The AMA Manual of Style does not provide specific instructions for formatting your paper. Refer to your instructor for guidance on your title page, spacing, page numbers and other formatting questions.
Use a 12 or 10 point font. While no typeface is specifically required, an easy-to-read font like Calibri (sans serif) or Times New Roman (serif) are recommended.
Use one inch margins on all sides. Line spacing should be single-spaced throughout with double spacing between paragraphs, unless instructor requests otherwise.
Place a page number at the top or bottom of each page using your word document software's page numbering feature. Also edit the header section of the document to include the paper title.
Be consistent with your formatting, making sure each page has the page number and header title in the same place. Do not mix fonts or overuse bold or italicized formatting. When writing numbers, use digits (1, 2, 3...) unless the number begins a sentence.
There are many ways to format text within a paper. Ask your instructor for more help, and consult the resources on the right-hand side of this page.
The AMA Manual of Style does provide some suggestions for writing abstracts and organizing your paper. These tips are important for those submitting papers to journals, but may not be necessary for your coursework.
Abstracts are summaries which provide concise but specific information about the topic covered in the attached paper. They reflect how the paper
Links for additional guidance on abstracts are provided at the bottom of the page. The information below is adapted from The AMA Manual of Style 11th Edition, Chapter 2, Section 5.
| Importance | Start your abstract with 1-2 sentences explaining the importance of your research question |
| Objective | Describe the specific research question(s) addressed in your study |
| Design, Setting, Participants | Explain study design, setting, and participants included if applicable |
| Intervention/Exposure | Name the specific interventions applied |
| Main Outcome/Measures | Explain the primary outcome(s) measured |
| Results | Provide detailed values of the results of the study's data collection |
| Conclusions/Relevance | State conclusions supported by collected results and include a relevance statement |
Organize numerical data or present findings with graphs and charts to provide readers with visual representations of study findings. Chapter 4 of the AMA Manual of Style details proper use of tables and figures.
For assistance on formatting tables, see this guide from New York Medical College. NYMC Guide for Tables and Figures
Organizing the paper body into sections, indicated by headings and subheadings, will keep your work organized and ease both writing and reading your work. AMA style does not require specific sections. Use the abstract recommendations above to help guide the organization of your paper.
At minimum, your paper should include sections for an introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion.