ERJ Open Research Template
Get your ERJ Open Research 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 ERJ Open Research Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 11 August, 2026
Submitting to ERJ Open Research goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the ERJ Open Research 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 ERJ Open Research Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to ERJ Open Research. 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 ERJ Open Research journal page before you draft.
What's actually in an ERJ Open Res 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 ERJ Open Research 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 ERJ Open Research guide for authors before you submit.
What does this ERJ Open Research 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 ERJ Open Res.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the ERJ Open Research 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).
ERJ Open Research Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | ERJ Open Res requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Original research articles and Study protocols: Structured abstract with 250 words or fewer, with four separate paragraphs corresponding to: (1) the question addressed by the study; (2) materials/patients and methods; (3) results; and (4) the answer to the question. One or two sentences of background information can be included in the opening paragraph if necessary. Review articles and Mini-review articles: Unstructured abstract, 250 words or fewer, which provides an overview of the full article and is easily understood without reference to the text. Research letters: No abstract. Editorials: No abstract. Correspondence: No abstract |
| Main text | Original research articles: 3000 words (excluding abstract, references, tables and figure captions); maximum 8 figures/tables combined; 40 references. Study protocols: 3000 words; maximum 4 figures/tables; 40 references. Review articles: 5000 words; maximum 5 figures/tables; 200 references. Mini-review articles: 3000 words; maximum 4 figures/tables; 75 references. Research letters: 1200 words (excluding references, tables and figure captions); 1 figure or table (not both); 15 references. Correspondence: 800 words (excluding references, tables and figure captions); 1 figure or table; 10 references. Editorials: 1500 words; 2 figures/tables; 30 references. Congress Highlights: 3000 words; 4 figures/tables; 60 references |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Not specified in the official author guidelines |
| References | Vancouver style (Index Medicus format). References numbered consecutively in order of first appearance in text, using full-sized Arabic numerals in square brackets. First three authors listed followed by et al. Journal names in full. Example format: Bannerjee D, Khair OA, Honeybourne D. Impact of sputum bacteria on airway inflammation and health status in clinical stable COPD. Eur Respir J 2004; 23: 685-692 |
| Peer review | Single-anonymised (single-blind) peer review |
| Submission | mc.manuscriptcentral.com/erjor |
Quick Tips for Using the ERJ Open Research Template
Read the ERJ Open Research 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 ERJ Open Research in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent ERJ Open Res 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 ERJ Open Research 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 ERJ Open Research guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).
