author surname and initials (for individuals) or the organization/channel name.
Include the medium label in brackets (eg, [video], [podcast episode]).
Provide the full, direct URL and an access date for online sources.

Example reference list including a YouTube video and other source types:

1. Smith J. How vaccines work [video]. YouTube. Published January 5, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXXXXXXXXXX. Accessed February 10, 2024.
2. Jones CM, Patel R. New approaches to wound care. J Wound Care. 2022;31(4):215-222. doi:10.1000/jwc.2022.12345
3. American Heart Association. Understanding cholesterol. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cholesterol. Accessed February 10, 2024.

Actionable formatting check: scan your reference list to ensure every in-text superscript number matches a numbered entry and that entries are in the same order as first appearance in the text.

Common Mistakes — Errors to Avoid

Omitting the medium label (eg, using no [video] tag). The bracketed medium clarifies the content type and is required for multimedia sources.
Using channel display names inconsistently. If the uploader lists a real name, use that; otherwise use the channel username exactly as shown.
Failing to include an access date. Online videos may be removed or edited; AMA requires an access date for online material that can change.
Listing the reference list alphabetically. AMA orders references by appearance in the text, not alphabetically by author.

Quick Checklist Before Submission

Confirm each in-text superscript matches the correct numbered reference.
Include [video] after every video title in the reference list.
Use full URLs and an access date for all online content.
If you need a formatted citation instantly, use Rephrasely's free citation generator to produce AMA-style entries you can paste into your document.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I include the exact time stamp of the content I cite from a YouTube video?

AMA does not require timestamps in the reference list, but including a timestamp in the text is helpful for readers. For example, write "see demonstration at 2:15–2:30 in video 1." Keep the reference list entry standard with the uploader, title, [video], YouTube, published date, URL, and access date.

What do I do if the video uploader uses only a username and not a real name?

Cite the username exactly as displayed. Use the username in the author position of the reference. If later you discover a real name, update the citation to the real name and keep the username in parentheses only if it clarifies the source for readers.

Can I automate AMA citations for videos and other sources?

Yes. Tools like Rephrasely's citation generator create AMA-formatted references automatically. You can also use Rephrasely's AI writer to draft text, its plagiarism checker to verify originality, and the AI detector if you need to confirm content provenance.

How to Cite a YouTube Video in AMA Format