order of names on a research paper

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How to Order Authors in Scientific Papers

It’s rare that an article is authored by only one or two people anymore. In fact, the average original research paper has five authors these days. The growing list of collaborative research projects raises important questions regarding the author order for research manuscripts and the impact an author list has on readers’ perceptions.

With a handful of authors, a group might be inclined to create an author name list based on the amount of work contributed. What happens, though, when you have a long list of authors? It would be impractical to rank the authors by their relative contributions. Additionally, what if the authors contribute relatively equal amounts of work? Similarly, if a study was interdisciplinary (and many are these days), how can one individual’s contribution be deemed more significant than another’s?

Why does author order matter?

Although an author list should only reflect those who have made substantial contributions to a research project and its draft manuscript (see, for example, the authorship guidelines of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors ), we’d be remiss to say that author order doesn’t matter. In theory, everyone on the list should be credited equally since it takes a team to successfully complete a project; however, due to industry customs and other practical limitations, some authors will always be more visible than others.

The following are some notable implications regarding author order.

• The “first author” is a coveted position because of its increased visibility. This author is the first name readers will see, and because of various citation rules, publications are usually referred to by the name of the first author only. In-text or bibliographic referencing rules, for example, often reduce all other named authors to “et al.” Since employers use first-authorship to evaluate academic personnel for employment, promotion, and tenure, and since graduate students often need a number of first-author publications to earn their degree, being the lead author on a manuscript is crucial for many researchers, especially early in their career.
• The last author position is traditionally reserved for the supervisor or principal investigator. As such, this person receives much of the credit when the research goes well and the flak when things go wrong. The last author may also be the corresponding author, the person who is the primary contact for journal editors (the first author could, however, fill this role as well, especially if they contributed most to the work).
• Given that there is no uniform rule about author order, readers may find it difficult to assess the nature of an author’s contribution to a research project. To address this issue, some journals, particularly medical ones, nowadays insist on detailed author contribution notes (make sure you check the target journal guidelines before submission to find out how the journal you are planning to submit to handles this). Nevertheless, even this does little to counter how strongly citation rules have enhanced the attention first-named authors receive.

Common Methods for Listing Authors

The following are some common methods for establishing author order lists.

• Relative contribution. As mentioned above, the most common way authors are listed is by relative contribution. The author who made the most substantial contribution to the work described in an article and did most of the underlying research should be listed as the first author. The others are ranked in descending order of contribution. However, in many disciplines, such as the life sciences, the last author in a group is the principal investigator or “senior author”—the person who often provides ideas based on their earlier research and supervised the current work.
• Alphabetical list . Certain fields, particularly those involving large group projects, employ other methods . For example, high-energy particle physics teams list authors alphabetically.
• Multiple “first” authors . Additional “first” authors (so-called “co-first authors”) can be noted by an asterisk or other symbols accompanied by an explanatory note. This practice is common in interdisciplinary studies; however, as we explained above, the first name listed on a paper will still enjoy more visibility than any other “first” author.
• Multiple “last” authors . Similar to recognizing several first authors, multiple last authors can be recognized via typographical symbols and footnotes. This practice arose as some journals wanted to increase accountability by requiring senior lab members to review all data and interpretations produced in their labs instead of being awarded automatic last-authorship on every publication by someone in their group.
• Negotiated order . If you were thinking you could avoid politics by drowning yourself in research, you’re sorely mistaken. While there are relatively clear guidelines and practices for designating first and last authors, there’s no overriding convention for the middle authors. The list can be decided by negotiation, so sharpen those persuasive argument skills!

As you can see, choosing the right author order can be quite complicated. Therefore, we urge researchers to consider these factors early in the research process and to confirm this order during the English proofreading process, whether you self-edit or received manuscript editing or paper editing services , all of which should be done before submission to a journal. Don’t wait until the manuscript is drafted before you decide on the author order in your paper. All the parties involved will need to agree on the author list before submission, and no one will want to delay submission because of a disagreement about who should be included on the author list, and in what order (along with other journal manuscript authorship issues).

On top of that, journals sometimes have clear rules about changing authors or even authorship order during the review process, might not encourage it, and might require detailed statements explaining the specific contribution of every new/old author, official statements of agreement of all authors, and/or a corrigendum to be submitted, all of which can further delay the publication process. We recommend periodically revisiting the named author issue during the drafting stage to make sure that everyone is on the same page and that the list is updated to appropriately reflect changes in team composition or contributions to a research project.

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How to Order and Format Author Names in Scientific Papers

As the world becomes more interconnected, the production of knowledge increasingly relies on collaboration. Scientific papers, the primary medium through which researchers communicate their findings, often feature multiple authors. However, authorship isn't merely a reflection of those who contributed to a study but often denotes prestige, recognition, and responsibility. In academic papers, the order of authors is not arbitrary. It can symbolize the level of contribution and the role played by each author in the research process. Deciding on the author order can sometimes be a complex and sensitive issue, making it crucial to understand the different roles and conventions of authorship in scientific research. This article will explore the various types of authors found in scientific papers, guide you on how to correctly order and format author names, and offer insights to help you navigate this critical aspect of academic publishing.

The first author

The first author listed in a scientific paper is typically the person who has made the most substantial intellectual contribution to the work. This role is often filled by a junior researcher such as a Ph.D. student or postdoctoral fellow, who has been intimately involved in almost every aspect of the project.

The first author usually plays a pivotal role in designing and implementing the research, including the formation of hypotheses, experimental design, data collection, data analysis, and interpretation of the findings. They also commonly take the lead in manuscript preparation, writing substantial portions of the paper, including the often-challenging task of turning raw data into a compelling narrative.

In academia, first authorship is a significant achievement, a clear demonstration of a researcher's capabilities and dedication. It indicates that the researcher possesses the skills and tenacity to carry a project from inception to completion. This position can dramatically impact a researcher's career trajectory, playing a critical role in evaluations for promotions, grants, and future academic positions.

