Author CenterFrequently Asked Questions
GENERAL AUTHOR FAQs
How many manuscript submissions does the Journal receive each year? From where do they come?
The Journal receives more than 5000 article submissions each year, an average of approximately 18 submissions each business day. About two-thirds of our research submissions come from outside the United States.
What is the Ingelfinger Rule?
The rule requires that author-researchers not release the details of their findings to the mass media before their work undergoes peer review and is published. Most medical journals have similar rules. The Ingelfinger Rule was instituted by the Journal in 1969 for two reasons: to allow time for the independent peer review of scientific findings before public dissemination and to protect the originality of content. Discussion of results in poster sessions or at professional meetings is permitted under our policy. For more details about our editorial policies, please see Published Editorials on Journal Policy.
What is the Journal's mailing address and telephone number?
For complete contact information, please go to the Contact Us page.
Who is on the Journal's Editorial Board?
Current members of the Journal's Editorial Board are listed here.
When is the Journal published?
The Journal is published weekly, with a Thursday publication date. Each week’s content is made available online at 5PM Eastern time in the United States on Wednesday.
What is the Journal's impact factor?
The Journal's most recent (2009) impact factor was 47.050. Impact factor is a measure of the number of times papers published in the previous two years have been cited in the scientific literature. Impact factors for all major journals are calculated by the Institute for Scientific Information.
How many readers does the Journal have?
The Journal has the largest paid circulation among medical journals, with almost 200,000 paying subscribers. It is printed simultaneously each week in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, and Japan, and a selection of translated articles reaches approximately 140,000 physicians in China through the China Medical Tribune.
Online, the Journal reaches between 300,000 and 400,000 readers each week; the Journal is also provided online at no charge in approximately 120 economically disadvantaged countries.
Studies published in the Journal receive extensive coverage in the news media worldwide, reaching millions of additional health care professionals and patients each week.
What is the press embargo policy?
Like most medical journals, the Journal employs an embargo system. Copies are delivered or made available over the Internet the Friday before publication to journalists who agree not to publish stories before Wednesday at 5PM Eastern time in the United States.
There are two fundamental reasons for our embargo: it gives the media time to report accurately on complex and important new research findings, and it allows subscribers to read and understand the full reports in the Journal before media reports prompt patients to call with questions.
If an article has immediate clinical importance, the Journal may designate it for early release and publish it online before its appearance in print.
ABOUT MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSIONS
Does “Information for Authors” appear in print?
Yes, in the first print issue of each volume, in January and July.
What is the limit on the number of authors for an original research article? A case report? A review article? A Sounding Board article?
There is no limit on the number of authors for these types of manuscripts.
What are your word limits for original research articles? Sounding Board articles? Review articles? Will the editors refuse to look at my article if it’s over the word limit? What does the word count include?
Word limits are as follows: 2,000 for Sounding Board articles, Brief Reports, and Occasional Notes; 2,700 for Original and Special Articles; 2,400 for Current Concepts; 2,500 for Clinical Practice and Clinical Therapeutics; and 3,000 for all other review articles.
We will send back manuscripts far in excess of the word limit.
The word count includes all information from Introduction through Conclusion/Discussion and does not include the abstract, figure legends, or table notes.
How many figures and tables may I include?
Original research articles should have no more than 5 figures and tables (total); (e.g., one figure consisting of panels A and B, and four tables.) You may include additional figures as supplementary appendixes, and these may be considered for Web-only publication. Please see How to Determine Your Article Type for figure and table limits on other types of articles.
Do you require the CONSORT diagram?
No.
May I send you my manuscript in my native language?
We accept only manuscripts written in English.
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CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
My trial was finished a long time ago. Do I still need to register?
If the results of your trial have been previously published and this is a follow-up or secondary publication, then no. Otherwise, yes. If you saw the last patient before September 13, 2005, please register your study before submission and make a note in your cover letter.
