Manuscript formatting
This guide describes how to prepare contributions for
The rest of the text is typically about 1,500 words long
submission. We recommend you also read the full
(not including Methods, summary paragraph or other
version on
.
sections). Letters have 3 or 4 small display items.
1.3 Brief Communications and Communications
Before submission, we recommend authors familiarize
themselves with Nature's style and content by reading
Arising (
)
the journal, (in print or online at
),
particularly if they have not submitted papers recently.
Brief Communications are short, peer-reviewed
research reports focused on a single finding. They are
1. Formats for Nature contributions
less formal than Articles and Letters, and are aimed at
the broadest possible scientific readership.
Nature's main formats for original research are Articles
and Letters. The journal also publishes a few Brief
Communications Arising are exceptionally interesting
Communications and other submitted material (1.4).
or important comments and clarifications on original
research papers or other peer-reviewed material
published in Nature, and are published online only.
1.1 Articles
1.4 Other contributions to Nature
are original reports whose conclusions represent a
substantial advance in the understanding of an
important problem and have immediate, far-reaching
Nature also publishes Correspondence, Commentary,
implications. They have no more than 50 references.
Book Reviews, Essays, News and Views, Reviews
and Progress, Insights, Analyses, Hypotheses, Nature
Jobs editorial articles and Technology features.
Articles have a separate summary of up to 150 words,
Please see
.
/others
which has no references, and does not contain
numbers, abbreviations, acronyms or measurements
unless essential. It contains 2-3 sentences of basic-
2. The editorial process
level introduction to the field; a brief account of the
background and rationale of the work; a statement of
Please see
/authors/get_published.
the main conclusions (introduced by the phrase 'Here
we show' or its equivalent); and 2-3 sentences putting
3. Presubmission enquiries
the main findings into general context so it is clear how
the results described have moved the field forwards.
are an author service and are not required by the
journal. They must take the form of a paragraph
Articles are typically 3,000 words of text (not including
stating the interest to a broad readership, a fully
Methods, summary or other sections), beginning with
referenced summary in the style for Letters, and a
up to 500 words of referenced text expanding on the
reference list. Presubmission enquiries are not
background to the work, before proceeding to a
available for Brief Communications.
concise, focused account of the findings, ending with
one or two short paragraphs of discussion.
4. Readability
The text may contain subheadings (less than six in
Contributions should be clear and simple so that they
total) of less than 40 characters (inc. spaces) each.
are accessible to readers in other disciplines and to
Articles have 5 or 6 display items (figures or tables).
readers for whom English is not their first language. A
useful set of writing guides is available at
1.2 Letters
are short reports of original research focused on an
For gene, protein and other specialized names
outstanding finding whose importance means that it
authors can use their preferred terminology so long as
will be of interest to scientists in other fields. They
it is in current use by the community. They must give
have no more than 30 references.
all known names for the entity at first use in the paper.
They begin with a fully referenced paragraph, of about
Authors of papers that contain taxonomy (the formal
200 words, (certainly no more than 300 words) aimed
nomenclature and description of new species) must
at readers in other disciplines. This starts with a 2-3
send a copy of the published paper by mail (not email)
sentence basic introduction to the field; followed by a
upon publication to the Executive Secretary, the
one-sentence statement of the main conclusions
Linnean Society of London, Burlington House,
starting 'Here we show' or equivalent phrase; and 2-3
Piccadilly, London W1J 0BF, UK.
sentences putting the main findings into general
context. See the annotated example at
5. Format of Articles and Letters.
/Letter_bold_para.doc.
Nature guide to authors: Manuscript formatting
Information sheets 3a