Guide for Authors

Online Manuscript Submission

Submission Guidelines

Authorship, Conflict of Interest
Clinical Trials
Ethics
Publishing Misconduct
Plagiarism Policy
AI Policy
Withdrawal Policy
Peer Review Process

Types of Submissions

Full Length Manuscripts
Brief Communications
Review Articles
Editorials
Images in Rheumatology
Rheumatology Around the World
Panorama
Research Letters
Case Reports
Correspondence
Supplements

Preparation of Manuscripts

Cover Letter, Format, and Organization
References
Reporting Statistics
Figures and Tables
Data Supplements
Plain Language Summary (PLS)

Post-acceptance

Assignment of Copyright
Accepted Articles
Copyediting, Proofreading, Author E-prints, Paper Reprints
Self-Archiving Policy, Public Access Mandate
First Release, Print Publication
Video and Audio Abstracts
Author Name Change Requests

Article Charges

Open Access Publication Option
Page Charges, Color, Online Supplement, PLS

Meeting Announcements

Contact Information

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ONLINE MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSION

Manuscripts and all other editorial communications addressed to the Editor of The Journal of Rheumatology should be submitted through our online submission system, available at the ScholarOne Manuscripts website.

To submit a new manuscript, log in to mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jrheum with an existing account. If you are submitting for the first time, create a new account. Follow all online instructions. At the end of a successful submission, a confirmation screen with the manuscript number will appear and you will receive an email acknowledging that the manuscript has been received.

If you do not receive an email acknowledgment, please check your submission and/or contact our technical support staff at manuscripts@jrheum.com. Manuscripts that do not meet the main format requirements outlined in The Journal of Rheumatology’s Guide for Authors will be returned to the authors for revisions prior to review by the Editor.

Once a manuscript fulfills The Journal's formatting requirements, it will be reviewed by the Editorial Committee. Please be advised that many manuscripts are returned without external review.

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SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Original, previously unpublished full-length articles, brief communications, editorials, reviews, hypotheses, images in rheumatology, correspondence, research letters, and case reports will be accepted for publication following successful review and on condition that they are submitted solely to this journal. Subject matter may relate to the broad field of rheumatology, rehabilitation medicine, immunology, infectious diseases, orthopedic subjects, or medical education pertaining to the rheumatic diseases. Manuscripts containing original material are accepted for consideration with the understanding that neither the article nor any part of its essential substance, tables, or figures has been or will be published or submitted for publication elsewhere before appearing in The Journal. This restriction does not apply to abstracts or press reports published in connection with scientific meetings. Authors are responsible for submitting any permission necessary from the original copyright holder for previously published text, tables, or figures included in the manuscript.

Authorship

All persons designated as authors should qualify for authorship. Every author should have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for the content. Authorship credit should be based on authors fulfilling all 3 criteria:

• Substantial contribution to conception and design, execution, or analysis and interpretation of data;
• Drafting the article or revising it critically; and
• Reading and approval of the final version. 

Acquisition of funding, collection of data, or general supervision of the research group alone do not, in themselves, constitute authorship. All non-authors who have made substantial contributions (i.e., one or more of the above 3 author criteria) to the study or to manuscript preparation must be listed in the Acknowledgment or included under sponsorship information. 

For studies involving a large multicenter group, the group name may be included in the list of authors, but only those members who qualify for authorship and are willing to accept responsibility for the manuscript should be named as authors. The names and cities of non-author collaborators should be listed in an appendix. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) indexes the names of collaborators listed in the appendix.

 NOTE: To ensure the authenticity of authorship, authors should link their ScholarOne Manuscripts with their ORCID iD.

Conflict of Interest

Authors of research articles, editorials, and reviews must disclose at the time of submission any relationships that could be viewed as potential conflicts of interest, for example, any financial interest in a company (or its competitor) that manufactures a product discussed in the article. Those relationships may further include employment, consultancies, speaker’s fees, honoraria, stock ownership/options, expert testimony, patent or license-related income, and royalties. Such information will not influence the editorial decision.

For more detailed information on the definition and types of conflicts of interest, visit the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) Conflict of Interest policy. For questions about these issues, contact the Manuscripts Department. 

The Journal of Rheumatology discourages submission of more than one article dealing with related aspects of the same study. If authors are aware of any published paper or other manuscript in preparation or submitted elsewhere or to The Journal related to the manuscript under consideration (e.g., another manuscript resulting from the same study), a copy of the related paper should be uploaded as a supplementary file with the paper submitted for publication.

