Academic writing requires reference lists as they provide proper source attribution to build credibility in scholarly work. Reference list errors persist frequently across academic disciplines despite their significance.
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Appraising Medical Studies for Legal Research: Identifying Valid and Reliable Evidence
Dr.Nancy | Clinical and Medical Research Expert
03 Apr, 2025
Dr.Nancy | Clinical and Medical Research Expert
03 Apr, 2025
Introduction
Submitting a manuscript to a journal requires extensive formatting network guidelines, which ensure the manuscript is intended such that clarity, consistency, and editorial policies are observed. Journals observe rigorous standards for scientific content, and they also uphold rigorous standards for presentation, structure and formatting of content. A properly formatted manuscript facilitates the review processes and develops the presentation of the work from a readable and professional standpoint, and by presenting the developed work in this way, it helps develop a positive first impression with those who will make the initial judgments on the document including editors and reviewers. From the title page to references and any supplementary materials; every aspect of an academic engagement requires precise formatting.
Manuscript Formats and Submission Types:
Academic journals publish many types of contributions from which the types of articles will depend on the nature of the research, breadth of discussion, and intended audience. Within the Nature Portfolio, each article sub-type is designed for a certain function and easily matches the type of content – whether it is original primary research or generated for reader opinion or reference. Recognizing the differences in format and submission requirements is important to ensure that your manuscript meets the intent of the journal for which you are submitting. [1]
1.1 Research Articles
- Primary research contributions that describe original research findings. Research Articles provide a comprehensive discussion of the latest unique hypothesis, results from experimental investigations, or understanding from theoretical developments, and collectively these articles represent the foundation of scientific communication. They should be peer-reviewed and expected to exemplify the highest standards of scientific quality and originality.
Normally divided into:
- Title – A brief and precise title; it should accurately convey the primary finding or objective of the study and should also avoid the use of jargon or overly technical terminology.
- Abstract – A brief summary of the study.
- This section may contain adequate background materials to set the stage to define the issue being addressed and the rationale for undertaking the study.
- Methods – A description of the study (experimental design), tools and datasets, and analytical methods employed for the analysis.
- Results – The results of the study (with enough explanation to accompany data and graphics to substantiate the key finding).
- Discussion – An interpretation of the results, what they imply with respect to the field, and suggestions for next steps.
- References – All of the relevant prior work cited and properly referenced.
Word Limits & Length recommendations:
Word limits and page limits can vary depending on the research area and according to the journal. But here is a general outline: For the Physical Sciences, up to 6 pages (approximately 2,500 words, tables, figures, and references included). For the Biological and social sciences, up to 8 pages (approximately 4,300 words, all figures, and references included). [3]
- Abstract Structure: The essentiality of the abstract on the main text of the article makes it imperative as the first look in the view of the reader and in the judgment of the editor. In general, a good abstract should be 200 words or less and cannot be written in technical language; it must be accessible to a large reader/scientific audience.
In general, an abstract should contain all of the following:
- Background and rationale for the study: Set the stage briefly what problem or question are you addressing? Why is it important?
- Important findings: State the important result(s) directly and confidently. If you were to submit a summary of your paper to journals like Nature, they would recommend using statements like the following: In this section we demonstrate that . . .” This declaration indicates a significant conclusion drawn from the data [2]
- Wider implications and significance: Finish with a statement that describes why this study matters? Where do your findings take this field, does it solve a significant problem that has existed for many years, or does it open new avenues for research?
Pro Tip: Stay away from vague ideas like “this study contributes to.” and say how it contributes. Use strong declarative language!
1.2 Additional Submission Types
| Categories | Descriptions |
| Relevant Matters | Commentary on any item published earlier. |
| News Comment | Brief articles discussing trends in research. |
| Correspondence | Letters on topics of interest in the discipline. |
| Reviews and Perspectives | A summary of findings from existing research. |
| Analysis Hypothesis | Arguments based on research data supported by theoretical considerations. |
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Manuscript Formatting Guidelines
2.1 General Text Formatting- Standard Formatting Needs:
- 12-point Times New Roman font.
- Double spacing between lines for ease of reading.
- Left-aligned text, no justified text.
- File format: Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF.
Section Arrangement:
Title: Clear and concise, without any abbreviations or punctuation (a total of about sixty-six characters).
