CMAJ Open Template
Get your CMAJ Open paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
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How to Use the CMAJ Open Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 7 August, 2026
Submitting to CMAJ Open goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the CMAJ Open guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
What is the CMAJ Open Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to CMAJ Open. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the CMAJ Open journal page before you draft.
What's actually in a CMAJ Open submission:
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the CMAJ Open guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
What separates a clean submission from one that gets kicked back:
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the CMAJ Open guide for authors before you submit.
What does this CMAJ Open Template include?
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).
Steps to Use This Template with SciSpace Agent
- Click Start Writing on this page. The SciSpace Agent prompt screen opens with the template loaded.
- Use the loaded template, or upload a version your group already uses for CMAJ Open.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the CMAJ Open guide for authors.
- Run the prompt. The agent drafts into the correct structure and reference style.
- Use View Outputs to verify required statements and formatting are present.
- Export and submit through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).
CMAJ Open Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | CMAJ Open requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Structured abstract with four sections: Background, Methods, Results, and Interpretation (headings required). Specific word limit NOT_FOUND in accessible guidelines. Based on examination of published articles and related CMAJ family guidelines, abstracts typically appear to be in the 150-300 word range, but exact limit for CMAJ Open not confirmed |
| Main text | - Official author guidelines no longer accessible. The journal accepted diverse research types including case series, descriptive studies, economic evaluations, qualitative research, and surveys, but specific word/page limits by article type not confirmed |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | - Published CMAJ Open articles do not display author-provided keywords. Official author guidelines are no longer accessible to confirm whether keywords were requested at submission or were editor-assigned |
| References | Vancouver style - sequential numbered citations in superscript format with full reference list following NLM/Vancouver format |
| Peer review | Open peer review / transparent peer review. Peer reviews were unblinded from the journal's launch in 2013; reviewers signed their names and reviews were published as supplements alongside articles in the related content tab |
| Submission | mc.manuscriptcentral.com/cmaj |
Quick Tips for Using the CMAJ Open Template
Read the CMAJ Open guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to CMAJ Open in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent CMAJ Open papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the CMAJ Open journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Before You Submit: Final Check
Do one focused pass against the CMAJ Open guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).