Clinical Trials

For articles reporting clinical trials, registration in an appropriate public registry before the start of patient enrollment is required. Authors of articles reporting registered trials should include the trial registration number in the Abstract and the Methods sections of their manuscript. The registration number will be published in articles accepted for publication.

Ethics

Authors are required to provide their institution's ethics board approval number. Manuscripts involving human subjects must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki or with the research ethics standards of the country of origin. Manuscripts involving animal subjects must include a statement that the study was conducted in full compliance with the local, national, or institutional ethics boards/bodies.

If ethics was not required or was waived, authors are to provide the document(s) explicitly stating this from their respective Institutional Review Boards.

For text that uses patient-level data, authors must include a statement indicating they have obtained the patient's written informed consent to publish the material, and the patient consent statement must be kept on file by the authors. For visual material that cannot be completely de-identified, such as photographs of the subject's face, patient consent must be submitted. Unless deemed necessary for the interpretation of the article, patients will be de-identified by The Journal for peer review and publication.

The Journal reserves the right to reject papers if the ethical aspects are in doubt according to the opinion of the Editorial Committee.

Publishing Misconduct

Articles are considered only for exclusive publication in The Journal with the understanding that they have not been published elsewhere (in part or in full, in other words or in the same words in letter or article form, or otherwise), are not at the time of submission under consideration by another journal or other publication, and will not be submitted elsewhere unless rejected by The Journal of Rheumatology.

If an author violates this requirement or engages in other similar misconduct, the Editor may, in addition to rejecting the manuscript, impose a moratorium on the acceptance of new manuscripts from the author. If the misconduct is deemed sufficiently serious, the Editor may refer the matter to the author’s academic institution or hospital and/or the appropriate disciplinary body.

Plagiarism Policy

Overview

The Journal of Rheumatology is committed to the highest standards of publishing original research. We respect research integrity at each stage of the publication process with the aim of protecting and promoting authors’ works.

Authors are expected to abide by ethical standards and refrain from plagiarism in any form.

Definition of Plagiarism

The Journal defines plagiarism as the act of using another author’s ideas or works and claiming it as your own.

Plagiarism takes many forms this includes, but is not limited to the following:

1. Direct Plagiarism

Copying another author’s text word-for-word without citation. 

2. Mosaic Plagiarism

Taking another author’s ideas and/or text from different sources and combining them without citation. 

3. Paraphrasing Plagiarism

Combing the parts of another author’s text with some modifications and without citation.

4. Self Plagiarism

Reusing your own work from a previous publication without appropriate acknowledgment.

Authors can find out more about ethical writing using this module from The Office of Research Integrity (ORI). 

What is the Policy on Plagiarism?

Manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration for publication elsewhere, partially or in full.

It is the responsibility of authors to know what plagiarism is and how to avoid it. Authors can screen their work before submission using plagiarism checker tools.

Depending on the extent of plagiarism detected, an investigation may occur.

The Journal follows the recommendations by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and follows procedures when handling cases of suspected misconduct. Authors may refer to flowcharts provided by COPE.

Checking and Reporting to Authors

All manuscripts are cross-checked for plagiarism using iThenticate software during the peer review process.

Authors may be alerted and asked to rewrite their manuscript or to cite the sources from which their content was taken. Prior to final acceptance, authors must comply with any revisions required by the editor.

Rejection

If significant plagiarism is detected, The Journal reserves the right to reject the manuscript.

Report to Authors Institution

The Journal reserves the right to inform the authors’ institutions about plagiarism detected either before or after publication.

AI Policy

The Journal permits responsible use with generative artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models, such as ChatGPT, to help authors prepare their research for publication only for improving language and readability.

The following policy was made in alignment with Committee on Publication Ethics and the World Association of Medical Editors guidelines for the use of AI tools.

• Authors must disclose the use of generative AI and AI-assisted tools and the purpose of use in their cover letter and at the end of the manuscript (before References) at the time of submission. Specific details such as the name of the language model or tool, version, date of use, and reason for use are required. Please note that basic tools using spelling, grammar, and reference checks are not required for disclosure.
• Authors are fully responsible for any generative AI output that is included in their work. It should be clearly indicated in the disclosure statement that all authors reviewed the content.
• Authors should not list AI as an author or co-author, nor cite AI as an author.
• Any non-generative AI tools used to manipulate or enhance figures should also be disclosed.

