Journal Templates
EvidAI provides professionally designed manuscript templates that are precisely aligned with the submission requirements of the world's leading medical and scientific journals. These templates eliminate the guesswork from formatting and help ensure your systematic review meets all publisher specifications on the first submission.
Why Use Journal Templates?
Formatting a manuscript for publication can be one of the most time-consuming aspects of academic writing. Each journal has unique requirements for abstract structure, word limits, citation styles, and section organization. A single formatting error can result in desk rejection.
Our templates solve this problem by providing:
- Pre-configured section layouts that match exact journal requirements
- Real-time word count tracking with per-section limits
- Automatic citation formatting in the correct style
- Validation warnings that catch missing elements before submission
Available Templates
Medical Journals
We maintain templates for the most prestigious medical journals. Each template is regularly updated to reflect the latest author guidelines.
| Journal | Abstract | Word Limit | Citation Style | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAMA | Structured (275 words) | 3,500 words | AMA | Section-specific requirements |
| The Lancet | Summary (150 words) | 4,500 words | Vancouver | Panel/box formatting |
| BMJ | Structured (250 words) | 4,000 words | BMJ house style | "What this study adds" section |
| NEJM | Unstructured (250 words) | 2,500 words | NEJM format | Online supplements support |
Specialty & Review Journals
For systematic reviews and meta-analyses, these specialty journals have unique requirements that our templates fully support:
| Journal | Format Type | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Cochrane Database | Full Cochrane format | Plain language summary, SoF tables, GRADE integration |
| Annals of Internal Medicine | Structured | Key points summary, Context & implications |
| PLoS Medicine | Open access | Author summary, PRISMA checklist integration |
| Systematic Reviews (BMC) | PRISMA-compliant | Protocol registration, full methodology |
General Science Journals
For broader scientific audiences, these high-impact journals have distinct formatting needs:
| Journal | Format | Special Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Nature Medicine | Brief communications | Extended data, Reporting summary |
| PNAS | Structured | Significance statement, SI appendix |
| Science | Report format | Supplementary materials structure |
How to Use Templates
Selecting a Template
Getting started with a template takes just a few clicks:
- Open the Manuscript Writer from your review dashboard
- Click "Select Template" in the top toolbar
- Browse by category (Medical, Specialty, Science) or use the search function
- Preview the template to see the complete section structure
- Apply to your manuscript with one click
Pro Tip: Select your target journal's template before you start writing. This ensures you're structuring your content appropriately from the beginning rather than reorganizing later.
What Each Template Includes
When you apply a template, you get a complete formatting package:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Section Structure | All required and optional sections pre-created |
| Word Limits | Per-section and total limits with live counters |
| Formatting Rules | Correct headings, fonts, spacing, and margins |
| Citation Style | References auto-format to journal specifications |
| Figure Guidelines | Exact specifications for images and tables |
| Supplementary Rules | Structure for additional materials |
Template Features
Automatic Formatting
When you apply or switch templates, EvidAI intelligently handles the transition:
- Sections reorganize to match the new journal's required order
- Word counts adjust to reflect new limits
- Citations convert to the appropriate style automatically
- Headers reformat to the correct hierarchy and styling
Built-in Validation
Before you export, our validation system checks your manuscript for:
- ✓ All required sections are present and complete
- ✓ Word limits are respected (per-section and total)
- ✓ References follow the correct format
- ✓ Required elements (e.g., PRISMA checklist) are included
- ✓ Figure and table specifications are met
Validation warnings appear in real-time as you write, not just at export time, so you can address issues immediately.
Custom Templates
Creating Your Own
Need a template for a journal we don't yet support? Create your own:
- Click "Create Custom Template" in the Template Library
- Define sections — add required and optional sections
- Set word limits — specify per-section and total maximums
- Choose citation style — select from common formats or customize
- Configure formatting — set heading styles, fonts, and spacing
- Save and reuse — your template is stored in your library
Enterprise Template Sharing
For teams and institutions, custom templates can be shared:
- Team sharing — Make templates available to your research group
- Organization-wide — Deploy standard templates across departments
- Import/Export — Transfer templates between EvidAI accounts
Best Practices
Before You Submit
Even with templates, always perform these final checks:
- Verify the template is current — Journal requirements can change
- Visit the journal website — Check for recent author guideline updates
- Review the complete author instructions — Templates cover most requirements, but journals may have specific policies not captured in formatting
- Confirm supplementary requirements — Some journals require data availability statements, ethics declarations, or registration numbers
Using Templates Effectively
To get the most from our template system:
- Select early — Choose your target journal before writing begins
- Let the template guide you — The section structure reflects what editors expect
- Don't ignore warnings — Validation catches issues that can cause rejection
- Export in the right format — Use the template's recommended export settings