I didn’t know I needed to register my trial. The last patient intervention occurred after September 13, 2005. Will you still consider our trial?
The NEJM policy is firm. If the trial was ongoing or started after September 13, 2005, it MUST have been registered in a WHO/ICMJE compatible database (of which there were at least four functional worldwide) as of December 31, 2005, if there was commercial sponsorship or by December 31, 2006, if there was no commercial sponsorship. If you have not met these requirements, we cannot consider your trial for review.
Does this also apply to pilot trials?
No. Only pilot (phase I) trials that began on or after July 1, 2008, need to be registered before first patient enrollment.
Is EUDRACT an acceptable registry? What about Center Watch? Where can I find a list of ICMJE-approved registries?
We will accept registration in the European Clinical Trials Database if the trial began on or after July 13, 2011, and if it was registered before the first patient was enrolled. We will not consider trials that were registered prior to that date; however we will consider trials that are registered in an ICMJE/WHO compatible database. Click here to view a list of ICMJE-acceptable registries. ICMJE maintains a list of acceptable registries in the FAQ section of its website. Additionally, the ICMJE will accept registration in any of the PRIMARY registries that participate in the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP).
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PRIOR PUBLICATION
I’m planning to present the abstract of my article at a conference. Will that constitute prior publication?
No. Presentation at a scientific conference will not jeopardize your chances of publishing in the Journal.
What if there are journalists at the conference and they write about my abstract presentation? Can I answer their questions about my presentation?
Journalists may write about your presentation, and you may answer their questions while at or immediately following the meeting. Their coverage of your presentation will not jeopardize your chances of publishing in the Journal.
Can I tell journalists or colleagues that I’ve submitted my manuscript to NEJM?
No. You should not mention to anyone that you have submitted or that you plan to submit your article to us.
For further information on this topic, please see our Embargo Policy.
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SUITABILITY FOR THE JOURNAL
What types of articles does the Journal publish?
Please go to Article Types for brief summaries of the types of articles that we publish.
I’d like to inquire about NEJM’s general level of interest in my manuscript, but I don’t want to make a formal submission yet. May I send you an abstract? How long does it usually take to get a response?
Please visit our Presubmission Inquiries page. We will attempt to respond to you within a week.
How do I contact the editorial office if I want to submit an unsolicited review article?
Please visit our Presubmission Inquiries page.
I think my paper could have profound implications for patient care and could save lives. Do you have some sort of “fast-track” option? How do I request it?
Please submit your abstract using our Rapid Review request form. We will try to give you a response within 36 hours. Please note that only a small percentage of Rapid Review requests are accepted.
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ONLINE MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION
I forgot my password. Now what?
Click on password help in the Author Center. When you receive the temporary password, you will have three days to log in and change to a permanent password. If you wait longer than three days, you will need to again request a new password.
Where do I note conflicts of interest?
If you are sending an unsolicited article, you may include relevant conflict-of-interest information in your cover letter. We require submission of financial disclosure forms from (a) authors of solicited review articles and editorials and from (b) authors of all other articles at the revision stage.
May I suggest reviewers?
You may indeed. We even have a space for you to add the names of possible reviewers. Please do not propose anyone connected with the study or with your own organization.
In my paper, I am highly critical of the work of a well-known expert. May I request that this person not review my paper?
Yes, if you wish. Please include this information in your cover letter.
I have some beautiful color photographs, but my files are huge. May I send low-resolution versions instead?
You may send low-resolution images at the time of submission. If we ask for a revision of your manuscript, we will request the high-resolution files at that time.
I just sent you the wrong file. What do I do?
Send an e-mail message to our Editorial Office explaining which extra files should be deleted. Please do not submit your full manuscript by e-mail unless specifically asked to do so.
My computer is broken. Can I send my manuscript to you the old-fashioned way?
No. Please submit all articles online.
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TRACKING YOUR MANUSCRIPT
Can I track my paper through the review process? What about after publication?
