Style Guidelines

Note: The PNWMSRJ has based their guidelines off the American Medical Student Research Journal (amsrj.org). Please visit this link for additional information, but realize that word counts may differ for the PNWMSRJ. For questions regarding author guidelines please contact admin@pnwmsrj.org.

Article Style requirements

  • Articles submitted must follow the American Medical Association Manual of Style, 10th
  • Manuscripts should be submitted as Microsoft Word documents (.doc or .docx).
  • Manuscript text should be submitted in Times New Roman, 12-point font, and double-spaced.
  • The manuscript should have 1-inch margins, with all pages numbered consecutively, including the title page.
  • The manuscript should be submitted with line numbering (Word Document->Layout->Line Numbers->Continuous)
  • Number tables with Arabic numerals in the order in which they appear in the text. Tables that are meant as appendix material should be numbered as Appendix Table 1, Appendix Table 2, and so on.
  • Number figures with Arabic numerals in the order in which they appear in the text. Figures that are meant as appendix material should be numbered as Appendix Figure 1, Appendix Figure 2, and so on. Each figure should have a figure legend that begins with a short title.
  • Figures should be submitted embedded in the manuscript.
  • Do not use abbreviations in the title or abstract and limit their use in the text. Expand all abbreviations at first mention in the text.
    • The metric system is preferred for the expression of length, area, mass, and volume.
    • Use generic names of drugs, devices, and other products, unless the article specifically refers to the trade name of a drug.
    • Authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of their references. Examples of references cited in AMA style below.

    AMA Citation Guidelines
     

      • Cite each source in numerical order. Example: (1, 2, 3, etc.)
      • These citations should be placed AFTER commas and periods but BEFORE colons and semicolons; use Arabic superscript numerals (as opposed to Roman numerals).
      • If a citation uses more than one numeral, use a comma (with no space in front) between each numeral. Example: (3,4)
      • Closed series (as in, 10 through 15) should be joined by a hyphen. Example: (10-15).
      • Examples of appropriate internal citation AMA-style (from http://libguides.css.edu/content.php?pid=36664&sid=269772):
        • The report found…1
        • As has been noted previously,2
        • This argument was refuted in another study.3
        • Other reports confirm these findings.4,5 (Note: Two sources are cited.)
        • “…as has been the conclusion of this author.”6(Note: Use after direct quotation.)
        • In recent reports surgical outcomes have been cited.1,3-5,9 (Note: Multiple sources cited; not all are consecutive.)

    Citations in the Reference List:

        • List the references numerically in the order they were cited in the paper.
        • Single space within citations, double-space between citations.
        • Include DOI numbers at the end of each citation
        • Cite references parenthetically in the text if it is an unofficial source (as in a personal communication or a work not yet accepted for publication).

    Examples of AMA style Citations

    Books:

        • Single Author: Lugalla JB. Poverty, AIDS, and Street Children in East Africa. Lewiston, NY: Mellen Press; 2003.
        • Two to Six Authors: Rip PJ, Tear LK. Modern Conventions In Stitches. 9th ed. Cambridge, MA: Suture Books; 2005.
        • Seven or More Authors: Greg AM, Marshall KC, Peters NH, et al. Raising Large Families. San Francisco, CA: Brady Limited; 2006.
        • Books With an Editor: Galanter M, ed. Services Research in the Era of Managed Care. New York, NY: Kluwer Academic/Plenum; 2001.
        • Books Without an Author or an Editor: Physicians’ Desk Reference. 58th ed. Montvale, NJ: Thomson PDR; 2004.
        • Books by an Organization: World Health Organization. Injury: A Leading Cause of the Global Burden of Disease, Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2002.
        • A Chapter/Article in a Book: O’Brien C. Drug addiction and drug abuse. In: Brunton LB, Lazo JS, Parker KL, eds. Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 11th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2005: 607-629.
        • Electronic Book: Rudolph CD, Rudolph AM. Rudolph’s Pediatrics. 21st ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies;2002. http://online.statref.com/Document/Document.aspx?DocID=1&StartDoc=1&EndDoc= 1882&FxID=13&offset=7&SessionId=A3F279FQVVFXFSXQ . Accessed August 22, 2007.

    Journals:

        • Print Journal Article: Rainier S, Thomas D, Tokarz D, et al. Myofibrillogenesis regulator 1 gene mutations cause paroxysmal dystonic choreoathetosis. Arch Neurol. 2004;61(7):1025-1029.
        • Online Journal Article: Duchin JS. Can preparedness for biological terrorism save us from pertussis? Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004;158(2):106-107. http://archpedi.amaassn.org/cgi/content/full/158/2/106. Accessed June 1, 2004.

    Electronic sources:

      • Web Site: Truth and reconciliation: examining human rights violations in South Africa’s health sector. American Association for the Advancement of Science Web site. http://shr.aaas.org/trc- med/presub.htm. Published 1997. Accessed April 30, 2004.
      • Online Government/Org Reports: Dafney L, Gruber J. Does public insurance improve the efficiency of medical care? Medicaid expansions and child hospitalizations. http://www.nber.org/papers/w755. Published February 2000. Accessed February 26, 2004.
      • Online Newspapers: Weiss R. The promise of precision prescriptions. Washington Post. June 24, 2000:A1. http://www.washingtonpost.com. Accessed October 10, 2001. (Note: Online newspapers are cited the same as regular newspapers, except for the URL.)
Additional guidelines: