Writing & StyleStyle guide

Reporting Guidelines for Manuscripts

Use the reporting guideline that matches the study design and treat its checklist as a completeness aid, not as a substitute for accurate scientific writing. Choose guidelines by study design and journal requirements. A checklist cannot justify reporting an item inaccurately or force an inapplicable item into the manuscript.

Quick answer

Use the reporting guideline that matches the study design and treat its checklist as a completeness aid, not as a substitute for accurate scientific writing.

Key details

Core IssueICMJE encourages authors to follow reporting guidelines appropriate to the study design, such as CONSORT, STROBE, PRISMA, or STARD, to support complete and evaluable reporting.
Registerscholarly, professional, or research/report writing

Important caveats

Scope Boundary

Choose guidelines by study design and journal requirements. A checklist cannot justify reporting an item inaccurately or force an inapplicable item into the manuscript.

Further guidance

Content

Identify the applicable reporting guideline early, map its required items to the manuscript, complete any required checklist/flow diagram, and resolve omissions before submission.

Purpose

Improve completeness, transparency, and reviewability by aligning manuscript reporting with an appropriate study-design guideline.

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.

  1. 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

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