We will continue to update this policy as AI technology develops and new information emerges.

Withdrawal Policy

Articles can by withdrawn by either the authors or the publisher. A request for article withdrawal must be initiated by the author in a formal letter addressed to the editor stating a compelling reason for withdrawal. The letter must be signed by all authors and sent to manuscripts@jrheum.com. The Journal has the right to withdraw the article if the article is found to violate publication ethics, such as duplicate publication, multiple submissions, plagiarism, fraudulent use of data, or false claims of authorship. The withdrawal process is considered complete only upon confirmation from the publisher.

Peer Review Process

Authors are encouraged to suggest the names of 3 or 4 persons who might be considered suitable reviewers of their work. Once the Editorial Committee moves a manuscript forward for peer review, reviewers are given a minimum of 21 days to review.

Manuscripts must meet the following requirements or they will be returned to the authors for remedy prior to peer review:

• Include ethics/patient consent statements
• Include clinical trial number (if applicable)
• Ensure files legibility in the PDF
• Within word/table/figure/reference limits
• Agree to color charges (if applicable)
• Include plain language summary (optional)

If applicable, to aid in the review process, include a document that answers the following data and statistical queries:

1) Data:

• All data (eg, percentages, calculations, rounding, decimal places) are consistent throughout the main text and tables.
• Percentages are calculated correctly and rounded according to the total sample size (ie, N = 0-99: whole number; 100-999: 1 decimal place; ≥ 1000: 2 decimal places).
• Statistics such as P values, 95% CIs, HRs, ORs, and ICCs are reported to 2 decimal places, unless significance is affected. Mean (SD) and median (IQR) values are reported to 1 decimal place.
• The lowest P value reported is not less than P < 0.001; the highest is not greater than P > 0.99. 
• IQRs and 95% CIs are reported as hyphenated ranges. If any values in a range are negative, “to” is used instead of a hyphen between all ranges for consistency. 
• Confirm that all original data in the discussion has been previously presented in the results/methods and no data not referred in these 2 sections has been added to the discussion.

2) Tables and Figures:

• Units are not used in table/data cells; place units only in column headings, the list of variables, and/or captions. 
• Tables and figures are appropriately referred to in the text, in order.
• Abbreviations are complete and consistent for each table and figure.

3) References:

• References are appropriately referred to in the text, in order.
• All references have a format consistent with The Journal of Rheumatology guidelines.

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TYPES OF SUBMISSIONS

All submissions must include a declaration regarding funding and conflict of interest. Titles are limited to 20 words and running heads are up to 4 words.

Full-length Manuscripts

Original, unpublished investigative reports regarding clinical, laboratory, and translational aspects of rheumatology. Includes systematic reviews and metaanalyses.

• Abstract: maximum of 250 words (Objective, Methods, Results, and Conclusion)
• Word count: maximum of 3500 for full-length articles / 4000 for systematic reviews and metaanalyses (from Introduction through Discussion)
• Tables and figures: maximum of 6, combined
• References: maximum of 50 for full-length articles / 125 for systematic reviews and metaanalyses

Brief Communications

Short investigative reports, formatted in the same manner as full-length manuscripts.

• Abstract: maximum of 250 words (Objective, Methods, Results, and Conclusion)
• Word count: maximum of 2500, from Introduction through Discussion
• Tables and figures: maximum of 3, combined
• References: maximum of 25

Review Articles

Review articles on rheumatologic aspects of clinical practice, clinical therapeutics, current concepts, drug therapy, and mechanisms of disease.

• Abstract: maximum of 250 words, unstructured 
• Word count: maximum of 4000
• Tables and figures: maximum of 6, combined
• References: maximum of 125

Editorials

Solicited by the editors, but unsolicited material is also considered. Editorials on rheumatologic aspects of clinical practice, clinical therapeutics, current concepts, drug therapy, and mechanisms of disease are welcome. Editorials are accompanied by author photographs (maximum of 3).

• Abstract: not required
• Word count: maximum of 1500
• Tables and figures: maximum of 2, combined
• References: maximum of 20

Images in Rheumatology

Abbreviated case descriptions of abstract length that feature exceptional visual illustrations.

