Uniform
Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals
Updated
October 2001
History of ICJME
A small group of
editors of general medical journals met informally in Vancouver,
British Columbia, in 1978 to establish guidelines for the format of
manuscripts submitted to their journals. The group became known as
the Vancouver Group. Its requirements for manuscripts, including
formats for bibliographic references developed by the National
Library of Medicine, were first published in 1979. The Vancouver
Group expanded and evolved into the International Committee of
Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), which meets annually; gradually it
has broadened its concerns.
The committee has
produced multiple editions of the Uniform Requirements for
Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals. Over the years, issues
have arisen that go beyond manuscript preparation. Some of these
issues are now covered in the Uniform Requirements; others are
addressed in separate statements.
The entire Uniform
Requirements document was revised in 1997. Sections were updated in
May 1999 and May 2000. A major revision is scheduled for 2001. The
total content of the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted
to Biomedical Journals may be reproduced for educational,
not-for-profit purposes without regard for copyright; the committee
encourages distribution of the material.
Journals that agree
to use the Uniform Requirements (over 500 do so) are asked to cite a
version published in 1997 or later in their instructions to authors.
It is important to
emphasize what these requirements do and do not imply.
First, the Uniform
Requirements are instructions to authors on how to prepare
manuscripts, not to editors on publication style. (But many journals
have drawn on them for elements of their publication styles.)
Second, if authors
prepare their manuscripts in the style specified in these
requirements, editors of the participating journals will not return
the manuscripts for changes in style before considering them for
publication. In the publishing process, however, the journals may
alter accepted manuscripts to conform with details of their
publication style.
Third, authors
sending manuscripts to a participating journal should not try to
prepare them in accordance with the publication style of that
journal but should follow the Uniform Requirements.
Authors must also
follow the instructions to authors in the journal as to what topics
are suitable for that journal and the types of papers that may be
submitted-for example, original articles, reviews, or case reports.
In addition, the journal's instructions are likely to contain other
requirements unique to that journal, such as the number of copies of
a manuscript that are required, acceptable languages, length of
articles, and approved abbreviations.
Participating
journals are expected to state in their instructions to authors that
their requirements are in accordance with the Uniform Requirements
for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals and to cite a
published version. | 
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