The Author Dashboard of ScholarOne Manuscripts will provide the status of your article.
If your paper is published, the number will allow you to access our Post-Publication Data Center, which provides information about print distribution, online usage, subsequent citation, and media coverage.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Why do I have to register?
Letters are now tracked in our online peer-review system, which requires registration. Address and contact information is required only upon initial registration. Please retain your User ID and Password – you will need it to log in, submit, revise, and track your submissions.
Is there a submission deadline for letters regarding a Journal article?
Yes. Letters about a Journal article must be received within three weeks after publication, and must be submitted through our online submission system. Please note that Journal titles are posted for response on the print publication date each Thursday, and remain posted for three weeks.
I missed the three-week deadline for submitting a letter about a Journal article. May I still submit my letter?
No. In order to ensure the timely publication of letters, the Journal does not consider letters submitted after the three-week deadline.
What is the word count limit for Letters to the Editor?
Letters about a Journal article may not exceed 175 words. Letters NOT about a Journal article may not exceed 400 words. The word count refers to the text of the letter only, and excludes the title, references, and author signatures.
How many references may I include?
Letters to the Editor may list a maximum of five references.
Is there a limit on the number of authors for Letters to the Editor?
Yes, you may list a maximum of three authors. We do not publish acknowledgments in the Correspondence section.
May I list more than one affiliation on my letter?
No. The Journal will print either a single institutional affiliation or, if an institutional affiliation is unavailable, a street address. Even if you have multiple affiliations, you may only list one. We do not print department names. For further submission instructions and guidelines, please review How to Submit a Letter to the Editor.
How many letters may I submit about a particular article?
Due to the volume of submissions received, only one Letter to the Editor submission per Journal article can be considered for possible publication. Multiple submissions about the same article from the same author(s) will be withdrawn from consideration.
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IMAGES IN CLINICAL MEDICINE
May I submit my Image in Clinical Medicine online?
Yes. Please refer to Images in Clinical Medicine for instructions.
How many images may I send in with each submission?
We want to see your best work. Although we do not have a specific limit, the ideal submission will have only one or two high-quality, visually striking images.
Do you accept video submissions for the Images in Clinical Medicine section?
Yes. Please refer to Images in Clinical Medicine for instructions.
How many authors may be listed on our Images in Clinical Medicine submission?
You may list up to two authors. We do not publish acknowledgments.
Do you have a photograph permission form?
Yes. If you plan to submit an image of an identifiable patient,the patient must first sign our photograph release form. Click here to download our Release Form for Photographs of Identifiable Patients.
I want to submit an artistic photograph for the pages of the Journal not a clinical image. How do I do that?
Click here for instructions for submitting filler photos. For further submission instructions and guidelines, please review Images in Clinical Medicine.
For other questions about manuscript format and submission, please e-mail our Editorial Office or call 1-800-445-8080 or 617-734-9800.
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ABOUT FIGURES
What kind of software can I use to create my files?
Any package may be suitable as long as the files are saved in a usable format, such as TIFF or EPS, and not the format native to the program. Please refer to the section on file formats in the Technical Guidelines for Submission of Figures.
What if a graphic submitted cannot be used?
If a graphic is unusable, we will contact you and notify youof the reason. We will also tell you what needs to be done differently to achieve successful integration of digital images.
What are the preferred file formats for electronic files of raster images?
EPS, TIFF, Adobe Photoshop native file, or JPEG (use only the maximum quality compression setting).
What are the preferred file formats for electronic files of charts and graphs (vector images)?
Unlocked PDFs created from a vector program, Adobe Illustrator, other vector EPS, or Microsoft PowerPoint 98 and 2000.
What file formats ARE NOT ACCEPTED for electronic file submission?
Microsoft Word, GIF, and video formats (iMovie) are not accepted for still images in the print version of the /Journal;/however, we do accept QuickTime, MPEG, and AVI video formats for videos on the Web.
Why can’t I submit a GIF image?
