Writing & StyleStyle guide

Supplementary Materials Section

A Supplementary Materials section tells readers what supporting material exists, what it contains, and how it relates to the main manuscript without interrupting the article’s core flow. Do not use supplements to hide essential methods or results needed to understand the main paper. Journal rules determine file types, naming, review, and publication treatment.

Quick answer

A Supplementary Materials section tells readers what supporting material exists, what it contains, and how it relates to the main manuscript without interrupting the article’s core flow.

Key details

Core IssueICMJE recognizes electronic supplementary material and recommends that it be submitted and peer reviewed with the primary manuscript; extra technical detail may also be placed in appendices or electronic supplements.
Registerscholarly, professional, or research/report writing

Important caveats

Scope Boundary

Do not use supplements to hide essential methods or results needed to understand the main paper. Journal rules determine file types, naming, review, and publication treatment.

Further guidance

Content

Identify each supplement clearly, describe its contents and relationship to the manuscript, cross-reference it from the relevant main-text location, and submit required supplementary files with the manuscript for review.

Purpose

Move necessary but non-core detail out of the main narrative while keeping supporting material reviewable and discoverable.

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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