Author readiness
Manuscript record: seven elements before submission
The manuscript record connects the study, contributors, ethical basis, evidence and disclosures.
Begin with journal fit, not formatting
Read the journal scope, article types and public instructions before adapting the file. A technically polished manuscript can still be unsuitable if its central question falls outside the editorial remit.
Write one sentence that states the research question, population or material, main method and intended contribution. Compare that sentence with the journal scope before investing time in journal-specific formatting.
Align people, permissions and provenance
Confirm the author list, order, affiliations and corresponding-author responsibility before submission. Record who designed, collected, analysed, interpreted, drafted and supervised the work; authorship should reflect accountable contribution rather than courtesy.
Place ethics approval, consent, registration, permissions, funding, competing interests and data availability beside the manuscript while preparing it. These statements must describe the same study and should not be reconstructed from memory at the final screen.
Run a cross-record consistency check
Compare the title, abstract, methods, results, tables, figures and conclusions for the same sample sizes, outcomes, dates and terminology. Verify that every figure and table is cited and that references support the claim beside them.
Keep a dated submission package and change log so authors, reviewers and editors can identify each change and its reason.
Practical checklist
Practical checklist
- Scope and article type confirmed
- Author contributions and affiliations agreed
- Ethics, consent and registration statements complete
- Data, funding, conflicts and AI use disclosed
- Figures, tables, references and main text cross-checked
- Submission version and supporting files archived
Official readings
Official readings
Selected sources for further reading.