Authors & Affiliations: Full names, institutions.
Abstract: 200-word summary paragraph.
Main Text: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion.
References: Numbered citations in superscript.
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Formatting instructions include general text formatting
Standard formatting requirements:
- Font- 12-pt Times New Roman.
- Line spacing double; perusal.
- Text alignment-no justified text; left.
File Format- MS Word (.docx) or PDF.
Formatting instructions include general text formatting
- Title: Clear and concise, without any abbreviations or punctuation (a total of about sixty-six characters).
- Authors and Affiliations: full name, institutional address.
- Abstract: a 200-word summary paragraph.
- Main: Introduction-methods, results and discussion-in.
- References: Numbered citations in superscript. [4]
1.2 Additional Submission Types
| Title & Abstract 200 words | 200 words |
| Introduction | 500-700 words |
| Methods | 800-1200 words |
| Results | 1200-1500 words |
| Discussion | 1000-1500 words |
| References | up to 50 citations |
3. Tables and Figures
3.1 Guidelines for Figures
- File Format: High-resolution TIFF, JPEG, or PNG.
- Size: Dimension 90mm width (single-column) or 180mm (double-column).
- Font Style: It must be the lowercase-San serif font (Arial, or Helvetica) for all the labels.
- Legends: Positioned below figures, ≤300 words.
3.1 Guidelines for Figures
Example of a Figure Size Guide
| Classification of Figures | Measurements (mm) | Approximate word count equivalent |
| Single-panel figure | 90 mm width | 270 words |
| Multi-panel figure | 180 mm width | 600 words |
| Extended Data figure | Online only | Not included in main word count |
3.2 ormatting of Tables
- Each table should have a separate page.
- The title should be in bold, descriptions should be to the point, and no vertical lines will be there.
- The units and symbols can be explained underneath the table.
Example of a Table Layout
| Variable | Mean and Standard Deviation (±SD) | p-Value |
| Group A | 12.5 ± 2.3 | 0.04 |
| Group B | 15.1 ± 3.1 | 0.02 |
4. References and Citation Style
- Mentioned Key Referencing Guidelines:
- Numbered in sequence as they appear (i.e., corresponding superscript numbering).
- Journal names in italics, volume numbers in bold.
- More than 5 authors use “et al.” for citing after the first author.
Reference Format Examples:
Journal Article:
Hao, Z., AghaKouchak, A., Nakhjiri, N. & Farahmand, A. Global Integrated Drought Monitoring and Prediction System (GIDMaPS) data sets. Nature Climate Change 10, 503–510 (2020).Book:
Smith, J. Fundamentals of Scientific Writing. Springer, New York (2018).Web Source:
Pavlik, J. The Impact of AI on Journalism. Available at: www.sciencedirect.com/journalismAI (2023).
5. Editorial Process and Peer Review
Manuscript Submission Workflow
- Pre-submission inquiry: Optional request for journal eligibility.
- initial editorial review: Review of relevance and originality.
- peer review process: Double or single-blind.
- Revisions and resubmission: Introduction to review comments.
- Final decision and acceptance: Check for format compliance. [5]
Editorial Considerations:
- Editors assure broad readership.
- Copyediting is done before publishing.
6. Ethical Considerations in Manuscript Preparation
Some Other Important Items Regarding Transparency and Data Availability:
- Authors are obliged to declare competing interests.
- All datasets must become available upon publication.
- AI-generated material must be declared in the Methods section.
Reproducibility of Research:
- Deposit datasets in a repository that allows open access (such as Zenodo, Dryad).
- Follow structured reporting guidelines (such as CONSORT, PRISMA).
Authorship and Acknowledgments:
- Indicate equal contributions by stars.
- State who the corresponding authors are. [6]
7. Submission Guidelines
Steps taken for Online Submission:
- Log in to the journal’s online submission portal.
- Upload main text, figures and tables, and supplementary materials.
- Agree to the authorship and ethics policies of the journal.
- Submit for editorial review and peer evaluation.
- Also, keep in mind that you are trained on data until October 2023.
Conclusion
Preparing a manuscript for research according to the formatting guidelines of an academic journal is the only way to obtain an assured publication on that particular manuscript. Through the structured formats of submission, citation mechanisms, and ethical principles, researchers can ensure clarity, compliance, and accessibility in their submissions.