• Abstract: not required
• Word count: maximum of 250
• Authors: maximum of 4
• Figures: maximum of 2
• References: maximum of 5

Panorama (360º view of rheumatology)

Perspectives of patients, parents/caregivers of people with rheumatic diseases, patient advocates, physicians, and trainees on patient and caregiver experiences with rheumatic diseases; interactions and experiences with patients and/or rheumatology in general; moral and/or ethical dilemmas; art and visual representations of rheumatology; reflections on the past, present, and future of rheumatology; rheumatology and society; and historical vignettes.

• Abstract: not required
• Word count: 1000–1500 words
• Tables and figures: not required (2 maximum, combined)
• References: not required (5 maximum, if necessary)

• Study guidelines: The research must have been conducted in a country considered to be a low-income economy, remote geographic regions, and/or underrepresented population. Novelty in the context of the population studied will be taken into consideration.
• Affiliations: The primary affiliation of the corresponding author must be in a country considered to be a low-income economy according to the World Bank. There can be no more than one author whose primary affiliation is in a country deemed to be a lower-middle-income economy or higher.
• Abstract: maximum of 250 words (Objective, Methods, Results, and Conclusion)
• Word count: maximum of 3500 for full-length articles / 2500 for brief communications, from Introduction through Discussion
• Tables and Figures: maximum of 6 for full-length articles / 3 for brief communications, combined
• References: maximum of 50 for full-length articles / 25 for brief communications

Case Reports

Abbreviated descriptions of exceptional clinical findings and clinical course, in the form of a letter to the editor. Single cases or series of cases are considered.

• Abstract: not required
• Words: maximum of 800
• Authors: maximum of 4
• Tables and figures: maximum of 2, combined
• References: maximum of 10

Correspondence

A brief commentary on a previously published article.

• Abstract: not required
• Words: maximum of 800
• Tables and figures: maximum of 2, combined
• References: maximum of 10

The Journal welcomes the opportunity to publish proceedings of significant symposia, providing the material represents original work not previously published. Symposium organizers are urged to contact the Managing Editor well in advance of the symposium date with a draft program. Faculty, subject matter, and editorial content are all subject to the approval of the Editorial Committee. Papers submitted to be published on the proceedings must conform to the style for supplements, which is available on request, before they will be considered for publication.

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PREPARATION OF MANUSCRIPTS

Cover Letter

Manuscripts should be accompanied by a cover letter indicating that the final manuscript has been seen and approved by all the authors, that they have obtained the required ethical approvals, that they have given necessary attention to ensure the integrity of the work, and that they agree to bear the applicable publication charges if their manuscript is accepted for publication (see Page Charges and Color Charges). The cover letter should note the type of manuscript submitted (e.g., full-length article, brief communication, etc.).

Format and Organization

Manuscripts should be concise and typed double spaced with liberal margins. Organize manuscripts to include the following sections:

• Title Page
• Abstract*
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Acknowledgment
• References
• Figure Legends
• Tables and Figures
• Data Supplements
• Appendix (Non-author collaborator list only)

*Abstracts are not required for Research Letters, Case Reports, Editorials, or Images in Rheumatology.
**The Methods section, if applicable, must include the ethics approval number, statement of patient consent, and clinical trial registration number. For Research Letters, Case Reports, and Images in Rheumatology, please include this information in the Title Page.

The manuscript, accompanying tables, and figures should be prepared for online submission and review using conventional software. Number each page, including tables and figure legends, in sequence. Manuscripts, tables, figures, data supplements, and appendix should be submitted as separate files.

Indicate the main sections of the manuscript by subheadings. Arabic numerals should be used throughout the manuscript but spelled out at the beginning of sentences.

Details of Format and Organization

Title Page

Title page should be prepared in the following order:

• Short running head (maximum of 30 characters)
• Full title of manuscript (maximum of 20 words)
• Complete given names and surnames of all authors with ORCID iD if any for author byline
• Source(s) of support in the form of grants or industrial support
• Initials, surnames, appointments, and highest academic degrees of all authors (e.g., MD, PhD), and affiliated department(s) and institution(s)
• Conflict of interest
• Corresponding author’s name, address, and email
• Key Indexing Terms (maximum of 6; must be MeSH terms)

Title Page Templates are available for the following:

• Manuscripts, Brief Communications, and Review Articles
• Editorials, Research Letters, Case Reports, and Correspondence
• Images in Rheumatology

Abstract

Full-length manuscripts (250 words) and brief communication articles (250 words) must include a structured abstract in the title page section of the manuscript document, briefly describing Objective, Methods, Results, and Conclusion.

