Authors of Journals Library manuscripts
What does the manuscript word count limit include?
- Extended Research Article main body word count is set to 50,000 words maximum.
- Research Article main body word count is set to 8,000 words maximum.
- Synopsis main body word count is set to 15,000 words maximum.
- PGfAR Summary reports synopsis word count is set to 15,00 words maximum.
This limit includes all text, tables, figures and boxes within the main body of the manuscript. Please note that your manuscript will not proceed to peer review if it is over this limit.
The limit does NOT include the abstract, scientific summary and plain English summary (which continue to have their own individual word limits). It also excludes the table of contents, references, appendices or other supplementary material.
Are the suggested limits of 25 figures and 25 tables per manuscript mandatory?
You should be thoughtful about the number of tables and figures they include, however the limits are provided for guidance and we will accept manuscripts with a higher number. It is up to the editors’ discretion how many tables and figures they feel are necessary in each manuscript and they will advise authors if they need to reduce (or even increase) the number included.
How should I submit my manuscript and any supplementary documents for my project webpage?
Submission of the manuscript and the associated documents should be sent via email to your allocated Editorial Team contact. Please also copy journals.library@nihr.ac.uk and your regular Monitoring Team Contact.
The main body of the manuscript and appendices should be submitted as one document as usual. Any supplementary material can be submitted as separate documents.
Can the editors of the NIHR Journals Library change my work?
They can. In common with all journal editors, the editors of the NIHR Journals Library reserve the right to amend, correct and edit your final manuscript. However, this will always be done in collaboration with you as report author.
Whilst the NIHR Journals Library will be published with copyright assigned to the Crown, you will retain Moral Rights (under Chapter IV of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1998). Essentially these are:
- the right to be identified as author;
- the right to object to derogatory treatment of a work;
- the right not to have a work falsely attributed to an author; and
- the right to privacy of photographs and films.
Can I submit papers to other journals as well as producing an NIHR Journals Library manuscript?
Yes, we encourage the dissemination of your research in other peer reviewed journals as well as your Journals Library report.
If you submit papers to other journals it is essential that any copyright agreement you sign is in the form of a non-exclusive agreement in line with the terms of your contract. You should not duplicate large amounts of the work you submit to the Journals Library. Most journals have suitable non-exclusive licences for government-funded research. If you have, in error, signed an exclusive copyright agreement with a publisher, it is your responsibility to alert the publisher as soon as possible. If you require any assistance in this matter, please email journals.library@nihr.ac.uk.
Please remember to notify your funding programme of any related publications as soon as reasonably practicable and a minimum of three working days prior to any journalist outreach. Please also remember to acknowledge your funding programme as the funder in your article. Suggested wording is available from the Funding acknowledgements and disclaimers section of the Information for Authors.
For further information, please see the Dual Publication section of the Information for Authors.
I am submitting an article related to my project to an Open Access journal. Can I apply for additional funding to cover APC charges?
NIHR expects that article processing charges (APCs) will be covered by the funding award. In due course if an article is accepted for publication and there are insufficient funds to cover an APC you should contact the Monitoring Programme Manager during monitoring phase and Publishing Manager (journals.library@nihr.ac.uk) post submission of your final report to request additional funding. This will be considered on an individual case basis in line with DHSC/NIHR policy on Open Access publishing.
Can I include something from someone else’s publication in my manuscript for the NIHR Journals Library?
Yes, but as author, it is your responsibility to apply for and fund all media copyright permission from the journal. If you require further information on gaining permissions, please refer to the Permissions section of the Information for Authors.
Can the text of my Journals Library manuscript be reproduced by another journal?
Yes. Extracts (or the full report) may be included in journals provided that suitable acknowledgement is made and the reproduction is not associated with any form of advertising. Applications for commercial reproduction would have to be addressed to the NIHR Journals Library editorial office.
Can I put a copy of our NIHR Journals Library publication on our own web page?
We are happy for you to make your published Journals Library manuscript available via links to our website.
Why share data?
Making clinical trial data sets available to investigators beyond the original research team can improve patient care, advance medical knowledge and provide better value for money from health research.
Do other journals ask for data sharing statements?
The BMJ has been asking for data sharing statements since 2009, and BMJ Open since its launch in 2011. The recent drive for open access is bringing this issue to the fore and you may find it useful to read this Summary of the data sharing timeline by Trish Groves (Deputy Editor of the BMJ and Editor-in-Chief of BMJ Open).