I. Planning your article (choosing the correct article type/telling a
story)
When considering your paper for publication in Magnetic Resonance in
Chemistry (MRC), it is important to choose an article type that best fits the
data and research that you have undertaken. MRC publishes a range of
article categories to cover all types of contribution from data driven
research to discursive opinion pieces in the form of perspectives \cite{Perez_2016}\cite{Wist_2016,Navarro_V_zquez_2016,Baias_2016,Casta_ar_2016,Schmidts_2016,Giraudeau_2016}. Each of these article types
have particular characteristics as outlined below
Reviews. Reviews, in general, should
offer a broad and accessible précis of a topic. There are no formal
limits on article length but they should typically contain in excess of
70 references. Reviews are encouraged and may be submitted without prior
consultation with the Editors. There are no formal limits on the number
of pages or images for reviews. Figures for review articles will be
published colour in with no cost to the author.
Mini reviews. The criteria for mini reviews are the same as for a full
review albeit less extensive in length and scope. There are no formal
page limits for mini-reviews although they are typically characterised
as containing under 50 references. Figures for mini-review articles will
be published in colour in with no cost to the author.
Tutorials. Tutorial articles provide a source of information that goes
beyond that conveyed in a normal research or review article. Topics
should be presented at an introductory level suitable for non-experts
with maximum attention being given to clarity of expression, freedom
from jargon, and high quality figures. Articles should stimulate and
inform the readers. There are no formal limits on the number of pages or
images for tutorial articles. Figures for tutorial articles will be
published in colour in with no cost to the author.
Historicals. Historicals are an extensive, largely narrative article ,
reporting an influential development in the field. This could be the
development and influence of instrumentation, the impact of a technique
or the contribution of a particular research group or individual .
Historicals should be written in an accessible form. The Historical
should be formatted as an extended editorial (no abstract). There are no
formal limits on the number of pages or images. Figures for historical
articles will be published in colour in with no cost to the author.
Spotlights. A Spotlight is a short article, generally under 4 journal
pages highlighting a current, controversial or exciting development in
the field. Spotlights may include transcript interviews with key players
and balanced opinion points or discuss the future trajectory of the
topic together with the immediate impact and importance. Spotlights
should be written in a very accessible journalistic “newsy” style.
Spotlights will be subject to screening for appropriateness and accuracy
but will not undergo the traditional peer review model. Figures for
spotlight articles will be published colour in with no cost to the
author.
Perspectives. A Perspective is a lightly referenced scholarly opinion
piece about current or future directions in a field. A Perspective can
serve to assess the science directly concerned with a particular topic
or report on relevant issues that may arise from the discipline (for
example, policy, effects on society, regulatory issues and
controversies). Perspectives that address interdisciplinary research
areas or experimental results with significance to a broader audience
are of particular interest to the Editors. A Perspective does not
contain an abstract and generally contains less than 20 references.
Perspectives will be subject to screening for appropriateness and
accuracy but will not undergo the traditional peer review model. Figures
for perspective articles will be published in colour in with no cost to
the author. Perspectives do not contain an abstract.
Rapid communications. These describe particularly novel results or
methods which merit rapid publication. Such papers will be significantly
shorter than Research articles typically covering two pages in the
printed journal.
Research articles. these describe the results of a particular research
project, the development of new techniques, or the application of such
new techniques.
Letter - application notes are short articles reporting on innovative
applications, ”kitchen tips” from a laboratory setting or technology.
Application notes are not advertorials but are welcomed from both
product manufacturers and independent authors. There are no formal
limits on the length of application notes although typically they would
cover no more than 4 journal pages. Application notes do not contain an
abstract.
Letter - case report is an initial “in the field” or lab discovery.
They should not contain more than 20 references and typically cover 2
journal pages. Articles in this category will be subject to screening
for scientific accuracy but will not undergo traditional peer review
models, they require no accompanying abstract.
Letter - spectral assignments. Examples of material which might be
appropriate for this type of publication include: compilations of
experimental data from less common nuclei, compilations of experimental
data on new or unusual families of compounds, unusual spectral features,
experimental data on new chemical skeletons, use of theoretical or
computational predictions alongside experimental data. Spectral
assignments do not contain an abstract.
The purpose of the Letter - spectral assignment article type is to
report highly precise NMR data. The spectra,especially the 1H spectra,
should be a) of high quality and b) uploaded as Supplementary material.
II. Titles, author names, hierachy and abstract writing
Title
When choosing a title for an article it is advisable to choose a title
that best describes the work, is succinct and free from excessive
jargon. The title should entice the reader and authors should keep in
mind that the first impression counts! A strong title will likely
convince an editor or reviewer that the paper is important to the
journal’s readership.
Titles should try to be short, not more than 15 words and be
informative; they need to convey the main message and/or finding of the
paper. Try to be precise without using vague language. It is recommended
that authors of research articles and reviews avoid titles such as:
"Studies on…"
"Characterization of..."
"Optimization of..."
"Investigations on..."
"Review of..."
"…in review"
In some publications, references to “new” or “novel” appear
frequently in article titles, such phrases should be avoided where
possible. The point of the academic journal is to publish new research
so stating new or novel in the title can appear somewhat redundant.