Review article summaries (250 words) should be provided in unstructured paragraph format.

Acknowledgment

Acknowledgment, if applicable, should be added after the Discussion of the paper and before the references. It should not acknowledge grant or industrial support for fellowship awards, all of which should appear on the title page.

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References

Authors are responsible for the accuracy of references, which must be verified against original sources in the manuscript and on the page proof.

Number references consecutively in the order in which they are mentioned in the text. Identify references in text, tables, and legends by Arabic numerals (in parentheses). For references cited only in tables or figure legends, number references consecutively in the order in which they appear in the text.

Use abbreviations for titles of medical journals that conform to those in Medline.

For EndNote users. Download The Journal’s style from EndNote (https://endnote.com/style_download/journal-of-rheumatology/). If you require further assistance, contact EndNote technical support.

Abstracts. Avoid using abstracts as references whenever possible; “unpublished observations” and “personal communication” may not be used as references, although references to written, not verbal, communications may be inserted (in parentheses) in the text.

Examples of correct forms of references are given below:

Standard Journal Article. Standard Journal Article. (When 7 or more authors, list 3 and add “et al”.) Morrisroe K, Stevens W, Sahhar J, et al. The clinical and economic burden of systemic sclerosis related interstitial lung disease. Rheumatology 2020;59:1878-88.

Standard Journal Article. (List all authors if 6 or fewer.) Fischer A, Zimovetz E, Ling C, Esser D, Schoof N. Humanistic and cost burden of systemic sclerosis: a review of the literature. Autoimmun Rev 2017;16:1147-54.

The Journal of Rheumatology Supplement. Dawkins RL, Garlepp MJ, McDonald BL, Williamson J, Ziko PJ, Carrano J. Myasthenia gravis and D-penicillamine. J Rheumatol Suppl 1981 Feb;8:169-72.

Abstract. Fischman SA, Joiner KA. Binding of the 3rd component of complement C3 by toxoplasma gondi [abstract]. Clin Res 1987;35:475A.

Agency Publication. National Center for Health Statistics. Acute conditions: incidence and associated disability. United States, July 1968-June 1969. Rockville: National Center for Health Statistics; 1972; DHEW publication no. (HSM)72-1036. (Vital and health statistics; series 10, no. 69).

Article in a Foreign Language. Rijkenberg AM, van Sprundel M, Stassijns G. [Collaboration between occupational physicians and other specialists including insurance physicians]. [Article in German] Versicherungsmedizin 2013;65:140-5.

Chapter in Book. Weinstein L, Swartz MN. Pathogenic properties of invading microorganisms. In: Sodeman WA Jr, Sodeman WA, editors. Pathologic physiology: mechanisms of disease. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1974:457-72.

Corporate Author. The Committee on Enzymes of the Scandinavian Society for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Physiology. Recommended method for the determination of gamma-glutamyl-transferase in blood. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1976;36:119-25.

Corporate Book Author. American Medical Association Department of Drugs. AMA Drug Evaluations. 3rd ed. Littleton: Publishing Sciences Group; 1977.

Dissertation or Thesis. Cairns RB. Infrared spectroscopic studies of solid oxygen [dissertation]. Berkeley: University of California; 1965, 156 p.

E-book. Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, McInnes IB, O’Dell JR, Koretzky G, ed. Kelley and Firestein’s textbook of rheumatology. 11th ed. Elsevier; 2020. [Internet. Accessed October 25, 2020.] Available from: https://expertconsult.inkling.com

E-publication. Kojima M, Kojima T, Suzuki S, et al. Patient-reported outcomes as assessment tools and predictors of long-term prognosis: a 7-year follow-up study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Int J Rheum Dis 2015 Nov 6 (Epub ahead of print).

Editorial. Coffee drinking and cancer of the pancreas [editorial]. BMJ 1981;283:628.

Letter to the Editor. Gardner GC, Lawrence MK. Polyarteritis nodosa confined to calf muscles [letter]. Pedrol E, Garcia F, Casademont J [reply]. J Rheumatol 1993;20:908-9.

Magazine Article. Roueche B. Annals of medicine: the Santa Claus culture. The New Yorker 1971 Sep 4:66-81.

