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Submission Procedures
PNAS Author Center
Initial Submission
All authors must submit their articles at the PNAS submission site. Only a single PDF file containing all text, figures, tables, and supporting information (SI) is required for initial submissions; high-resolution files are not required. Manuscripts do not need to be formatted according to specific journal guidelines at this stage. The corresponding author must include the following information for each coauthor: author order, first name, last name, email, and institution. A cover letter (optional), movie files, and datasets may be uploaded separately.
A length estimate is not required, but a standard 6-page article is approximately 4,000 words, 50 references, and 4 medium-size graphical elements (i.e., figures and tables). Authors writing their papers in LaTeX should use our LaTeX template. Authors will need to complete the License to Publish online and provide permissions for any previously published material.
Manuscript Length
The preferred length of articles is 6 pages, but PNAS will allow articles up to a maximum of 12 pages. A manuscript file template for Word files is available. Authors writing their papers in LaTeX should use our LaTeX template.
Brief Reports are limited to 3 pages, which is approximately 1,600 words (including title page, abstract, and figure legends) and 15 references, and no more than 2 graphical elements (e.g., figures and tables). SI is limited to essential supporting datasets, videos, and 3D figures (no additional methods, tables, or figures are permitted).
A template for Brief Report submissions is available in Word and LaTeX.
Quick reference for page proof estimates |
|||
Proof pages | Word count | Maximum no. of figures and tables* |
Maximum no. of references |
---|---|---|---|
6 | 4,000 | 4 | 50 |
7 | 4,500 | 5 | 55 |
8 | 5,000 | 6 | 60 |
9 | 5,500 | 7 | 70 |
10 | 6,000 | 8 | 75 |
11 | 6,500 | 9 | 80 |
12 | 7,000 | 10 | 85 |
*These estimates assume medium-size figures and tables.
Revised Submission
Authors of revisions or resubmissions must provide publication-ready source files; guidelines for submitting source files appear in Manuscript Format and Files.
Revised papers must be received within 2 months or they will be treated as new submissions. If you require additional time, please contact PNAS@nas.edu. Multiple revisions are rarely permitted, and there is no guarantee that revised papers will be accepted.
Resubmission/Revision Cover Letter
The cover letter should include a point-by-point response to the comments of the reviewers and editor. A detailed description of all changes made is required before PNAS can process the revision.
Contributed Submission
When submitting a Contributed manuscript for review, the NAS member should supply a single PDF file containing all text, figures, tables, and SI. High-resolution files are not required until the finished manuscript is ready to be assessed by the Editorial Board. The NAS member will act as the corresponding author during the review process.
At the completion of the review process for Contributed papers, the NAS member may designate a coauthor to serve as corresponding author and upload final submission files. At this time, authors must provide publication-ready source files; guidelines for submitting source files appear in Manuscript Format and Files. See Editorial and Journal Polices for further information on Contributed submissions.
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