However, being the first author is not just about prestige or professional advancement. It carries a weight of responsibility. The first author is generally expected to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the data presented in the paper. They are often the person who responds to reviewers' comments during the peer-review process and makes necessary revisions to the manuscript.

Also, as the first author, it is typically their duty to address any questions or critiques that may arise post-publication, often having to defend the work publicly, even years after publication.

Thus, first authorship is a role that offers significant rewards but also requires a strong commitment to uphold the principles of scientific integrity and transparency. While it's a coveted position that can be a steppingstone to career progression, the associated responsibilities and expectations mean that it should not be undertaken lightly.

The middle authors

The middle authors listed on a scientific paper occupy an essential, albeit sometimes ambiguous, role in the research project. They are typically those who have made significant contributions to the project, but not to the extent of the first author. This group often includes a mix of junior and senior researchers who have provided key input, assistance, or resources to the project.

The roles of middle authors can be quite diverse. Some might be involved in specific aspects of data collection or analysis. Others may bring specialized knowledge or technical skills essential to the project, providing expertise in a particular methodology, statistical analysis, or experimental technique. There might also be middle authors who have contributed vital resources to the project, such as unique reagents or access to a particular patient population.

In some fields, the order of middle authors reflects the degree of their contribution. The closer a middle author is to the first position, the greater their involvement, with the second author often having made the next largest contribution after the first author. This order may be negotiated among the authors, requiring clear communication and consensus.

However, in other disciplines, particularly those where large collaborative projects are common, the order of middle authors may not necessarily reflect their level of contribution. In such cases, authors might be listed alphabetically, or by some other agreed-upon convention. Therefore, it's crucial to be aware of the norms in your specific field when deciding the order of middle authors.

Being a middle author in a scientific paper carries less prestige and responsibility than being a first or last author, but it is by no means a minor role. Middle authors play a crucial part in the scientific endeavor, contributing essential expertise and resources. They are integral members of the research team whose collective efforts underpin the progress and achievements of the project. Without their diverse contributions, the scope and impact of scientific research would be significantly diminished.

The last author

In the listing of authors on a scientific paper, the final position carries a unique significance. It is typically occupied by the senior researcher, often the head of the laboratory or the principal investigator who has supervised the project. While they might not be involved in the day-to-day aspects of the work, they provide overarching guidance, mentorship, and often the resources necessary for the project's fruition.

The last author's role is multidimensional, often balancing the responsibilities of project management, funding acquisition, and mentorship. They guide the research's direction, help troubleshoot problems, and provide intellectual input to the project's design and interpretation of results. Additionally, they usually play a key role in the drafting and revision of the manuscript, providing critical feedback and shaping the narrative.

In academia, the last author position is a symbol of leadership and scientific maturity. It indicates that the researcher has progressed from being a hands-on contributor to someone who can guide a team, secure funding, and deliver significant research projects. Being the last author can have substantial implications for a researcher's career, signaling their ability to oversee successful projects and mentor the next generation of scientists.

However, along with prestige comes significant responsibility. The last author is often seen as the guarantor of the work. They are held accountable for the overall integrity of the study, and in cases where errors or issues arise, they are expected to take the lead in addressing them.

The convention of the last author as the senior researcher is common in many scientific disciplines, especially in the life and biomedical sciences. However, it's important to note that this is not a universal standard. In some fields, authors may be listed purely in the order of contribution or alphabetically. Therefore, an understanding of the specific norms and expectations of your scientific field is essential when considering author order.

In sum, the position of the last author, much like that of the first author, holds both honor and responsibility, reflecting a leadership role that goes beyond mere intellectual contribution to include mentorship, management, and accountability.

Formatting author names

When it comes to scientific publishing, details matter, and one such detail is the correct formatting of author names. While it may seem like a minor concern compared to the intellectual challenges of research, the proper formatting of author names is crucial for several reasons. It ensures correct attribution of work, facilitates accurate citation, and helps avoid confusion among researchers in the same field. This section will delve deeper into the conventions for formatting author names, offering guidance to ensure clarity and consistency in your scientific papers.

Typically, each author's full first name, middle initial(s), and last name are listed. It's crucial that the author's name is presented consistently across all their publications to ensure their work is correctly attributed and easily discoverable.

Here is a basic example following a common convention:

• Standard convention: John D. Smith

However, conventions can vary depending on cultural naming practices. In many Western cultures, the first name is the given name, followed by the middle initial(s), and then the family name. On the other hand, in many East Asian cultures, the family name is listed first.

Here is an example following this convention:

• Asian convention: Wang Xiao Long

When there are multiple authors, their names are separated by commas. The word "and" usually precedes the final author's name.

Here's how this would look:

• John D. Smith, Jane A. Doe, and Richard K. Jones

However, author name formatting can differ among journals. Some may require initials instead of full first names, or they might have specific guidelines for handling hyphenated surnames or surnames with particles (e.g., "de," "van," "bin"). Therefore, it's always important to check the specific submission guidelines of the journal to which you're submitting your paper.

Moreover, the formatting should respect each author's preferred presentation of their name, especially if it deviates from conventional Western naming patterns. As the scientific community becomes increasingly diverse and global, it's essential to ensure that each author's identity is accurately represented.

In conclusion, the proper formatting of author names is a vital detail in scientific publishing, ensuring correct attribution and respect for each author's identity. It may seem a minor point in the grand scheme of a research project, but getting it right is an essential part of good academic practice.

The concept of authorship in scientific papers goes well beyond just listing the names of those involved in a research project. It carries critical implications for recognition, responsibility, and career progression, reflecting a complex nexus of contribution, collaboration, and intellectual leadership. Understanding the different roles, correctly ordering the authors, and appropriately formatting the names are essential elements of academic practice that ensure the rightful attribution of credit and uphold the integrity of scientific research.

