Frequently asked questions

The named authors remain responsible for the study, ethics approval, source data, analysis decisions, interpretation, disclosures and final submitted text. We provide editorial or analytical assistance and return unresolved scientific questions to the authors.

Professional editing alone does not meet the ICMJE authorship criteria. Where a journal requires it, editorial assistance can be acknowledged. Authors should agree contributions and order before submission and confirm that every listed author meets the target journal's policy.

No. Journal editors and peer reviewers decide whether a paper is accepted. We can improve reporting, presentation and journal fit, but we do not guarantee acceptance, invent reviewer outcomes or bypass peer review.

We search the relevant source database, match the journal title and ISSN, check current coverage and note any discontinuation. We share the source record rather than relying on a badge or statement on the journal's website. Our verification guide lists the checks.

No. PubMed is a search platform, MEDLINE is a curated bibliographic database, and PubMed Central is a full-text archive. An article appearing in a PubMed search does not by itself prove that the journal is indexed in MEDLINE. Check the journal record in the NLM Catalog.

Verify the journal in independent source databases, inspect editorial and peer-review information, confirm fees before submission, and check that the publisher's contact and website match authoritative records. Use our predatory-journal checklist and the Think. Check. Submit. guidance.

We review the file for the requested service, identify questions or missing files, and provide a written scope, deliverables, turnaround and quote. Work begins only after you approve that scope. Edited files are returned for author review.

Unpublished manuscripts and datasets are treated as confidential and limited to people assigned to the project. Do not send direct patient identifiers. Data handling and retention are described in our privacy policy, and an NDA can be discussed before transfer.

Turnaround depends on manuscript length, requested service and the condition of the files. Typical ranges are shown on the services page; the project quote gives the actual schedule. Journal peer-review time is controlled by the journal and is not part of our turnaround.

The initial assessment is used to define the scope. You receive a fixed quote before work begins, and no service charge is due until you approve it. Journal article-processing charges, if any, are separate and paid to the publisher, not included unless explicitly stated.

It depends on design: CONSORT commonly applies to randomised trials, STROBE to observational studies, PRISMA to systematic reviews and CARE to case reports. The EQUATOR Network provides a searchable library. A checklist improves completeness but does not certify scientific validity.

No. We can point authors to the official notification and help verify bibliographic facts, but only the responsible institution or authority determines eligibility. Regulations can be amended, so use our plain-language guide as a starting point and verify the current official text before relying on it.