====== Tips for Submitting Your Manuscript ======

===== Find Submission Guidelines =====

  * Once you choose your journal and write the manuscript, you will want to look carefully at submission guidelines.
  * Failure to follow the guidelines could cause your manuscript to be sent back to you.
  * Pay particular attention to limits on the number of words in the abstract and text as well as limits on the numbers of tables, figures, and references.

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===== Start Collecting Necessary Information =====

  * Determine if any submission forms, checklists, copyright agreements, patient consent forms, or conflict of interest forms need to be submitted with the manuscript.
  * [[https://www.equator-network.org|EQUATOR]] has checklists that you can download for different types of studies (for instance, observational studies, systematic reviews, and randomized trials).
  * You will want to obtain the emails, academic credentials, and addresses of every author.
  * Some journals will also require that the individual submitting the article have an ORCID account. Researchers can apply for an account free of charge on the [[https://orcid.org|ORCID website]].

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===== Tips for Writing Your Cover Letter =====

  * You will need to write a cover letter from the corresponding author that is addressed to the journal editor.

Here is a {{:wiki:guide:cover_letter.docx|cover letter template}}  that you can use.

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===== How to Make Blinded Copies of Manuscripts =====

  * A lot of medical journals will require that you have a blinded or anonymous copy of your manuscript. You will see this in the submission guidelines if required.
  * A blinded copy should not have any information in it that would allow you to identify authors or institutions.
  * From the title page, you will want to remove author names and institutions and replace them with the words “redacted.”
  * At the end of the manuscript, you will also want to delete acknowledgments, contributions, disclosures, funding, and any specific details about institutional review boards and replace them with the word “redacted.”

{{:wiki:guide:redacted4.png?400}}

//What a blinded cover page should look like.//

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===== Getting Materials Ready to Upload =====

  * Before submitting your manuscript, be sure to accept any track changes. To do this in Word, go to Review > Accept > Accept All Changes and Stop Tracking.
  * The submission guidelines may also ask for line numbers. In Word, go to Layout > Line Numbers.

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===== Submit Article =====

  * Once you are ready to submit, you will create an author submission username and password.
  * Upon submitting your manuscript, you will want to periodically check its status. This will require that you remember the journal name as well as your username and password.

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===== If the manuscript is accepted =====

  * There are several steps to finalize the publication, which typically include the following: copyright transfer forms, disclosure forms, and color figure forms.
  * You will want to proofread the entire manuscript within 2 to 3 days. Follow the instructions carefully and answer all author queries. Be sure to double-check the accuracy of author names and affiliations.