Navigating the terrain of authorship involves managing both objective and subjective elements, spanning from the universally acknowledged conventions to the nuances particular to different scientific disciplines. Whether it's acknowledging the pivotal role of the first author who carried the project from the ground up, recognizing the valuable contributions of middle authors who provided key expertise, or highlighting the mentorship and leadership role of the last author, each position is an integral piece in the mosaic of scientific authorship.

Furthermore, beyond the order of authors, the meticulous task of correctly formatting the author names should not be underestimated. This practice is an exercise in precision, respect for individual identity, and acknowledgement of cultural diversity, reflecting the global and inclusive nature of contemporary scientific research.

As scientific exploration continues to move forward as a collective endeavor, clear and equitable authorship practices will remain crucial. These practices serve not only to ensure that credit is assigned where it's due but also to foster an environment of respect and transparency. Therefore, each member of the scientific community, from fledgling researchers to seasoned scientists, would do well to master the art and science of authorship in academic publishing. After all, it is through this collective recognition and collaboration that we continue to expand the frontiers of knowledge.

Header image by Jon Tyson .

What’s the Right Order of Authors in Research Papers?

Learn the conventions and factors that determine the order of authors in research papers, including roles, responsibilities, and resolving disputes.

Jun 11, 2024

In academic publishing , the order of authors on a research paper is very important. It’s not just a formality, it shows how much each researcher contributed equally to the study, what they were responsible for, and how much credit they should get.

Where an author’s name appears can have a big impact on their career, ability to get funding, and professional standing.

That’s why it’s essential for researchers, especially those working on projects with others, to understand the rules and factors that decide the order of first authorship there, including the significance of each author’s contribution.

Factors that determine author order

• Level of contribution: The most significant contributor to the research usually takes the first author position.
• Role of the corresponding author: The corresponding author, who may or may not be the first author, handles communication with the journal and readers.
• Order of co-authors: Co-authors are typically listed in order of their relative contributions, which various criteria can determine.
• Amount of work: The amount of work put into the study by each author can influence their position in the author list.
• Importance of role: The significance of each author’s role in the research can impact their placement in the author order.
• Seniority: In some cases, the seniority of the authors may be considered when determining the order.
• Principal investigator: The principal investigator, often a senior author, provides intellectual input, designs the study and protocols, supervises several projects, and acts as the corresponding author responsible for communication with the journal during the manuscript submission, peer review, and publication process.
• Alphabetical listing: Some research teams may choose to list authors alphabetically.

Understanding these factors is essential for ensuring fair attribution and publication process and avoiding potential conflicts arising from authorship decisions. It is also important to understand each author’s contribution in determining the order, as this helps in distinguishing between authorship roles and adhering to guidelines for fair authorship practices.

Why is the order of authors significant?

Scientific publication author order matters first authors most in research papers for several reasons such papers:

Credit attribution:

The order of authors reflects the level of contribution and responsibility each researcher has each individual’s contribution has made to the study.

The first author is typically recognized as the primary contributor, while subsequent authors are acknowledged for their smaller roles. In some cases, projects require different expertise, making it difficult to determine a larger contribution, leading to the concept of ‘co-first authors’.

This practice is common in various fields and ensures that authors’ contributions from multiple significant contributors receive appropriate recognition.

Career advancement:

Being the first author of papers listed as the first or corresponding author can significantly impact a researcher’s career prospects, especially when they are the senior author. It demonstrates their ability to lead a study and make substantial contributions to their field, which can be crucial for securing funding, promotions, and tenure.

Professional reputation:

The placement of an author’s name on a research paper can influence how their work is perceived by colleagues and the scientific community. Being consistently listed author of scientific papers, or as a first or corresponding author can help establish a researcher’s reputation as an expert in their field.

Funding opportunities:

Authorship order can affect a researcher’s ability to secure grants and funding for future projects. Funding agencies often consider an appl

I can’t last the author’s publication record and authorship positions when making decisions about allocating resources.

Collaboration and networking:

The order of authors can also reflect the nature of collaborations and professional relationships within the research team. Being listed as a co-author can help senior authors foster connections with middle authors and open up opportunities for future collaborations.

Given these implications, researchers need to understand and navigate the conventions surrounding authors to ensure fair attribution, maintain professional relationships, and advance their careers in academia. In collaborative research projects , the corresponding author plays a crucial role in coordinating contributions from different researchers and ensuring the integrity of the multi-author paper.

Types of Authors

First Author and Co-First Authors

The first author, also known as the lead author, is the senior researcher, who has made the most significant contributions to the study. This author’s contribution includes conceptualizing the research question, designing and conducting experiments, analyzing data, and writing the manuscript.

Responsibilities

• Providing leadership and direction for the research project
• Designing and conducting experiments or studies
• Analyzing and interpreting data
• Writing the initial draft of the manuscript
• Ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the research
• Communicating with co-authors
• Making the most significant contributions to the research
• Being primarily responsible for the conception and design of the study
• Performing the majority of the experiments or data collection
• Taking the lead in analyzing and interpreting the data

Corresponding Author

The corresponding author handles communication with the journal editor and readers after the paper is published. This includes responding to inquiries, providing additional information, and handling post-publication issues.

• Serving as the primary contact for communication with the journal
• Ensuring that all necessary submission requirements are met
• Responding to editorial inquiries and decisions
• Communicating with co-authors regarding the manuscript status
• Handling post-publication correspondence
• Addressing any issues or concerns after publication

Relationship with First Author

The first author and corresponding author may be the same person or different co-authors co-corresponding authors, depending on the research team journal editor’s decision.

Co-Authors and Senior Author

Co-authors are researchers who have made significant contributions to the study but are not the first or corresponding authors of the final manuscript.

