The Royal Society Open Science Template
Writing for The Royal Society Open Science? This template gives you a submission-ready structure—sections, abstract, and references—so you focus on the research, not the formatting.
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How to Use the The Royal Society Open Science Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 25 July, 2026
Submitting to The Royal Society Open Science goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the The Royal Society Open Science 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 The Royal Society Open Science Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to The Royal Society Open Science. 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 The Royal Society Open Science journal page before you draft.
What's actually in a RSOS 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 The Royal Society Open Science 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 The Royal Society Open Science guide for authors before you submit.
What does this The Royal Society Open Science Template include?
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. When your draft is ready, upload it through the journal's online submission system.
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 RSOS.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the The Royal Society Open Science 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 the journal's online submission system.
The Royal Society Open Science Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | RSOS requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | 200 words max; no references or unexplained abbreviations; IMRAD framework recommended |
| Main text | Section order and length per article type |
| Declarations | Ethics, competing interests, funding, data as required |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | 3-10 free-text keywords required |
| References | Vancouver style; sequential numbered in square brackets [1]; up to 10 authors before et al.; standard abbreviations; DOI required |
| Peer review | Single-blind (with mandatory open peer review publication) |
| Submission | royalsocietypublishing.org |
Quick Tips for Using the The Royal Society Open Science Template
Read the The Royal Society Open Science 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 The Royal Society Open Science in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent RSOS 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 The Royal Society Open Science 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 The Royal Society Open Science guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through the journal's online submission system.
