The word count excludes the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements and contributions and the references.

Also see detailed instructions for online submission and formatting your manuscript.

For full length accounts of original research, often shorter articles are better. Additional information may be placed on the web site as a data supplement.

Word count: up to 2500 words.
Illustrations and tables: up to 6.
References: 25.

EMJ will expect a 'Methods' section in review articles that explains the process of literature retrieval and appraisal. Additional information may be placed on the website as a data supplement.

Word count: up to 3000 words.
Illustrations and tables: up to 6 tables.
References: up to 40.

Short reports of experimental work, new methods, or a preliminary report can be accepted as two page papers; maximum length 750 words including abstract, tables, and legends. Maximum 10 references. Additional information may be placed on the web site as a data supplement.

Word count: up to 750 words.
Illustrations and tables: up to 3.
References: up to 10.

BestBETs are reviews that are published in a set format which is as follows:

1. Title
2. Reported By:
3. Checked by:
4. Clinical Scenario
5. 3-part question
6. Search Strategy
7. Evidence Table, Columns on:
   1. Author together with county and year of publication
   2. Patients group
   3. Study Type
   4. Outcomes measured
   5. Key Results
   6. Study weaknesses
8. Comments
9. Clinical bottom line
10. References

All Bets should be submitted via the bestbets website www.bestbets.org
We do not accept Bets submitted via BenchPress.

Word count: up to 1000 words.
Illustrations and tables: 1 table or figure.
References: up to 25.

Emergency Casebook is a Section of the journal published monthly. It contains two formats.

1. Case Report: They should contain a brief but comprehensive literature review. These cases may be published either in full as "Case of the Month" (selected by the editors) or as an abstract alone with a hyperlink to the web site of the journal. At the hyperlink the case report is published in full. This style of publishing is known as Electronic Long Paper Short or ELPS.

   Word count: up to 850 words.
   Summary: up to 200 words.
   Illustrations and tables: 1 table or figure.
   References: 4 key references.

2. Images in Emergency Medicine: This section consists of a clinically interesting or educational photograph, together with a short commentary

   Word count: 150 word commentary.
   Illustrations and tables: 1 table or figure.
   References: up to 1.

Download the patient consent form.

Editorials are written or commissioned by the editors, but suggestions for possible topics and authors are welcome.

Word count: up to 500 words.
Illustrations and tables: at editorial discretion.
References: up to 20, ideally 10.

EMJ commentaries are produced to accompany a paper being published in the EMJ. The purpose may vary and authors of this type of article will often be given a brief by the editorial team. The main objectives may be any or all of the following; to highlight the importance of the article, to critique the article or the research method, to provide a balancing view if the article is controversial.

Word count: up to 500 words.
Illustrations and tables: 1 table or figure.
References: up to 8.

This section allows prehospital practitioners to succinctly report a clinical case they have attended and to reflect on what they learnt from dealing with it. Generally the case description will make up less than half of the whole report.

Word count: up to 750 words
References: up to 5 and/or 1 photograph

The Editors welcome letters, which should not exceed 300 words or contain more than three references.

Letters in response to articles published in EMJ are welcome and should be submitted electronically via the website. Contributors should go to the abstract or full text of the article in question. At the top right corner of each article is a "contents box". Click on the "eLetters: Submit a response to this article" link.

Letters relating to or responding to previously published items in the journal will be shown to those authors, where appropriate.

Items for Sophia may be about any topic of interest to the readership, and may include clinical and non clinical material. Please note that clinical photographs should be submitted as an image in Emergency Medicine as part of the Emergency Casebook. Additional information may be placed on the website.

Word count: not normally over 200 words
References: up to 1 and/or 1 photograph

The BMJ Publishing Group journals are willing to consider publishing supplements to regular issues. Supplement proposals may be made at the request of:

1. The journal editor, an editorial board member or a learned society may wish to organise a meeting, sponsorship may be sought and the proceedings published as a supplement.
2. The journal editor, editorial board member or learned society may wish to commission a supplement on a particular theme or topic. Again, sponsorship may be sought.
3. The BMJPG itself may have proposals for supplements where sponsorship may be necessary.
4. A sponsoring organisation, often a pharmaceutical company or a charitable foundation, that wishes to arrange a meeting, the proceedings of which will be published as a supplement.

For further information on criteria that must be fulfilled, download the supplements guidelines (PDF).