• Providing expertise and support in their specific areas of contribution
• Assisting with experimental design, data collection, or analysis
• Reviewing and providing feedback on manuscript drafts
• Ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the research
• Communicating with the first author and corresponding author
• Agreeing to the final version of the manuscript before submission
• Making a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research
• Being involved in drafting or revising the manuscript for important intellectual content
• Approving the final version of the manuscript to be published
• Agreeing to be accountable for all aspects of the work

The order of co-authors is typically determined by their relative contributions to the study, based on factors such as time invested, the significance of the co-first’ contributions last author’s name, and expertise.

In fields like theoretical computer science, authors are generally listed alphabetically to signify equal contributions to the ideas, and advisors typically do not add themselves as authors even if they make minor contributions.

Resolving Authorship Disputes

A. common causes of authorship disputes.

Authorship disputes can arise from various factors, such as disagreements about the significance of individual contributions, misunderstandings regarding authorship criteria, and lack of clear communication among team members.

Power imbalances and seniority issues within the research team can also contribute to conflicts, as well as pressure to publish and advance careers. Cultural differences in norms and expectations surrounding authorship and peer review can further complicate these situations.

B. Strategies for preventing authorship conflicts

To prevent authorship disputes, it is crucial for research teams must have each team to have open discussions about authorship roles and expectations early in the research process. Establishing clear guidelines for authorship criteria and responsibilities can help ensure that all team members understand what is required to be listed as an author.

Regular communication about project progress and individual contributions can also help maintain transparency and address potential issues before they escalate. Documenting contributions and decisions that authors contribute to throughout the project can provide a clear record for reference.

Researchers should also be open about any potential conflicts of interest and strive to foster a collaborative and respectful team environment. When needed, seeking guidance from institutional policies or mentors can help navigate authorship questions.

Medical journal editors, following the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines, play a crucial role in setting authorship criteria and resolving disputes.

C. Methods for resolving authorship disputes

When authorship disputes arise, the first step should be to refer to the authorship guidelines established at the beginning of the project. Open and honest discussion among all team members is essential to understanding different perspectives and finding a resolution.

If the dispute cannot be resolved internally, seeking mediation from a neutral third party, such as an ombudsperson, publication ethics, or research integrity office, can be helpful. Institutional policies and guidelines may also guide resolving authorship conflicts.

In some cases, alternative forms of acknowledgment, such as a footnote or acknowledgments section, may be appropriate for contributions that do not meet the criteria for authorship credit. If the dispute involves violations of research integrity or contractual agreements, legal action may be necessary as a last resort.

Throughout the dispute resolution process, all parties need to maintain a commitment to fairness, integrity, and finding a mutually agreeable solution. By addressing conflicts constructively and professionally, research teams can minimize the negative impact of authorship disputes on their work and relationships.

This article discusses the significance of author order in research papers, highlighting the roles of the first author, corresponding author, second author, and co-authors. It explores various authorship conventions like alphabetical order, contribution-based order, and seniority-based order, noting differences across disciplines and journals.

The article also addresses resolving authorship disputes, emphasizing the importance of preventing conflicts and resolving them effectively. Understanding and adhering to authorship guidelines are crucial for fair credit attribution, maintaining professional integrity, and fostering a positive research environment.

Author order impacts career progression, funding opportunities, and professional reputation. Researchers should familiarize themselves with discipline-specific conventions and criteria to make informed decisions about their contributions and recognition.

The article encourages open communication within research teams to establish clear authorship roles and expectations. Discussing authorship early and regularly, setting guidelines, and documenting decisions can minimize conflicts. A collaborative and respectful team environment is vital for successful research projects and scientific advancement.

In conclusion, understanding the importance of author order and the influencing factors is essential for navigating academic publishing. By staying informed, communicating openly, and following guidelines, researchers can ensure fair recognition of contributions and productive collaborations.

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Authors in research

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Deciding the order of authors on a paper

Authorship in Research

Dr. Shazia Khanam

In my earlier post on authorship, I had discussed ICMJE guidelines  that help researchers in deciding whether a contributor qualifies to be an author or not. In this post, I am going to discuss the order in which author names should be included in a multi-author paper. The order of authors on a scientific paper needs to be determined after careful deliberation. Prior to deciding the author order, it is important to understand the concept of a first and a corresponding author.

Who should be the first author?

The first author is usually the person who has made the most significant intellectual contribution to the work, in terms designing the study,  acquiring and analyzing data from experiments, and writing the manuscript. The importance of the first author is  reflected in the common practice of referring to a paper by the first author’s name e.g. ‘Jones et al. report that…’ Publishing a paper as the first author is very crucial for the scientific career of a Ph.D. student.

Most Ph.D. programs worldwide require a Ph.D. student to have at least one first-authored paper in order to qualify for a degree. So an authorship dispute would be inevitable if two Ph.D. students were to work on the same project for their degree. For post-doctoral researchers and senior professors, publishing first-authored papers is important for receiving funding and getting promoted or re-hired. Thus, the first name in an author list is the most sought-after position in a scientific publication.

After the first author, the subsequent authors are usually listed as per their contribution to the research, starting with the one who contributed the most to the least. However, sometimes multiple authors may have contributed equally, in which case the order of author names does not matter, and you can inform the journal editor of this. In order to avoid any authorship dispute, it is a good practice to discuss authorship and the order of authors at the beginning of the project itself, and keep a record of each of the contributors involved throughout the project.

What is the role of a corresponding author?

At the time of submission of a manuscript, journals require you to choose one of the authors as the corresponding author . The corresponding author is the one who receives all notifications from the journal including manuscript status, reviewers’ comments, and the final decision. Although journals usually perceive the role of a corresponding author as purely administrative, this role is associated with seniority in some cultures. The corresponding author is often the group leader or a senior researcher whose contact address is not likely to change in the near future. In cases where the main contributor of the study is also the group leader, he or she can be both the first and corresponding author for the study.

Related reading:

• What corresponding authors are expected to do after journal submission
• 5 Pre-submission tips for corresponding authors
• Can the corresponding authors and order of authors be changed in the revised paper?
• Can I write to the editor if I'm the first author but not the corresponding author?
• Corresponding author assigns co-authors without their knowledge: A case study
• How to submit a paper with two corresponding authors if the online submission system doesn't allow this?

