JAMA Manuscript Format
JAMA manuscripts use 12pt Times New Roman with double spacing and 1-inch margins on all sides. Citations use AMA superscript numerals in order of appearance. Structured abstracts are up to 350 words with 8 sections. KERNIT applies all JAMA formatting rules automatically when you select the JAMA preset.
JAMA Formatting Specifications
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Font Family | Times New Roman |
| Font Size | 12pt |
| Columns | 1 |
| Margins | 1in all sides |
| Citation Style | JAMA superscript¹ |
| Line Spacing | Double |
| Abstract Word Limit | 250 |
How to Format for JAMA Using KERNIT
- Open KERNIT
Go to kernit.org/formatter. No account required for the first export.
- Paste or upload your manuscript
Paste Markdown or plain text, or upload a .docx file with your clinical research manuscript.
- Select the JAMA preset
Click the JAMA card to apply JAMA formatting — 12pt Times New Roman, double spacing, 1-inch margins.
- Review the preview
Verify the structured abstract sections (Importance, Objective, Design, etc.), AMA superscript citations, and word count.
- Export
Download DOCX for submission via the JAMA Network submission portal. HTML export is available for draft sharing.
JAMA Formatting Requirements
Typography
JAMA manuscripts use 12pt Times New Roman with double line spacing. This applies to all sections of the manuscript including the abstract, main text, tables, figure legends, and references. JAMA follows AMA style for editorial formatting decisions. Section headings in the main text of Original Investigations are typically: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. The JAMA editorial team applies final typographic styling during production; authors submit in the standard manuscript format KERNIT generates.
Page Layout
JAMA manuscripts use US Letter paper (8.5×11 inches) with 1-inch margins on all sides in single-column layout. All pages must be numbered consecutively beginning with the title page. Line numbers should be included throughout for reviewer reference. The title page includes: title (15 words or fewer), complete author names with degrees, institutional affiliations, corresponding author information with phone, fax, and email, word count, number of references, figures, and tables, and funding sources.
Citations & References
JAMA uses AMA-style superscript numerals for citations in the order they first appear in the text. References are listed in the order they are cited. AMA format: Author AA, Author BB, Author CC, et al. (after 3 authors for 7+ author papers). Title of article. Abbreviated Journal Name. Year;Volume(Issue):pages. doi:10.xxxx. For books: Author AA. Title: Subtitle. Publisher; Year:pages. KERNIT formats JAMA references using AMA style in the export.
Abstract
JAMA Original Investigations require a structured abstract of up to 350 words with clearly labeled sections: Importance, Objective, Design, Setting, Participants or Exposures, Interventions (if applicable), Main Outcomes and Measures, Results, and Conclusions and Relevance. Each section label is bold. The Results section must include the primary outcome with the measure of statistical uncertainty (95% CI or P value). The Conclusions section must directly address the Objective and include a statement of clinical or policy relevance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does JAMA citation style differ from APA?
- JAMA uses AMA (American Medical Association) citation style, not APA. AMA uses superscript numerals in order of first appearance in the text (like Vancouver), not author-date like APA. The reference list is in citation order, not alphabetical. AMA reference format includes all authors if six or fewer; "et al" is added after the third author if seven or more. Journal names are abbreviated per NLM abbreviations. KERNIT applies AMA citation formatting in the JAMA preset.
- What are JAMA's structured abstract requirements?
- JAMA Original Investigations require a structured abstract with up to 8 sections: Importance (why this study matters clinically), Objective (specific research question), Design (study design with dates), Setting (type of institution), Participants or Exposures (inclusion/exclusion criteria), Interventions (for trials), Main Outcomes and Measures (primary outcome), Results (key findings with statistics), and Conclusions and Relevance (clinical implications). Word limit is 350 words total.
- Does JAMA require CONSORT or PRISMA reporting?
- Yes. JAMA requires adherence to reporting guidelines based on study design: CONSORT checklist and flow diagram for randomized clinical trials, PRISMA checklist and flow diagram for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, STROBE checklist for observational studies, STARD for diagnostic accuracy studies. The completed checklist should be submitted as a supplementary file. JAMA editors check that key reporting items are addressed in the manuscript text.
- What are JAMA word count limits by article type?
- JAMA word counts (main text only, excluding abstract, tables, figures, and references): Original Investigations: 3,000 words; JAMA Insights: 1,200 words; Research Letter: 600 words; Letters: 400 words; Invited Commentary: 400–600 words; Viewpoint: 1,200 words; Review: 4,000 words; Special Communication: 4,000 words. These limits are strictly enforced. KERNIT displays a running word count in the preview panel.
- What does JAMA require in an author contribution statement?
- JAMA requires a detailed Author Contributions section at the end of the manuscript listing each author's specific role. Standard roles include: study concept and design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting of the manuscript, critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content, statistical analysis, administrative and technical support, and study supervision. At least one author must take responsibility for the integrity of the entire work from inception to published article.