The GIF format is commonly used to display indexed-color images over the Web. GIF, a compressed format designed to minimize file transfer over phone lines, is not designed to be used as a print format.
Why can’t I submit an image created in a non–industry-standard graphics program?
Ensuring high-quality output and consistency requires that we thoroughly test all elements processed within our workflow. We rely heavily on the PostScript environment; therefore, all applications that interact within our system must generate stable, standards-compliant PostScript code. Many applications that can create graphics do not support PostScript or do not use standard PostScript interpreters.
What is the minimum image resolution (dots or pixels per inch, also known as “dpi” or “ppi”) for electronic raster image files?
266 dpi or ppi for color and black-and-white raster images or halftones (this refers to continuous tone images containing gradations of colors or shades of gray, such as photomicrographs and radiographic images). They should also be at least 4 inches wide for half-page figures and 6.5 inches wide for full-page figures. The minimum width for figures is 3 inches.
Will the proof of my article show low-resolution figures?
The figures seen on proofs are generated from original high-resolution image files on a 600 dpi laser printer. The quality of the laser proof reflects the limitation of the laser printing. When the pages are printed for final output, a high-resolution imaging device is used to generate material for printing presses.
What kind of removable storage or other media will you accept?
3.5" diskettes (Mac/Win), CD-R or CD-RW (Mac/Win), and Iomega Zip Disk 100 or 250 (Mac/Win).
Can I send a compressed file?
Yes, we accept PKZIP or WINZIP for Windows, Stuffit for Macintosh, or any self-extracting compression software.
Is “hard copy” defined as printouts of figures in place of digital art (for example, a print of an annotated scanned photograph)?
Yes, we do define hard copy as printouts of the digital art files. Submission of hard copy is required when figures have already been created electronically but in an unsupported application (e.g., Microsoft Word). If we cannot process the digital file, we ask that you submit a printout (or hard copy) of the file.
Are laser- or inkjet-printed pages acceptable for submission of hard copy?
No, not for scanning. A dye sublimation print, photograph, or slide proves to be better for scanning.
Can I FTP my files directly?
Yes, but we prefer that you use the upload feature in Manuscript Central. If for some reason your files are too large to upload, please contact us at 617-734-9800 to use our FTP site.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR DATA CENTER
What is the Author Data Center?
The Author Data Center (also called Post-Publication Data) is part of the NEJM Author Center. The Author Center's primary functions are to help authors to submit papers and let authors check on the status of submitted manuscripts.
The Author Data Center presents information to authors about their published manuscripts, including the print distribution for the issue in which an article was published, online activity, such as full-text views and PDF downloads for printing, subsequent citation in the literature, and media coverage.
How often is the information updated?
The print issue data are not updated, as they represent circulation at a given point in time. The online usage data are updated monthly, usually after the 10th of the following month (it takes a few days to process each month's data). The media coverage information is updated weekly. The citation information is updated as citations occur and become available through the various sources that document these.
Are the print distribution data completely representative of NEJM's print readership?
No. Approximately 20,000 print copies circulate through libraries and educational institutions, and are widely used in these venues. Another 10-15% of individual copies are shared, either in an educational setting, a group practice, or among peers in other settings. We therefore approximate our total print readership as being well beyond the number of copies physically mailed.
What if there are no print demographics for my article?
Offering print issue demographics began with the launch of the Author Data Center in October 2001. Articles published prior to this do not have print issue demographics available, but the circulation for NEJM is predictably between 205,000 and 220,000 at any given time.
Why does online usage seem to drop so quickly after the first month or two online?
Because NEJM is a weekly journal, the interest in articles is most intense during the week of publication and shortly thereafter. Usage drops sharply after that, and stabilizes. Then, citations begin to accumulate while a lower but significant level of usage continues.
How are the citation statistics derived?
These data are derived directly from the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), the organization that tracks citations for the vast majority of the published scientific literature and calculates impact factors.
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