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Published on: Oct 16, 2013

• Author Guidelines
• Co-Authorship
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How to Choose the Author Order in a Manuscript

As a researcher, a key part of your career is to conduct research and publish your findings, all to advance the body of work in your research area. The primary way to recognize your contributions and the contributions of others is through authorship.

But who should you list as an author? And in what order should you list them?

Granting Authorship

A great way to select who should be an author is to use the guidelines created by the  International Committee of Medical Journal Editors . According to the ICMJE, each author should fulfill all four of the following criteria:

Were they significantly involved in designing the study, collecting data, or analyzing the data?

Were they involved in drafting or reviewing the manuscript?

Did they approve of the final version of the manuscript for publication?

Were they responsible for the accuracy and integrity of all aspects of the research?

Honorary Authorship

Some groups give honorary authorships to someone who has not substantially contributed to a research project. For example, they give a  gift authorship out of respect for or gratitude to an individual, such as a department head or senior researchers. Or they give a  guest authorship to a well-known researcher to increase the apparent quality or prestige of a paper.

While honorary authorships do happen, they are unethical. And they can be equated with research misconduct. Instead of adding an honorary author, play it safe and mention the person in the acknowledgements section.

Corresponding Author

When you submit a manuscript, the journal requires you to choose one of the authors to serve as the corresponding author. This author receives all updates from the journal, such as the submission status, the reviewers’ comments, and the final decision. The corresponding author is often the principal investigator. In some cases, research groups have the first author or another author fulfill this role.

Ordering Authors

When many authors collaborate on a paper, they face the task of figuring out the order of authors. In some cases, the order may be obvious. But in others, deciding on the order can be difficult. Here are a few guidelines to help you decide how to order the authors in a manuscript.

First Author

The first author is the most sought-after position in a publication. Postdoctoral researchers use this “ranking” to get funding, get hired, or get promoted. Graduate students use it as their ticket to their PhD, because they often need at least one first-authored paper to earn their degree.

The first author is most often the person who has contributed the most to the work. This contribution can be through designing the study, performing experiments, collecting data, analyzing data, writing the manuscript, or other tasks related to the project.

You can choose to have more than one “first” author. But the first “first” author will still enjoy more visibility than the other “first” author. The first “first” author is the first name a reader will see. In some citations, the first author may be the only name a reader can see. When possible, avoid having more than one first author by planning your project carefully.

Last Author

The last author is usually the supervisor or principal investigator who oversaw the project. This person receives much of the credit when the project is successful, or the criticism when something goes wrong.

Similar to choosing more than one first author, you can recognize more than one last author in a manuscript. This practice is increasing as research becomes more interdisciplinary. Some groups also use the practice to show that several senior group members reviewed the data and analysis in the manuscript.

In-Between Authors

After the first author, the authors are usually listed according to their contribution to the work, from the most to the least. If more than one author contributed equally, you can ask the journal editor to note this in the publication. You can also order these authors by their seniority in the group or the degree of difficulty needed to carry out a specific part of a project.

If your group debates on the author order, you can use a mathematical approach to order the authors. First, decide which items will appear in the manuscript. These items include text, figures, tables, and ideas. Determine how much each author contributed to each of those items. Then rank the items and assign a weight to each of them based on their importance to the overall manuscript. Finally, calculate each author’s total contribution based on this system. Then order the authors from the most to the least contribution.

Planning Authorship from the Start

The best way to mitigate any issues in authorship is to have a plan. Discuss the order of authors when you start the project. As the project progresses, keep track of everyone who contributed and how they contributed to the work. Remember to discuss authorship at regular intervals or at major milestones. This can help reduce the risk of disagreements later on in the project.

When negotiating the order of authors, remember that it takes a team to successfully complete a project. You are all working together to accomplish the same goal—a successful publication that advances your field.

Crystal is an editor, educator, coach, and speaker who helps scientists and clinicians communicate with clear, concise, and compelling writing. You can follow her on LinkedIn .

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How to List the Authors and Addresses in your Scientific Paper

1. the order of the names.

“If you have co-authors, problems about authorship can range from the trivial to the catastrophic” (O’Connor 1991, p. 10).

The easiest part of preparing a scientific paper is simply entering the bylines: the authors and addresses. Sometimes.

We haven’t yet heard of a duel being fought over the order of listing of authors, but there have been instances in which otherwise reasonable, rational colleagues have become bitter enemies solely because they could not agree on whose names should be listed or in what order.

What is the right order? Unfortunately, there are no agreed-upon rules or generally accepted conventions. Some authors, perhaps to avoid arguments among themselves, agree to list their names alphabetically. In the field of mathe­matics, this practice appears to be standard. Some pairs of researchers who repeatedly collaborate take turns being listed first. If allowed by the journal, sometimes papers include a note indicating that the first two authors contrib­uted equally to the research.

In the past, there was a general tendency to list the head of the laboratory (or, more generally, the head of the research group) as an author whether or not he or she actively participated in the research. Often, the “head” was placed last (second oftwo authors, third ofthree, etc.). As a result, the terminal spot seemed to acquire prestige. Thus, two authors, neither of whom was head of a laboratory or even necessarily a senior professor, would vie for the second spot. If there were three or more authors, the prestige-seeking author would want the first or last position, but not the one in between.

Commonly, the first author is the person who played the lead role in the research. Qualification to be listed first does not depend on rank. A graduate stu­dent, or even an undergraduate, may be listed first if he or she led the research project. And even Nobel laureates are not to be listed first unless their contri­butions predominate. Multiple authors may then be listed approximately in order of decreasing contribution to the work. In some fields, the head of the laboratory is still often listed last, in which case this position may continue to command particular respect. However, the head should be included only if he or she indeed at least provided guidance. In general, all those listed as authors should have been involved enough to defend the paper or a substantial aspect thereof. Some authors who did not participate substantially in the research have come to regret their inclusion when the reported research was found deficient or even fraudulent.

