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.
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
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.
Practical Application
Identify the reporting guideline that matches the study design, use its current checklist to check completeness, and address applicable items in the manuscript or submission materials.
Purpose
Improve completeness, transparency, and reviewability by aligning manuscript reporting with an appropriate study-design guideline.
Reader Check
Check study design and journal requirements before choosing a checklist. A reporting guideline helps ensure transparent reporting; it does not validate the science or replace accurate methods and results.
Worked Example
Before submitting a randomized trial, the authors identify the applicable trial-reporting guideline, check each relevant item, and record where the manuscript addresses it.
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