IMRAD Manuscript Structure
Use IMRAD as the default high-level structure for many original-research manuscripts: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. IMRAD is common for original research, not universal. Reviews, case reports, editorials, and journal-specific formats may require a different structure.
Use IMRAD as the default high-level structure for many original-research manuscripts: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion.
Key details
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
IMRAD is common for original research, not universal. Reviews, case reports, editorials, and journal-specific formats may require a different structure.
Further guidance
Content
Map background and objective to Introduction, reproducible procedures to Methods, findings to Results, and interpretation/limitations to Discussion; use subheadings where useful.
Purpose
Give research manuscripts a familiar evidence-flow structure that helps readers locate rationale, methods, findings, and interpretation.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Preparing a Manuscript for Submission to a Medical Journal — ICMJE (opens in a new tab)International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) · ICMJE manuscript-submission guidance on reporting sources of support/funding that facilitated the work