Newspaper Article. Shaffer RA. Advances in chemistry are starting to unlock mysteries of the brain: discoveries could help cure alcoholism and insomnia, explain mental illness. How the messengers work. Wall Street Journal 1977 Aug 13; sect. A: 1 (col.1), 10 (col.1).

Personal Book Author(s). Osler AG. Complement: mechanisms and functions. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall; 1976.

Preprint. Bar DZ, Atkatsh K, Tavarez U, Erdos MR, Gruenbaum Y, Collins F. Biotinylation by antibody recognition - A novel method for proximity labeling. medRxiv 2020 Apr 14 [Preprint. Accessed May 27, 2020.] Available from: doi.org/10.1101/069187

Poster Presentation. Gonzalez-Najera C, Taylor S, Crawford S, Narasimhan P, Shao X, Li J. Characteristics and treatments of patients with Sjögren syndrome in a real-world setting. Paper presented at: EULAR Annual European Congress of Rheumatology; 2019 June 12-15; Madrid, Spain.

Published Proceedings Paper. DuPont B. Bone marrow transplantation in severe combined immunodeficiency with an unrelated MLC compatible donor. In: White HJ, Smith R, editors. Proceedings of the Third Annual Meeting of the International Society for Experimental Hematology, 1973, Oct 29-31; Houston: International Society for Experimental Hematology; 1974:44-6.

Supplements in Other Journals. Kimura A, Kitamura H, Date Y, Numano F. Comprehensive analysis of HLA genes in Takayasu arteritis in Japan. Int J Cardiol Suppl 1996;54 Suppl 1:61-9.

Website. Cancer-Pain. Quality of life issues. [Internet. Accessed September 23, 2014.] Available from: www.cancer-pain.org/understanding/quality.html

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Reporting Statistics

It is the authors’ responsibility to ensure that statistical reporting is complete and accurate. Although most of the inconsistencies in statistical reporting should have been identified in the review process and addressed by the authors in the revisions, various errors are often found at the copyediting and proofreading stages. These include the calculation of percentages, rounding, missing data, as well as consistency between the text and tables/figures.

For more detailed guidelines on how to report statistical data according to The Journal’s style, please see the Guidelines for Statistical Reporting.

Figures and Tables

Figures

For peer review. Low-resolution figures are preferred for peer review. The figures must be legible and convert in ScholarOne’s HTML/PDF proofs.

General requirements.

1. Figure labels should be 

• Sized in proportion to the figure
• In upper case
• Complete for all data presented in the figures

2. Figure legends should be in the manuscript only (after References). All figure legends must be consistent with the manuscript contents. Include all abbreviations of terms found in each figure, as well as their definitions.

3. Black and white versus color

• Figures are printed in black in white unless color is necessary for proper interpretation (at the Editor’s discretion)
• Authors must bear the costs of color printing ($750/page)
• Black and white TIFF files must be saved as grayscale
• Color figures must be saved as CMYK (not RGB)

4. Previously published figures must be referenced properly in the figure legend and include written copyright holder permission for reprint upon submission.

For publication. Once a paper is accepted, figures must be supplied in high resolution in order to maintain the quality in both print and online publications. They must be numbered in the sequence that they are mentioned in the text.

Line art (charts, diagrams, etc.). Avoid the use of solid and shaded backgrounds, and fill effects. To aid in clear interpretation of figures, ensure that patterns are clearly distinguished from each other.

Our preferred file format for line art is TIFF at 1200 pixels/inch at 42 picas/7 in/17 cm.

If you are unable to supply a TIFF file, you may submit the original file (Word, Excel, or PowerPoint) or a PDF (if the figure was created using statistical software).

Half-tone figures (photographs, micrographs, etc.). Please supply the following:

1. For peer review only: Low resolution figures (minimum 72 pixels/inch). We accept low resolution figures in .jpg, .gif, .tif, and .eps formats.
2. For publication: High-resolution figures are required upon acceptance. Our preferred file format for half-tone figures is TIFF (minimum 300 pixels/inch at 42 picas/7 in/17 cm).

If you need further assistance, the publications office at your institution may be able to assist with preparation of artwork intended for publication.

References. References that are cited only in figures and figure legends should follow the numbering of references based on the sequence that appears in the text.

Uploading figures. All figures should be uploaded as separate files to our online submission system on ScholarOne. In order to ensure that files will be uploaded, please flatten your TIFF files and compress them (save each file as LZW under Image Compression in Photoshop).