There is often a tendency to use the laundry-list approach, naming as an author practically everyone in the laboratory. In addition, the trend toward col-laborative research is steadily increasing. Thus, the average number of authors per paper is on the rise.

2. DEFINITION OF AUTHORSHIP

Perhaps we can now define authorship by saying that the listing of authors should include those, and only those, who actively contributed to the overall conceptualization, design, and execution of the research. Further, the authors should normally be listed in order of importance to the research. Colleagues or supervisors should neither ask to have their names on manuscripts nor allow their names to be put on manuscripts reporting research with which they themselves have not been intimately involved. An author of a paper should be defined as one who takes intellectual responsibility for the research results being reported. However, this definition must be tempered by realizing that modern science in many fields is collaborative and multidisciplinary. It may be unrealistic to assume that all authors can defend all aspects of a paper writ­ten by contributors from a variety of disciplines. Even so, each author should be held fully responsible for his or her choice of colleagues.

Admittedly, deciding on authorship is not always easy. It is often incredibly difficult to analyze the intellectual input to a paper. Certainly, those who have worked together intensively for months or years on a research problem might have difficulty in remembering who had the original research concept or whose brilliant idea was the key to the success of the experiments. And what do these colleagues do when everything suddenly falls into place as a result of a search­ing question by the traditional “guy in the next lab” who had nothing whatever to do with the research?

Each listed author should have made an important contribution to the study being reported, with the word important referring to those aspects of the study that produced new information, the concept that defines an original scientific paper.

The sequence of authors on a published paper should be decided, unani­mously, before the research is started. A change may be required later, depend­ing on which turn the research takes, but it is foolish to leave this important question of authorship to the very end of the research process.

In some fields, it is not rare to see 10 or more authors listed at the head of a paper. For example, a paper by F. Bulos and others (Phys. Rev. Letters 13:486, 1964) had 27 authors and only 12 paragraphs. Such papers frequently come from laboratories that are so small that 10 people couldn’t fit into the lab, let alone make a meaningful contribution to the experiment. What accounts for the tendency to list a host of authors? There may be several reasons, but one of them no doubt relates to the publish-or-perish syndrome. Some workers wheedle or cajole their colleagues so effectively that they become authors of most or all of the papers coming out of their laboratory. Their research produc­tivity might in fact be meager, yet at year’s end their publication lists might indeed be extensive. In some institutions, such padded lists might result in promotion. Nonetheless, the practice is not recommended. Perhaps a few admi­nistrators are fooled, and momentary advantages are sometimes gained by these easy riders. But we suspect that good scientists do not allow dilution of their own work by adding other people’s names for minuscule contributions, nor do good scientists want their own names sullied by addition of the names of a whole herd of lightweights.

To repeat, the scientific paper should list as authors only those who contrib­uted substantially to the work. Unjustified listing of multiple authors adversely affects the real investigators and can lead to bibliographic nightmares. For more on issues relating to the definition of authorship, see Davidoff (2000), Claxton (2005), Scott-Lichter and the Editorial Policy Committee, Council of Science Editors (2012), and International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (2014).

3. DEFINING THE ORDER: AN EXAMPLE

Perhaps the following example will help clarify the level of conceptual or tech­nical involvement that should define authorship.

Suppose that Scientist A designs a series of experiments that might result in important new knowledge, and then Scientist A tells Technician B exactly how to perform the experiments. If the experiments work out and a manuscript results, Scientist A should be the sole author, even though Technician B did all the physical work. (Of course, the assistance of Technician B should be recog­nized in the acknowledgments.)

Now let us suppose that the experiments just described do not work out. Technician B takes the negative results to Scientist A and says something like, “I think we might get this damned strain to grow if we change the incubation temperature from 24 to 37°C and if we add serum albumin to the medium.” Scientist A agrees to a trial, the experiments this time yield the desired outcome, and a paper results. Technician B also provides some insights that contribute to the interpretation of the results. In this case, Scientist A and Technician B, in that order, should both be listed as authors.

Let us take this example one step further. Suppose that the experiments at 37°C and with serum albumin work, but that Scientist A perceives that there is now an obvious loose end; that is, growth under these conditions suggests that the test organism is a pathogen, whereas the previously published literature had indicated that this organism was nonpathogenic. Scientist A now asks col­league Scientist C, an expert in pathogenic microbiology, to test this organism for pathogenicity. Scientist C runs a quick test by injecting the test substance into laboratory mice in a standard procedure that any medical microbiologist would use and confirms pathogenicity. A few important sentences are then added to the manuscript, and the paper is published. Scientist A and Technician B are listed as authors; the assistance of Scientist C is noted in the acknow­ledgments.

Suppose, however, that Scientist C gets interested in this peculiar strain and proceeds to conduct a series of well-planned experiments that lead to the con­clusion that this particular strain is not just mouse-pathogenic, but is the long- sought culprit in certain rare human infections. Thus, two new tables of data are added to the manuscript, and the results and discussion are rewritten. The paper is then published listing Scientist A, Technician B, and Scientist C as authors. (A case could be made for listing Scientist C as the second author.)

4. SPECIFYING CONTRIBUTIONS

Some journals require a list of which author or authors did what—for exam­ple, who designed the research, who gathered the data, who analyzed the data, and who wrote the paper. Some journals publish this list of contributors with the paper. Others just keep it for their own information. Sometimes, there are contributors who are not authors—for example, people who obtained some of the data but did not participate more broadly in the research or who provided technical or other guidance.

Requiring this list of contributions can have at least two advantages. First, it helps ensure that everyone listed as an author deserves to be listed—and that no one who ought to be listed has been left out. Second, if the list is pub­lished, it can help readers determine which author to contact for which type of information.

