AMA 11 Reference List: Why There's No Hanging Indent

Here's the #1 AMA formatting mistake in medical manuscripts: using hanging indents in AMA format references. Unlike APA format, MLA format, and most other styles, AMA 11 format references are flush left.

AMA 11 Format: Flush Left

According to the AMA Manual of Style 11th Edition (Chapter 3.5):

• References are flush left with NO hanging indent
• This is the opposite of APA, MLA, Harvard, and Chicago
• Each reference starts at the left margin

Reference List Formatting

• Order: By first citation (not alphabetical)
• Spacing within entries: Single-spaced
• Spacing between entries: Double-spaced
• Numbering: Arabic numerals (1. 2. 3.)

Why This Matters

If you've been trained on APA or other styles, the hanging indent is automatic muscle memory. But submitting a medical manuscript with hanging indents shows you don't know AMA style—and may result in desk rejection.

Line Spacing

• Body text: Double-spaced
• References: Single-spaced within, double-spaced between
• Abstract: Single-spaced
• Block quotes: Single-spaced

Correct AMA 11 Formatting

SimpleFormat Pro applies AMA format correctly—flush left without hanging indents—so your AMA 11 formatting meets style requirements from the start.