For files that are greater than 350 Mb, you may upload them to our FTP site (username and password will be given at time of submission).

For further details, refer to our Figure, Table, and Data Supplement Guidelines.

Tables

General requirements. Prepare each table in a separate Word file, double spaced, with a brief title. Number tables consecutively, according to the sequence they appear in the text, and supply a brief legend for each.

Previously published tables must be referenced properly in the table legend and include written copyright holder permission for reprint upon submission.

Table data. All table data should be cell based and fully editable. Avoid the use of special formatting within tables, such as tabs, returns (Enter key), and shading. Ensure that all data include units of measurement and a description of how the data is expressed [e.g., n (%), mean (SD)].

Table legends. Include explanations of any symbols in the table (*, #, etc.), as well as definitions of all abbreviations found in the table. 

References. References that are cited only in tables should follow the numbering of references based on the sequence that the table appears in the text.

Uploading tables. All tables should be uploaded as separate files to our online submission system on ScholarOne.

For further details, refer to our Figure, Table, and Data Supplement Guidelines.

Data Supplements

Additional original research material may be included in the submission as a data supplement. Intended for online-only publication, data supplements contain supplementary information not essential to the understanding of the conclusions of the paper, such as more detailed methods, extended datasets/analysis, or additional figures. Supplementary tables and figures should be noted in the manuscript in numerical order. A flat fee of $150 to process online-only data supplements will apply.

For further details, refer to our Figure, Table, and Data Supplement Guidelines.

Plain Language Summary (PLS)

A plain language summary (PLS) is a brief summary written in clear, jargon-free language for an audience of nonexperts, including patients, news outlets, clinicians, and researchers outside of a specific specialty. PLS conveys the important points of the scientific research in a way that engages more readers and reaches a broader audience. A PLS should have a maximum of 250 words, where each sentence should contain no more than 25 words. An effective PLS should avoid the use of semicolons, parentheses, and too many commas, as well as jargon, technical terms, abbreviations, and difficult words. All PLS are peer reviewed. The PLS will be published as online-only Supplementary Material for a flat fee of $75.00.

For further details, refer to our Guide for Plain Language Summary.

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POST-ACCEPTANCE

Assignment of Copyright

The contact author of each manuscript will receive an Assignment of Copyright form at time of acceptance. The form must be signed by each author of the manuscript and returned to The Journal as soon as possible. Please be advised that failure to return the form in a timely manner will cause delay in publication.

Accepted Articles

Accepted Articles are papers that have been accepted for publication following full peer review, but prior to copyediting, proofreading, and typesetting. Therefore, Accepted Articles will not be identical to the final published version, and reprints and permissions are not available for this version of the article.

Accepted Articles are published online 1–2 weeks after The Journal has received publication-quality figures, tables, and permissions, and all Assignment of Copyright forms. Accepted Articles appear online on the 1st and the 15th of every month, except on the first of January, alongside First Release articles.

*Please ensure that all author names and affiliations are correct for indexing (e.g., PubMed); corrections following Accepted Article publication will only be implemented with the copyedited First Release version of the article.

Copyediting

All submitted material is subject to editing, in accordance with Journal style and editorial judgment. The Journal strives to maintain consistency in style among articles and among issues. Some sources for style decisions are Scientific Style and Format: The Council of Science Editors Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers; the Merriam-Webster Dictionary; and The Journal’s own style guides, compiled and updated during 45 years of scientific publishing.

Proofreading

The contact authors are provided with page proofs and are asked to proofread them for typesetting errors and to answer editorial queries. This is the authors’ only opportunity to review the proof. Proofs must be returned within 48 hours. The Journal makes every effort to ensure accuracy in the final proof corrections.

Changes for the following are accepted:

• Names, professional degrees, and institutions 
• Changes necessary for scientific accuracy

Additional charges will apply for excessive discretionary changes in the proof stage.

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Author E-prints

The corresponding author may distribute up to 20 copies of the published article for personal/professional non-commercial use. Larger quantities (minimum 100 copies) may be distributed for a fee. For details, contact reprints@jrheum.com.

Paper Reprints

High-quality offprints may be purchased at a reduced rate if ordered before issue publication (minimum 100 copies). For details, contact reprints@jrheum.com.