5. PROPER AND CONSISTENT FORM

As to names of authors, the preferred designation normally is given name, middle initial, surname. If an author uses only initials, which has been a regret­table tendency in science, the scientific literature may become confused.

If there are two people named Jonathan B. Jones, the literature services can probably keep them straight (by addresses). But if dozens of people published under the name J. B. Jones (especially if, on occasion, some ofthem use Jonathan B. Jones), the retrieval services have a hopeless task in keeping things neat and tidy. Many scientists resist the temptation to change their names (for example, after marriage) at least in part to avoid confusion in the literature.

Instead of given name, middle initial, and surname, wouldn’t it be better to spell out the middle name? No. Again, we must realize that literature retrieval is a computerized process and that computers can be easily confused. An author with a common name (for example, Robert Jones) might be tempted to spell out his or her middle name, thinking that Robert Smith Jones is more distinctive than Robert S. Jones. However, the resulting double name is a problem. Should the computer index the author as “Jones” or “Smith Jones”? Because double names, with or without hyphens, are common, especially in England and in Latin America, this problem is not an easy one for computers (or for their programmers).

Knowing how to list one’s name on an English-language scientific paper can be difficult for international authors as different languages have different formats for names, and more than one form of transliteration can exist. For authors with Chinese names, an article by Sun and Zhou (2002) offers recom­mendations. And for authors of a variety of national origins, style manuals can provide guidance, as can editors at journals. Whatever format a scientist chooses, he or she should use it consistently in English-language scientific papers—rather than, for example, using Shou-Chu Qian on some papers, Shouchu Qian on others, and S. Chien on still others.

In general, scientific journals do not print degrees after authors’ names and do not include titles such as Dr. (You know what “B.S.” means. “M.S.” is More of the Same. “Ph.D.” is Piled Higher and Deeper. “M.D.” is Much Deeper.) However, most medical journals do list degrees after the names. Even in med­ical journals, however, degrees are not given in the references. Contributors should consult the journal’s instructions to authors or a recent issue regarding preferred usage.

6. LISTING THE ADDRESSES

The principles for listing the addresses are simple but often violated. There­fore, authors cannot always be connected with addresses. Most often, however, it has been the style of the journal that creates confusion, rather than sins of commission or omission by the author.

With one author, one address is given (the name and address of the labora­tory in which the work was done). If, before publication, the author has moved to a different address, the new address should be indicated in a “present address” footnote.

When two or more authors are listed, each in a different institution, the addresses should be listed in the same order as the authors.

The main probl em arises when a paper is published by, let us say, three authors from two institutions. In such instances, each author’s name and address should include an appropriate designation such as a superior a, b, or c after the author’s name and before (or after) the appropriate address. (Some­times a journal may just request the affiliation of each author and then do the formatting itself. In this regard as in others, follow the instructions to authors.)

This convention has been useful to readers wanting to know whether an author is at Yale or at Harvard. Clear identification of authors and addresses has been important to several of the secondary services. For these services to function properly, they needed to know whether a paper published by an author with a common name was by the person with that name at Iowa State, Cornell, Cambridge University in England, or Peking University. Only when authors could be properly identified could their publications be grouped together in citation indexes.

7. A SOLUTION: ORCID

Even with addresses, authors can be difficult to distinguish from one another— for example, if two scientists with the same name work at the same institu­tion. Also, some scientists move from one institution to another or do not state their names the same way on all their papers over the years, and so their work is hard to track. Fortunately, a mechanism now exists to unambiguously iden­tify each author.

This mechanism is ORCID, which stands for “Open Researcher and Con­tributor ID.” An ORCID identifier is a persistent identification number that you can obtain and include with your research communications. When you apply at the ORCID website, you receive a unique identification number and establish an ORCID record online. You can then associate this number with your journal articles, grant proposals, and other writings, both in the future and retroactively. Many journals now ask authors to supply their ORCID iden­tifiers. Information about the ORCID initiative and a link through which to obtain an ORCID identifier appear at orcid.org.

8. PURPOSES OF THE ADDRESSES

Remember that the address serves two purposes. It helps to identify the author; it also indicates how to contact him or her. Because scientists now communi­cate largely by email, an email address generally should be included at least for the author to whom inquiries about the paper should be conveyed. Some jour­nals use asterisks, footnotes, or the acknowledgments to identify this person. Authors should be aware of journal policy in this regard, and they should decide in advance which author will serve in this role.

The author who should receive inquiries is called the corresponding author. Journals ask that a corresponding author be designated for each paper. The corresponding author typically submits the paper, receives the editor’s decision whether to publish it, submits revisions, works with the editorial office after acceptance (for example, by answering questions from the manuscript editor and checking page proofs), and responds to inquiries from readers. The corre­sponding author should be someone who expects to be readily reachable during and after the publication process. Opinions vary as to whether being a corre­sponding author is an honor or just a task.

Unless scientists wish to publish anonymously (or as close to it as possi­ble), full names and a full address should be considered obligatory.

Source: Gastel Barbara, Day Robert A. (2016), How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper , Greenwood; 8th edition.

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Author Order In A Research Paper | Author Weightage In Multi-Authored Research Paper

If you have recently joined a research and plan to publish a research paper, Choosing who is the first author, and whose is the last and corresponding author, is a challenge for you.

We are available to help you, author Order In A Research Paper

We usually set the author order by the names of the authors in the research paper in such a way that the level of contribution and other less significant contributions are evident in the research work, i.e., the first author to the most and the least to the last.

But, this is not a strict rule. In some cases, it is more difficult to determine which author has given more support than another.

However, some journals ask to mention the work done by each author in the heading (author contribution) to understand the contribution made by each worker to a particular paper.

The order author naming in research and academic contribution will use in the mark allocation process for each author during academic performance indicator (API) and other academic evaluations.

For example, 0.5 weight for the first writer, 0.4 for the second author, and so on. However, I do not believe there is a common framework for this.

Arrangement of the author in a research paper

Generally, in the organization of authors’ names on a research paper, after the first author, writers are often listed as co-authors according to their role in the work, from most to least.

