Preparing a submission for BMJ
BMJ sets its own submission rules: length and word limits, the required citation and reference style, figure and table formatting, and editorial policies. Scraiber tracks 22 requirements for BMJ and rewrites your manuscript to meet each one.
Instead of checking each rule by hand, import your draft into Scraiber, select BMJ, and let it rewrite your text to match: the exact word limits, reference style and structure, so your paper is submission-ready.
If the paper was rejected elsewhere, most of the work in retargeting BMJ is mechanical: the reference style changes, headings and sections move, word and abstract limits differ, and the declarations have to follow BMJ's own template. Scraiber applies those changes to the draft you already have instead of you rebuilding the manuscript by hand.
Manuscript types at BMJ
BMJ documents its author requirements per manuscript type: 10 Minute Consultation, Analysis, Clinical Update, Easily Missed, Editorial, Minerva Picture, Opinion, Personal View, Practice Pointer, Research, Research Methods and Reporting, Sustainable Practice, What Your Patient Is Thinking. The rules differ between them, so Scraiber applies the set that matches the type you are submitting.
What BMJ specifies
By manuscript type - Scraiber applies every one of these rules to your draft.
- Analysis 3 rules, including: word limit (2000 words), reference limit (VANCOUVER), display item limit (3 items).
- 10 Minute Consultation 2 rules, including: word limit (1000 words), reference limit (10 references).
- Clinical Update 2 rules, including: word limit (1800 words), reference limit (40 references).
- Easily Missed 2 rules, including: word limit (1600 words), reference limit (20 references).
- Editorial 2 rules, including: word limit (800 words), reference limit (VANCOUVER).
- Minerva Picture 2 rules, including: word limit (150 words), figure limit (1 images).
- Personal View 2 rules, including: word limit (600 words), reference limit (10 references).
- Practice Pointer 2 rules, including: word limit (1600 words), reference limit (20 references).
- Opinion 1 rule: word limit (800 words).
- Research 1 rule: abstract word limit (300 words).
- Research Methods and Reporting 1 rule: reference limit (VANCOUVER).
- Sustainable Practice 1 rule: word limit (700 words).
- What Your Patient Is Thinking 1 rule: word limit (650 words).
Read from BMJ's own author guidelines. Journals revise these - verify with the journal before you submit.
What Scraiber changes in your manuscript
Scraiber rewrites the parts of your draft that BMJ constrains: it brings sections within the required lengths, converts in-text citations and the bibliography to the required style, adjusts headings and structure, and flags the declarations BMJ expects. Your argument, results and voice stay yours - only what the journal dictates changes.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the submission requirements for BMJ?
- BMJ documents 22 author requirements covering length limits, citation style, figures, tables and submission policies. The key limits are listed on this page; Scraiber applies all of them to your manuscript in one pass.
- Which citation style does BMJ use?
- Scraiber tracks BMJ's required reference style and reformats your citations to it automatically. Open the journal in Scraiber to apply it to your document.
- Can I automatically format my paper for BMJ?
- Yes. Paste or import your draft into Scraiber, pick BMJ, and it rewrites your text to meet the journal's requirements: length, references, structure and more.
- How do I reformat a paper rejected by another journal for BMJ?
- Import the manuscript you already submitted elsewhere, select BMJ, and Scraiber rewrites it against BMJ's requirements: reference style, length limits, structure and declarations. You never start from a blank page.
- How long does it take to prepare a manuscript for BMJ?
- Minutes rather than an evening. The rewrite runs on your existing draft, so what disappears is the manual pass over every formatting rule.
- Does BMJ have different requirements per manuscript type?
- Yes. BMJ documents separate requirements per manuscript type. Pick your type in Scraiber and it applies that set to your document.
- Do I have to redo my references for BMJ?
- No. Scraiber converts your existing citations and bibliography to the reference style BMJ requires, including the in-text citation format.
Official author guidelines: bmj.com