Self-Archiving Policy

Authors of original research articles may deposit the peer-reviewed accepted version of the manuscript to a non-profit institutional and/or nonprofit centrally organized repository (including PubMed Central), but must stipulate that public access to the manuscript be delayed until 12 months after the copyedited version is published online as First Release on The Journal of Rheumatology website. In compliance with the open access requirements of the UKRI, Wellcome, and NIHR, the embargo period will be lifted, making the pre-copyedited article available at time of first online publication. 

The Journal authorizes deposit, in institutional and/or centrally organized repositories, of the accepted manuscript as prepared by the authors before publisher copyediting and proof correction. The final published version of the article as it appears in The Journal of Rheumatology after copyediting and proof correction may not be deposited.

When depositing their pre-copyedited accepted manuscripts to a repository, authors should include the following credit line:

• “This is a pre-copyediting, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in The Journal of Rheumatology following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version [insert complete citation information here] is available online at: xxxx [insert URL for fully published article in The Journal of Rheumatology website].”

This helps to ensure the article is correctly cited and will guarantee that the fully published and definitive version is readily available to those accessing the article from public repositories.

Public Access Mandate

The Journal submits the accepted version of National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded articles (before publisher copyediting and proof correction) to PubMed Central upon final acceptance. Authors will receive a notification following submission of the files to the NIH Manuscript Submission system to approve the upload.

We also submit European-funded research mandated to Europe PubMed Central.

See our Self-Archiving Policy for The Journal’s terms of submission.

First Release

Papers are published online ahead of print 2–4 weeks after final proof correction. First Release articles appear online on the 1st and the 15th of every month, except on the first of January, alongside Accepted Articles.

Print Publication

The typical time from acceptance to print publication is approximately 3–6 months.

Video and Audio Abstracts

All authors who publish in The Journal of Rheumatology can submit a video or audio abstract with their articles in the form of interviews, conversations, slides, or technique demonstrations. To find out more about how to create one, see our Guide for Video and Audio Abstracts.

Author Name Change Requests

Authors may change their names for personal reasons. Name change requests can be sent directly to Managing Editor.

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ARTICLE CHARGES

The Journal is committed to publishing quality research papers. Article charges enable us to maintain our industry-standard services. These fees help support peer review management, editorial production, online hosting, research dissemination, and other associated operations so that we can provide a valuable and accessible service to the global research community.

Waivers and discounts are available to authors from low-income countries. Requests must be sent to the Managing Editor at the time of submission.

Page Charges* ($75/published page)

Authors will be charged $75 per publication page in The Journal of Rheumatology. Invoices will be sent to the corresponding author unless requested otherwise. Billing details should be confirmed at the page proofs stage. The cover letter accompanying submission should indicate the authors agree to bear the cost of applicable publication charges if the manuscript is accepted.

There is no charge for solicited articles or for correspondence commenting on published articles. 

Open Access Publication Option ($4000 flat fee)

For those authors of original research articles who require immediate public access, The Journal of Rheumatology offers the option of Open Access publication. With this option, the article is available to non-subscribers from the time of first publication on The Journal’s website. Open Access articles will be identified on our table of contents.

An article published under the Open Access option is subject to a publication charge of $4000. Regarding deposit requirement, authors may also deposit the peer-reviewed accepted version of the manuscript to a non-profit institutional and/or non-profit centrally organized repository (including PubMed Central). See Self-Archiving Policy above.

For further details, refer to our Open Access Article Request Form.

Color Charges* ($750/published page with color figures)

Where color printing is necessary by the publisher for proper interpretation of figures, there will be a charge of $750 per published page with color figures.

Online-only Data Supplement Charges* ($150 flat fee)

A flat fee of $150 to process online-only data supplements will apply. Detailed instructions are available for Data Supplements.

Plain Language Summary (PLS)* (text PLS $75 flat fee/visual PLS $150 flat fee)

A flat fee of $75 to process an online-only text and/or $150 for a visual PLS will apply. Detailed instructions are available for Plain Language Summaries. 

*Please note that charges differ for Supplements (proceedings of significant symposia). Please contact the Managing Editor for more information.

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MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Notices of conferences, seminars, and other events in rheumatology, autoimmunology, and related fields should be sent to The Journal for approval 3 months before publication.

CONTACT INFORMATION

The Journal of Rheumatology Co. Ltd., 365 Bloor Street East, Suite 901, Toronto, ON M4W 3L4, Canada. Tel.: 416-967-5155. Fax: 416-967-7556. Email: jrheum@jrheum.com. Website: www.jrheum.org

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