Before writing
- Confirm the analysis is final and the manuscript reflects the approved protocol.
- Choose the correct reporting guideline and download its checklist.
- Agree authorship and contributions using current ICMJE principles.
- Confirm all approval, consent, registration, funding and conflict-of-interest statements.
- Select a realistic target journal and read its author instructions.
Recommended drafting order
Tables and figures
Create the minimum set that tells the results story. Each should stand on its own with clear labels, denominators and units.
Methods
Write what was actually done: design, setting, participants, variables/interventions, approvals, data, bias control, sample size and analysis. It should be reproducible.
Results
Follow the prespecified objectives. Start with participant flow and baseline/descriptive information, then primary outcome, secondary outcomes, harms and sensitivity/exploratory analyses. Do not interpret results here beyond necessary factual description.
Introduction
Usually three moves: what is known, what gap remains, and the exact objective/hypothesis of this study.
Discussion
Open with the principal finding, compare with existing evidence, explain plausible interpretations, describe strengths/limitations and finish with a proportionate conclusion.
Abstract and title
Write last so they accurately reflect the final paper. Identify the design where the reporting guideline recommends it.
Declarations and supplementary material
Add ethics approval, consent, registration, funding, conflicts, author contributions, data availability and reporting checklist.
Authorship
Current ICMJE recommendations require substantive contribution, participation in drafting/revision, final approval and accountability. Acquisition of funding, general supervision or seniority alone does not automatically justify authorship. Decide contributions early and update them if roles change.
Final manuscript audit
- Title/abstract match actual design.
- All denominators consistent across text/tables/figures.
- Primary outcome matches protocol/registration.
- No unreported outcome switching.
- Effect estimates include precision.
- Limitations are specific, not generic.
- Ethics/consent/registration wording accurate.
- Authorship/contributions agreed.
- Reporting checklist completed.
- References verified against claims.
What belongs in each IMRaD section
- Introduction: scientific context, unresolved gap and exact objective—usually no results and no long historical review.
- Methods: enough operational detail to understand sampling, measurement, bias control, approvals and analysis; cite a protocol where appropriate but do not omit essential methods simply because they exist elsewhere.
- Results: participant flow, descriptive data, primary results, secondary/sensitivity analyses and harms; give denominators and precision.
- Discussion: principal findings, comparison with literature, interpretation, strengths/limitations, implications and conclusion.
- Supplement: detailed searches, extra analyses, questionnaires, code lists, protocols or additional tables when the journal permits.
Editing pass
- Accuracy pass: every number matches source output.
- Consistency pass: terminology, denominators and outcome names are identical across abstract, text, tables and figures.
- Claim pass: every strong statement is supported and causal language matches design.
- Reporting-guideline pass: every applicable checklist item has a manuscript location.
- Privacy pass: no unnecessary identifiers, dates or clinical images remain.
- Journal pass: formatting, word count, declarations and file requirements are complete.