Content types
Top of pagePrimary research formats
Article
An Article is a substantial novel research study that often involves several techniques or approaches. The main text (excluding abstract, Methods, references and figure legends) is 2,000–3,000 words. The abstract is 150 words maximum, and is unreferenced. Articles have 4–6 display items (figures and/or tables). An introduction (of up to 500 words) is followed by a concise, focused account of the findings, ending with one or two short paragraphs of discussion. The main text can be divided by headings if necessary. A Methods section of up to 800 words should follow the main text of the paper. It should be written in such detail that experiments can be reproduced by others. References are limited to 50.
Articles include a competing financial interests statement and received/accepted dates. They may be accompanied by supplementary information. Articles are peer reviewed.
Letter
A Letter reports an important novel research result, but is less substantial than an Article. Letters typically occupy four printed journal pages. This format begins with an introductory paragraph (not abstract) of 150 words maximum, summarizing the background, rationale, main results and implications. This paragraph should be referenced, as in Nature style, and should be considered part of the main text, so that any subsequent introductory material avoids too much repetition of the introductory paragraph. The text is limited to 2000 words, excluding the introductory paragraph, Methods, references and figure legends. References are limited to 30. Letters should have no more than 3–5 display items (figures and/or tables). Letters are not divided by headings, except for the Methods section. Letters include a competing financial interests statement and received/accepted dates. They may be accompanied by supplementary information. Letters are peer reviewed.
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Correspondence
Correspondence (formerly Letters to the Editor) is a flexible format that may include anything of interest to the journal's readers, from policy debates to announcements to 'matters arising' from research papers. The emphasis is on brevity, topicality and widespread interest. A Correspondence may describe primary research data, but only in summary form; this format is not intended for full presentation of data. Correspondence should never be more than one printed page, and usually much less. The number of references should not exceed 10 for either the Correspondence or its reply, and article titles are omitted from the reference list. Titles for correspondence are supplied by the editors. Given the shortage of space in this section, Nature Materials reserves the right to edit letters to highlight the most interesting aspects.
In cases where a correspondence is critical of a previous research paper, the authors of the criticized paper are normally given the option of publishing a brief reply. Criticism of opinions or other secondary matter does not involve an automatic right of reply.
Refutations are always peer reviewed. Other types of Correspondence may be peer reviewed at the editors' discretion.
Commentary
Commentary is a very flexible format; commentaries may be on policy, science and society or purely scientific issues. The main criteria are that they should be of immediate interest to the materials research community and should be written in an accessible, non-technical style. Their length is typically 1–3 pages, although some may be longer. Because the content is variable, the format is also flexible. Commentaries do not normally contain primary research data, although they may present 'sociological' data (funding trends, demographics, bibliographic data, etc.). References are limited to 25, and article titles are omitted from the reference list.
The best commentaries are provocative and justify a new concept or point of view. They are written at a level accessible to readers who are not researchers themselves but who are interested in materials research. Unsolicited manuscripts are sometimes considered, but short proposals in the form of a one-paragraph synopsis are preferred. Commentaries do not include a formal competing financial interests statement, but authors should note in the text any competing financial interests that are not evident from the affiliation. Commentaries may be peer reviewed at the editors' discretion.
News and Views
Nature Materials is committed to providing its readers with a broad and accessible overview of the most important and interesting advances in the field. Our News & Views section is specifically designed to achieve this goal: News and Views articles inform readers about the latest advances in materials research, as reported in published papers (appearing in Nature Materials or elsewhere) and at scientific meetings. Most of the articles are commissioned, but proposals can be made to the Editor at materials@nature.com. We particularly encourage News and Views suggestions not linked to our own papers, and authors need not be shy about alerting us to their own forthcoming publications in other journals or to particularly interesting meetings they may be attending.
When a News and Views article is commissioned the editors provide further guidelines about the format and content. As a general guideline, News and Views articles are always short (up to 1,000 words in length) and have as much in common with journalistic news reports as the formal scientific literature. So the central message of the News and Views must be stated clearly in the first paragraph and the piece should be written in a manner readily accessible to non-specialists. In this respect, it is essential to ask a colleague from an unrelated discipline to comment on the article before submitting it to Nature Materials. Personal opinions, viewpoints, criticisms and predictions are encouraged. The submission of figures and artwork is strongly encouraged, to illustrate both specific points made in the piece and the more general context. News and Views are not peer reviewed.
Top of pageReview
A Review is an authoritative, balanced and scholarly survey of recent developments in a research field. The requirement for balance need not prevent authors from proposing a specific viewpoint, but if there are controversies in the field, the authors must treat them in an even-handed way. Reviews are normally 5,000–6,000 words, and typically include 6–8 display items (figures, tables or boxes); illustrations are strongly encouraged. References are limited to 100, with exceptions possible in special cases. Citations should be selective. The scope of a Review should be broad enough that it is not dominated by the work of a single laboratory, and particularly not by the authors' own work. Most reviews are commissioned, but unsolicited proposals are also welcomed.
Reviews include a competing financial interests statement. Received/accepted dates are not included. Reviews are always peer reviewed to ensure factual accuracy, appropriate citations and scholarly balance.
Progress
Progress articles are commissioned (although also unsolicited proposals are welcome) to cover developing fields that might not yet be mature enough for a review article. Progress articles are up to 4000 words in length, with up to five display items (figures, tables or boxes). References are limited to 80.
Progress articles include a competing financial interests statement. Received/accepted dates are not included. Progress articles are always peer-reviewed to ensure factual accuracy, appropriate citations and scholarly balance.
Cover Artwork
Authors are encouraged to submit artwork for consideration. Cover images are normally (but not necessarily) linked to specific papers in that issue, but we may also be able to use other images elsewhere in the journal. Illustrations are selected for their scientific interest and aesthetic appeal. Please send prints (rather than slides or electronic files) in the first instance. Please also include a clear and concise explanation. Should you wish to submit cover artwork, please contact the Nature Materials office at materials@nature.com for further information.
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