Let's Write a Manuscript: A Primer with Tips and Tricks for Penning an Original Article

A group of international researchers and editors summarize how (promptly and easily) an original manuscript can be written using certain tips and tricks. The authors guide novice colleagues with minimal experience using simple hints and straightforward advice in scholarly publishing. The main body of an original article is composed of four parts: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion (the IMRaD format). We make recommendations about how to write these sections. We also make suggestions regarding the title, abstract, key words, and references. In addition, we underline the importance of carefully reading and following general recommendations for the conduct, reporting, editing, and publication of scholarly papers. Specific guidelines are reviewed for improving clarity, accuracy, and transparency, from protocol registration and ethical approval to submission issues, inclusive of rehabilitation specificities. A thorough review of the mission and instructions of the journals under consideration is also critical, inclusive of manuscript preparation guidelines such as word limits of main text, limits in number and style of references, tables and figures, format, checklist, and other specific instructions. Finally, each and every sentence should be iteratively revised for grammar, style, and clarity.