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Norwalk Campus Library

AMA Guide

Paper Format

  • Margins are 1 inch on all sides throughout. 
  • Paper is double spaced throughout, including the title page, block quotes, and references.
  • Use the serif typeface Times New Roman or Arial. 
  • Use a 12pt font size throughout. 
  • Pages are numbered consecutively, right aligned in the header, starting on the first page of text. Exclude the title page and, if required, the abstract page.
  • All text is center aligned and double spaced.
  • Full title of the paper begins a quarter down the page. 
  • Authors' full name(s) including middle initials.
  • Couse Number - Course Name
  • Assignment: Assignment Name if required
  • Affiliated institution
  • All text is center aligned and double spaced.
  • Full title of the paper begins a quarter down the page. 
  • Authors' full name(s) including middle initials.
  • Couse Number - Course Name
  • Assignment: Assignment Name if required
  • Affiliated institution
  • Use section and subsection headings to organize content.
    • Introduction
    • Body Paragraphs
    • Summary
    • References
  • Section headings are bold and left aligned. 
  • Subsection headings are italicized and left aligned. 
  • The first line of each paragraph is indented 1/2 inch.
  • There is no extra line space between paragraphs or headings. 
  • Block quotes are double spaced, are not indented, and are 1/2 inch from the left margin. 
  • Numbers: Use Arabic numerals.
    • Avoid starting a sentence with a number.  If unavoidable, write out the number instead of using Arabic numerals.

Acronyms, Abbreviations and Beyond

Acronyms, abbreviations, and initialisms are discouraged from use, except for well-known and accepted units of measurement and some well-recognized terms. 

  • If used, spell out at the first use, even if the acronym or initialism is well-known. Do not place periods between the letters of an acronym, abbreviation or initialism.
  • State names should always appear as full names in the text of a manuscript. If included in references, use the two-letter abbreviation.

    Numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.) should be used in all writing, except when:

    • The number begins the sentence or title
    • Common fractions
    • Ordinals: first through ninth
    • Number spelled out in quotations or titles of works cited.
    • One number may be spelled out, if the sentence requires multiple numbers to be placed next to each other. e.g., "If 12 16-year-olds had this reaction..." should be changed to "If twelve 16-year-olds..."
  • To indicate a time of day, use AM or PM in small capitals. (18.5.3)
  • Conventional 12-hour clock time is preferred. However, 24-hour or military time conventions can also be used to convey precise timing when needed, such as when describing drug dosage regimens.
  • When dates are provided in the text, use numerals for day and year, and write out the month, e.g., April 2, 2010.

  • If using dates in a table, you may use numerals for the month (e.g., 4/2/2010).

  • Use SI (Le Système International d'Unités) standards for writing measurements. Numbers are always written in plain text, there is a space after the number and before the unit, and never a period after the unit (unless it ends a sentence).

  • Do not include commas in longer numbers (e.g., 1600 km, not 1,600 km).

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Using an Appendix

When an appendix is included in an article, it is cited in the text like a table or figure.  

Example: This kitchen is rated a 5 on the Hazard Scale (Appendix 1). 

Format an appendix the same way you would start a reference list, with "Appendix" at the top left of a new page. If there is more than one appendix, start each on a new page. Appendices are numbered and organized by the order they are referred to in the body of the article.

Example: 

Appendix 1

Hazard Scale

  • 1 - The room is completely safe and the likelihood of being injured is very low.
  • 2 - The room is relatively safe, but injury is likely if one is inattentive to the environment.
  • 3 - The room is completely unsafe and injury or illness is very likely.

AMA - South College Library