ESMO Open Template
Get your ESMO Open paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
4
How to Use the ESMO Open Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 11 August, 2026
Submitting to ESMO Open goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the ESMO 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 ESMO Open Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to ESMO 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 ESMO Open journal page before you draft.
What's actually in an ESMO 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 ESMO 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 ESMO Open guide for authors before you submit.
What does this ESMO 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 Editorial Manager.
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 ESMO Open.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the ESMO 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 Editorial Manager.
ESMO Open Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | ESMO Open requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Structured abstract required for most article types with word limits varying by type: Original Articles (up to 300 words), Review (up to 300 words), Short Communication (up to 200 words), Special Communication (up to 200 words), Diagnostic Test Interpretation (up to 200 words), Clinical Evidence to Practice (up to 150 words). Letters to the Editor require no abstract. should state briefly the purpose of research, principal results and major conclusions. Must be able to stand alone. References should be avoided in abstract, but if essential cite author(s) and year(s). Non-standard abbreviations should be avoided, but if essential must be defined at first mention. Clinical trial registration numbers should be added at the end of the abstract |
| Main text | Word count limits by article type (excludes title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements, contributions and references): Original Articles (up to 4000 words), Review (up to 5000 words), Short Communication (up to 2000 words), Special Communication (up to 1500 words), Diagnostic Test Interpretation (up to 1500 words), Clinical Evidence to Practice (up to 1500 words), Pro/Con debates (up to 1000 words), Letters to the Editor (no longer than 500 words), News (up to 500 words). Section order for Original Articles: abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, references, and tables and figures as appropriate |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Maximum of 6 keywords. Use American spelling and avoid general and plural terms and multiple concepts (avoid 'and', 'of'). Be sparing with abbreviations: only abbreviations firmly established in the field may be eligible. Keywords will be used for indexing purposes |
| References | AMA Manual of Style (American Medical Association Manual of Style), 11th Edition. Numbered/superscript style: indicate references by consecutive superscript arabic numerals in the order in which they appear in the text. Numerals are to be used outside periods and commas, inside colons and semicolons. Number the references in the list in the order in which they appear in the text |
| Peer review | Single-blind peer review (single-anonymous): the names of the reviewers are hidden from the author. Usually two external reviewer reports are obtained before an Original article or Review article is accepted for publication |
| Submission | www.editorialmanager.com/esmoop/default2.aspx |
Quick Tips for Using the ESMO Open Template
Read the ESMO 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 ESMO Open in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent ESMO 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 ESMO 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 ESMO Open guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through Editorial Manager.