In most research papers always write the author’s surname name before listing his or her initials.

You only need to provide the initials of the first and middle name given by the source and put a comma after each last name and between the names of different authors.

If more than one author has contributed equally, you can ask the journal editor to show this in the publication.

Types of the author in research paper or author order

First author

The first author should be the person who has contributed most to the research work, including the writing.

The order of the authors should be determined by the total contributions to that research paper, but it is a common practice that senior author to appear at the end, sometimes no matter how much he/she contributes.

Tips: Some time it has been noticed that your Ph.D. supervisor demand to become the first author of your research paper and it’s a fallacy.

Second author

The second author is a second main character of your paper, who contributes most in experimental work and writing, proofreading of manuscripts, but less than that of the first author and more than every third, fourth and rest authors. Author considerations usually cover all your contributions to that project.

Principal/Corresponding author

This author recognition is a common question among all scholars and often seen at the beginning of the researcher’s career, but it is easy to explain. Mainly, the corresponding author or co-author is the person who has made a significant contribution in research and shares responsibility and accountability for the research results.

He/she also leads the text delivery process from paper submission, review , galley proof, and till final publication and the other author is actually the researcher who wrote and format the manuscript.

The corresponding author is usually a senior researcher or scholar, such as a senior professor or chief researcher (PI), with extensive publishing experience and experience.

For this reason, they are often promoted or decided by other writers in the group. The corresponding author takes all the primary duties of communicating with the journal editorial board during the text submission, peer review , and publishing process.

Third or more authors

In some cases, the third writer of the research paper may be the last author and usually a supervisor or PI of your research work, and they seek special value in some fields of study.

A third author is a person who has to get research grants from any funding agency and under whose supervision the project has seen completed.

Last author of the paper

The last author is usually a team leader or PI who may have provided important input in the research work, framed your research, and supervised the research work, but he may not have actively done any experiments or written this paper.

The final author is frequently the corresponding author.

Ghost author

Ghost author is the author who has made a supportable contribution in research, data analysis , and or handwriting but is not named or disclosed on the author’s line or in acknowledgment.

Authors’ weight in a research paper

Speaking of analysis, I have noticed that selection committees can follow their own mark allocation process for each author.

But according to the latest UGC guidelines and API Score for shared publishing, there is 70% of the total value of the publication is for the first / corresponding/guide/mentor or and the remaining 30% point for other authors.

If the first author or corresponding author is the same person, the recipient must be given 70% of the total point of that paper and if you are a single author you get 100% or full point, but in two authors 70% of the total value for each author.

Each published research paper counts the author’s index, which is the measure of your CV and is used in our academic promotion and carries.

Credit in your CV is checked, the number of papers, the impact of the Journal, and the quotes on the papers are regarded.

Read: Difference between Biodata Resume and CV

This is all about this article and I hope it helps you in your research paper framing. This is all for today. Thank you for attention. Subscribe to KRS for my Blog for a new article that KRS posts from time to time. Comments in the comments section below if you like this article.

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Multi-authored Papers: Order

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• Date February 6, 2020
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New collaborations across scientific disciplines and geographical borders have led to an increase in the number of multi-authored papers in the last few years.

Each paper, in addition to the main sections that include Title ,  Abstract ,  Introduction ,  Methods & Materials , Results ,  Discussion ,  Conclusion and References , has a part devoted to introducing the authors of the paper and affiliations.

It is important to know the order of writing the names of the authors in multi-authored papers, since on many occasions, including a Ph.D. interview, the authors will be graded according to the order of their names written in the ISI paper.

Students and young researchers who are just starting out and want to write their own paper may encounter questions regarding this issue:

• Does the order of my name as an author in a paper has any impact on my CV?
• How is rated the contribution of each author in a paper?
• Is the first name in the author list of a paper the same as Lead Author?
• Should we place the name of the thesis or article supervisor at the beginning of the author list?
• Who is the corresponding author?

First Author

Corresponding author.

Generally speaking, the corresponding author is usually the senior author who takes the overall responsibility of the paper in terms of scientific relevance, integration, coordination between the various sections of the paper, structurally, and so on. He/she provides the intellectual input and designs and approves the protocols to be followed in the study.

The corresponding author is responsible for the manuscript correction, proofreading, whole correspondence during the paper submission, handling the revisions and re-submission of revised manuscripts up to the acceptance of the manuscripts. This is the usual practice in most cases.

The corresponding author is responsible for correspondence with the journals, tracking fixes, and making necessary corrections and edits for final approval.

Author Order List

Here we will present some methods to establish author order lists for multi-authored papers:

Contribution

This method is the most common method to list authors in a paper. The author who most substantially worked on the draft article and the underlying research becomes the first author. The others are ranked in descending order of contribution.

Alphabetical List

In cases where authorship order is not determined based on their contribution to a publication, author names are simply listed alphabetically. This is done especially for large group projects.

Co-first Authorship

When two or more authors have worked together equally on a publication, they are listed according to shared co-first authorship order, where additional first authors are noted by an asterisk or other symbol accompanied by an explanatory note.

Co-last Authorship

Like the cases for multiple first authors, the names of last authors in papers that include more than one last author,  typographical symbols and footnotes are used for their presentation.

Negotiated Order

Sometimes the authors and those responsible for a project decide to agree on a negotiated convention without sticking on clear practices for designating first and last authors. The list of authors, in this case, can be decided by negotiation.

Rating Author Contribution

Typically, the first person in each research gets the full score of the paper. However, with each new author’s name added, the score given to the first author is reduced.

It should also be noted that the scores given to the first author and the corresponding author are not the same. The first author usually has the highest position among the other authors of an article, and the corresponding author is considered solely responsible for the correspondence. The following table provides a description of multiple author’s scores in different cases:

Tag: author , Author Contribution , Co-first Authorship , corresponding author , first author , paper , submission

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