1. Anatomy of a Manuscript How to write a manuscript in 19 sentences
David Bangsberg, MD, MPH
Director Massachusetts General Center for Global Health
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Initiative for Global Health

2. Types of Manuscripts Full research report Brief report Research letter
3000 words
3-4 main/supporting points
3-4 tables figures
Brief report
1800 words
1-2 main/supporting points
1-2 table/figure
Research letter
800 words
1 point
0-1 table/figures

3. Types of Manuscripts
Review Article
Editorial
Case report

4. Anatomy of a Manuscript
Title page
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Tables/Figures
Discussion
Acknowledgements

5. Which to write first? Title page Abstract Introduction Methods Results
Tables/Figures
Discussion
Acknowledgements

6. Writing Order Introduction (brief literature review)
Ghost Tables/Figures (analytic plan)
Methods
Tables/Figures
Results
Discussion
Abstract
Title page
Acknowledgements

7. Introduction Nature of problem and significance
Context within prior knowledge
Specific research objectives and preplanned analyses, including subgroup analyses

8. Introduction 3 paragraphs
Paragraph #1: What we know
Limit to only pertinent references
Paragraph #2: What we don’t know.
Paragraph #3: What we did to find out
Primary and secondary research objectives
Preplanned subgroup analyses

9. Figures/Table Aim for 3-4 total Table 1: Patient characteristics
Table 2-4: one each research objective

10. Tables
Purpose
Concise display of info
Provide several levels of detail
Reduces length of text
Restrict table/figures to explain argument and assess report

11. Tables Double space on single page
Number consecutively in order of first citation in text
Title should summarize data
Do not use horizontal lines
Give each column a brief/abbreviated heading
Footnote explanatory matter
Identify statistical measures of variation
Double space legend on separate page

12. Figures Number consecutively according to order cited
High resolution images
Letters numbers and symbols need to be clear and sufficient size
Include titles and detailed explanations in legend rather than figure
Double space legend on separate page

13. Methods Study design Subject selection Source population
Inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
Rationale for inclusion/exclusion criteria

14. Methods Technical information Variable definition and measurement
Reference well known procedures
Briefly describe and reference less known procedures
Describe in detail new procedures
Provide rationale for procedure selection
Apparatus: manufacturer name and city in parentheses

15. Methods Statistical/Analytic methods Human subjects approval
Provide enough detail for a knowledgeable reader with access to original data to verify results
Specific analytic methods
Software
Approach to bias/confounding
Human subjects approval

16. Methods 3-5 paragraphs Paragraph #1: participant selection
Paragraph #2-4: variables and procedures for each primary and secondary objective
Last paragraph: analytic methods

17. Results Narrative should be same logical sequence as tables/figures
Summarize rather than repeat all data from tables in text
Include absolute numbers with percentages

18. Results 3-4 paragraphs Paragraph #1 Paragraph #2 Paragraph #3
Patient recruitment
Accept/decline
Patient characteristics
Paragraph #2
Evidence for first objective
Paragraph #3
Evidence for second objective
Paragraph #4
Evidence for third objective

19. Discussion Summarize new and important findings
Conclusions should follow objectives
Suggest mechanism
Suggest clinical implications
Discuss limitations

20. Discussion 5 paragraphs
Summarize main finding
Paragraph 2
Summarize supporting findings
Paragraph 3
What are the implications
How does it change practice?
Paragraph 4
Limitations
Paragraph 5
Summary/conclusion

21. References Cite primary work over review articles
Avoid abstracts when possible
“in press” articles require permission
Avoid personal communication unless it provides essential information not available from a public source – include person and date
Check accuracy and formatting

22. Title Page Concise title that includes important info
Study design
Research question/finding
Makes electronic retrieval sensitive and specific
Authors names and institutional affiliations
Corresponding author: name, mailing address, fax,
Sources of grant support
Running head (<40 characters)
Word count for text only
Number of figures/tables

23. Abstract Content or background Study purpose Basic procedures
Selection of subjects
Key variables
Analytic methods
Main findings including effect sizes/statistical significance
Principal conclusions

24. Key Words
3-10 works that capture main topics for indexing

25. Abbreviations Only standard abbreviations
ARV or ART
Use full term, then abbreviation in parentheses after first use

26. Acknowledgement Individuals who made essential contributions
Funding source

27. Cover letter Format of article Brief summary of finding
Statement of non-redundancy of submission of publication
Conflict of interest
Read and approved by all authors
Contact info for corresponding author

28. Authorship Criteria Substantial contribution to
Conception and design, or
Acquisition of data, or
Analysis and interpretation
Drafting and critical revision of manuscript for intellectual content
Final approval of submitted version

29. Authorship Order First author Last author Second author Third author
Design/conceive the study
Writes first draft
Partners with last author for subsequent drafts
Last author
Usually experienced investigator who partners with first author in interpretation, analysis, and writing
Second author
Major contribution
Third author
Important contributions
Middle authors
Everyone else who qualifies for authorship

30. Corresponding Author Usually first or senior author Submits manuscript
Corresponds with publisher/editor
Revision
Gallies
Receives subsequent correspondence from outside investigators

31. Conflict of Interest
Financial or personal relationship that inappropriately influences author, reviewer or editor
Employment consultancies, stock ownership, expert testimony
Same institution, relative, mentor, student, academic adversary
All potentially perceived rather than just actual conflicts should be disclosed

32. Redundant Publication
Substantial overlap with another manuscript in print or electronic media
Preliminary reporting to media, government agencies or manufactures violates editorial policy of many journals
Related work should be referred to and referenced
Consider including copies of related material
Does not apply to presentations at scientific conferences

33. Embargo Defined date of release of published information
Determined by publisher
Creates level playing field amongst news agencies
Minimizes chaos of economically charged findings

34. Submission Process 6-15 months
Approval of co-authors of final manuscript
Submission of manuscript and cover letter
Editorial review (2-3 weeks)
Reject
Send out for review
1st review (6-12 weeks)
Reject and revise
Conditionally accept
Accept
2nd Review (2-8 weeks)
Gallies (2-6 months)
Publication (1-3 months)

35. Strategies For Success
2 uninterrupted hours per day
Write intro/methods while collecting data
Consider opinion/review paper while collecting data
Prepare ghost tables to guide analysis
Write topic sentence for each paragraph

36. Simple as 19 Sentences One topic sentence per paragraph
Introduction
#1: What we know
#2: What we don’t know.
#3: What we did to find out
Methods
#4: participant selection
#5-9: variables and procedures for each primary and secondary objective
#10: analytic methods
Results
#11 Patient recruitment and characteristics
#12 Evidence for first objective
#13 Evidence for second objective
#14 Evidence for third objective
Discussion
#15 Summarize main finding
#16 Summarize supporting findings
#17 What are the implications/how does it change practice?
#18 Limitations
#19 Summary/conclusion